Explore the Romantic City of Verona with this 3-Day Plan

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Three days is the perfect amount of time to explore Verona at a relaxed pace. This gives you enough time to visit all the main attractions without feeling rushed. However, if you manage to see everything you’re interested in within two days, you can use your third day for a day trip to nearby Lake Garda. Let me show you how you can enjoy this beautiful Italian city in just three days.

Itinerary Summary

This itinerary is flexible. You’ll have two days to see the city’s main attractions and one day for lesser-known spots, which you can swap for a day trip to Lake Garda if the weather is great for outdoor exploration.

During the first two days of this three-day itinerary, which focuses on Verona’s main attractions, you’ll start your mornings with the city’s most famous landmarks. On day one, you’ll visit Verona Arena first, and on day two, you’ll begin with Juliet’s House. Seeing them early helps you avoid large crowds and enjoy the experience more.

I’ve planned visits to Verona’s scenic spots in the afternoon, around sunset, to create a memorable and relaxing end to each day after exploring the city’s main landmarks. You’ll definitely love the view at golden hour!

Good to know: Verona has three elevated viewpoints—Giusti Garden, Castel San Pietro, and Santuario della Nostra Signora di Lourdes. Each day, you’ll get a chance to watch the sunset over Città Antica from a different spot.

Day 1 — Verona Arena, Verona, Italy — Day 1 — Verona Arena

Day 1 — Castelvecchio (Museum + Bridge + Arco dei Gavi), Verona, Italy — Day 1 — Castelvecchio (Museum + Bridge + Arco dei Gavi)

Day 1 — Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore, Verona, Italy — Day 1 — Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore

Day 1 — Santuario della Nostra Signora di Lourdes, Verona, Italy — Day 1 — Santuario della Nostra Signora di Lourdes

Day 2 — MuseoArcheologico al Teatro Romano, Verona, Italy — Day 2 — MuseoArcheologico al Teatro Romano

Day 2 — Ponte Pietra, Verona, Italy — Day 2 — Ponte Pietra

Day 2 — Citta Antica + Torre dei Lamberti, Verona, Italy — Day 2 — Citta Antica + Torre dei Lamberti

Day 2 — Casa di Giulietta, Verona, Italy — Day 2 — Casa di Giulietta

Day 2 — Castel San Pietro, Verona, Italy — Day 2 — Castel San Pietro

Day 3 — Verona Outer Wall, Gates, and Bastions, Verona, Italy — Day 3 — Verona Outer Wall, Gates, and Bastions

Day 3 — Tomba di Giulietta, Verona, Italy — Day 3 — Tomba di Giulietta

Day 3 — Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare, Verona, Italy — Day 3 — Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare

Day 3 — Basilica di Santa Anastasia, Verona, Italy — Day 3 — Basilica di Santa Anastasia

Day 3 — Giusti Garden, Verona, Italy — Day 3 — Giusti Garden

IMPORTANT: Get a summary of the experiences you can have at the attractions in Verona listed in this itinerary with WanderInEurope’s travel planning guide. You can also use that guide in making your own itinerary.

The timestamps indicated in the tables below are only estimates, with travel time (mostly walking) between locations already factored in.

Most attractions in Verona are within walking distance of each other. While buses are available, walking is often the better option for two reasons: (1) The time it takes to walk is about the same as taking a bus. (2) Verona has beautiful streets, and you might come across something interesting along the way.

Day 1

On the first day in Verona, the best place to start is the city’s most famous landmark, Verona Arena. From there, the day is spent exploring the sights to the north and northwest, including Castelvecchio, Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore, and Santuario Della Nostra Signora di Lourdes.

Time (Estimated)	Destination
7:00 am	Arrival (drop bags at the hotel)
9:00 am	Verona Arena
11:30 am	Lunch
1:30 pm	Castelvecchio (Museum + Bridge + Arco dei Gavi)
4:00 pm	Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore
6:00 pm	Santuario della Nostra Signora di Lourdes

Day 1 Verona Itinerary: How To Spend 3 Days in Verona

I suggest that you come to Verona Arena earlier than 9:00 am (its opening time). So you can avoid the crowd, have fewer photobombers, and have some quiet during your visit.

Piazza Bra is just in front of Verona Arena. Here, you can find a little garden and many cafes you can hang out for a while, waiting for the Arena to open to visitors. It is also such a lovely wide-open place to have lunch after seeing Verona Area.

The next destination, Castelvecchio, is just 500 meters away from Piazza Bra. Proceed to Via Roma street, and go straight to the right when looking at Palazzo Della Gran Guardia’s facade.

After Castelvecchio, we proceed to Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore. There are several ways you can choose. However, I suggest the scenic path that crosses River Adige twice. It is a 15 to 20-minute stroll (see Google Maps) with views of River Adige.

From the castelvecchio, cross the River Adige through the medieval bridge, Ponte di Castelvecchio. Walk along the river sidewalk, Lungadige Cangrande, the path to the left after crossing the river.

Turn to the next bridge you will see (Ponte Risorgimento). Continue walking straight until you notice the tower of Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore to the left. Follow the direction towards the basilica’s tower.

Santuario Della Nostra Signora di Lourdes is approximately a 30-minute hike away from Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore. Buses stop by the bus stop near Basilica di San Zeno. They should shorten the walk to Santuario Della Nostra Signora di Lourdes.

From Basilica di San Zeno, proceed to P.tta Portichetti 1/B bus stop. Wait for and hop on Bus no. 31 when it arrives. Disembark at Via Mameli 13 Vi and walk uphill to Santuario Della Nostra Signora di Lourdes. See the complete route in Google Maps.

Day 2

On the second day in Verona, the plan is to explore Città Antica before heading across the Adige River to see a few key sights.

The morning is all about strolling through Città Antica, taking in its historic streets, lively squares, and countless little shops and cafés. It’s the perfect place to pick up souvenirs and try some local dishes. (With so much to see in Città Antica, it’s easy to get lost in its historic charm, which is why plenty of time is reserved for exploring before moving on to the next stops.)

The afternoon is set aside for Ponte Pietra, Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano, and Castel San Pietro, which offer great views and a glimpse into Verona’s past.

Time (Estimated)	Destination
8:30 am	Casa di Giulietta
9:30 am	Citta Antica + Torre dei Lamberti (See the top view)
12:00 pm	Lunch and souvenirs
2:30 pm	Ponte Pietra
3:00 pm	Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano
4:30 pm	Afternoon meal
5:30 pm	Castel San Pietro

Day 2 Verona Itinerary: How To Spend 3 Days in Verona

You know, you can visit Basilica di Santa Anastasia and Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare on the 2nd day of your visit to Verona as they’re a part of Citta Antica. But since we are doing a 3-day trip, I suggest you set them aside for the third day.

Anyway, we’ll start day 2 in Citta Antica, particularly at Juliet’s house. It’s where the famous balcony of Juliet is. If you want to have a picture standing on it, I suggest coming as early as possible as the queue to Juliet’s balcony demands 30 minutes waiting time during peak season.

After Juliet’s house, you’re free to go wherever you want in Citta Antica. I created a route in Google Maps you can follow when in Verona. The time reflected in the link does not reflect the actual.

The next set of activities in the afternoon is on the northern tip of Citta Antica. It’s the most scenic place in the old town of Verona, I think. The first stop is Ponte Pietra, which is 10-minutes away from Pizza Delle Erbe by foot.

The next place to visit is Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano, the archeological site/ruins that you can see right from Ponte Pietra or along the banks of River Adige. It should not take you more than 5 minutes to reach the Museum from Ponte Pietra.

There are a few cafes and restaurants in the area where you can replenish after seeing Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano. I would suggest Re Teodorico restaurant beside Castel San Pietro so you can dine in with a view of Verona.

From Ponte Pietra, you can take the stairs to Castel San Pietro. The first step is at the intersection of the roads and Ponte Pietra. Going up takes no more than 10 minutes.

Alternatively, you can ride the funicular to Castel San Pietro much faster and conveniently. The funicular is just behind Chiesa di Santo Stefano.

Day 3

The third day in Verona covers the remaining noteworthy sights, including landmarks outside Città Antica and several churches within it. While these places are worth checking out, a day trip to Lake Garda might be a better option if the weather is nice and you’re in the mood to enjoy nature.

Time (Estimated)	Destination
9:00 am	Verona Outer Wall, Gates, and Bastions
10:00 am	Tomba di Giulietta
11:30 am	Lunch
2:00 pm	Basilica di Santa Anastasia
3:30 pm	Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare
5:00 pm	Giusti Garden

Day 3 Verona Itinerary: How To Spend 3 Days in Verona

We begin the trip at the northernmost part of the 16th-century outer wall of Verona at Porta San Zeno. Continue going south towards San Bernardino Bastion, then Porta Palio, Parco delle Mura, and Porta Nuova. It’s approximately 1.7 kilometers long, 30 minutes to 1-hour leisurely walk.

Tomba di Giulietta, the next destination, is just 1 kilometer away (15-minute walk) from Porta Nuova. If you’re currently in Porta Nuova, proceed east until the wide road intersection. Turn left, and after five blocks of houses, you must see a signboard to the right saying “Tomba di Giulietta.” Here is the Google Maps route for your reference.

After Tomba di Giulietta, you go for lunch. The nearest best location for lunch would be Pizza Bra. From Piazza Bra, you can walk to the next destination, which is Basilica di Santa Anastasia. The travel time on foot and in transit is almost the same (15 minutes).

The last destination for the 3rd day is Giusti Garden which is approximately a 15-minute walk from Citta Antica. Be sure to come 30 minutes before the closing hour (7 pm October to March and 8 pm April to September). Giusti Garden is one of the stops of the hop-on-hop-off bus.

Make the Most of Your Trip!

This three-day itinerary covers a lot of what Verona has to offer, but there’s still plenty more to explore! Check out WanderInEurope’s Verona Discovery Guide for more ideas, including hidden gems like artwork and romantic spots.

Discover the Beauty and Romance of Verona

If you’re planning a day trip to Lake Garda, you’re in for some incredible sights and unforgettable experiences. From a lakeside castle to charming villages and breathtaking views of the Alps, Lake Garda is sure to leave you amazed. Learn more about it here:

Discover Lake Garda

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