Verona is rather small when compared to other Italian art cities, and you can see everything in one single day. For this reason, Verona makes a popular day trip destination for people visiting Venice or the towns by Garda Lake.
Anyway, spending a weekend in Verona is the best option to experience the local lifestyle and explore the hidden corners of this beautiful town. Taking it slow will allow you to go sightseeing at your own pace, take plenty of pictures, and taste all the local specialties!
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How many days in Verona do you need?
How to spend one day in Verona
If you are based in Venice, you’ll probably plan a day trip to Verona to visit the famous hometown of Romeo and Juliet!
This is an easy itinerary for your day in Verona:
- Arrival at Verona train station
- Walk to Piazza Bra (about 20 min), where you can see the Arena, the Gran Guardia Palace, and the City Hall.
- Visit the Arena with a guided tour like this one: Verona Arena Skip-the-Line Guided Tour to learn more about the Roman era.
- Head to the Lion’s Gate, which was the old entrance gate to Verona.
- Head to Juliet’s House to take the iconic picture from her balcony! If you’re traveling with your partner, leave a love message or a padlock in the courtyard like many other couples have been doing for years!
- Have lunch in Piazza dei Signori, and take a look at the statue of Dante.
- Visit the courtyard of the Chapel of Santa Maria Antica to see the Arche Scaligere, which are the tombs of the members of the Scaligeri family who ruled Verona from 1262 to 1387.
- Not far from there, you’ll see Romeo’s House, which is now privately owned, so it’s not open to visitors.
- Now head to Piazza delle Erbe and climb to the top of the Lamberti Tower to enjoy a great view and take some pictures.
- Have a relaxing stroll along the Adige River and watch the sunset from the Scaligero Bridge.
How to spend two days in Verona
Staying overnight will allow you to visit the old town and its landmarks at a slower pace, and you’ll also be able to visit one or two museums!
Day One
- Try to be there early in the morning to enjoy a full day of sightseeing
- Head to Piazza Bra and visit the Arena. If you plan to stay in Verona for two or more days, buy the Verona Card to skip the lines at the main attractions!
- Enjoy some shopping on Mazzini Street.
- Just down the street, turn right to get to Juliet’s House and take plenty of pictures of the courtyard, the balcony, and the bronze statue bringing good luck!
- As an alternative, take a themed guided tour to learn more about that famous local couple: Verona: Romeo and Juliet Guided Walking Tour.
- Don’t miss the Gothic church of San Fermo Maggiore and the ancient Lion’s Gate.
- Have lunch in Piazza delle Erbe
- Climb to the top of the Lamberti Tower, and enjoy the view. Book skip-the-line tickets here.
- Have a stroll in the elegant Piazza dei Signori
- Head to the Arche Scaligere, right in the courtyard of the Chapel of Santa Maria Antica
- Watch the sunset from the belvedere of S. Peter’s Castle. You can reach it by crossing the river on the picturesque Stone Bridge and going up a steep staircase. If you don’t feel like walking, you can take the cable car!
Day Two
- Spend the morning visiting Castelvecchio Museum by the river
- Have lunch in a typical restaurant of the old town, then have a stroll in the picturesque streets to look for Romeo’s House.
- Head to the Basilica of S. Anastasia with its unfinished façade and its beautiful frescoes by Pisanello
- Not far from there, visit the Cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria Matricolare. The architectural complex of the cathedral also includes the Baptistery and the church of S. Helen.
How to spend three days in Verona
Spend a relaxing weekend in Verona and enjoy a thorough visit, some guided tours, and some time in nature too!
Day One
- Arrival at Verona train station.
- Head to Piazza Bra and visit the Arena. Climb to the highest stands to have a complete view of the stage. Click here to book a skip-the-line guided tour of the Arena.
- Enjoy some shopping on Mazzini Street.
- Reach Juliet’s House
- Alternatively, take a guided tour of the old town and skip the line at Juliet’s House: Verona: Juliet’s House & Piazzas Skip-the-Line Private Tour.
- Have lunch in Piazza delle Erbe, and climb to the top of the Lamberti Tower. Book your tickets here.
- Head to Piazza dei Signori, and learn more about the Scaligeri family and their tombs named Arche Scaligere.
- Not far from there, you’ll find the architectural complex of the Cathedral
- As an alternative, you can head to the Stone Bridge to have a pleasant stroll up the hill to the belvedere of St Peter’s Castle.
Day Two
- Start your day with a visit to one of the most beautiful churches of Verona: the Basilica of S. Anastasia.
- Cross the river to reach another piece of Roman Heritage: the Roman Theater, which is still in use today!
- Walk along the left bank of the river to reach Giusti Palace and its beautiful Italian Garden, where you’ll be able to spend a few hours in nature.
Day Three
- Head to the San Zeno district, and visit the homonymous Basilica, which is famous for its paintings by Andrea Mantegna. This area of the city is quieter than the old town, and it has a lovely medieval vibe.
- Spend the afternoon visiting Castelvecchio Museum.
- Alternatively, you can rent a bike and reach the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes overlooking Verona.
How to spend 4+ days in Verona
A short vacation in Verona is perfect for learning more about local history and culture and exploring the surrounding areas!
Day One
- Start your visit outside the crowded old town: wander the streets of the San Zeno district, and enter the homonymous Basilica.
- Spend the afternoon visiting Castelvecchio Museum
- Have a relaxing stroll along Scaligero Bridge and head to the lovely Pertini Garden on the other side of the river.
Day Two
- Visit the complex of the Cathedral
- Head to Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori to take in the local atmosphere
- Reach Juliet’s House, and visit its interiors
- In the afternoon, don’t miss a guided tour of the Arena!
- Have some shopping and a happy hour like a local on Mazzini Street
Day Three
- Start your day with a visit to one of the most beautiful churches of Verona: the Basilica of S. Anastasia.
- Cross the river and take a picture of the picturesque Stone Bridge before taking the funicular and reaching the belvedere of St Peter’s Castle.
- Spend some time in nature in the beautiful Italian Garden of Giusti Palace
- Have a cooking class at a local’s home to learn how to cook some authentic Italian recipes:Verona: Cooking Class at a Local’s Home.
Day Four
Choose your favorite day trip!
Where can you go?
- Valpolicella Valley. The hills around Verona are a famous winemaking region, and the best wine you can taste there is Amarone. You can rent a car and wander around or join a guided tour like this one Amarone Wine Tour & Tasting from Venice, Padua, or Verona.
- Gardaland is the best Italian amusement park, and it’s an unmissable day trip if you’re traveling with kids!
- Mantova is a beautiful town in Lombardia that’s just 50min away from Verona. It has three artificial lakes, plenty of elegant mansions, and a famous Cathedral.
- Sirmione, on Garda Lake. The lake is a popular destination thanks to its natural landscapes and its picturesque towns, but Sirmione’s Castle makes it one of a kind!
- Lessinia Natural Park. If you prefer to go hiking in the mountains, choose this Natural Park and its many trails and mountain bike paths!
- Venice. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can’t definitely miss this chance! You can reach it by train in 1h15 and you’d better join a guided tour to see its main attractions in one single day (ex: Private Walking Tour in Venice)
- Bologna. This famous town in Emilia Romagna is easily reachable by train from Verona and the journey only takes 1h30! Choose a sightseeing and food tour to make the best of your day (ex: Bologna: City Center Walking Tour).