Only have one day in Verona and wondering how to fill your time? This is the ideal place for you! Sitting at a wine bar near our apartment on our last night in Verona, we were conversing about different cities in Italy and what makes Verona distinctive. Essentially, we comprehended, Verona has everything we appreciate about Italy – savory cuisine and vintage wines, a sensation that there’s a wealth of yesteryear beneath your feet, and an unmistakable fondness in the air owing to the cobblestone paths and vivid aged structures.
Noticeably absent are less enjoyable aspects found in other Italian cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice – predominantly gigantic crowds of visitors and associated effects of overtourism.
We greatly enjoyed Verona, and were completely charmed by its romantic cobblestone lanes, the gorgeous Adige River and the many picturesque bridges, and its laid-back, young atmosphere. It’s not truly a hidden gem, since it’s one of the most visited cities in Northern Italy, but we think it’s well worth a day or more (if you have it) on your Italy itinerary.
In this guide, we’re going to go through the best things to do in Verona, some logistics that you’ll want to know for your trip, and how to put it all together for an amazing day in Verona.
Planning a trip to Italy? You won’t want to miss our guide to organizing an incredible Italy itinerary, with ideas for spending 7, 10, and 14 days in Italy, how to structure your trip, and the best things to do and experience along the way.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.
Table of Contents
The Verona Card: Worth it or Nah?
Generally, city cards for visitors are designed in a manner that doesn’t essentially pay out unless you’re literally planning on spending your entire itinerary hopping from museum to museum (or other sights) covered by the pass.
Hint: that’s not really how we like to explore. We’d prefer to leave some time for discovering new places, relaxation, and plenty of coffee and wine.
However, the Verona Card truly offers excellent value for money. Here are the specific details:
Visitors can acquire either a 24 Hour Card (20 Euros) or a 48 Hour Card (25 Euros) that cover an assortment of attractions in Verona (the primary sites are included), reductions on other attractions as well as activities to do in Verona, like an opera at the Arena, and complimentary usage of public transportation for the duration of the lifespan of the card purchased.
It covers the Roman Arena, the four churches in Verona`s center, the Torre dei Lamberti tower, the Museo degli Affreschi art museum, and the Roman Amphitheater and its museum. Additionally, the very underwhelming Casa di Giulietta (which you should definitely skip – more details on that later).
“But Matt,” you may say, “we likely won’t visit all of those places with just one day in Verona, right? So does the card truly offer value?”
In the Verona schedule below, you’ll discover the Arena (10 Euros), two of the places of worship (8 Euros), and the Roman Amphitheatre and Museum (7 Euros). Which totals up to 25 Euros if you were to pay for them independently. Plus, if you have more than a day, you`ll likely tackle more attractions, and you only need it to cover 5 Euros of entrance fees to pay off on that second day too.
Additionally, free public transportation, which will be helpful for reaching the train station and returning from it.
However, that`s an additional benefit of the card that Alysha and I discussed over a glass of Veneto wine during our final night in Verona. Generally, when we personally cover attractions, we conduct a fairly rigorous assessment of costs versus benefits to decide whether it`s worthwhile or not. Which tends to mean we often skip some of the more obscure attractions (usually churches) because it just doesn`t justify the extra 5 Euros.
With the Verona Card, it was more of a “well, it’s basically free, so let’s stop by and check it out.” There was no pressure to enjoy everything and read every single sign in each museum because, you know, we paid good money for this. It was a nice, refreshing feeling, and honestly a little liberating.
If you have 2 days in Verona, the card becomes even more beneficial, we think. It’s an extra 5 Euros, which most likely pays off if you visit just one more attraction in town using the card.
Visitors can purchase the pass in advance here. The allotted time begins from the first validation, whether the initial bus ride with the card or the first attraction visited. Alternatively, cards can be obtained at most major sites like the Arena amphitheater or Torre tower, though bus tickets costing 1.30 Euros each would be required to travel from the train station initially.
One Day in Verona: A Complete Guide to What to Do in Verona in a Day
Now that we’ve addressed that, let’s discuss the best things to do in Verona in a single day. Because we had the Verona Card, we actually experienced more of the traditional tourist attractions in Verona than we typically do in most cities.
Sometimes we’d briefly peek inside locations, briefly look around, and decide “this doesn’t seem worthwhile.” Other times, like the Roman Amphitheater and Museum or Museo degli Affreschi, we remained longer than anticipated because we enjoyed them more than expected.
First, we’ll outline the things we think you shouldn’t miss, so you at least have that if you’re short on time and don’t feel like reading the entire itinerary below. Then we’ll get into how to organize them into a perfect Verona itinerary if you only have a day.
The Best Things to Do in Verona: What You Shouldn’t Miss
The following are four things we believe you shouldn`t miss if you only have 24 hours in Verona. Below, we`ve outlined how to organize them into an itinerary.
- The Verona Arena: One of the largest Roman spectacle venues in Italy, it’s used for open-air musical events during the summer months. The signposting could be improved, but there’s always something remarkable about entering an amphitheater like this one. Be sure to visit it when in Verona.
- Two Places of Worship: There are four main churches in Verona, and the two we’d opt to revisit would be the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare (the one with the sizable white bell tower) and the Basilica di Santa Anastasia. Further details on why we enjoyed those two most can be found in the guide below.
- Roman Theater Archaeological Museum: This was definitely a “perhaps we should stop by and see if we take a liking to it?” that turned into a hour-long stay that we really appreciated. The museum particularly has some truly intriguing artifacts that are millennia old. Plus, stunning views of Verona from the outdoor section of the museum!
- Castel San Pietro: The fortress on the hillside (cue the Ed Sheeran song) has the finest scenery of the city, and was particularly striking at nightfall. It’s a climb up a extended flight of stairs to arrive there, but it’s worth the effort.
Of course, that’s not all you should do in Verona. There are two picturesque bridges, some great wines to try that you won’t often find outside of the region, and plenty of good food to be had. We have those suggestions below, too.
Before detailing how to structure your time, a word about Verona`s worst attraction, the Casa di Giulietta.
Casa di Giulietta: SKIP IT
The Casa di Giulietta is a great example of something we would ordinarily decide to skip because, in essence, it`s basically a fabricated place intended to appeal to tourists.
There is an area replicating the theatrical balconies from Shakespeare`s famous play, some of which was reportedly inspired by other sources, where visitors can take photos for social media. An indoor museum also provides historical context.
Again, it’s crucial to recollect that this is not really Juliet’s home, which is a imaginary place (debatably influenced by historical events, but primarily fabricated). It’s a location that Verona developed to entice tourists with the increasing fame of Romeo and Juliet – which transpires in Verona – in the 19th Century.
Inside, you’ll encounter arguably the worst museum seen. Truly, I mean it. There are a couple paintings, a few costumes used in one of the films based on the play, a bed built for filming said movie, and that’s about it.
Skip it. Take our advice, we wasted the 15 minutes of our lives so you don’t have to.
A Perfect Day in Verona: Planning Your Verona Itinerary
Verona is a comparatively compact city, which makes it ideal for exploring in a day. You can travel between every destination in the itinerary below on foot, with the exception of arriving at and departing from the train station or airport (which we’ve also addressed below).
We’re assuming that you have a full day in Verona, but also recognize that sometimes it’s a situation where you arrive in the afternoon, spend the afternoon, evening, and next morning, and then catch a train to your next destination.
That’s why we’ve separated it into morning and afternoon/evening segments, so you can copy and paste based on your specific timeline.
We’re also going to suppose that you have the Verona Card, because we strongly recommend it if you plan on visiting the attractions below.
A Morning in Verona: Coffee and the Verona Arena
Over the course of the morning, begin your day with some Italian coffee, tour the massive Arena di Verona before visiting one of the city`s more overlooked museums.
Ponte Pietra
Ponte Pietra, a bridge across the Adige River on Verona`s east side, bookends visitors` days as they make loops including top sights between starts and ends there.
This bridge was finished around 100 BCE, but has been harmed and reconstructed a couple of times. Most recently when German troops blew up the bridge to frustrate the Allied advance as they withdrew from the city in World War 2.
This was one of the areas highlighted by our apartment host on her map of Verona as possessing extraordinary natural beauty, and it is easy to see why upon initial observation of the arched bridge with the towers of Verona visible in the background.
Coffee, Italian Style
Coffee in Italy is very distinct from anything I`m accustomed to. There`s no specialty coffee to speak of, and there actually is no Starbucks in Verona (which I appreciate).
Now, you can quite easily walk into just about any café and get decent coffee. But it may be different than you`re accustomed to. One thing I truly enjoy about coffee culture in Italy is the routine of frequenting the same café, getting a shot of espresso and a pastry at the bar, catching up with friends and the barista briefly, and then continuing on with your day.
Order “un caffe, per favore” for a single shot of espresso, which you’ll receive about 42 seconds after placing your order (for some reason, it’s ready remarkably fast in Italy). Enjoy it at the bar with a cornetto (a typical breakfast pastry), or grab a cappuccino and linger at a table. If you want something resembling filtered coffee, which basically doesn’t exist in most of Italy, get an Americano.
My favored café during my time in Verona was Nizza Cafe, situated near the river on the western side of the central area at Ponte Nuovo ( here is its location on Google Maps). They offer coffee from local Verona roaster Garage Coffee Bros, among the finest coffee roasters in Italy. We stopped by twice during our journey in Verona
Once refreshed and prepared, it`s time to start your day in Verona!
Piazza delle Erbe
Take a brief detour from the bridge or cafe to Piazza delle Erbe, which is one of the main squares in Verona and was the center of the city when it was a part of the Roman Empire
On your way, pass the Arche Scaligere, an intriguing set of tombs added onto the neighboring church by one of Verona’s noble families, the Scaligers, and Piazza dei Signori, which has a couple interesting arches and a statue of Dante, the founding father of the contemporary Italian language.
A whale bone hangs from the arch as you enter Piazza delle Erbe that has perplexed historians, as nobody can determine the exact rationale behind its placement.
Piazza delle Erbe is a marketplace, and if you’re present in the morning, you’re likely to witness vendors setting up shop and preparing for a day of tourists.
The Torre dei Lamberti towers over the square, and you can climb to the top for an impressive view of Verona, but saving that for if you have more time is recommended – we have an equally impressive (and cheaper) view for you later in the day.
The Arena di Verona
The Arena di Verona is one of the biggest structures for spectator events in Italy, after the Colosseum and the arena in Capua (though it bears noting that there are larger arenas in other nations that were part of the Roman empire).
Before researching for our trip to Verona, we had no idea there was a Roman amphitheater in the city. It doesn’t garner as much attention as places like the Colosseum, but it has its own unique qualities. In the summer in Verona, it serves as a location for the Opera Festival in Verona, hosting open air performances in the massive structure.
We were there in mid-October, and they were dismantling the seating in the arena, which entailed numerous forklifts and clanging sounds and truly influenced the ambiance. But it remains an architectural marvel, and has a rich history as an opera venue through the years.
While some informative signs were provided on the ground level, we found the historical context given to be somewhat lacking, which proved somewhat disappointing.
External to the field is Piazza Bra, which is bustling with inhabitants at all hours and is one of the most touristy spots in the city. Surely intend on eating and drinking elsewhere, or risk getting moderate food and a huge bill.
Practical Information: Tickets without the Verona Card cost 10 Euros (7.50 Euros reduced for 18-25 EU residents). Purchase tickets on arrival at the ticket office at the entrance.
Afternoon: Churches, the Best View in Verona, and Veneto Wine
In the afternoon, check out Verona’s two finest churches before taking a scenic walk along the Adige River, which concludes with one of the best views in the city.
Go Inside Verona’s Two Best Churches
The two most notable houses of worship in Verona that we suggest focusing your time on are the four big churches in Verona – all are included with the Verona Card.
One of the notable churches in Verona is the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare – also known as the Verona Cathedral located at the northern end of the historical center. With an impressive interior like most large churches in Italian cities, this church stands out for its archaeological site revealing the original 4th century foundation and subsequent expansions.
The original churches were destroyed in an earthquake during the 1100’s, which was when construction began on this larger version.
đź“Ť Google Maps | Phone: (541) 867-3474 | Oregon Coast Museum Website | Hours: 10 am-5 pm daily | Entrance: $29.95, adults, $19.95, 65 and older & 13-17, $15.95, 3-12, Free ages 0-2
Valuable Travel Recommendation: Both churches have a free audio guide that can be accessed with a QR code, so be sure to bring headphones along with you to make the most of the experience!
The Castelvecchio Bridge and Walk Along the Adige River
The strongly built Castelvecchio Bridge is the second of Verona’s cool bridges, and is worth walking over and appreciating. Constructed out of red bricks, it was built in the 13th Century as an alternate route away from the castle, and was truly the longest bridge globally (at least, out of those that were recorded) at the time of construction.
As before, it was destroyed by German forces withdrawing at the end of World War II, but reconstruction was finished by 1951.
Walking from Verona over the bridge heading northward, then turning right and accompanying the river to your next destination. It`s a lovely stroll, with the Castel San Pietro and the Parrocchia di San Giorgio in Braida immediately before you, and the center of Verona across the river to your right.
We also visited the nearby museum – Museo di Castelvecchio – which has an intriguing collection of Veronese art that is highly vivid and cartoon-like (I don’t mean that negatively – I mean it more as the opposite of realism, the art style) when compared to some of the Renaissance art found in locations such as Florence, and wonderful views from the top of the castle walls.
However, with just one day in Verona, it would be saved for another visit. If two days were spent in Verona, as occurred here, this would be among the first additions made. More on other potential additions below.
The Roman Theater Archaeological Museum
The Roman Theater, so as not to be confused with the Arena (yes, it can be puzzling), was a pleasant surprise. The Amphitheater itself was acceptable – we had become jaded having visited Verona after Sicily, land of truly spectacular amphitheaters – but we would recommend it for those yet to see a semi-circular theater.
The highlight for us, though, was the museum above the theater. It was one of the places where we said “let’s just take a look and see if we’re interested” and ended up staying for an hour marveling at the detail on the marble statues, or the huge tombstones in the courtyard.
How many individuals today possess the patience to refine a bronze statue for FIVE YEARS before it’s ready to be unveiled? I’d argue few, and I certainly don’t.
There are some excellent vistas of the city from the al fresco portion of the museum too, which are worth seeing. Though you’ll get equivalent (I’d argue improved) perspectives from the climb to the citadel, which is your next stopover.
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The Best View in Verona from Castel San Pietro
The host at our apartment gave us a quick overview in Verona of what to do upon our arrival, and topping their recommendation was visiting Castel San Pietro at sunset or at nightfall. It was a brief stroll from our apartment on the east side of the Adige River, so it became our first stop in town.
There are two methods to access the top. First is the funicular, which costs 2 Euros per person each way and closes at 8:45 pm.
An alternative, more popular route (which we used) is to ascend the long staircase. It’s a climb for sure but offers magnificent views of the city across the river along the way, culminating in the grandest views of all from the top where students, older couples and others sit on benches or the wall admiring the landscape below.
You do not actually need to enter the fortress – only if you have more than one day – as the spectacular views are the primary attraction.
To return, one need only retrace their steps from earlier. If climbing stairs will be difficult, we propose taking the funicular up for the scenic views, and walking down to avoid missing them.
Trying Veneto Wine
Little did we know, Verona is situated near a wine region called Veneto, meaning tasty and affordable wine is readily available nearby.
It lacks the renown of better known areas like Tuscany, but that also provides an advantage because wine pricing is usually less than places like Florence. Amazing glasses can be obtained for around 3 Euros, sometimes even cheaper.
The grape varieties are a little different than we’ve seen elsewhere, so we set out to find a place where we could try some local wines made with grapes we’d never really heard of (we’re not exactly knowledgeable about wine).
We discovered Osteria ai Portegheti via Along Dusty Roads, who are one of our preferred travel blog couples for their exceptional photography, strong perspective on travel, and their practical tips for exploring around Italy (and other places). Their voice also comes through clearly in their writing, which is something I aim for. Definitely go check them out!
In any case, Osteria ai Portegheti has a whiteboard listing nearby wines to choose from. It was across the river from downtown right at Ponte Nuovo (a bridge), meaning it was an easy walk from our apartment in Verona.
Upon entering, I incorrectly greeted them in the morning when it was evening, amusingly receiving gentle teasing from the off-duty bartender/sommelier. We then sampled four different Veneto white wines, focusing on whites as their deliciousness. The team proved helpful in selecting wines based on sweetness, body, and other factors, which I appreciated.
Your tastes obviously may vary, so here’s a guide to Veneto wines that we read and used to inform our choices. Our favorites were the Durello, which was sparkling, and theCustoza, which was dry and acidic (almost to the point of being sour, which we actually liked).
More Time in Verona? Here’s What to Add if You Have 2 Days in Verona
If you have 2 days in Verona, we’d mainly focus on spreading out the activities in the itinerary above, though there are a few extra things that we did that we’d suggest adding. Bonus: All of these attractions are also included in the Verona Card.
Museo Castelvecchio
The first is Museo Castelvecchio, which has two things going for it.
First, the collection of art from Veronese is much more lively, vibrant, and colorful than some Renaissance art in places like Florence. It`s much less realistic and much more enjoyable (for lack of a better word).
Second, the views from the castle walls are excellent, particularly from the back along the river, where you’ll get a nice view of the bridge from above.
More specifics here
The Museo Degli Affreschi
All these fundamentals are essential photographic information that you must understand if you want to capture the best possible images according to your vision.
Like one that incorporates the papal tiara, which was what Alysha was referring to as the crown-style hat that the pope wears without realizing that it is, in fact, named the papal tiara.
Additional details here.
The Torre dei Lamberti
Great views of Verona from the top of the tower, but we think it doesn’t quite make the cut if you have limited time. With a second day, we’d add it. Go early so that you don’t get stuck in a long line of tour bus tourists on a day trip to Verona.
Additional information here.
Where to Stay in Verona
As we`ve stated a couple times now, Verona is a fairly small city, so anywhere you lodge will be quite convenient for exploration.
The Phoenix Art Museum has something for all art lovers. Their permanent and traveling exhibitions span high fashion, classic paintings, and contemporary art. The museum houses over 20,000 different pieces and is a venue for many exciting events and concerts.
The apartment provided sufficient space to accommodate groups ranging in size from two to six people, with a king sized bed and two separate rooms furnished with twin beds. Guests also appreciated the full kitchen, washer and dryer appliances, and magnificent views available from the balcony as well as other windows throughout the apartment. Previous visitors thoroughly enjoyed their stay and would highly recommend this accommodation.
And this is the view from the balcony.
This link provides cost estimates, guest reviews, and availability for lodging at Letters to Juliet.
For those seeking lodging in the historic center, the northern section is highly recommended. It has significantly fewer tourists at all hours compared to the southern area near the Arena. Guests felt it was quieter and more romantic after early morning and evening walks.
Sip cider at Two Rivers Cider’s Taproom or Cider House, the latter of which has tons of taps of ciders from around the world, along with 100% gluten free snacks.
Getting Around Verona
Verona is a highly walkable city, and the ideal way to explore it is by using your own two feet. It`s a series of picturesque alleyways with fantastic views around each corner of one of Verona`s many towers. It`s illuminated by romantic lantern-like streetlights in the evening, and we enjoyed strolling the streets before and after the day visitors on large tour buses arrived (usually prior to 10:00 am or so, and after 7:00 pm).
We actually don’t think you’ll need to use the bus other than getting to and from the train station or airport. Here’s how to do both of those things.
Getting from the Train Station to the City Center
Bear in mind, there are two train stations in Verona: Porta Nuovo (the primary train station south of the center) and Porta Vescovo (east of the center).
Getting from the main train terminal – Porta Nuova – to the city center is straightforward. Upon exiting the train station, there`s a bus depot. You can either purchase tickets at the kiosks on the platform (they accept cards or cash), or opt to validate your Verona Card and start the timeframe for your access to Verona. Multiple buses, such as numbers 11, 12, 13, 30, and 73, all go through the center of Verona.
For 1.30 Euros per person (good for 90 minutes), you’ll be in the heart of Verona within 15 minutes or so once aboard a bus.
You can also take a taxi from the train station to the center if you have a significant amount of baggage, but we’d recommend the easy bus ride for most.
Traversing from Verona`s other railway station – Porta Vescovo – to the city center is not as straightforward. The most effective approach is to walk slightly northwards to the bus stop located near Porta Vescovo ( here on Google Maps), where one can take any of the numerous buses into the core area (again, routes 11, 12, 13, 30, and 110 are viable options). It takes approximately 10 minutes on foot from the station to the bus stop.
Getting from the Airport to the City Center
The Verona Airlink is an straightforward way to get from Verona’s airport to the central train station – Porta Nuova. You want Route 199 from the airport. Here is the schedule. It costs 6 Euros, and takes about 15 minutes.
From the train station, simply follow the above directions on getting from there to the city center! You can use the same ticket as the Airlink – it is valid for 75 minutes and includes other buses in Verona’s transit system.
