bridge in verona with view of towers in the background

2 Days in Verona: Itinerary for A Dreamy City Escape (2025)

Verona is ironically known for all the wrong things — and forgotten for many of its best merits.

Like that whole Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet thing? Well, the setting is technically right, but that’s about where the similarities end… any of the supposed “houses” that are related to it, are actually not connected at all!

Planning your Verona trip in a hurry? Here are my quick picks:

🏛️ Best Verona Tours & Experiences
1. Guided Tour of the Verona Arena (#1 attraction!)
2. Amarone Wine Tour from Verona (taste one of Italy’s most acclaimed red wines)
3. History & Hidden Gem Verona Walking Tour (lots of secret spots!)

🛏️ Best Verona Hotels
1. Vista Palazzo (old world elegance in a renovated palace)
2. Hotel Accademia (central mid-range hotel with antique detail)
3. Relais Empire (budget accommodations in the Old Town)

🚘 Planning to travel around Verona independently? Look into car rentals in Verona.

🚕 Arriving at Verona airport? Arrange your Welcome Pickups in advance for the same price as an airport taxi.
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Verona's town center along the river, with a sunlit view of charming old house facades lining the river, with a majestic castle perched on a hill in the distance, surrounded by cypress trees.

For example, the famed “Juliet’s House” may date back to the 13th century, but the balcony it’s so known for wasn’t added until the 20th century!

But there’s a lot more to Verona than its (dubious) connection to Shakespeare. Think well-preserved, still-utilized Roman arenas that house impressive operas al fresco all summer long.

Think stunning bridges connecting the two sides of Verona, split by a river, with a path leading to a hill with the most epic view over the entire city.

Think towers, think tombs, think cathedrals: now you’re starting to have an idea of what Verona is actually about.

Things to Know Before Visiting Verona

Verona. Facades of old houses.

Verona is located in Northeastern Italy, close to Lake Garda. It’s an easy city to reach, just two hours from Milan or an hour from Venice by car. You won’t need a car in Verona, so if you’d rather travel light, you can also catch a train from Milan or Venice and enjoy exploring the city on foot. 

As for the best time to visit Verona, it really depends on the activities you plan on doing! Summer is great for seeing opera shows in the Arena, but the city can get crowded (like, unpleasantly so). Ideally, aim for June or September to avoid the peak months of July and August. Even better, visit Verona in spring, fall, or even winter.

Day 1 of Your Verona Itinerary

Start your day with an Italian breakfast.

A typical italian breakfast of cappuccino and cornetto, a sweet croissant-like pastry

The best way to begin your day exploring Verona is with a typical Italian breakfast at Caffè Borsari, one of the best cafés in Verona. Right in the historical center of Verona is known for its great coffee and delicious pastries, like the traditional cornetto.

Not only is this place as Italian as it gets, but it’s also ideally located for the rest of this Verona itinerary, making it the perfect first stop for your exploration of Verona’s historic center.

Visit Juliet’s House.

Bronze statue of Juliet, with her hand resting on the railing, in front of the balcony at Casa di Giulietta in Verona. The house, though a popular tourist attraction, was not the actual inspiration for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Most people who come to Verona want to visit Juliet’s House, a place made famous by several Hollywood movies, especially Letters to Juliet. Because of its popularity, it’s a good idea to visit this place early in the day before it gets flooded by eager tourists looking for Verona’s most romantic spot.

Visitors come to Juliet’s House mainly to admire the iconic little balcony, leave a love note on the dedicated wall, check out Juliet’s statue, and rub her right breast in hopes of some luck in love (hopefully, better luck than Juliet herself).

… But what many visitors don’t know is that the famed balcony couldn’t possibly have inspired Shakespeare to write his Romeo and Juliet, since it is a 20th-century addition to the original 13th-century house.

Nevertheless, this is a must-see place in Verona. Book your fast-track entry tickets online to get priority access to Juliet’s House, including an audioguide to add important context to the true history of this misunderstood building.

Budget Tip: If you happen to visit on the first Sunday of the month between October and May, you can access the museum for just €1!

Get your skip-the-line tickets for Juliet’s House here!

Explore Verona’s historical center.

View of Piazza delle Erbe in the heart of Verona, Italy, with a statue of a woman standing in the fountain, surrounded by historic buildings on a quiet morning

After visiting Juliet’s House, it’s time to check out Verona’s charming historical center. Made a UNESCO site in 2000, the city showcases an eclectic range of two millennia of architecture ranging from Ancient Roman to Gothic and Renaissance, all beautifully preserved.

Start your tour by exploring the impressive Piazza delle Erbe, Verona’s oldest and most significant square. During ancient times, this was the center of political and economic affairs; today, it’s a great start for a self-guided walking tour of central Verona.

The square is surrounded by iconic buildings like Torre dei Lamberti and Palazzo Maffei. At its center, take a moment to admire the beautiful Fontana Madonna.

Wide view of Piazza dei Signori in Verona, Italy, featuring the statue of Dante Alighieri at the center, surrounded by historic buildings with intricate architecture.

Not far from Piazza delle Erbe, you can find the smaller but equally beautiful Piazza dei Signori, dominated by the Statue of Dante Alighieri and surrounded by historic buildings like the Loggia del Consiglio and Palazzo del Podestà.

Nearby, you’ll also find the Scaliger Tombs, but we’ll cover those on the second day of this Verona itinerary, as it’s worth entering and exploring in depth.

Other spots worth checking out in Verona’s historical center include:

  • the main shopping street Via Giuseppe Mazzini;
  • the 1st-century city gate Porta Borsari;
  • the ancient marble arch Arco dei Gavi; and
  • the 14th-century bridge Ponte Scaligero, also known as Ponte di Castelvecchio.

After spending the morning exploring Verona, it’s time to head over to Piazza Bra, the wide square housing Verona’s most iconic landmark, the Arena, the next stop on our itinerary!

Prefer a little guidance and context? This affordable walking tour covers Verona’s main piazzas listed above and a handful of cool secret spots that you’ll only find out about by taking the tour!

Check availability and book tour here!

Take a tour of the Verona Arena.

Wide-angle view of the pink marble arches and intricate stonework of the Verona Arena, showcasing its well-preserved design and grandeur as a landmark of the city.

As one of the most important landmarks in the city, Verona Arena is a can’t-miss whether you have just one day in Verona or better yet, two. It’s both one of the largest and best-preserved amphitheaters in the world, originally built by Romans in the 1st century CE. Personally, I think it’s more impressive than the Roman Colosseum!

The reason why it’s so good in shape is simple: constant maintenance! It’s been maintained and renovated regularly since the 1500s, allowing its continual use (it often doubles as an opera venue now, luckily for gladiators and their victims alike).

You can visit the Arena on your own, but the best way to explore this imposing landmark is through a guided tour.

View of the interior of the Verona Arena, with rows of stone seating surrounding a large open central space, showcasing the arena's impressive structure and ancient Roman architecture.

This short Verona Arena guided tour allows you to enter the amphitheater by skipping the line, and to visit the monument with an expert guide who will tell you all about the gladiator shows and the famous plays performed here over the centuries.

Just book online a few days in advance and show up at the meeting point right by the Arena to start your guided tour at 12:30.

Heads up when you’re planning your day: remember not to bring suitcases or large bags as they aren’t allowed in the arena.

Check availability for Arena tours online here!

Tip: If you don’t want to take a tour, you can still ensure skip-the-line access by buying a 24-hour or 48-hour Verona Pass, which also includes sights like Juliet’s House. It also includes all public transportation during your time in Verona, so this can be quite a good deal!

Grab a quick lunch.

A piadina sandwich, a quick street food classic in italy, with arugula and prosciutto

Verona has many delightful dining options on offer, including everything from elegant restaurants to tasty street food. For a quick bite, try the delicious pizza at Pizzeria da Vincenzo or a piadina at Buoono, both just a couple blocks from the Arena.

If you prefer sitting down for a proper restaurant meal, have some tasty pasta at the cozy restaurant La Vecia Mescola, which is also conveniently close to the Verona Arena.

Visit Verona Cathedral.

Exterior view of the Verona Cathedral (Duomo), featuring its Romanesque architecture, intricate tan marble facade, and towering bell tower, set against the scenic backdrop of Verona.

After lunch, head over to Verona Cathedral, also known as Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare… but that’s quite a mouthful.

The cathedral is just one of the buildings of the larger Cathedral complex: there’s also the Baptistry of San Giovanni in Fonte, the Canon’s cloister, the church of Saint Elena, the Capitular Library, and the Bishop’s Residence.

It’s worth taking your time here, so plan on spending one or two hours visiting the various buildings and learning about their rich history.

In the Church of Saint Elena, you can see several remains of the ancient Paleo-Christian church built on the same spot in the 4th century CE, while the cathedral houses gorgeous works of art, including a painting by the acclaimed Italian master, Titian.

You can visit the entire complex for just €4, but you can also buy an €8 ticket to access the cathedral complex as well as three other historic churches in Verona. If you plan on visiting at least two churches, the latter option is the best!

Check out the view from Torre dei Lamberti.

Medieval Lamberti Tower (Torre dei Lamberti) in Verona, dating back to the 11th century, with its prominent clock, standing alongside an ancient column from the 1400s in Piazza delle Erbe

To admire a stunning panoramic view of Verona from above, head over to Torre dei Lamberti. The 84-meter tower was built in 1172 by the Lamberti family and still stands strong today as a unique icon of the Verona skyline.

There’s even a bit of a historical mystery around the tower… since there’s no other traces of the Lamberti family left in Verona’s historical record except for this giant tower!

The tower was initially much smaller but was renovated several times, the most significant being the 15th-century renovation following a devastating lightning strike. There was also a 1779 renovation, which added a clock to the tower.

Panoramic view of Verona's old town from the top of Torre dei Lamberti, with red-tiled rooftops, historic buildings, and the surrounding cityscape of Verona, Italy.

You can climb the 368 steps to get to the top of the tower or pay an extra euro to catch the elevator. Once you reach the top (and catch your breath), you’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree view of Verona.

The entry fee is €6 for adults and €4.50 for reduced admission. The tower is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with the last admission at 45 minutes before closing. 

If you can time your visit to coincide with sunset, definitely go for it! It is not be possible during the peak of summer as the tower closes before the sun goes down, but check the sunset times and see if you can make it work if you’re visiting during the shoulder seasons or in the winter.

Have a delicious dinner.

Piazza delle Erbe in Verona at night, illuminated by city lights and streetlights, with the Madonna Verona statue and the Lamberti Tower glowing against the dark sky.

After checking out the view from Torre dei Lamberti, you can either explore a bit more of Verona’s historical center or rest up back at your hotel before dinner.

As you already saw at lunch, Verona offers a wide array of restaurants where you can enjoy tasty Italian dishes. 

For a traditional Veronese meal, go to Osteria Il Ciottolo, an old-fashioned, cozy restaurant serving delicious pasta and meat-based dishes (though it also has pretty satisfying vegetarian alternatives).

For another option, La Griglia near the Verona Arena is a delightful alternative, especially for meat lovers, since they specialize in grilled meats.

Attend an opera show in the Verona Arena.

Interior of the Arena di Verona, the second largest Roman amphitheater in the world, featuring red carpet-style floor in the center of the amphitheater (floor level) and showcasing its grand structure, known for hosting famous opera performances.

The perfect way to admire the Verona Arena in the evening is by attending an opera show!

You can do exactly that on summer weekends, from mid-June to mid-September, when the Arena serves as the stage for famous shows like Aida, the Traviata, and the Barber of Sevilla!

This Arena di Verona Ticket is a great way to book tickets for summer operas. Check the calendar for available dates and be sure to book online in advance, as tickets sell out quickly and performances aren’t held every day. As a general rule of thumb, operas take place during the opera season on Thursday through Sunday, with some Wednesday performances on occasion.

Keep in mind, many tickets for the 2025 summer season are already sold out, so it’s best to book ASAP. You can choose from different price tiers based on how close you want to be to the action.

Book your Summer 2025 tickets to Opera at the Verona Arena here!

Day 2 of Your Verona Itinerary 

Have your morning coffee.

Allison's hand holding a cup of coffee with latte art with a blue saucer.

Garage Coffee Bros is the spot to hit if you’re looking to mix things up and enjoy a specialty coffee in Verona… because, let’s keep it 100, even in Italy, espresso bars can get a little tired… I’m sorry, but it’s true — especially if you’re a coffee snob like me. (My nonna is disowning me from the grave over this)

The shop serves all kinds of coffee, from the classic cappuccino to the flat white and cold brew, both of which are rare finds in Italy. If you’re more in the mood for a more typically Italian breakfast, grab a cappuccino and a croissant at Bottega del Caffè Dersut, near Castelvecchio Museum.

Check out Verona’s historical churches.

Exterior view of the Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore in Verona, Italy, showcasing its Romanesque architecture, intricate facade, and towering bell tower.

After fueling up, start your second day by visiting all or some of the other three gorgeous churches included in the combined ticket with the Cathedral that I suggested you visit yesterday. Those other three churches are: Basilica di San Zeno, Chiesa di San Fermo, and Basilica di S. Anastasia.

The Romanesque Basilica di San Zeno is the furthest from the city center, in the San Zeno neighborhood… so I think it’s worth the walk, but if you want to stay closer to the center of Verona, this may be one you want to give a pass.

The church was built over the course of four centuries — from 967 to 1398, to be precise — and it’s one of Verona’s key medieval landmarks.

It features a typical Romanesque façade that became the inspiration for many of its architectural contemporaries in Verona, along with a beautiful rose window, and a portal decorated with bas-reliefs. You can also visit the crypt and its beautiful cloisters!

Facade of the Church of San Fermo Maggiore (Saints Fermo and Rustico) in Verona, Italy, featuring a blend of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles, on a sunny day in Italy.

A bit closer to the city center, right by Ponte Navi, you’ll find the Church of San Fermo Maggiore… but what you might not realize at first glance, is that two churches are built one on top of the other here!

The lower part represents the early Paleo-Christian church built sometime in the 5th century CE. In the 11th century, the Benedictines remodeled the church by adding an upper part and keeping the original foundations.

A system of stairways connected the two churches. But in the 13th century, the Franciscans restructured the upper church in the Gothic style, with the result being the church you see today.

Interior of the Gothic-style Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, showcasing intricate floral detailing on the painted ceiling, highlighting the church's ornate architecture and interior design.

The last of Verona’s historic churches is also the largest in the city. The Basilica of Saint Anastasia is a gorgeously decorated Gothic church, built atop the bones of a 4th-century church that started to be renovated by the order of the Dominicans in the 13th century. Hey, the Italians love to repurpose a good foundation, and I can appreciate that architectural savvy and time-saving philosophy!

Among the most impressive features of the church, be sure to notice the “Hunchbacks” holy water fountains at the entrance! There’s also the decorated ceilings, Pisanello’s fresco of St. George and the Princess, and the impressive Giusti chapel. It’s truly an architectural marvel!

Visit the Scaliger Tombs.

Exterior view of the Scaliger Tombs in the heart of Verona, featuring unique Gothic architecture and intricate detailing, making it a distinctive landmark of the city, as well as a bridge with an arch allowing for people to walk above the street level.

After visiting some (or all) of the churches, you can check out the unique Scaliger Tombs I mentioned earlier, which are conveniently located next to Piazza dei Signori.

The Scaliger Tombs, or Arche Scaligere in Italian, are a unique monument consisting of Gothic funerary structures that were designed to house the tombs of important members of the Scaligeri family. They date back to the 14th century, when this powerful family still ruled over Verona.

Before planning your visit, make sure you check the opening times online as they do vary quite a bit over the course of the year. Generally, the hours are from Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM (last admission 15 minutes before closing).

There isn’t a separate entry ticket, but it’s included on the Verona Card and with other admission tickets. Click here for more detailed information, as it’s a little complicated.

Discover Colle San Pietro.

View of Saint Peter's Hill (Colle San Pietro) in Verona, with the funicular railway ascending the hill, offering scenic views of the city below.

For your last stop of the morning, head over to Saint Peter’s Hill (Colle San Pietro). The hill rises above the city on the northeastern bank of the Adige River and can be reached on foot or via a mountain cable car.

The cable car costs only €3 for a return ticket or €2 for a single ride and offers gorgeous city views, so if you ask me, it’s well worth the fare.

Once you reach the top of Saint Peter’s Hill, you’ll be treated to sweeping views of Verona from above. Walk around to find various panoramic points around Piazzale Castel S. Pietro.

View of the cable car in San Pietro, Verona, with its route passing by ancient stone walls, offering scenic views of the city and surrounding landscape.

Unfortunately, you can’t visit the interior of the fortress, but the outside is fair game! Not far from Castel San Pietro, you can visit an archaeological museum dedicated to an Ancient Roman theater, Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano.

The ancient theater along with a museum with Roman, Greek, and Etruscan archaeological findings from Verona and its surroundings are all accessible for a small entry fee.

Have a lunch break.

Ready for a lunch break? Check out the tasty regional dishes at Trattoria al Pompiere, or the bagels with an Italian twist at Bagel Road if you’re craving something different.

If you’re looking for vegetarian dishes in a delightful location, cross the river to the northwestern bank and head to Ziga Bistrò.

Go on a wine tour or explore more of Verona.

Palettes full of drying grapes for the first step of the Amarone wine process at a local winery.

If you’re an aficionado of Italian wines and want to explore the wine region near Verona, this 4-hour Amarone wine trail tour is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. The tour will take you to the Valpolicella wine region, where an expert sommelier will guide you through wine cellars and tell you all about local wine production.

Amarone in particular has a really interesting winemaking process, which involves sun-drying the grapes to concentrate the flavors before pressing them, making for extremely rich and slightly sweet (but strong and tannic) wines.

Aside from visiting the vineyards and cellars, you’ll also get a chance to admire the beautiful countryside near Verona. The tour includes two wine tastings at two different wineries (and you have other Amarone wine tour options here!)

Book your Amarone wine tour here!

Exterior view of Castelvecchio, also known as the Old Castle Museum, located in Verona, Italy, showcasing its medieval architecture and surrounding fortress walls, with hedges and lawn and pathways.

If the wine tour isn’t really your speed, you can spend the afternoon exploring more of Verona and visiting one of the many gorgeous museums. Verona is home to several museums worth visiting, and two of the best are Castelvecchio Museum and Galleria d’Arte Moderna Achille Forti, briefly GAM

Castelvecchio is dedicated to medieval, Renaissance, and modern art until the 18th century, including paintings, marble sculptures, and ancient objects. You can visit Castelvecchio Museum from Tuesday to Sunday for a €6 entrance fee. If you buy the tickets online, there’s a small pre-sale fee, but you skip the line.

GAM, on the other hand, is home to a vast collection of modern art that belonged to Achille Forti, a local botanist and art collector. Among the artworks, you can admire paintings by local 19th and 20th-century artists and beautiful sculptures.

Unlike other museums, GAM is only open from 2 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday and all day from Thursday to Sunday. On Monday, the museum is closed, so plan accordingly.

Have one final dinner in Verona.

Old street in center of Verona at night, Italy

Hungry for more delicious Italian cuisine? Great news, there are plenty more restaurant choices for your last dinner in Verona. 

Hosteria17 is a great option not far from Ponte di Castelvecchio, serving tasty pasta dishes and meat in a cozy setting.

For more refined dishes in an upscale location, head over to Ristorante Nastro Azzurro right next to the Verona Arena, or to the stylish Darì Ristorante & Enoteca.

Where to Stay in Verona

bridge in verona with view of towers in the background

Budget: Relais Empire

This surprisingly elegant affordable option is right in the heart of Verona’s Città Antica: as good of a location as it gets.

The detailing in the décor at Relais Empire is a little old-fashioned, but I’d argue that’s also part of its charm. Chandeliers, tufted headboards, sumptuous fabrics: it may not be subtle or modern, but it is refined!

Check availability, rates, and reviews here!

Mid-Range: Hotel Accademia

There’s not too much to say about Hotel Accademia except that it does old-world excellence and it does it well.

This historic hotel is in the heart of the old city, and it’s maintained its historical detailing while adding lovely modern touches.

The rooms are simple yet elegant — think velvet chairs, jewel-toned color palettes, and warm lighting — without being fussy, keeping the focus on the excellent location.

Check availability, rates, and reviews here!

Luxury: Vista Palazzo

It really doesn’t get more out-of-this-world elegant than Vista Palazzo! The rooms are exquisitely designed, with artistic eye for detail in every corner — whether that’s the green marble bathrooms, the maximalist-yet-refined decor and wallpaper in the rooms, or the sumptuous lobby.

There’s also a terrace with gorgeous views perfect for enjoying a drink and a snack, or a spa where you can relax with a little private plunge pool after your treatment.

Check availability, rates, and reviews here!

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