One Day in Verona, Italy: What to Do, Eat, and See

Verona is known as the city of the Capulets and Montagues, the home of Romeo and Juliet. And while you can visit Juliet’s balcony, there’s much more to the city than Shakespeare’s tragic love story.

We somehow found ourselves in Verona for an entire month, renting an apartment just 10 minutes from the Roman arena. Over that time, we ended up writing our own love story with the city.

Like any popular Italian destination, there’s the classic tourist route, which you’ll follow in this one day itinerary. But during our month here, we also uncovered smaller gems like a beautiful Renaissance style garden, a trattoria serving excellent ravioli, and a handful of bakeries we kept going back to.

One day in Verona is enough to see the main highlights. In this guide, I’ll share the key sights, along with a few favorite food spots and practical tips on how to get here, where to stay, and ticket information.

Where to Stay in Verona

• Vista Verona: A five-star hotel in the historic heart of Verona with sumptuous decor, spa and wellness facilities, and a rooftop terrace overlooking the old town.
• Hotel Accademia: A mid-range hotel with comfortable rooms and a central location within walking distance to the main sights.
• Residenza Borsari: A boutique hotel with classic Italian charm in a historic building.

Planning a bigger trip? Check out our 14-day Italy itinerary for a fully mapped route, including a stop in Verona.

One Day in Verona Itinerary

Stop by a café for breakfast

Corsa Porta Borsari is one of the main streets in Verona. If you’re arriving from the train station, you’ll walk along it to reach the center.

Stop by Pasticceria Flego or Caffè Borsari for coffee and a brioche with crema.

Verona Arena

The Verona Arena is a smaller version of Rome’s Colosseum, built from pink and white limestone and dating back to 30 AD. It’s one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters still in use today.

Performances: Every summer, Verona hosts the annual Opera Festival inside the arena. If you are visiting between June and September, be sure to check the performance calendar!

Castelvecchio Bridge

Castelvecchio Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges in Verona. Built in the 1300s, it was later reconstructed after World War II.

You can also visit the Castelvecchio Museum for medieval and Renaissance artwork. With limited time in Verona, I’d skip it unless it’s a high priority for you.

Piazza delle Erbe

Piazza delle Erbe, or Market Square, is the oldest square in Verona. It has been at the heart of the city since Roman times, when it served as the forum.

There are usually vendors set up here, though it’s not an authentic food market. Most sell touristy items. Still, on a nice day, it’s a lovely place to sit down for an aperitivo.

Torre Lamberti

Torre Lamberti is the highest viewpoint in Verona at 84 meters (275 feet). It’s a great spot for 360° views over the city.

You can climb the 368 steps or pay a little extra to take the elevator to the top. I chose the elevator.

You’ll need to reserve in advance via email. Not ideal, but sometimes that’s just the Italian way.

Juliet’s House

You can see Juliet’s balcony for free from the courtyard, but if you want to walk onto the balcony and see the house museum, you must reserve a ticket online in advance.

Inside the house you can see Veronese frescoes, 19th-century paintings, as well as modern day costumes from the 1968 movie version of Romeo & Juliet.

Personally, I don’t think it’s worth paying for the museum, it’s pretty sparse and not particularly memorable.

Basilica di Santa Anastasia

The Basilica di Santa Anastasia is Verona’s largest church, with a mix of Gothic and Romanesque architecture and an interior filled with beautiful marble.

Completed around 1400 after more than a century of construction, it’s home to impressive frescoes and a large collection of artworks.

A small fee is required to enter. Make sure to have some cash on hand.

Ponte Pietra

Ponte Pietra, meaning “stone bridge,” is a Roman arch bridge completed in 100 BC and one of the earliest structures built after the Romans arrived in Verona.

It was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt using the original materials.

Teatro Romano

This theater was built by the Romans in the first century BC. Its ruins were uncovered in the 1800s, and while they are partially visible today, much of the space has been revamped or covered with modern materials as it continues to be a working theater with events on throughout the year.

There is also a museum with mosaics, Roman statues, tombs, as well as everyday items recovered from excavations of ancient Verona.

Piazzale Castel San Pietro

A little before sunset, make your way to this scenic lookout on the other side of the Adige River for the best views of Verona. The walk up is a bit of a climb, but you can also take the funicular to the top.

Read also: Best Things to do in Verona

Verona Tour Options

If you’re wanting to learn more about the history of Verona, then taking a tour is an excellent choice. From historical walking tours to food and wine tours, these are the best options.

• Verona Food, Wine & History tour: This is the tour to take if you want a bit of history and a bit of food. You’ll wander through the streets of Verona with a guide learning about the main sights all while sipping and eating your way through the city.
• Verona Highlights Walking Tour: On this small-group tour, you’ll wander around the city with an expert guide seeing all of the highlights.

Where to eat in Verona

• La Bottega della Gina XXL: For giant, homemade tortelloni.  
• Dal Grano: For takeaway pizza.
• Caffè Monte Baldo – Osteria con cucina: For cicchetti – small, open-faced sandwiches and other tapas.
• Trattoria al Pompiere: One of our favorites for pasta. Reserve in advance.

How to get to Verona

Getting to Verona by plane

The Verona Villafranca Airport, also known as Valerio Catullo Airport, is about 10 km (around 6 miles) out of the city.

To get to the city, you can get the 199 bus or catch a taxi.

Getting to Verona by train

The main train station in Verona is Verona Porta Nuova, but there is also a second one called Verona Porta Vescovo. The Porta Nuova station is closest to the center.

You can walk to the city center 20 minutes, catch the bus, or get a taxi.

Purchase your train tickets in Italy online at the official Trenitalia website or via the app. For the best prices, buy your tickets at least 3 weeks in advance.

Getting to Verona by car

Verona is in a great location, more or less equidistant from Venice, Bologna, and Milan with drive times of around 90 minutes to two hours.

You’ll need to park outside of the center. The best way to find a parking lot is by searching on Google Maps for parking lots.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Verona?

Summer is absolutely beaSummer is beautiful in Verona, but it’s also the busiest time of year. April and October are great alternatives if you’re looking for fewer crowds.
utiful but packed with tourists. April and October are good months to visit with less people.

Verona has one of the best Christmas markets in Italy, typically running from mid November to Christmas.

Is the 24 hour Verona Card worth it?

Based on this itinerary, not really. But if you plan to visit Juliet’s House and the Castelvecchio Museum, then yes, the cost can be worth it.

You can read more about the card on the official tourist website. I’d recommend it if you’re spending 48 hours in Verona.

Is one day in Verona enough time?

I spent a month in Verona and still felt like I had more to see. But yes, one day is enough to cover the highlights. If you’d rather take it slower, I’d recommend staying two days.