HOW TO SPEND TWO DAYS IN VERONA ITALY
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Last summer Payton and I spent two weeks traveling around Italy. We started our trip in Northern Italy exploring the Dolomites and Verona, before making our way south to the Amalfi Coast.
While you may think of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet when you hear the name Verona there is so much more to see in this charming Italian town. While you can see the highlights of Verona in just one day I think two days spent here would be perfect.
GETTING HERE
Verona is in Northern Italy and is located halfway between Milan and Venice. Verona is a great starting point if you’re visiting Lake Garda or the Dolomites and is worth a stop if you’re traveling between Venice and Milan.
Verona is located almost halfway between Venice and Milan
By Train: Verona’s main train station is Verona Porta Nuova. You can catch a taxi, bus or Uber right in front (this is where we grabbed our uber).
From Venice: 1.5-hour train ride from Venice Santa Lucia Station to Verona Porta Nuova
From Milan: 1.5-hour train ride from Milan Centrale to Verona Porta Nuova (this is what we did).
I like to book trains in Italy on either the Italo or Trenitalia websites. Make sure that you create an account and that you are logged in before making your bookings. This makes it super easy when you’re traveling since all the information will be on the train app. For route information, I like to reference Seat61.com
By Air:
If arriving from another European city you can easily travel on one of the many low-cost European carriers like Ryanair and EasyJet. We actually flew out of Verona to Naples on Ryanair. The Verona airport is super small. Check in doesn’t open until two hours before departure and the gate area is tiny so no need to arrive any sooner.
GETTING INTO TOWN
From the train station:
Walk - It is about a 20-minute walk into the historic city center from the train station.
Bus - If you don’t want to walk and have luggage, another option is to take a bus into town. You can buy a bus ticket inside a tobacco shop in the train station or the ticket kiosk near the bus stalls. You can find ticket and schedule information here.
Taxi: You’ll see the taxi stand right when you exit the train station. Rides range from €10-€12 to get to city center
From the Airport:
Airlink - is a shuttle bus that connects passengers to the main train station in town. You can purchase tickets on board or at the ticket machine in the Arrivals Hall. For more information click here.
Uber/Taxi - This is what we did. It’s pricey but super convenient to be dropped right at the door of your hotel with your luggage
WHERE TO STAY
Verona’s historic city center is very small, and you can’t go wrong staying within the boundaries of the river. We didn’t have a car during our stay, so we didn't have to worry about parking. Just like our stay in Bruges, it was so nice to just walk everywhere and not need public transport.
We booked one night at the Albergo Mazzanti using our $300 annual credit from my Capital One Venture X Rewards card. The hotel is literally steps from the Piazza delle Erbe, shops, restaurants, etc. Our room was huge, the bathroom had only a shower, the A/C worked great (because honestly, this is the most important thing when traveling in the summertime right?) and breakfast was included in our rate. Staff was attentive and even met us in the street when we got lost. We would definitely choose this property again.
All information about the Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card has been collected independently by Points for Family Travel. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO IF YOU HAVE TWO DAYS
Verona is so small that it’s entirely possible to see the highlights in one day. But for a more relaxing pace, I recommend spending two days
Verona Arena
Verona Arena - Did you know there is more than one colosseum in Italy? The Verona Arena (built in 30 AD, which makes it older than the Roman Colosseum) sits in the heart of city center. We were just strolling around and happened upon it. It’s pretty amazing. Every summer there is a world-class opera festival (mid-June- September) held in the Arena. Make sure to check here for schedule and tickets before you arrive. I would come back to Verona just to see a performance inside.
Porta Borsari - Verona was once a walled city built by the Romans and this was the main entrance to ancient Verona.
Juliet’s House (Casa Di Giuletta)- You can’t come to Verona without seeing Juliet’s Balcony and to rub the breast of Juliet’s bronze statue in front (to help find a lover). There was a line to do this by the way. You can also drop off a letter in the red mailbox to the Juliet Club which was made famous by the movie And Juliet (which you should watch before your trip). Free views of the courtyard head up to the 2nd floor of the gift shop.
Castelvecchio (Old Castle) - 14th Century palace partly destroyed in WWII is home to the Castelvecchio Museum
Explore a Piazza - Sitting at a table in a piazza may be one of my favorite things to do in Italy. Whether it’s with an aperitivo in the evening or a cappuccino in the morning, I love people watching and just taking it all in. Verona is so small, just start walking and you’ll run right into one
Piazza dei Signori - this was a small piazza near our hotel and if you want to escape the bustle of the Piazza delle Erbe, just take a few steps through the breezeway to find it.
Piazza delle Erbe - There was a large market on the day we were there, but I woke up early the next morning and had the place to myself. Be on the lookout for the 14th Century Madonna Verona Fountain. Climb up Lamberti Tower for fantastic city views. An elevator takes you up two-thirds of the way, then you’ll have to climb 300 steps to reach the top. Book your entrance ahead of time if visiting in peak season.
Piazza Bra - this is the large piazza outside of the arena. Great for having a pre-show dinner, a drink at sunset and people watching
Cross a Bridge or Two
The Adige River runs through Verona which means that any direction you go from the historic city center you’ll run into the river and one of several historic bridges. If you cross just one, make sure it's the Ponte Pietra. The walk there is beautiful, especially in the morning or close to sunset.
The Ponte Pietra (Stone Bridge) - Built by the Romans in the first century B.C. and destroyed during wars and flooding. Head across the bridge and look back for stunning city views then continue on the Castel San Pietro
Castel San Pietro - Across the Ponte Pietra Bridge and accessible by walking or the funicular ($3) the views at the top are worth it
Duomo Complex - includes a 12th century Baptistery, the Canons Cloister and Santa Elena Church
FINAL THOUGHTS
We really love pairing a big city visit with the slower pace and vibe of a smaller town, especially in Europe. Verona definitely fits the bill and was a great place to recharge and relax after spending a few days hiking in the Dolomites. I absolutely think Verona is worth a stop on your Italian adventure.
Happy Travels!