In fair Verona where we lay our scene
Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
I fell head over heels with the City of Love when I first visited Verona as a wide-eyed 20-something solo traveller. That passion was rekindled in my 50s.
Verona is a taste of pure Italy: dripping with romance, rich in Roman and medieval history, and friendly in a way that bigger Italian cities often aren’t. One day in Verona is enough to hit the highlights, but fair warning: you’ll leave wanting more.
Here’s my tried-and-tested one-day Verona itinerary, including a self-guided walking tour, practical tips and everything you need to plan your visit.
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Quick Facts for Your Day in Verona
- Train from Venice or Milan: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Best time to arrive: 9 am (to beat the queues at the Arena)
- Walking distance: Just under 2 miles (2.5 km)
- Verona Card: Worth buying. It covers entry to major sights and skips the queue at the Arena. Find out more here.
My 1-Day Verona Itinerary (+ Self-Guided Walking Tour)
This itinerary takes you through my favourite places in a logical, walkable order:
Piazza Bra · Arena di Verona · Juliet’s House · Scaliger Tombs · Ponte Pietra · Verona Cathedral · Basilica di Sant’Anastasia · Piazza dei Signori · Lamberti Tower · Piazza del Erbe
Without any deviations, the total distance of this self-guided walking tour is just under two miles (2.5 km. For step-by-step directions and to send to your phone, click here or on the map.
MORNING
Admire the fountain at Piazza Bra
Walking from Verona’s Porta Nuova train station, the first sight you’ll see is the city’s immense pedestrianised square, which was once used as a dump. In case you were wondering, the word “Bra” is derived from the German word for broad.
Take a look at the central fountain called “The Alps.” It was donated by Verona’s twin city of Munich, on the opposite side of the Alps, and is carved from the pink stone of the region.
The equestrian statue is of Victor Emmanuele II, Italy’s first king.
Breakfast: Set yourself up for the day with a strong Italian coffee and a pastry at Pasticceria Pradaval on Piazza Bra. Friendly staff, excellent cornetti.
Take in the view from the cheap seats at Verona’s Arena
The Roman Arena is the jewel in Verona’s glittering crown.
Built from pink Valpolicella limestone and dating from the middle of the 1st century AD, it held up to 30,000 spectators for gladiator duels. Today it hosts plays, concerts and the world-famous Verona Opera Festival.
I was blown away by its sheer scale. Measuring 466 by 400 feet, it is the eighth-largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire and the fourth-largest in Italy.
Clamber to the top for sweeping views across the city.
Tip: A skip-the-line ticket is included in the Verona Card. Alternatively, book a guided tour with skip-the-line access here.
Embrace the spirit of romance at Juliet’s House
The headline act here is the tiny courtyard outside the House of Juliet, where romantics from across the globe queue to stroke Juliet’s bronze breast, said to bring good fortune in love. The amorous graffiti and notes that once papered the walls are long gone, but the heart-lock padlocks remain.
If you want to blow kisses from Juliet’s balcony, you will have to pay extra to visit Juliet’s House. The house is nothing special, but it does have the bed used in Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet.
Is Juliet’s House a symbol of hope or a bunch of baloney? You decide.
Visit the Scaliger Tombs
From 1277 until 1387, Verona was ruled by the powerful Scaliger family, who made their fortune selling wool. They were to Verona what the mighty Medici were to Florence.
The Scaligeri are laid to rest in lacy 14th-century Gothic tombs enclosed by a wrought iron fence. Check the opening hours here (open Friday – Sunday only).
Admire the view from St Peter’s Bridge
Completed in 100 BC, St. Peter’s Bridge (Ponte Pietra) is Verona’s sole surviving Roman bridge. Well, almost. It was bombed during World War II and rebuilt using marble slabs fished out of the Adige River.
Stroll across the bridge to take in the view from both sides. The Roman Theatre is built into the hillside on the opposite side of the river. Above that is the fortress, Castello San Pietro.
Lunch: For a meal with a view, grab a table on the terrace of Terrazza Bar al Ponte (Via Ponte Pietra, 26), overlooking the Adige River.
AFTERNOON
Visit Verona Cathedral
Dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, Verona Cathedral is, in fact, a complex of buildings. Although I found it lacked harmony, it is worth including in your Verona itinerary.
Highlights include the gorgeous Romanesque carvings on its façade and the baptistery’s font carved with eight biblical scenes. The Duomo’s Cartolari-Nichesola Chapel is home to Titian’s Assumption.
Beneath the complex’s Church of Santa Elena is the mosaic floor of the early Christian basilica, built in the 4th century. And walk around the left-hand side of the cathedral (as you face the main façade) to visit its gorgeous Romanesque cloister.
Rub the hunchback’s lump for good luck at S. Anastasia
Don’t be put off by the uninspiring, unfinished façade of Basilica di Sant’Anastasia; its treasures are on the inside. Founded by the Dominicans and consecrated in 1497, it was my favourite of Verona’s churches.
The light-filled interior of St. Anastasia features a soaring Gothic nave with a glorious painted ribbed ceiling, flanked by later Renaissance side chapels. There are important works of art, including St. George and the Princess (1438) by Pisanello, above the chapel to the right of the main altar.
The thing I loved most? The grimacing hunchbacks supporting the holy water fonts on their backs.
Touch the hump of the smaller figure (on the left as you face the altar) for good luck. It was carved in 1495 by Gabriele Caliari, father of Paolo Veronese.
Do a 360-degree twirl of Piazza dei Signori
The buildings lining Piazza dei Signori are linked by arches and span five centuries.
Spend a few minutes taking it all in and see if you can spot a whale’s rib dangling over one arch. The elegant portico on the left is inspired by Brunelleschi’s Hospital of the Innocents, considered the first building of the Renaissance and one of Florence’s important landmarks.
A statue of a slightly grumpy-looking Dante Alighieri takes pride of place (locals call the square Piazza Dante). The Scaligeri granted the poet asylum in Verona after he was banished from Florence by the pope.
Take in the views from Lamberti Tower
Dating from the 12th century and standing 84 metres high, Lamberti Tower rises above Verona like a giant exclamation mark.
Twin bells were added in 1295, lending it the name Tower of the Bells. The Maronga bell rang out in case of fire (at that time, the city’s buildings were largely wooden). The larger Rengo bell heralded political meetings.
Climb 368 steps to its summit for spectacular views of Verona. Not feeling the steps? Take the lift for an extra fee.
Finish with an Aperol Spritz in Piazza del Erbe
You’ve earned it. End your day in Verona’s most photogenic square, Piazza del Erbe.
Also known as the Vegetable Market, it has been the focal point of civic life since Roman times. As the site of the Roman Forum, it was home to the most important buildings, including the Capitolium.
The Fountain of Madonna Verona in the centre was fashioned from a Roman bath basin. The Roman statue at its top carries a banner bearing the ancient city motto: “Verona is a city that provides justice and loves to be praised.”
Today, people congregate beneath the pastel-coloured buildings to browse market stalls and sip aperitivi. Pull up a chair and join them. Saluti!
Dinner: If you are staying overnight in Verona, I recommend eating at Bottega & Tavola di Corte Palazzina (Via Francesco Berni, 1). It was one of the best meals of this trip to Italy.
Plan Your Visit
When to go
The best time to visit Verona is April, or August to October. I last visited in April. The days were warm and sunny, and it wasn’t too busy.
In spring and summer, you can expect sunny days and warm temperatures. However, Verona experiences its wettest days between May and July.
If you want to catch the Verona Arena Opera season, plan for June to September, but expect significantly more tourists.
Winter is the off-season in Verona, but it can be cold and damp.
Getting There and Around
High-speed trains from Venice (1 hour 15 minutes), Milan (1 hour 15 minutes) and Bologna (55 minutes) stop at Verona Porta Nuova, 15 minutes on foot from the Arena. Both Trenitalia and Italo serve the city; compare prices here.
Verona’s small Catullo Airport has flights from some European cities, including London. The 199 Airlink bus (every 20 minutes, 15-minute journey) connects the terminal to Porta Nuova. Buy your ticket at the machine or pay the driver (contactless accepted).
Verona’s city centre is very walkable. If you need public transport, green and blue ATV buses cover the wider city. Buy tickets at bus stations, newsagents or on board (on-board tickets cost more).
You can also explore on a guided bike tour, or on the hop-on-hop-off bus.
Where to stay
I’d seriously consider making Verona your base for exploring northern Italy. It’s considerably less expensive than Venice, far less touristy, and you stand a fighting chance of getting a table at a decent restaurant.
Here are my top picks of places to stay in Verona.
Mid-range – B&B Valverde
I stayed here, located midway between the Arena and the train station. This is perfect if you want to stay somewhere small with a personal touch and shared kitchen facilities.
Emanuele and his mother, Laura, could not have been more welcoming and provided loads of local tips. The room was spacious and the bathroom spotless.
Mid-range hotel – Hotel Giberti & Spa
I also stayed here. It’s a terrific choice if you are planning to take day trips from Verona by train.
Rooms are comfortable and spacious, and the reception staff were so friendly. The buffet breakfast was excellent.
Although I wasn’t able to take advantage of this, the hotel offers free bikes from April to November.
Splurge – Due Torri Hotel
I have my beady eye on this 5-star hotel for a return visit. It’s one of the best luxury hotels in Verona and its location in the heart of the city’s historic centre is unbeatable.
The hotel’s sumptuous rooms and suites feature period furniture and look out over the city. Breakfast is included in all room rates.
Travelling Solo in Verona
Italy is a fabulous destination for solo travellers, and Verona is no exception.
All the key sights are within easy walking distance of each other, accommodation is plentiful across all budgets, and the city has a low crime rate with a famously friendly culture. The usual common sense solo safety precautions apply: keep valuables close and stick to well-lit areas at night.
READ THIS NEXT: Best Solo Travel Destinations in Italy
Where to Next?
I used Verona as a base for visiting Vicenza, Padua and Lake Garda. With the city’s excellent rail connections, you can even get to Venice and back in a day.
- 7 Easy Day Trips from Verona by Train
- Is Padua Worth Visiting? 10 Reasons to Say ‘Yes!’
- Visiting the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua: Giotto’s Masterpiece
- 14 Best Things to Do in Vicenza in One Day: A Palladian Paradise
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.