One Day in Verona, Italy: Juliet, Romeo, & Scenic Views

Verona, Italy, was on my Italy bucket list for the expected basic reason. It was the setting for one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays, Romeo and Juliet.

That’s it. That’s how it got on my radar. 

When we were finally able to plan a visit to Verona as a day trip from Venice, I found that the charming city was so much more than a shoutout to ill-fated love. 

It was a delicious, delightful escape from the crowds of Venice with a charm of its own. It’s also small enough that one day in Verona won’t feel too rushed, even if you visit on Valentine’s Day as we did. 

I’m telling you, I can be quite basic.

This Verona itinerary details everything we did on our own Verona day trip, including the expected Romeo and Juliet stuff that may have turned you onto the town in the first place.

There’s no shame in it.

Is Verona worth visiting?

Verona is worth visiting for more than the Romeo and Juliet connection. It’s easier to navigate with arguably more charm than nearby Venice, boasts incredible scenic views with minimal effort, and has an affordable, delicious food scene.

How to Spend One Day in Verona

You can spend your day in Verona like this:

• Grab a quick coffee at Caffè Borsari.
• Pay homage to Juliet at Tomba di Giulietta and Juliet’s House.
• Take a self-guided walk of Verona’s best churches, Ponte Pietra, and Romeo’s House.
• Have lunch at Santa Felicita Ristorante.
• Climb up to Castel San Pietro.
• Relax with some wine at Piazza delle Erbe or Piazza Brà.
• See the Arco dei Gavi.
• Walk Ponte Scaligero.

One Day in Verona

We got to Verona on an early train to maximize our time in town, so I’ll approach your one-day itinerary with a similar level of gusto. If you only have a half-day, prioritize what intrigues you. We’re all adults here.

We didn’t start with breakfast or coffee in Verona as we handled that back in Venice.

If you need some sustenance or caffeine before kicking things off, Caffè Borsari on Corso Porta Borsari was on my list for its highly-rated cappuccinos. 

Stop 1: Tomba di Giulietta

Reviews of this one are so weird. You know Juliet wasn’t real, right? What are you expecting here?

This art museum is primarily dedicated to frescoes, including their painstaking restoration. I thought this part of the museum was way more impressive than the macabre bits, but I’m a big fan of Roman decor.

That said, you won’t want to miss the museum’s namesake. Down a series of stone steps, you can visit the tomb believed to have inspired the one featured in Romeo and Juliet. 

It’s an empty tomb, obviously, because Juliet wasn’t real. Please just chuckle with me over reviews that wonder why there isn’t more to this one. I just…she wasn’t real, people.

The building itself is quite scenic, too, as it was once home to a convent dedicated to San Francesco al Corso.

Note: It was buy one, get one free on Valentine’s Day at this museum, so we didn’t bother with the Verona Card. It may be cost-effective for you, though, especially if you want to pack in the city museums. I’d go through and list what you’d like to do in Verona, then decide from there on whether it’s worth it on your Verona trip. 

Stop 2: Juliet’s House

This one felt like a major tourist trap to go inside, but it’s free to see the balcony and stand in line to rub Juliet’s boob for good luck. We didn’t do that, despite the crowd’s fervor in making it happen, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t feel the love while we were there.

We watched a couple get engaged in the midst of all of the bosom action. Yes, it was Valentine’s Day, but I’d be lying if I didn’t get a little teary-eyed watching it all.

I generally become a blubbering mess when I see men cry and he was VERY emotional. 

I’m rooting for you two!

If you want to visit the actual museum, I can’t tell you whether it’s worth it. We only went to see the balcony from below, and that was enough.

This was the busiest stop on our itinerary. Everyone wants to see the balcony, especially on Valentine’s Day. It gets much less thick with tourists from here. 

The building itself is historic. It was once home to the Dal Cappello family, and you’ll see their coat of arms carved on one of the inner arches.

The family may or may not have been the inspiration for the Capulets in Shakespeare’s play, but that’s about where the connections end.

The balcony wasn’t here in Shakespeare’s time. Shakespeare never even visited Verona. It was added here in the early 1900s to capitalize on the purported connection, and lovers (and the hopeful) have been flocking here ever since.

Whatever. It’s cute. 

You’ll need to pay admission to step out on the balcony and have your own, “Wherefore art thou Romeo?” moment, but again, she wasn’t real, people. 

Stop 3: Basilica di Santa Anastasia

Despite any existing traumas from having grown up in the Catholic church, I can’t get enough of the architecture at religious sites like this one.

This beautiful church is one of the oldest in Verona, dating back to the 13th century. At the very least, it’s definitely the largest church in Verona.

Its intricate façades and impressive frescoes inside are even more impressive if you visit on a sunny day with the soft light bouncing around inside. It sounds cheesy, but that kind of stuff does make you feel these places more deeply.

Fun fact: Entry to this one is just a few euros, but if you’re a big fan of Italian churches, grab a combo ticket at the door. It pays for itself after a visit to just two churches in town, including the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, San Fermo Maggiore, and the Duomo.

Stop 4: Verona Cathedral

If you only have time for one Verona church, bump this one up before the basilica I just described. I’m just giving it to you the way we experienced Verona.

Built in the 12th century, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare, or Duomo di Verona, is the sacred seat of the Verona Diocese and a pilgrimage site for Catholics. 

I wanted to see this one for the ancient whalebone, though. 

The cathedral isn’t just a place of worship. It’s an archaeological site that marks your entrance to the excavation site below the church with what may be a giant whale rib. It could be some other large animal, but I’ll go with the lore.

Fun fact: Verona has a thing for the bones of large beasts. The Arco della Costa between Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori has a bone hanging from it, too. That one may or may not have come from a whale, but some locals call it the “rib of the devil.” 

READ MORE: Love an impressive church? You won’t want to miss the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence.

Stop 5: Ponte Pietra 

This stone bridge boasts lovely views on either side. It’s a quick stop to appreciate the oldest bridge in Verona, so take a pause here and enjoy the scenery of the Adige river and scenic viewpoints you may want to climb to later.

Four of the arches here were blown up by the Germans at the end of World War II, but the city was able to build the bridge using original materials to protect the integrity of the site.

Stop 6: Romeo’s House

Don’t get overwhelmed yet by all we did before lunch. Many of these have been quick photo stops to get a feel for those Verona vibes.

You may not see another soul at Romeo’s House, a medieval building that belonged to Cagnolo Nogarola, a Veronse noble. 

No, he wasn’t the inspiration for Romeo Montague, but locals insist this is at least near where the Montecchi family, the real inspiration, lived back then.

You can’t go inside because it’s a private residence, but you can take a beat to read the inspiration outside with words from the play: “Tut, I have lost myself, I am not here: This is not Romeo, he’s some other where.” 

Stop 7: Lunch in Verona

Our lunch pick was Santa Felicita Ristorante, an eatery that serves up the classics in a very atmospheric way. I picked this one because it operates out of a deconsecrated church, and I love that sort of thing. 

Everything tasted great and fresh. We started with a swordfish appetizer and cheese plate, followed by their risotto, a local specialty.

Sorry, solo folks. The risotto requires a minimum of two people per order. The cheap wine will help ease any pain over that.

We made a reservation for this one, but it may not be necessary in the off-season. We were visiting on Valentine’s Day, after all. 

If you like options, Trattoria La Molinara and Osteria Caffè Monte Baldo were both on my list as alternatives for delicious Italian food.

Italy is also my favorite country for food tours. Our Bologna food tour remains one of my favorite travel experiences ever. If you want to do something similar in Verona, timing it around lunchtime sounds pretty smart to me.

Here are some options:

Stop 8: Castel San Pietro

You can see this viewpoint from several spots below around the city, but the climb up to its panoramic views is worth the effort.

The hilltop ruins get their name from medieval times when a church dedicated to Saint Peter replaced the Roman temple on the grounds.

READ MORE: Love medieval vibes? Check out my guide to Lucca, one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Italy.

Over time, the hill transitioned to become a fortified stronghold, and the old church was destroyed. While much of the fortress has been preserved, you’re here for the views. There’s nothing at the viewpoint to explore inside.

Snap on your own love lock if you want along the gates or skip that whole bit to take in free views of the city. 

There’s a garden midway with a cafe that serves as a good resting stop or last view of Verona as you climb down. 

If you’re not up for a steep climb or need a more accessible path to the top, you can ride a funicular for a couple of euros from Verona’s city center. While the funicular has been operating in some form since 1939, the cars you’ll ride today were modernized in 2017. 

Stop 9: Piazza delle Erbe 

This is the main square in town. As such, expect it to feel a bit more touristy here than in other parts of the city. There’s a small market here with tchotchkes, Pringles, and crafts.

If you’re up for another climb, this is where you’ll access the Torre dei Lamberti. 

You can take the 368 steps to its panoramic terrace or ride the transparent elevator for less sweat. Unlike the Pisa version, this one isn’t leaning, so either option doesn’t seem too sketchy.

Since we’d already gotten our workout in by this point, we only stopped here briefly before moving on to our next piazza.

Stop 10: Piazza Brà and the Verona Arena

We used this piazza as a wine stop, as wine is life in Italy. Bra 22 was our pick despite the horrible reviews. Since we were just drinking, I don’t have anything negative to say about the place, but can’t vouch for the food. The service was fine.

I will say that main squares in European cities are generally the last place you want to eat. They’re heavily touristed no matter what you think about them, so there’s less of an incentive there to give you a good experience.  

Note: I’ve seen several blogs recommend the Bacco Verona as a fun wine bar in town. I’m not sure if they’re seasonal or not, but they were only selling bottles to go on our visit. Don’t get your hopes up if you’re here in the off-season.

My favorite part outside of our happy hour was the view of the Verona Arena behind us. During the summer months, you can go inside for opera shows, which sounds very bucket listy. The Roman arena was built in 30 AD with operas there since the 1850s.

Stop 11: Arco dei Gavi 

This white marble arch was dismantled by the French and reassembled in 1932. It’s a quick photo stop unless you want to stop by the Castelvecchio Museum next door. 

We didn’t go inside the museum as we were cutting it close on time and wanted to leave time for the bridge at my next stop. We strolled the gardens in front instead and took in some of the architecture.

If you make time for this one, you’ll browse a collection of art, weapons, miniatures, and more, all in a medieval castle. Seeing the building from the outside is worth a quick trip anyway.

Stop 11: Ponte Scaligero

This medieval bridge, also known as the Castel Vecchio Bridge, was my favorite spot in Verona. It was so atmospheric, with views all around of people on what I called “the beach” down below. Its impressive arches offered photogenic nooks to peer through.

It was the perfect end to our day in Verona, and I can only imagine it’s even better if you’re here as the sun sets. 

On our way back to the train, we passed through the ​​storybook-themed Alessandro Canestrari Gardens Verona and that’s all she wrote for this romantic Italian city.

With More Time in Verona

One day is enough for everything I’ve mentioned here if you dedicate a full day to Verona, but with more time, you can give some of the attractions above more than a cursory glance.

There’s also more to see that I haven’t mentioned yet. Here’s what I’d add to my list of Verona attractions on a repeat visit:

• Civic Museum of Natural History of Verona: The Musée d’Histoire Naturelle sits inside Palazzo Pompei, a Renaissance palace from the 1600s, because this is Italy and things are old.
• Giardino Giusti: If we were visiting in the spring I may have pushed for this one, but I try to avoid activating Brian’s flower allergies otherwise. These gardens look lovely, though.
• Scaliger Tombs: If you’re here in the summer, pay your respects to the Scaliger family, rulers of Verona from the 13th to 14th century.
• Teatro Romano: This isn’t the same as the Verona Arena, although it’s another ancient Roman theatre. It’s an event space today with an attached museum.
• Verona restaurants: Verona has an excellent eating scene. If you’re around for dinner, Al Bersagliere was on my list as a solid risotto option. Fancy folks may be enticed by the two Michelin stars at Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli.

Verona is also a great base for day trips if you want to linger. Big cities like Venice, Bologna, and Milan are all doable, although I always like a few days in each.

Smaller to mid-sized towns like Mantua, Trento, or Vicenza may feel more doable.

How to Get to Verona

Most tourists visit Verona by train. We booked an early train from Venice to Verona to have a full day in town. 

If you’re starting in Venice, you’ll have lots of options to choose from between Venezia Santa Lucia train station and the Verona Porta Nuova station, the town’s main train station.

Book online if you’re high anxiety like me. We went with a lower-cost regional train that got us into Verona in an hour and 30 minutes. 

The quickest high-speed trains from Venice get you to Verona in just over an hour, but those cost more. The cost savings were worth the 20 minutes for us. Verona from Milan takes a similar amount of time, and Bologna is even closer at under an hour.

I LOVE Bologna, by the way. It’s my favorite city. I have a detailed guide to the foodie city if you’re into that.

If you want to fly in, Verona is serviced by Valerio Catullo Airport, also known as Villafranca Airport. If you’re already in Europe, you may find some decent flights to get to Verona from your base. 

From there, the Airlink 199 bus gets you into the city center in about 20 minutes.

Is Verona a walkable city?

Verona is a very walkable city. You won’t need a car or public transportation while you’re there. We walked from the train station to the historic center and back again, with loads of walking all over town in between.

If you’re here on an Italy road trip, invite me next time. As far as parking, there are a few public parking lots around town like the Porta Palio car park outside the city center and a lot at Piazzale Romano Guardini.

I’d avoid driving just to make sure I could enjoy the wine scene there, though.

Where to Stay in Verona

We were in Verona on a day trip from Venice, so that’s where we had our overnights. If you’re doing the same, I’d highly recommend our pick, the Hotel Canaletto.

It’s an easy walk from the best sites in Venice with an excellent staff that doesn’t judge your need for extra pillows. They’ll help you book any tours if you need them, too, like day trips to Verona or the Venetian Lagoon.

If you want to stay overnight in Verona, I don’t blame you. Check out the map below for some options:

Come for Romeo and Juliet, but stay for Verona.

I know. I love kitsch, too. I’m not even a romantic, but it was all of that Romeo and Juliet lore that got me to Verona in the first place.

Once we got there, we were both a little sad that we only planned a day to explore delightful Verona.

That said, if you only have a day, I hope you’ll consider my suggestions on what to do in Verona, especially making an effort to reach some of the city’s best viewpoints. This city is incredibly scenic.

Traveling elsewhere in Italy? Check out these guides:

• Is Bologna Worth a Trip? Check Out My Answer
• Plan a Trip to the Islands of Venice
• A Day Trip Guide for Parma, Italy
• How to Visit Pompeii When You’re in Rome
• Why You Should Visit Naples, Italy

Keep that wanderlust going with these travel tips for Europe:

• How to Plan a Trip to Fontainebleau From Paris
• Plan a Day Trip to Monaco from Nice
• Why You Should Visit Auschwitz From Kraków
• Is Warsaw Worth Visiting? Find Out!
• Visiting Bruges From Brussels, Belgium

Want to see more?