Top Things to Do In Verona: A Curated List for a Day Trip

Verona is a cute little town on the Adige River between Milan and Venice. It is the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and offers a glimpse into the history of the ancient Romans. With so many things to do in Italy, how do you know if you really want to see Verona? Here are the top 9 things to do; you can see most of them in one day. Decide where to visit based on what interests you. 

I loved my visit to Verona. But this list of things to do in Verona is designed to help you decide if you’re interested in visiting. I share what you can actually see on a day trip so you can decide for yourself!

1- Have Coffee or Lunch in Piazza Bra

Piazza Bra is in the center of the part of the city. It’s a massive open open plaza.  It’s one of the favorites I’ve ever been to. It’s so open and pretty that it feels like a stereotypical scene. I love to romanticize the places I visit, and Piazza Bra feels like it’s straight out of a movie.

It helped that there were very few crowds there on the day I went.

Verona doesn’t see the same number of tourists as Rome, Florence, Venice, etc. So, it’s nice to escape the crowds. 

Cafes, restaurants, and shops surround it. You can stop in for lunch or a coffee and enjoy a view of the plaza and the arena.  

I’m sure I overpaid for lunch here. But it was a perfect view of the beautiful plaza and the arena. It’s still one of my favorite lunch views ever.

2- Take in Verona’s Roman Arena

The ancient Roman amphitheater in Verona, built in the first century, is in Piazza Bra. It’s one of the largest in Italy. As you walk through the old town, you can’t miss it. I appreciated that the crowds were so much smaller here, making it easier to enjoy the arena than in others I’ve visited.

You can tour the arena and have much more access than in Rome. It’s impressive enough on the outside, so don’t feel like you have to visit another arena if you don’t want to. 

The arena in Verona also hosts events. Concerts are popular here because of its excellent acoustics. An opera festival is held here every year.

The arena in Verona will be used for the closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The arena is closed on Mondays, but you can visit from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm any other day of the week (except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).  It may close early for concerts, too, but you’d have to check the schedule for when you plan to visit to be sure.

Tickets to visit the interior of the arena can be purchased online. They’re €12. I imagine it will only get more popular as the Olympics are hyped. So, I’d buy online before you travel.

In 2025, the arena is undergoing some restoration in preparation for the Olympics. 

So, it’s under restoration in 2025. You can still visit it, but the hours are more limited than in normal years.

3- Explore Castelvecchio 

Castelvecchio means old castle. The Scala family ruled in Verona in the Middle Ages. This is their medieval castle turned into a museum. It has medieval architecture plus paintings and sculptures. It’s a great trip back in time. Walk the walls, visit the armory, and admire the architecture of this medieval castle.

The castle lived through the Napoleonic wars and the German invasion in World War 2. It’s seen some things.

Tickets are €9. They can be purchased online or get your ticket in person. Between the hype of the Olympics and the year of jubilee. I’d get your tickets ahead of time.

Just like the arena, the castle is closed on Mondays.

So, don’t visit Verona on a Monday.

I made that mistake – don’t be me.

4- Cross the Castelvecchio Bridge

The Castelvecchio bridge, built in the 1300s, was a feat of engineering. It allowed the ruler to escape the castle if necessary.

It was such a feat of engineering that it was unrestored until the German army destroyed it in the 1940s.

While it’s a bummer that it was destroyed and had to be rebuilt, it’s still impressive to see where it stood and think about the engineers who built the original version.

5- Take a Picture with Juliet at The Casa di Giulietta

This is one of the most gimmick things that will ever be on one of my itineraries.

I knew it wasn’t authentic when I went, but I felt I had to visit it. 

So, here’s the story.

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona. The house you visit is a 13th-century house believed to have belonged to the Dal Cappello family. This family was supposedly an inspiration for Shakespeare when he was writing. 

You’ll cross into a little courtyard and see a balcony. The balcony wasn’t original; it was added later after the story made it famous.

There is also a statue of Juliet and a wall with love notes stuck on it. 

There is also a small museum you can visit if you like. But the real visit is to see the balcony and the statue.

Is it a must-do? I don’t think so. But it was still fun, so no regrets. Don’t count it out just because it’s touristy. It can still be fun.

It’s open daily from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm except for Mondays. 

6- Visit Piazza delle Erbe

This piazza was a Roman forum in ancient times.  So, it’s another beautiful, historic plaza. You’ll find more restaurants and shops here.

The biggest plus of this square is the open-air market. You can find souvenirs, fruits, and snacks as you shop. Budget some time to just walk around the market. You can have a snack and “window shop” or look for souvenirs.

7- Walk the River and Enjoy the Bridges

The Adige River cuts through Verona, making it a picturesque city. Walk along the river and enjoy the scenery and the many bridges. 

Ponte Pietra, Ponte delle Vittoria, and Ponte Garibaldi are good places to start after Ponte Castelvecchio.

8- Visit Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore

Construction of this basilica started in 967. Even the newer parts of the church date back to the 1300s. It’s amazing that a building could last that long.

The basilica has a dark interior with sculptures and enclaves to see when you’re inside. Don’t expect to spend a long time here. But it’s a good way to go back in time and understand how old Verona really is.

The history of this city is one of the things that makes it so unique. 

Also, circling back to Romeo and Juliette, supposedly, they were married in this church. 

You can visit it every day of the week.

It’s open from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Friday, Saturdays from 9:30 am – 6:00 pm, Sundays from 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm.

9- Visit the Duomo Di Verona

Church hopping is a popular activity in any Italian city. To avoid burnout, pick and choose the churches you want to see.

The cathedral in Verona is beautiful. The original Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare was constructed in the 300s. 

Years later, it was too small and was rebuilt to be larger.  During the 1100s, an earthquake damaged the cathedral, and it was rebuilt shortly after.

Again, visiting this cathedral likely won’t take much of your time. But, if you’re not too burnt out on churches, it’s worth a quick visit. 

Bonus Option: See the view from the Torre Dei Lamberti or Castel San Pietro

Climbing to the top of the Tower of Lamberti gives you a 360-degree view of Verona.

I don’t love climbing towers in cities because I like to see them in my photos. But, if you enjoy aerial views of cities, this tower is the one to climb in Verona.

You can buy tickets online, and they do sell out. 

The tower is open 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Monday- Friday and 11:00 am – 7:00 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Castel San Pietro sits on the hill across the river from Verona.

Castelvecchio is known for history and Castel San Pietro is known for the views. It’s open from 10:30 am – 4:30pm daily.

Enjoy These Things To Do In Verona

I’ve found that a list of 25+ things to see in a city isn’t always that helpful if I don’t have time to see them all. No shade at those lists… I don’t like sifting through the things that are there to take up room. So, this is my list. I already sifted the other stuff for you. 

This condensed list of what you could see and do in Verona in a day.

If you want to visit, here’s how to plan your day trip. You can also combine it with a trip to Vicenza!