A First Timer’s Guide to Spending One Day in Verona

Did you know that Verona is the home of Romeo and Juliet? Thanks to Romeo and Juliet, Verona is one of the most popular cities in Italy. You can see Juliet, her famous balcony, and the love wall as shown in the movie “Letters from Juliet.”  

You only need one day in Verona to see the city’s best sites. In addition to Rome and Juliet, Verona, Italy, also has other incredible places to see, such as the Arena di Verona, Torre dei Lamberti, Castelvecchio, Piazza delle Erbe, Giardino Giusti, and more. 

This guide will help you plan the perfect one day in Verona with tips on how to get around, a city card to save money, and the best things to do.

One Day in Verona

Verona is one of the best places to visit in Italy because it has everything you want in an Italian city – romance, an arena, a magnificent castle, rivers flowing through the city, and beautiful gardens and piazzas. And it only takes one day in Verona to fall in love with its romantic charm. 

We took a train from Brescia and arrived early in the afternoon and left just after dinner which allowed us to see this lovely city during the day and night. We recommend you try and do the same.

If you have more than one day in Verona, I recommend spending at least 72 hours in Verona because you can enjoy the city sights and use it as a home base for day trips.

Verona is an easy day trip from Venice or Brescia, Italy. Moreover, if you have 3 days in Milan, a day trip to Verona would be perfect!

How to Get to Verona

Whether you are taking a train to Verona or driving by car, it is a very accessible city. If you are driving by car, you will find Verona like any other medieval city in Italy because it has very narrow streets.

There are plenty of places to park. You can park on the blue lines or in the underground parking lots for a fee or park on the white lines for free.

We found the easiest and stress-free solution is taking a train to Verona. Train tickets are often very budget-friendly and easy to use in Italy.

The train station in Verona is called Verona Porta Nuova and is just outside the city’s walls. Once you are off the train, visitors will walk 15-20 minutes to arrive in Verona’s city center. This may sound like a far walk, but it is not and it is quite beautiful.

Visitors will walk on the street, Piazzale 25 Aprile, through a beautiful 16th-century stone gateway all the way to the arena.

The Verona Card

I highly recommend getting the Verona Card, especially if you are going to spend more than one day in Verona. The Verona Card will help save a lot of money if you are going to enjoy some of the city’s treasured sights. 

A lot of times, Verona cardholders can get free entrance into places. Otherwise, they will receive a huge discount on attractions.

Things to Do in Verona in One Day

As we have previously stated, there are so many things to see in Verona. Many of them are budget-friendly, if not absolutely FREE!

The biggest splurge to enjoy in Verona would be to see a show at the arena. The most money we spent during our one day in Verona, was our dinner.

Sip on Espresso in Piazza Bra City Park

With the exception of the arena, the first sight that caught our eye was the Piazza Bra City Park. There is a beautiful fountain in the center of the small park with benches surrounding it. There is something special about coffee in Italy. So we could not think of a more peaceful way to start your day in Verona than enjoying a shot of espresso at the Piazza Bray City Park. Then when dinner comes around, visitors can revisit the park a night to dine at one of the restaurants with a view of the magnificent arena.

Catch a Show at Arena di Verona

The Italians sure know how to create stunning architectural masterpieces. The Arena di Verona can almost give the Colosseum a run for its money with its sheer beauty. Whether you splurge on some tickets to watch a show, go on a tour inside the arena or just admire the architecture from the outside; the arena is magnificent and the most popular sight to see in Verona – you cannot miss it!

Verona’s amphitheater is one of the best preserved ancient Roman structures. Though it did experience an earthquake in 1117, it was rebuilt to how it stands today. During the ancient times, the amphitheater could seat nearly 30,000 people. Today it only seats 15,000 people for safety and security reasons. Visitors can watch concerts, ballets and opera shows inside the Arena di Verona for an incredible experience you will never forget.

Though we did not have the opportunity to watch a show inside the amphitheater, we did get a sneak peak of the prop’s used for the show. The set piece’s were magnificent and so detailed up close, we can only imagine how spectacular they must have looked during the performance.

Take a Stroll Through Giardino Giusti

The Giardino Giusti is known for being one of the best Italian Renaissance gardens. Inside the Giardino Giusti will literally take the breathe away from visitors. You are encompassed by tall cypress trees that surround the maze-like hedges. We cannot think of a more picturesque landscape than Giardino Giusti to capture the Italian Renaissance charm.

Castel St Pietro

Sitting on a hill a few meters above and beyond Verona’s city center is Castle St Pietro. It is not only beautiful but also significant in Verona. This fortress is where Verona was founded and home to the remains of the first settlements dating back to the 7th century B.C..

Castel St Pietro is what movies are made from. One look at them and you will understand why. Visitors can admire Castel St Pietro from afar, just across the river. When we picture Italy, this is what comes to our minds – absolutely gorgeous!

Though you cannot visit inside, you can get a picturesque view from across the river. From the city center, head to Ponte Pietro Bridge.

Feel the Power of Love at Juliet’s House

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? For Romeo is at Juliet’s house in Verona! Whether you are hopeless romantics like us, love the movie, Letter’s to Juliet, or are a fan of Shakespeare, you simply cannot miss Juliet’s house. It is a little hidden from the city center, almost like the movie, Letter’s to Juliet, depicts.

Juliet’s Love Wall

Visitors will know they have reached Juliet’s House when they come across an alleyway with a wall covered in paper notes and colors of writing. Yes, Juliet’s love note wall does exist! Surprisingly, Letter’s to Juliet, has some truth to its story. A team of local volunteers that goes by the name, The Juliet Club, occupies an office upstairs from Juliet’s courtyard. They dedicate their free time to respond to the thousands of letters that come to their office or stuffed in Juliet’s wall. The alleyway is not the only wall, Juliet’s wall also extends into her courtyard. So, do not forget to bring a piece of paper to leave your love note on Juliet’s famous wall… she will respond to you.

The Legend of Juliet’s Boob

Legend has it that if you touch the bronze statue of Juliet’s boob in the courtyard, your luck with love will turn around. We cannot even begin to tell you the amount of people we saw grope Juliet’s boobs. It was both funny and a little disturbing, but hey if touching her boob is what brings love, then why not? Not to be gushy, but we had no reason to touch her boob, we already found our love (awwww). So, instead we just shared a kiss in the romantic air that surrounded us.

The Famous Balcony

Last, but certainly not least, Juliet’s famous balcony. Juliet’s House dates back to the late 13th century and features the balcony where Romeo promised his eternal love to Juliet in Shakespeare’s famous tragedy play. Visitors have the opportunity to visit Juliet’s house as well as stand in her famous balcony.  If you really want to, you are free to reenact the scene amongst the public tourists. Inside the house, you can admire the beautiful furniture and velvet costumes worn by the actors in the 1936 movie of “Romeo and Juliet”.

Torre dei Lamberti

There is nothing more spectacular than the view of a city from the top of a tower. Torre dei Lamberti boasts the tallest tower in Verona. Visitors can see Verona with its red roof top houses, churches, piazzas and more from 275 ft (84 m) high. The tower is accessible to everyone, visitors can go up by a stair-way or a lift. So during your one day in Verona, make sure you purchase tickets to reach the top of the tower for the most stunning view of the city!

Relax at Piazza delle Erbe

Going to several sights of Verona while most likely have you walking through Piazza delle Erbe. It is the heart of Verona’s historic center and one of the more beautiful and intimate piazzas in Italy. The tall, colorful, medieval buildings encompass the piazza providing visitors with not only beauty, but shade from the hot sun as well. Since the piazza is in the heart of Verona, it makes for the perfect place to meet up with loved ones or to enjoy a meal at one of the restaurant patios. It is also a great place to relax when you are seeing so many sights in your one day in Verona.

Take a Step Back Into Time at Castelvecchio

Verona is one of Italy’s most beautiful medieval towns, so it goes without saying that Verona has a castle you must see. Castelvecchio is known as being one of the most important military castles of the Scaliger dynasty that ruled the city in the Middle Ages. What was once used as a military fortress, today it is used as a museum. The museum showcases 29 different rooms filled with collections of sculptures, statues, paintings, ancient weapons, ceramics, goldworks, miniatures and old bells all dating back from the years 1300 to 1700.

Watch the Sunset Over the Castelvecchio Bridge

Watching a sunset is one of our favorite things to do in the whole wide world. One of the most stunning sunsets we have ever witnessed was in Verona over the Castelvecchio Bridge. After a visit to the Castelvecchio Castle and Museum, walk across the bridge. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful views of the golden sun hitting the side of the castle and all of the bridges over the river.

Then walk back over the bridge and along the river to watch a glorious sunset just beyond the Castelvecchio Bridge.  You can thank us later.

Of course, there is more to see in Verona, but for one day in Verona, these are the best sights you cannot miss.