How to Make the Most of One Day in Verona, Italy: A Complete Guide

What trip to Italy would be complete without a visit to the enchanting City of Love? Verona, Italy, the charming city that inspired William Shakespeare's timeless tale of Romeo and Juliet, is a must-see destination for couples. If you’re looking to immerse yourselves in the romance and history of this beautiful city without making it your base for your trip, a day is just the right amount of time to explore its highlights.

Getting to Verona via Train

Easily accessible via train from Venice and Milan, Verona is a charming town that offers a delightful day trip. I found my way to this beautiful city through Porta Nuova Station, the main train station. The excitement of stepping off the train and embarking on a 15-minute walk to the City Center was palpable.

Tip: Solo or female travelers, Verona is a very safe city. I would have felt safe exploring on my own. The city is so active, there were people around every corner. Obviously, use caution as you would anywhere.

Before my trip, I pre-booked our rail tickets through ItaliaRail. The process is

straightforward: I simply entered our travel details—date, number of persons, departure point, and destination. If this is your first time booking rail tickets, I can assure you that their website is incredibly user-friendly, making the experience smooth and hassle-free. Ticket costs from Venice range from $13-$45 depending on the seat class you opt for.

• From Milan, you can take a direct high-speed train to Verona, taking about 1 hour and 10 minutes. 

• From Venice, trains can take 1 hour and 10 minutes to Verona. 

  • From Rome, high-speed trains can reach Verona in under 3 hours.

Tip: I recommend purchasing refundable tickets. We decided to return to Venice earlier than planned and forked out the additional ticket costs.

Tip: Personally, I wouldn't take the train from Rome for a day trip unless this is a must-see destination for you. The amount of time on a train (6 hours), will eat away a large portion of your day.

Ways to See Verona

Verona is a walkable and bikeable city! There are numerous ways to explore it, but biking was definitely my favorite. Depending on your travel style, you can choose to join a guided tour or venture out on your own. Personally, I find that a guided tour is the best option when I first arrive in a new city. It allows me to see the highlights, absorb the history, get the lay of the land, and then I can revisit the places I want to spend more time at.

I also prefer not to spend my trip planning time putting a lot of thought into "what is the most efficient way to see a new city." Luckily for you, I've put together my suggested route in case you decide to explore without a tour. We biked this route, but it is just as easily walkable—just wear comfortable shoes!

Exploring Verona: My Personal Experience

For my time in Italy, I was based in Venice. My husband and I were visiting as part of our honeymoon. We picked the 6:48am train to ensure we arrived in time for our 10am tour. We set off on our Verona adventure with a leisurely 15-20 minute stroll to Santa Lucia Station. At the train station, we grabbed a quick breakfast to fuel our day, eager to make the most of our time in Verona. A little over an hour on the train, feeling the thrill of traveling through the picturesque Italian landscape, we arrived at Porta Nuova Station.

The station is busy with trains arriving often, so the atmosphere buzzed with energy. We had another 15-20 minute walk ahead of us to reach the starting point of our tour. The anticipation of exploring the beautiful city filled us with excitement as we made our way to the tour location, where we planned to indulge in a delicious breakfast at a charming café just outside - don't skip the coffee and a slow pace morning with the locals.

There's something incredibly special about exploring a city on a bike. It allows me to experience the city like a local! We booked a small group tour through Viator: Highlights and Hidden Gems Verona Bike Tour. Once the entire group gathered, we were fitted for bikes and helmets, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as we took a quick test spin. I was ready to set off and see if I could catch a glimpse of Romeo or Juliet! Fingers crossed for a Leo sighting - that would have been an added bonus!

Our first stop was the magnificent Arena di Verona. Built in 30 AD, this open-air opera

house is still in use today, and I was in awe of its grandeur. We only had a brief moment to admire the exterior, as going inside wasn't part of the tour. On the day we visited, they were setting up for an event that night, which added a layer of excitement. It was fascinating to witness modern technology being brought into such an ancient structure. It reminded me that while technology evolves, the essence of what brings us together—music—remains timeless.

Tip: If music is your passion, consider staying for a night in Verona to catch a concert. They do a summer series!

Next, we hopped on our bikes and followed the ancient paths of the former Roman Empire, making our way to the enchanting Piazza delle Erbe. As we pedaled past Porta Dosari, the ancient Roman gate dating back to the 1st century AD, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The beautiful historical buildings that surrounded us were adorned with stunning frescoes and intricate sculptures, creating a vibrant atmosphere in this lively open-air market.

Once back on our bikes, we set off towards Casa di Giulietta. This iconic temple of love, complete with Juliet's balcony and a bronze statue of Juliet herself, was a highlight of our day! Although the tour didn’t include entry tickets for the interior, we were perfectly content admiring the exterior. We had initially planned to return in the afternoon for a closer look, but seeing the outside was enough to check that box off our list. And of course, I couldn’t resist the tradition of touching the bronze breast of the Juliet statue, located in the courtyard of Juliet's House. It’s said that doing so brings good luck in love—who wouldn’t want a little extra luck in that department?

Tip: If you skip the tour, but want to visit Casa di Giulletta, skip the line by entering

through the shop on the left of the entrance! Don't forget to be polite to the shopkeepers and take a look through their shop.

Tip: We originally booked our return train for 9:45pm. We thought we would want to explore more after our bike tour and stay for dinner.

We made two quick stops that truly enriched our experience: Piazza dei Signori and Piazzale Castel San Pietro. We were greeted with breathtaking views of the hills surrounding Verona, the iconic Ponte Pietra, and the serene Adige River. It was the perfect moment to pause, capture some stunning photos, and enjoy a refreshing sip of water. As we prepared to tackle the steps ahead, the beauty of the landscape made every effort worth it!

We left our bikes at the base of Piazzale Castel San Pietro, ready to embark on our journey to the top. I won't sugarcoat it—the trek involved a lot of stairs! At one point, I could feel my no-show socks slipping down, which added an extra challenge to the climb. But let me tell you, the moment we reached the top, all the effort was instantly forgotten. The breathtaking views of Verona spread out before us were absolutely worth every step we took. It felt like we were on top of the world, soaking in the beauty of the entire city. The stairs down are much easier!

Back on our bikes, we pedaled through the charming streets of Verona, making our way to the Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore. Although we didn't venture inside the church, we embraced the opportunity to soak in the rich history of the city. As our tour came to a close, we returned our bikes, a sense of satisfaction washing over us, but our stomachs were definitely growling.

Our guide, sensing our hunger, recommended we try a local specialty: Risotto all'Amarone. This dish, made with the region's renowned red wine, Amarone, immediately piqued my interest. Although risotto isn't typically my go-to choice, the thought of it prepared with such a unique wine made my mouth water in anticipation. It felt like the perfect way to cap off our adventure in this beautiful city, with a spritz on the side!

We originally planned to stay in Verona through dinner, but once we ate lunch, we were ready to head back to Venice. We felt we had seen all we wanted and purchased a train ticket to return. The trains run every hour or so, so no rush back to the train station.

Suggested Tour Route

1. Arena di Verona - Located in the city center, this is a great landmark to start and end your time in Verona! Enter Arena di Verona in your map of choice for a central landmark for walking directions. As you walk from the train station to Arena di Verona, you will pass under the remnants of the Walls of Gallienus, dating back to 3rd century AD.

   Tip: If you have been in other arenas, I don't know that I would book a ticket to tour the inside. We did not tour it and I don't feel like I missed anything.

2. Next make your way to Piazza delle Erbe. Here you will see the Torre dei Lamberti, the Casa dei Giudici ("Judges' Hall"), the frescoed Mazzanti House and other landmarks. There are Greek statues to admire too. On your way, you will see the Porta Dosari, a portion of a Roman Gate dating back to 1 AD.

3. Tales of Casa di Giulietta are likely what brought you to Verona. If I were to visit again, not on a group tour, I would have taken the time to tour the inside.

4. Walk across the Ponte Pietra on the way to Piazzale Castel San Pietro. You will be greeted with breathtaking views of the hills surrounding Verona and the serene Adige River.

5. After crossing the bridge, you will be at the base of Piazzale Castel San Pietro. From here, take the stairs up the hill to the top for an incredible view of Verona.