Day trips to Verona and Vicenza from Venice

I love a day trip! It’s an opportunity to get out of the most popular cities, so the crowds are smaller. It’s like you get a bonus city without having to move your luggage or find another place to sleep!

A day trip to Murano and Burano from Venice is the most popular option.

But you also have the option of going to Verona and Vicenza (or just one of the two). This post will give you all of the information so you can decide.

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Day Trip To Verona

Verona is an old Roman city. It became part of the Roman Empire in 89 BC. Verona boasts an incredible Roman amphitheater that you can now tour or see an open-air concert in the summer!

Verona is the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and two other plays by the playwright. You can find “Juliet’s house” in the city.

Getting to Verona

Verona is connected to Venice (and Milan) by train, so it’s easy to get there.

From Venice, you’ll take a train from the Santa Lucia station for about an hour and a half to Verona Porta Nuova.

There are lots of train options for you! Avoid itineraries that require you to change to a different train. Avoid the regional train because there will be many stops and it will take about an hour longer.

I’d recommend looking for a Frecciarosa train. They are the fastest trains and the tickets are easy to book.

The RV (fast regional) could be a good option and would be cheaper than the high-speed trains and only 15 minutes slower for the journey.

You can buy tickets early on Tren Italia’s website. You can also purchase them in Italy on the website or the Tren Italia mobile app. The website has an English option, but the app does not.

The mobile app was beneficial. I could buy tickets while I was traveling so I could make our plans as I went based on how the day was going.

The app does require data, and you need to know the Italian names of the cities to search for them; think Venezia instead of Venice. After you buy your tickets, you have all the QR codes on your phone, making traveling a breeze.

Train Travel 101

Trains are my favorite way to travel. Each train will have a number, like a flight or a bus number. Then at the station, you can find which platform your train is leaving from. The train number is displayed as the train arrives. There are also signs inside the cabins indicating where the train is headed so you can double-check you’re on the right one.

Tickets for the high-speed trains have seats assigned. Purchase your tickets in one group if you’re traveling with friends, so you are seated together. The regional trains don’t have assigned seats.

After you’re on board, set an alarm for about 15 minutes before you’re due to arrive at your destination. Then, take out your headphones or get comfy to nap and enjoy the ride! If you get motion sick, make sure you’re facing forward to prevent the chance of anything bad happening. 

What to See in Verona

After you leave the train station, walk toward Plaza Bra.

Google Maps will be a great help to you here! It’s about a 20-minute walk through Verona to the old town. There is a bus option too if you don’t want to walk.

If you choose to take the bus, ensure you have euros to buy your ticket when you board. You’ll use the machine onboard to purchase your ticket.

Plaza Bra

This is a beautiful open plaza that kicks off the start of the sites on a Verona day trip. Admire the brick and cobblestone plaza in front of the arena.

Try not to be too distracted by the arena, though. Brightly painted cafes with awnings line the plaza and add to the charm.

This was also a great place to grab lunch. I’m sure I paid up for the location, but with views of the plaza and the arena from the table, it was worth it.

Arena de Verona

Even if you’ve seen the Colosseum in Rome at this point in your travels, the Verona arena is worth visiting.

It was built in 30AD and held 30,000 spectators at its peak!

Today it’s a well-preserved version of a Roman arena. You can tour the inside to admire its size and grandeur. If

Plan a Verona day trip around the shows offered in the arena if you want a special experience.

Castelvecchio and the Bridge Castelvecchio

Castelvecchio (old castle) is a 14th-century castle about a 6-minute walk away from the plaza. The castle is closed on Mondays.

The castle museum is open from 10 a.m- 6 p.m. on Tuesday- Sunday. Tickets are about €10 per person.

I wanted to make sure to see the bridge. The bridge was an incredible feat of engineering when it was built. It was the longest arch bridge at the time.

Unfortunately, the original was destroyed during World War 2. But, the rebuilt version is still special.

Casa di Giulietta

Sometimes, you do things on a trip even though you know they will be silly tourist traps.

That was Juliet’s house in Verona for me.

It is the supposed house of a fictional character in one of Shakespeare’s plays. It is located on Via Cappello, at least. Rumor has it they had to make a balcony when there wasn’t one for the crowds. I can see that being true.

Juliet’s house is about a 10-minute walk from the arena or the castle. You’ll be walking down a street with shops and see a little sign for it.

You’ll enter a little courtyard and see the balcony and a statue of Juliet.

There is also a museum to go to for a fee.

Honestly, it’s skippable, but it was also a good laugh and something I’ll remember.

Check out Piazza Dei Signori and Piazza Erbe, which are nearby. There is little to do, but they are fun to walk through. There was a market in the Piazza Erbe when I visited.

Other things in Verona

For gluten-free travelers, there is an exceptional bakery in Verona. One of my favorites I’ve ever been to.

Bacio di Cioccolato is a wonderful little bakery. It’s away from the tourist center and you’ll want to take the buses to get there. But, the cookies and cream puffs are incredible!

Day Trip to Verona

To see everything listed you’ll need a full day in Verona. Even if you move quickly.

But, if you don’t want to go inside the arena and you get an early start you could consider adding Vicenza to the day.

More on that below.

Day trip to Vicenza

Vicenza is the city of Palladio. He was a Renaissance architect, and there are great representations of his work throughout the city (23, to be exact). Vicenza is smaller than Verona, so the small-town Italian vibes are strong.

I’ll be honest, unless you’re very into architecture Vicenza wouldn’t have enough to do to keep you busy for a whole day trip. But, a day trip to Verona and Vicenza is a good option.

Getting to Vicenza

Train travel to Vicenza is much the same as getting to Verona. The Freccisrosa or RV (Fast regional) trains are your best options.

Trains from Venice to Vicenza take about an hour.

Buying tickets as you travel allows you to change your plans as you go. It is nice to feel you can change plans as you need/want to.

What to see in Vicenza

It’s a 12-minute walk from the train station to the Basilica Palladiana.

There is a bell tower and a stunning facade. You can get a great view of the city from the top level when it’s open.

Piazza dei Signori

This is the site of the old Roman forum in Vicenza. Palladio built it in the 1600s. It’s not white marble like the buildings surrounding it, so it stands out as you walk by it.

Teatro Olimpico

The theatre is constructed in the style of the ancients. You can still see shows here or go to the adjacent ticket office to be able to tour inside. The Palazzo Chiericati is across from the theatre. This is an art museum of the Vicenza and Venetian school of artists. Think Carpaccio and Tintoretto.

Note the times the museums are open if you want to go inside them. If you’re like me and not into museums or architecture, Vicenza is still a fun city to walk around and experience.

There is a very recognizable rotunda outside of the city. It resembles the Pantheon and has been an inspiration for other architects (Jefferson’s Monticello, for example).

It is the most recognizable structure and is a 30-minute walk from the train station in Vicenza. But, not in the direction of the city center.

I needed more time and energy to make it out to it on our day trip. So, it goes on quick day trips. There are also churches and a cathedral you can visit in Vicenza.

How to Day Trip to Verona AND Vicenza

Verona is farther from Venice than Vicenza so start there.

Take an early train from Venice to Verona.

In Verona, see the plaza, the arena, casa di Julietta, and castelvecchio.
Don’t visit on a Monday or the castle will be closed.

Grab lunch in Verona and take the train 40 minutes to Vicenza, Use the Tren Italia app to buy your tickets from Verona to Vicenza.

When you arrive in Vicenza head out to the Rotunda if you want to see it. I didn’t do this and I wish I would’ve. It’s Palladio’s most impressive work so it makes sense to start there.

Then, make your way into the historic center to see the rest of Palladio’s works.

You should have time to get back to Venice for a late dinner but you can also eat in Vicenza.

Was it worth it to see Verona and Vicenza in one day?

I think so. This wasn’t our original plan.

I thought I’d spend the whole day in Verona. By lunchtime, I felt like I’d seen and visited all that I wanted to in the city.

I had time to wander around both cities and didn’t feel like I ran from place to place too quickly.

There may be more in Verona (or Vicenza) that you’d like to see.

For example, if you love architecture, art, or Shakespeare, you may want to stick to only one.

I also walked a lot and moved pretty quickly. If that’s stressful or different from what you like to do, stick to one city

Visiting Verona and Vicenza is a good starter trip for trying more flexible travel. There are many train options, and the app is easy to use as long as you know each city’s Italian name. Give it a go if you’re into that kind of adventure!

Travel is about having fun, and you should make sure that is your primary goal.

Day Trips from Venice

Logistically, these are the best options I found when I was searching.

But, there are other places you can visit in a day that are farther away

 You can also spend more time in Venice.

Consider your travel time. As much as I love a day trip, I don’t want to spend more time on a train or bus than I have to. That’s time you could be exploring!

But, if you find yourself with time a day trip to Verona and Vicenza is a fun way to explore northern Italy.