I spent a week in northern Italy last April, splitting my time between Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda, and managed to squeeze in a full day in Verona. It’s one of those cities that sounds almost too romantic to be real, and honestly, it lives up to the hype! Most people know it as the setting for Romeo and Juliet, but there’s so much more going on here than that.
The streets are lined with buildings in deep terracotta, ochre and rose, the atmosphere is unhurried, and you could easily spend an entire day just wandering without any real agenda. It works just as well for a family trip as it does for a romantic getaway, and it makes a great day trip if you’re already staying somewhere around the lakes.
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Morning: wandering through Verona’s charming streets
I started the morning in the streets below Castel San Pietro, well away from the main tourist drag. We parked easily up here, which made it a great entry point for the day. The neighborhood has a quieter, more residential feel: faded facades, narrow passages, and an occasional church appearing out of nowhere! The Madonna del Terraglio church caught me completely off guard around one corner. The visit is off to a great start!
Along the Adige
The Adige river is the backbone of the city. You end up crossing it, following it, losing it, and finding it again. And every time, there’s a different view waiting for you. We continue our visit by crossing the Ponte Pietra, the oldest bridge in Verona, of Roman origin.
It offers a magnificent view of the church of San Giorgio in Braida, with its large black dome and white bell tower on the right, and the bell tower of the basilica of Sant’Anastasia rising in the background above colourful buildings on the left.
I then make my way towards the Duomo, one of Verona’s iconic monuments. I could already get a glimpse of it from the Adige’s bank, and it only made me even more curious to see it up close.
A stop at a Salumeria
Before heading into the busier part of the city, we found our way into an old salumeria. These places are worth a stop just to look at them: bottles of Valpolicella stacked by the door, cured meats hanging from the ceiling, local sweets packaged in gold ribbon… Plenty of local specialties to take home! I loved the Stella di Verona and the Nadalin, two typical regional sweets worth bringing back in your suitcase. The Michele Turco 1909 pastry shop nearby is also well worth a visit.
Piazza delle Erbe and around
Next, we head to Piazza delle Erbe, the vibrant heart of Verona. The daily market, the Madonna Verona fountain, the Torre dei Lamberti towering over the square, the terraces of the Albergo Aurora in the background… it’s lively and colourful, and I loved every bit of it.
Want a panoramic view over the whole city? The Torre dei Lamberti has an interior staircase climb with a stunning view from the top!
Visit Verona in a day
At the market, impossible to resist a my food cravings: I gave in to panzerotti, some fried dough pockets stuffed with tomato and mozzarella, a specialty originally from Puglia but found everywhere in Verona! The counters are full of good things, like arancini and mozzarella in carrozza bites. Absolutely worth trying!
Casa di Giulietta and Via Pellicciai
It’s hard to pass through Verona without stopping at Juliet’s balcony! The spot is touristy, yes, but it keeps a certain charm. If you want to go further, you can visit the inside of the house and step out onto the famous balcony. Juliet’s tomb is a little further away, in the convent of San Francesco al Corso. And for the curious, Romeo’s house is also visible in the centre, though it can’t be visited.
One day in Verona: things to do
Just next door, Via Pellicciai is one of the prettiest streets in the centre, with its yellow facades and plant-filled balconies.
Piazza Bra and the Arena
Before lunch, we walked to Piazza Bra, the wide open square in front of the Arena. The scale of the amphitheatre is genuinely surprising! It dates back to the 1st century AD and looks almost impossibly intact. I really loved the colourful facades of Piazza Bra, as well as its large café terraces facing the Arena.
I only admired it from the outside, but the interior is really worth a visit: it is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world, and in summer it still hosts open-air operas under the open sky!
Lunch: Hostaria N 4
A stop at a typical osteria, Hostaria N 4, a great little spot not far from the Arena. I had my first glass of Valpolicella here, the region’s fruity red wine. And the Veronese tiramisù? One of the best of our trip, rated 9/10 by my sister and I, which must mean something given that we tried one every single day of our trip (for scientific purposes, of course).
Other good options nearby: Osteria Al Duomo, Osteria Locandina Cappello, and Trattoria Vecia Mescola, all within walking distance and tucked away in pretty alleyways.
Castelvecchio and the Ponte Scaligero
The afternoon started at Castelvecchio, a 14th-century fortress built by the Scaligeri, the dynasty that ran Verona for over a hundred years. The clock tower and its red bricks is immediately recognisable. Right next to it, the Ponte Scaligero stretches across the Adige in three elegant arches, it is definitely one of the most impressive sights in Verona! And on the afternoon we visited, there was a group of rafters passing underneath, which felt like an amusing contrast with the medieval architecture.
Back towards the centre, the Scaligeri Arches (the elaborate Gothic tombs of the same family) are also well worth a stop. The streets around them are some of the most atmospheric in the city, with beautiful buildings and charming restaurant fronts that are calling you in for a break!
Up to Castel San Pietro
This was the highlight of the day. From the banks of the Adige, you can already spot Castel San Pietro perched on its cypress-lined hill. The climb winds up through stairs almost hidden in the green, past beautiful villas along the way.
The view from the Castel San Pietro is breathtaking and easily one of the best over Verona! Terracotta rooftops as far as you can see, the Adige looping through the city below, the Ponte Pietra directly in front, every bell tower in Verona visible at once… I recommend you go there in the late afternoon if you can, when the sun wraps the city in magnificent golden light!
A day in Verona
Thinking about staying overnight in Verona? Some great hotel picks
If this article has convinced you that Verona deserves more than just a day trip, here is my selection of boutique hotels to make the most of the city!
So, is Verona worth it?
Yes, without question! Verona is absolutely worth the detour, especially as part of a trip to the northern Italian lakes. It is an easy city to underestimate: you might think of Romeo and Juliet and imagine Verona to be a tourist trap. It is actually a genuinely beautiful Italian city! I truly enjoyed getting lost in its colorful streets, walking along the banks of its river, and admiring the city from higher grounds. The lasting impression it left on me is one of a vibrant and lively city, most likely because its streets host plenty of terraces where you can grab a drink with friends or family and enjoy la dolce vita…
It makes a natural stop if you’re already visiting the lakes region in Italy! And if you have more time, I’d say it easily justifies a night or two.
If you’re planning a trip to northern Italy, I’ve also written about the Borromean Islands, which are worth a visit if Lake Maggiore is on your itinerary. I still have plenty more to share about Lake Garda, including a morning in Salò with its spectacular flower market, and a beautiful afternoon in Malcesine. Stay tuned!
Got questions about Verona or the lakes region? Don’t hesitate to reach out on Instagram @thebeachmuse!
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