The ten most evocative places in Verona to see in a day

Arrange a short holiday or a business trip with a one-day round-trip, leave with Italo to discover Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage city in the Veneto region. Our one-day mini-guide offers a truly unique itinerary! Did you know that the main monuments are all located within the historic center? And in addition to the city’s top attractions, you will have a chance to discover two unusual destinations.

Verona is the perfect city to enjoy a relaxing day without stress, and you won’t need transportation to get around. However, if you’re traveling with little ones, here’s our guide to what to do in Verona with kids. Are you ready for your one-day discovery on Verona?

Verona’s ten unmissable destinations

1. Piazza Bra
2. Arena of Verona
3. Shopping in via Mazzini
4. Juliet’s House, Balcony and Statue
5. Piazza delle Erbe
6. Piazza dei Signori
7. Arche Scaligere
8. Castelvecchio 
9. Giardino Giusti 
10. Antique market in San Zeno

• How to get to Verona

1. Piazza Bra 

Start this day tour from Verona Porta Nuova station and arrive at the beating heart of the city: Piazza Bra. A stroll along Corso Porta Nuova takes less than 20 minutes; if you want to move by bus, take route no. 13, and in 5 minutes, you will arrive at your destination. Piazza Bra is the city’s main square and one of the largest in Europe. It is embellished by the splendid pink marble you walk on, the majestic Arena, the Palazzo Barbieri, the Grande Guardia, the Fountain of the Alps, the statue of King Victor Emmanuel II, and the Pentagon Tower. In addition, the square is home to numerous wine bars and wine stores where you can taste Verona’s best wines.

2. Arena of Verona 

In Piazza Bra, enjoy a glass of wine and succumb to the enchantment of the Arena, the world-famous amphitheater, the splendid icon of this Venetian city along with the figures of Romeo and Juliet. In Roman times, it was the site of gladiator fights; in the Middle Ages and until the mid-18th century, the site of jousts and tournaments. In 1913, it also became the location of the world’s largest open-air opera season, and today it is a symbol of the city and host to major events and concerts.

The cost of a full ticket to visit the Arena of Verona is €10, and reduced tickets cost €7.50 for groups and over-60s. The site is open Monday through Sunday from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm.

3. Shopping in via Mazzini 

   

From Piazza Bra and after visiting the Arena, walk down Via Mazzini, Verona’s shopping street. This street is an ideal destination to indulge in shopping. You will find many elegant clothing stores, perfumery stores, vintage books, and fine fabrics. Walking around and admiring the shop windows, you can also see the beautiful neoclassical Arvedi Loggia. Before you get to your fourth destination, however, take a lunch break and enjoy typical Verona dishes at the city’s best restaurants; here are our eatery tips.

4. Juliet’s House, Balcony and Statue

   

After shopping, and once you have reached the end of Via Mazzini, you reach Via Cappello 23, Juliet’s house with its garden, balcony and statue. It’s a must, especially if you have organized a romantic weekend in Verona with your sweetheart including five places not to be missed! Juliet’s house is a medieval palazzo that became famous all over the world thanks to William Shakespeare’s celebrated play Romeo and Juliet. Published in 1597, it tells the story of two rival families, the Montagues and the Capulets.

Did you know that, according to popular belief, touching the statue of Shakespeare’s heroine brings luck, especially in love? The statue of Juliet is said to represent the guardian of true love, capable of assuring lovers the good fortune that to her was denied.

Admission to the courtyard of Juliet’s House is free, the cost of the ticket to visit the House itself is €6, reduced by €1 for children aged 8 to 14. Admission is free for over-65s, children under 7 years old and people with disabilities and carers. Reservations are required.

5. Piazza delle Erbe

   

A few meters from Juliet’s house, you reach Piazza delle Erbe, the oldest square in Verona and the beating heart of the city’s business district. In the square, you can admire the Casa dei Mercanti, the colorful facades of the Casa Mazzanti and the fountain of Madonna Verona. Here, in addition to the fruit and vegetable market (on weekends), you can enjoy an excellent apéritif experiencing truly unique terraces and cocktail bars. Here is our guide. Not far from Piazza delle Erbe, visit the Torre dei Lamberti, which rises to a height of 84 meters. From here, you will enjoy a splendid view of the square and the city’s rooftops.

6. Piazza dei Signori 

   

From Piazza delle Erbe, a minute’s walk away, you reach Piazza dei Signori, also known as Piazza Dante. In this square, the Verona’s administrative hub, you can admire the Loggia del Consiglio with its portico, Palazzo Cansignorio and the Palazzo della Regione. On the other hand, if you’re travelling on business, check out our guide on the Verona’s five best coworking facilities.

In the center of the square, you will find the giant statue of Dante Alighieri, who found refuge in Verona during his exile from Florence. This monument to Dante was created by the young sculptor Ugo Zannoni in 1865 to celebrate the sixth centenary of the Supreme Poet’s death, and for more than 150 years, it has been on display in all its glory. If you’re fascinated by the art and history of Italy, do not miss our guide to the most beautiful Italian cities to visit in winter.

7. Arche Scaligere 

   

After visiting Piazza dei Signori, head for Via di S. Maria Antica; it only takes a minute’s walk. Here you can admire the Arche Scaligere, the funerary complex of the ancient Lords of Verona. It is an imposing, monumental tomb that has housed the remains of the Princes of the Della Scala family for more than 700 years. It is one of the most distinctive vistas of the city.

8. Castelvecchio 

   

After your visit to the Arche Scaligere, head for the last must-see attraction on this sightseeing day trip to Verona: Castelvecchio. It’s little more than a 1 km away, and you will reach it in ten minutes. Visit the castle and the museum to admire works by Mantegna, Veronese, Tiepolo and then climb the walls for a truly unique view. Finally, after your visit to the museum, take a walk over the Castelvecchio Bridge, which crosses the River Adige.

The cost of the full ticket for admission to the Museum of Castelvecchio is €6; reduced admission for eligible categories is €4.50 The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm. Admission to the castle alone, on the other hand, is free. If you’re a museum enthusiast traveling with little ones, don’t miss our tips for a night with kids at Verona’s Museum of Natural History.

9. Giardino Giusti 

   

After finishing the classic tour of Verona, here is the first unusual destination you must not miss: the Giusti Garden. From Castelvecchio, it’s a ten-minute walk along the Lungadige Giacomo Matteotti. Visit this Italian-style garden, in which have walked legendary figures such as Mozart and Goethe. This garden was created in the late 15th century and today exhibits the layout commissioned by Agostino Giusti in 1570, designed as a backdrop for the Giusti Palace.

The cost of the full ticket for admission to the Giusti Garden is €10; reduced admission for eligible categories is €7.It is open all year round from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm in winter and until 8.00 pm in summer.

10. Antique market in San Zeno

    

The second unusual destination of this tour is the antique market in San Zeno. Every Sunday, you’ll find the central square invaded with stalls selling books, records, clothing, and furniture, with the imposing Basilica of San Zeno, one of Lombardy’s Romanesque masterpieces, as a spectacular backdrop. If you love vintage, this market takes you back in time, where you and your kids can learn about games, customs, and objects from a bygone age.

How to get to Verona by train

Today you can reach Verona comfortably by train with incredible offers thanks to Italo Treno. Visit the specific page and check the offers and train schedules to and from Verona: buy your modifiable low-cost ticket in advance and you can reach Verona by high-speed train with unbeatable fares. Remember to always access your reserved area to take advantage of the Plus Offers, rates dedicated only to subscribers. If you haven’t already done so, you can sign up for the Italo Più Loyalty Program for free, get 5% off your first trip right away, and collect points with your trips to claim free award tickets.

When you arrive at Verona’s station, a very efficient and well-organized public transportation system provides several bus services to the city center. The price of a single ticket, valid for 90 minutes, is €1.30 and a day ticket costs €4.