With so much to see and do, exploring Verona in one day is not an easy task.
One day in Verona is not enough to see everything the city has to offer, but being the city center quite compact and the main attractions easy to reach on foot or by public transport, you can dare to plan such a short trip. And we are here to help.
But if you are based in Trento, Bolzano, Milan, or Venice, you might as well plan a day trip to Verona to visit the most important landmarks. The city center is quite compact and walkable to day trips from other cities like this one from Venice or this one from Milan are very popular if you intend to stay only one day in Verona.
Our 1-day Verona itinerary is pretty packed because we feel the city has so much to offer that every minute counts. However, feel free to skip whichever landmark you think is too much if you are exploring Verona in a day only.
To make things easier for you, we are attaching a handy map to give you a better idea of the places and distances.
![Image: What to do in one day in Verona](https://fearlesslyitaly.com/wp-content/uploads/one-day-in-verona-fearlesslyitaly-1200x800.jpg?88b0b4&88b0b4)
Is a day trip to Verona worth it?
My visit to Verona has been a day trip from Trento one year when we decided to spend three weeks in Trentino-Alto Adige. We have managed to see and do quite a lot in one day in Verona so, yes, I think a day trip to this beautiful city in the Veneto region is totally worth it.
If you have only one day in Verona, you are obviously going to focus on the places you can’t miss. This is what our guide is about: the most iconic and famous landmarks anyone visiting Verona for the first time needs to see. And if you are planning a romantic trip, don’t forget that Verona is one of the best places to propose in Italy!
How much time do you need in Verona?
I think the perfect amount of time to devote to Verona is two days. Even though there are plenty of things to squeeze in a day in Verona, if you can stretch your trip one more day, you can enjoy a more relaxed experience.
If you have two days, you can even visit the same number of places but you will have more time to enjoy a traditional meal more often, you will have the chance to relax and take your time visiting the city’s highlights instead of rushing from one to another.
What to do in Verona for a day – Itinerary + Map
Enter the Verona Arena
1.5 km/1 mile or 20 minutes walk from Verona train station/10 minutes by bus
Easy to reach by bus from the train station, the Arena is likely one of the first things to see if you are exploring Verona in a day. An iconic symbol of the city, it will remind you of the Roman Colosseum.
Verona’s Arena is hands down the most famous monument in the city and one of Italy’s largest amphitheaters built by the Romans in the 1st century. Just like Rome’s Colosseum, also the Arena of Verona was used as a place for entertainment. Here, citizens could attend gladiator fights and wild and exotic animal hunts.
Elliptical in shape, it had a capacity of 30.000 spectators and was built outside of the city’s walls to avoid large crowds in the city center.
You can visit the Arena with a private tour like this one that includes also skip-the-line entrance, or in the evening to enjoy an opera show.
- Where: Piazza Bra 1.
- When: Tuesday to Sunday 9 am-7 pm (last entrance 6.30 pm). It closes earlier when there are shows, check out here the calendar. Closed on Monday.
- How much: 10€, free for children up to 7 years old.
![Image: Sayed Hamed of Fearlessly Italy inside the Arena, a place to visit in a day in Verona.](https://fearlesslyitaly.com/wp-content/uploads/arena-things-to-do-in-verona-in-one-day-fearlesslyitaly-1000x667.jpg?88b0b4&88b0b4)
Take a coffee in Piazza Bra
1 minute on foot from the Arena
Right in front of the Arena is the large Piazza Bra you can hardly miss. After visiting the Arena, you can grab a table in one of the surrounding cafes of Piazza Bra and enjoy a coffee with a view of the archaeological site.
This is one of the most tourist-packed squares in Verona so bars and cafes will also be tourist quality. However, since the place is really beautiful, that’s OK to make an exception. When I went to Verona, I did just that.
After visiting the Arena, we went to sit in the bar in front and had a coffee. We didn’t order a full meal because we knew we would prefer more traditional places so we just had a coffee break and it wasn’t even too expensive.
Duck into San Fermo Maggiore Church
750 mt/2500 ft – around 10 minutes on foot from Piazza Bra
Of the four most important churches to visit in Verona in a day, San Fermo is the closest to the Arena, so I suggest you start from here. Located close to the Ponte Navi bridge, the church of San Fermo Maggiore was built in the Italian Gothic style even though the roof are visible elements typical of French architecture such as spires and pinnacles.
Fans of history and architecture will find this a very interesting building to explore because inside there are actually two churches to visit, the bottom and upper one. The bottom, known as “Chiesa Inferiore” features four naves and three apses. The cross vault, the decoration, the stairs, the windows, and the general structure are remnants of the original Benedictine building.
The upper part, known as “Chiesa Superiore” has a single Latin-cross nave and features five apses, several side chapels ad altars, and a beautiful wooden ceiling.
As little as 30 minutes will be enough to visit San Fermo church, so definitely something you can include in your 1-day Verona itinerary.
- Where: Via Dogana 2.
- When: Monday to Saturday 10 am-6 pm, Sunday 1-6 pm.
- How much: Free for praying, 4€ for tourist visits. If you are visiting all the main four churches of Verona (the Duomo, San Zeno, Sant’Anastasia, and San Fermo), the cumulative ticket costs 8€.
![Image: San Fermo is one of the churches to visit in one day in Verona.](https://fearlesslyitaly.com/wp-content/uploads/san-fermo-church-see-verona-in-one-day-fearlesslyitaly-1000x667.jpg?88b0b4&88b0b4)
Relax in Piazza delle Erbe
550 mt/1800 ft – 7 minutes on foot from San Fermo Church
Known also as Piazza Erbe, this is the city’s oldest square so without a doubt one of the most fascinating and unmissable places to visit in one day in Verona. This lovely piazza is located where the ancient Roman Forum was and is quintessential to the city’s style. The lovely collaboration and perfect blend of artistic, historical and architectural feats skilfully assembled and extremely well-preserved that you can see in Piazza delle Erbe is recurring all across Verona.
Piazza Erbe can be considered the open-air parlor of the city. Its walls are the frescoed and imposing facades of the local notable palaces and bars and cafes that animate the spirit. From here, you can see important buildings such as the Lamberti Tower, Casa dei Giudici (Judges’ House), Mazzantis’ houses, Baroque-style Palazzo Maffei, and the medieval Merchants’ House (Casa dei Mercanti).
In fact, if you decide to skip your coffee in Piazza Bra, you can enjoy it here surrounded by the buildings that made the city’s history.
![Image: Piazza delle Erbe unmissable in one day in Verona.](https://fearlesslyitaly.com/wp-content/uploads/piazza-delle-erbe-verona-in-a-day-fearlesslyitaly-1000x667.jpg?88b0b4&88b0b4)
Climb Torre dei Lamberti
1 minute on foot from Piazza delle Erbe
For an incredible 360° view, climb the Lamberti Tower, a stone’s throw from Piazza delle Erbe. Dating back to the 12th century, its construction officially started in 1172, Torre dei Lamberti is 84 meters (275 feet) tall and is the city’s tallest building.
The tower was started by the Lamberti family of which there is no other historical trace. The initial building was in Romanesque style and measured only 37 meters. At the beginning of the 15th century, lightning damaged the upper part and restoration started more than 40 years later.
This is when it was added the white belfry we still see today and the tower reached its current height. The clock was added in 1779.
If you are into photography or simply sensitive to beauty, this is a fantastic place to climb even if you are visiting Verona in one day. You can easily book your entry online and it will be included also the elevator if you don’t feel like climbing all the stairs.
- Where: Via della Costa 2.
- When: Monday to Friday 10 am-6 pm, Saturday and Sunday 11 am-7 pm.
- How much: 6€.
![Image: Climb Lamberti Tower in Verona in a day.](https://fearlesslyitaly.com/wp-content/uploads/torrei-dei-lamberti-one-day-in-verona-fearlesslyitaly-667x1000.jpg?88b0b4&88b0b4)
Pose from Juliet’s balcony
180 mt/ 600 ft- 2 minutes on foot from the Lamberti Tower
This is possibly the most touristy thing in the city and likely what most visitors do even if they are only for a day in Verona. It’s not even sure it’s the actual Juliet’s house but you will find more people here than in the ancient Roman amphitheater.
This is a 13th-century building that Verona residents identified as the Capuletis’ house following the descriptions in Shakespeare’s tragedy.
Given the huge crowd, it’s hard to miss it. If you have only one day in Verona, you probably won’t have time to queue just to snap a picture from the balcony of Shakespeare’s unlucky lover. If you choose to do this, you might need to skip something else, depending on the line.
- Where: Via Cappello 23.
- When: Monday 1.30-7.30 pm, Tuesday to Sunday 8.30 am-7.30 pm.
- How much: 6€.
![Image: Visit Juliet's balcony in one day in Verona.](https://fearlesslyitaly.com/wp-content/uploads/one-day-in-verona-juliet-house-fearlesslyitaly-1000x667.jpg?88b0b4&88b0b4)
See Romeo’s house
260 mt/850 ft – less than 5 minutes on foot from Juliet’s house
Just like Juliet’s house, also the mansion of the Montecchi family, a 14th-century building, has been identified by the locals according to the descriptions in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. Located close to her lover’s dwelling, unlike Juliet’s house, Romeo’s residence is not that busy so easy to see in Verona in one day.
The Montecchis were a very rich and powerful clan in medieval Verona, and their opulent greatly-kept mansion is now a private house. The brick walls surround the whole building that you can see only from outside.
- Where: Via Arche Scaligere 4.
- When: Anytime.
- How much: Free.
![Image: In Verona in one day you can see Romeo's house.](https://fearlesslyitaly.com/wp-content/uploads/romeo-house-visit-verona-in-one-day-fearlesslyitaly-1000x667.jpg?88b0b4&88b0b4)
Try the local food for lunch
One of the most common Italian foods like polenta is also a typical dish in Verona. In fact, this is what I had when I visited, polenta with codfish (baccalà).
Since your last stops before lunch were the houses of Romeo and Juliet, you can find a restaurant in the area. We ate at the Ristorante Arche in Via Arche Scaligere 6, so basically next to Romeo’s house, and we were very happy about our choice.
A great way to know more about the local food is to join a food tour like this one if you think you can squeeze it in or if you are a true foodie!
Need help at the restaurant? Check out our guides to ordering food in Italy and more words for foods and drinks in Italian!
![Image: In Verona in a day you must try local foods like polenta.](https://fearlesslyitaly.com/wp-content/uploads/polenta-fish-eating-in-verona-in-1-day-fearlesslyitaly-1000x667.jpg?88b0b4&88b0b4)
Pay a visit to Sant’Anastasia Basilica
250 mt/820 ft – 3 minutes on foot from Via Arche Scaligere where is Romeo’s house or the Arche restaurant
This is the city’s largest church so if you are seeing Verona in a day and can only do one church, this is a great choice. The Basilica devoted to Sant’Anastasia is a wonderful example of the Italian Gothic style.
It’s located on the site of a former church from the Longobard times that was devoted to 4th-century martyr Anastasia. In 1290, the Dominican friars settled here and started the Gothic construction they will devote to Saint Peter, a Christian martyr native from Verona who, together with San Zeno, is the patron saint of the city. This is why this basilica is also known as “Chiesa di San Pietro da Verona in Sant’Anastasia”.
Beautiful inside out, the interior of Sant’Anastasia Basilica features three naves supported by 12 large red marble pillars while across the transept are five chapels.
- Where: Piazza di Sant’Anastasia.
- When: Monday to Friday 9.30 am-6.30 pm, Saturday until 6 pm, Sunday 1-6 pm.
- How much: Free for praying, 4€ for tourist visits. If you are visiting all the main four churches of Verona (the Duomo, San Zeno, Sant’Anastasia, and San Fermo), the cumulative ticket costs 8€.
![Image: Sant'Anastasia Basilica to see in a day in Verona.](https://fearlesslyitaly.com/wp-content/uploads/sant-anastasia-basilica-verona-in-a-day-667x1000.jpg?88b0b4&88b0b4)
The complex of Verona’s Duomo
400 mt/1300 ft – 5 minutes on foot from Sant’Anastasia Basilica
In one day in Verona, you can’t skip one of its most important and famous churches, its Duomo, also known as Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta and Santa Maria Matricolare. Rather than a single church, here you will visit a whole complex of religious buildings, the church of Sant’Elena, of San Giovanni in Fonte, and a cloister, along with early-Christian basilicas of which we can visit the ruins.
On the site where is the current Cathedral, in Roman times, were villas with private bathrooms and, likely, also sacred temples. The first early-Christian basilica was built in the area currently occupied by the church of Sant’Elena. In fact, under the church of Sant’Elena, you can still see the mosaic floors of both the early-Christian churches.
This is a very fascinating site that will take slightly longer to visit than the rest of the churches. I would carve out at least one hour of your time, so you need to see if you can make it in your 1-day Verona trip or if you need to skip other sights.
- Where: Piazza Duomo.
- When: Monday to Friday 11 am-5.30 pm, Saturday until 3.30 pm, Sunday and holidays 1.30-5.30 pm.
- How much: Free for praying, 4€ for tourist visits. If you are visiting all the main four churches of Verona (the Duomo, San Zeno, Sant’Anastasia, and San Fermo), the cumulative ticket costs 8€.
Visit San Zeno Maggiore Basilica
1.8 km/1.1 miles – around 25 minutes on foot from the Duomo
San Zeno Basilica is also a very important church but it needs a bit of a longer walk or a bus to reach. However, if you are bound to explore the local history, San Zeno Maggiore is quite of a big highlight to see in one day in Verona that cultural travelers won’t want to miss.
One of the highest examples of churches in Romanesque style in Italy, its facade enshrined between the beautiful 12th-century bell tower and the 13th-century tower of the Abbey, immediately catches the eye of the visitor and shows the influence of the Lombard-Emilian architecture in the Veneto region.
The church was originally built around the burial place of Zeno Bishop of Verona. Today, under the central staircase is the crypt where the remains of Saint Zeno are kept. From the main square, on the left side of the cathedral, you can access the beautiful 10th-century cloister that, together with the tower, is the only remaining structure of the Benedictine Abbey demolished in the 19th century.
Among the artistic masterpieces you can see in the complex is the Triptych of the great 15th-century Italian painter and engraver Andrea Mantegna.
- Where: Piazza San Zeno 2.
- When: Monday to Friday 9 am-6.30 pm, Saturday until 6 pm, Sunday and holidays 1-6.30 pm.
- How much: Free for praying, 4€ for tourist visits. If you are visiting all the main four churches of Verona (the Duomo, San Zeno, Sant’Anastasia, and San Fermo), the cumulative ticket costs 8€.
Stroll around Verona bridges
Walking by the Adige River and admiring the city’s bridges is one of the most suggestive things you can do in a day in Verona.
From the most ancient Ponte Pietra bridge dating back to Roman times and erected in the 1st century BC to the modern 19th-century Ponte Garibaldi through the beautiful Ponte di Castelvecchio, a stroll along the river is a fantastic way to explore the city and its highlights.
Also known as Ponte Scaligero, Ponte di Castelvecchio bridge was built in the 14th century and is a fantastic example of military engineering and served the defensive purpose of the stronghold of the medieval Castelvecchio complex.
How to reach Verona
Our very favorite way to reach Verona is certainly by train because it’s well connected to other big cities. Especially if you are staying only a day in Verona, the places you need to visit are easy to reach on foot or by public transport, and the car will only give you the headache of traffic and parking.
However, if you are spending one day in Verona as a part of a longer 2-week or 10-day Italy itinerary and have been renting a car, we are also going to give you some suggestions on how to reach driving.
By train
There are several trains that reach Verona. You can find high-speed Frecciarossa trains from Rome, some involving one change or some direct. The direct Frecciarossa from Rome to Verona takes 3 hours and 20 minutes.
In one hour and 15 minutes you can reach from Milan, while from Venice, it takes an hour with the Frecciarossa, an hour and a half with the Regionale Veloce train and a little more than 2 hours with the slower Regionale train. In about an hour, you can reach even from Trento without the need to change train.
This was our choice when we spent one day in Verona.
Check out Omio for train and bus schedules
By flight
Verona has also an airport, Valerio Catullo, that connects the city to other Italian cities such as Rome, Catania, Cagliari, Palermo, Brindisi, or European hubs including Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, Dublin, and London.
By car
You can also get there by car. If you are coming from Rome or the south in general, you will need to take the A1 highway, while from Milan, you will take the A4 highway.
If you are driving and spending only one day in Verona, I suggest you park out of the ZTL (limited traffic zone) and use public transport to get around to avoid hefty fines. See the municipality site for info on the ZTL.
Check out Discover Cars to rent your car in Italy.
![Image: Sant'Anastasia Basilica to visit in a day in Verona.](https://fearlesslyitaly.com/wp-content/uploads/sant-anastasia-one-day-in-verona-fearlesslyitaly-667x1000.jpg?88b0b4&88b0b4)
Top tips to optimize your time in a day in Verona
- Arrive early. This is very important. If you reach Verona early, you can be at the Arena as soon as it opens, you can enjoy a coffee before you start sightseeing or you can even take a walk before the landmarks open and save much time afterward. Check out Omio for trains and bus schedules.
- Buy a Verona Card. A Verona Card is very handy because you will have access to the Arena and other museums and landmarks, and all entrances are skip-the-line. You can opt for a 24 or 48-hour card in case you want to stay longer in the city.
- Use public transport. Don’t even think about renting a car. First of all, the places you are going to visit in one day in Verona are easy to reach on foot. Second, if you have purchased the Verona Card, public transport is included.
- Plan your itinerary beforehand. Having an itinerary before arriving in Verona will help you save time during the day, especially because you have limited time in the city.
- Consider Hop-on Hop-off buses. If you are really short on time and want to see as much as you can, a good solution can be joining one of the Hop-on Hop-off buses that take you around the city and from where you can get off at the landmarks you want to visit and see the other ones only from outside.
Where to eat in one day in Verona
If you are staying only one day in Verona or even if you want to add a few more days, I don’t recommend heading too far from the city center to eat. There are plenty of restaurants around the main landmarks so you don’t necessarily need to fall for a tourist trap. Apart from the already mentioned Ristorante Arche, here are a few more suggestions in the city center perfect for your lunch break if you are only one day in Venice.
- Hostaria Vecchia Fontanina (Piazzetta Chiavica 5). Typical local osteria serving traditional dishes in the city center not far from Piazza delle Erbe and Sant’Anastasia Basilica.
- Vecio Macello (Via Macello 8). Good fish and seafood restaurant located some 10 minutes walk from the Arena.
- Terrazza Bar Al Ponte (Via Ponte Pietra 26). Bar and cafe for casual meals, aperitif, or coffee break with a beautiful view of the river.
Where to stay in Verona
Let’s say you have fallen in love with Verona and you want to stretch your trip further and add a night or two. Definitely try to find a stay around the city center. Check out some of our suggestions.
- Hotel Giulietta e Romeo – Cool hotel near the Arena equipped with all comforts and a gym.
- Hotel Accademia – Luxury 4-star hotel in the city center.
- Ai Ponti Verona – Modern apartments fully furnished and featuring a well-fitted kitchen and all the necessary facilities.