Four Great Ways to Enjoy a One-Day Visit to Verona

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I recommend spending two or three days in Verona to fully enjoy its highlights and unique sights, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time in just one day.

While a single day isn’t enough to see everything, it’s still plenty of time to visit at least half of the city’s top landmarks, attractions, and experiences. For example, you could explore Castelvecchio, Verona Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, and a few hidden gems of your choice.

I can suggest four ways to explore the city, and they are as follows.

Important: If you’re not familiar with what Verona has to offer, take a look at the discovery guide I created for WanderInEurope. You can also check out my list of things to do in Verona, which includes a summary, Google Map locations, and estimated time for each activity to help you plan your trip more easily.

Colorful houses and intricate balcony railings of the houses in Verona, Italy
Colorful flea market in Verona, Italy
Charming gate in Verona, Italy
Beautiful clock at the merlon arches of Verona, Italy
A bridge with defensive medieval architecture in Verona, Italy
A lovely street lamp in Verona, Italy
View of the square from the tower of Verona, Italy
Juliet's balcony in Verona, Italy
Lovely arches and bridges above the streets of Verona, Italy
Quaint mural-adorned facades of the houses in Verona, Italy
The view of the terracotta roof houses of Verona, Italy
Venetian lion statue in Verona, Italy

One way to spend your day in Verona is by exploring its most interesting spots.

Everything is in the historic center or just a short walk away, so you can take in the history, admire the architecture, and soak up the romantic vibe without spending too much time getting around.

  1. Casa di Giulietta (30 minutes)
  2. Verona Arena (1.5 hours)
  3. Torre dei Lamberti (1 hour)
  4. Citta Antica (2 hour) – Lunch
  5. Castelvecchio (2 hours)
  6. Ponte Pietra (30 minutes)
  7. Castel San Pietro (30 minutes)

These are well-known tourist attractions that people can easily recognize in photos. If your friends who have been to Verona see your selfie with these landmarks in the background, they’ll know right away that you’ve been there.

If you want a picture on Juliet’s Balcony at Casa di Giulietta, be sure to get there early—the line gets really long after 9 or 10 a.m.

Did you know that medieval people who couldn’t travel to Jerusalem saw Verona as an alternative pilgrimage site?

This was because of its religious significance and structural similarities to the Holy Land. Pilgrimages to Jerusalem were dangerous and expensive, so having a “Little Jerusalem” in Italy made a spiritual journey more accessible. Verona’s churches, hills, and city layout reflected key biblical locations, deepening the sense of devotion and connection to sacred history.

The official recognition of Verona as “Jerusalem Minor” and the use of religious seals encouraged pilgrims to visit, pray, and seek indulgences, just as they would in the actual Holy Land.

When you visit Verona, you can experience a version of the journey that medieval Europeans once took. The official Verona Tourism website offers itineraries like Rebirth from Water, Rebirth from Earth, and Rebirth from Heaven, each designed to help visitors explore the city’s spiritual heritage. These routes take two to three hours and include stops at five to seven churches.

But if you want a mix of Verona’s main sights along with its religious sites, you can follow my customized itinerary below.

  1. Verona Arena (1.5 hours)
  2. Castelvecchio (2 hours)
  3. Citta Antica (2 hours) – Lunch & Stroll in the quaint streets
  4. Basilica di Santa Anastasia (1 hour)
  5. Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore (1 hour)
  6. Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare (0.5 hour)

We start early at Verona Arena to avoid long lines.

Verona can get crowded, especially during peak seasons. If you want a break from the crowds after exploring the city center and its top attractions, give this a try:

  1. Verona Arena (1.5 hours)
  2. Castelvecchio (1 hour) – excluding the museum, just the bridge
  3. Citta Antica (1 hour) – Lunch
  4. Torre dei Lamberti (1 hour)
  5. Ponte Pietra (30 minutes)
  6. Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano (1 hour)
  7. Castel San Pietro (30 minutes)
  8. Santuario della Nostra Signora di Lourdes (1.5 hours) – sunset

Giusti Garden is another option besides Santuario della Nostra Signora di Lourdes. You’ll need to take a bus to reach either one, but if you prefer, you can hike from Ponte Pietra to the sanctuary in about 20 to 30 minutes.

Bad weather can be a real downside when traveling, but don’t worry if it happens while you’re in Verona! Nearly half of the attractions are indoors or have covered areas. If rain is in the forecast, here are some places to check out:

  • Castelvecchio (2 hours)
  • Basilica di Santa Anastasia (1 hour)
  • Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare (1 hour)
  • Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore (1 hour)
  • Tomba di Giulietta (1 hour) 
  • Casa di Giulietta (30 minutes)
  • Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano (1.5 hours)

Keep in mind that you’ll be doing a lot of walking in Verona. These attractions are close to each other, so be ready with an umbrella and weatherproof shoe coverings if needed.

Planning a trip? From great hotel deals to skip-the-line tickets and affordable eSim to cheap rentals, check out the travel resources I recommend and use for a smooth and memorable trip.

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For a convenient, unique, or more enriching visit, check out these experiences and services:

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Enjoy Verona Further

As mentioned earlier, you might need more than a day to fully experience Verona. In fact, staying longer is a great idea because Lake Garda, Italy’s largest and one of its most beautiful lakes, is less than an hour away. Using Verona as your home base for a day trip to Lake Garda isn’t just convenient—it’s a great advantage.

See FREE 3-Day Verona Itinerary
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Read the Guide to Discovering the BEST of Verona
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