Looking for the best things to do in Verona, Italy? A Verona travel guide definitely wasn’t on my worldschool, family trip to Europe plan. Because a Verona Italy trip was not even on my radar. However, these (mostly) free Verona Italy attractions quickly became one of our favorite and most memorable days, and our Verona day trip one of my favorites..
Take this Verona travel blog and make quick notes of what to see in Verona in one day, but then put them aside. Because the best of Verona with kids is relaxed and wandering.
Jump to the free things to do in Verona with kids
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Why Did We Go to Verona?
Well, since you asked about our random story of visiting Verona, I’ll tell ya. It’s a mix of travel mom failure and seizing the day. When vacation plans don’t go as expected, you have to pivot (like Ross). This time the travel issue was the medieval city of Bologna, Italy.
After the Mediterranean family cruise, we were spoiled with several relaxed days days of wandering around the wide-open streets and parks of Barcelona. Despite the crowd of summer visitors, Barcelona didn’t feel crowded. You could breathe and see the summer sky through the trees.
This was in sharp contrast to our family trip to Bologna. Because it was the cheapest flight to Italy from Barcelona and located in the middle of Italy, we would begin with Bologna travel and head south to Rome by way of Florence. I had researched, but sometimes the best travel isn’t just about an itinerary.
I wanted to enjoy Bologna…
Verona vs Bologna
Bologna… the home of the great Renaissance thinkers and the oldest university. This busy town crowded with too many tourists and few open spaces left us dismayed
On top of that, it started to rain. Glad of the protection from the weather, we wandered the historic arcades and covered walkways of Bologna. However, the closeness of the other buildings kept us from fully being able to see our surroundings. Bologna’s Two Towers tilted above us, but with construction and wires, we couldn’t see them. All over Bologna, the beauty of Bologna was criss-crossed by stop lights and electric wires.
Not even our first authentic Italian pasta could get us out of the funk. Maybe it was the half-way-through-the-trip exhaustion. I think it was the claustrophobia of Bologna. We had the pre-paid for the rental house in Bologna for another night. However, heading back into Bologna the next day wasn’t on the trip plan.
I threw out an idea and got the family vote. Everyone voted to get on the train – where they would rest – to explore another city the next. Apple Maps showed us some recognizable names – even considering a long train ride to Venice just to be crazy – and made a decision.
“Get thee to Verona” it would be. We only knew the relationship with Romeo and Juliet in Verona Italy. We entered the day knowing only that Verona was the setting of Romeo and Juliet, but after a day of exploring the beauty of Verona, it became one of our favorites.
~~~> Does the idea of a family trip to Europe excite but terrify you? Check out my full 10 Days in Scotland Itinerary. It’s amazing an European family trip without the language barrier. And I’ve done all the work for you here!
Grab the Train from Bologna to Verona
After arranging our tickets from Bologna to Verona through Omio online and a quick walk from our Bolgona AirBnb, we arrived at Bologna Centrale for a direct route to Verona. (Current 2025 ticket prices on Omio show them only at $12 one way; a quick and inexpensive day trip!) The train from Verona to Bologna only took an hour-and-a-half, and the Verona-Bologna train took us within a quick walk of the Verona historic district.
~~~> Looking to see how to get to Verona from your Italy destination? Omio is my favorite way to quickly scan prices, timetables, and options both through the website and phone app.
How to Spend a Day in Verona
Don’t over-plan your day with detailed schedules of what to see in Verona in one day. After arriving in Verona, we chose a direction and started walking along the canal. Just seeing the river and trees made it a breath of fresh air compared to the claustrophobia of Bologna.
Until it started raining again. We had no where to go but to explore Verona. At least we had ended up at a quiet part of town where we only saw one other tourist family leaving the train. Explore it we would.
Eat More Pizza for Lunch
Having passed up the authentic pizza at L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele in Naples, we realized it was a chain. This famous pizza restaurant (supposedly the birthplace of pizza) was where Julia Roberts awed over a slice of pizza in Eat, Pray, Love. We would eat at another one before our time in Italy was up.
Castelvecchio Museum Verona, Italy
Castelvecchio di Verona (The Old Castle) was one of the highlights of our European family vacation and should be on everyone’s Verona day trip itinerary. I hate to think that we would have missed out on exploring this amazing place. It truly was one of the coolest places and completely unexpected.
This Verona castle was built overlooking the Adige River as it flows through Italy from it’s start in the Alps. Castelvecchio provides a beautiful view of the people walking over the bridge – Ponte Scaligero. Although the building is now a museum of art, the castle was originally built by the Scala Family, the ruling family of Verona during the Middle Ages.
The historic building is very castle-like still, and you can still imagine running along the ramparts as looked when it was constructed in 1355. After power turnovers by various rulers, it reached the height of fame when Mussolini held a famous trial here, and today it’s a must-see Verona attraction.
How Do I Get Castelvecchio Verona Tickets?
The Verona Castlevecchio museum entrance is easily found after a brief walk through the drawbridge into the castle garden. You can get your Verona Castelvecchio tickets there on the day of your visit. The small entrance fee includes the use of audioguides which take you through several floors of sculptures, carvings, and paintings. The guide you get upon entry will tell you about many of the pieces. Simply press the number on the hand-held unit, and it will tell you about the pieces of art.
What is there to See at Castelvecchio?
Castelvecchio is a great place to get away from sun and rain, but there is also lovely art to see here. However, the best part of Castelvecchio was the building itself and the view. You enter through the drawbridge and wander through the rooms until you get to the ramparts overlooking the river. There are beautiful views across Verona from all directions, amazing architecture, and endless photo opportunities.
How Much Time Do I Need at Castelvecchio?
Plan to spend about two hours at Castelvecchio. Even the biggest art history nerd will be ready to move on after a few hours. Even if you care nothing about art, pay for the building. It’s a photographer’s paradise.
Return your lanyard and get your bags from storage at the Castelvecchio Museum Store.
Bonus tip: Although Verona is too far off the coast to be a direct cruise stop, it is only an hour from Venice. This means that people will take a cruise day excursion to Verona. Other places in Verona had that cruise crowd; thankfully, they didn’t venture far enough from Juliet’s house to find the castle!
~~~> If you’re a history traveler (like me!), check out this amazing day trip from Prague to the Terezin Concentration Camp. I know it’s not Italy… but maybe you have Czechia on your Europe travel list.
Piazza delle Erbe and Old Town Verona
As you leave the area of Castelvecchio to head further into town, you may find the crowd. The cobblestone roads continues on flanked by two to three-story historic homes. Look up toward the balconies overflowing with flowers. The tall clock tower stands over Piazza delle Erbe, a historic square in Verona.
Wander the market stalls. Grab a tourist trinket. Head to the fountain. Admire the various colors and histories of the buildings and clock tour. There are still frescoes painted on the outside. It’s a great area to just stand and take in all the details.
Take time to wander around. It’s a lovely part of town.
Juliet’s Statue in Verona
A Verona itinerary isn’t complete without visiting the House of Juliet, The Casa di Giulietta is easily found right off the street. Enter through a covered arch into Juliet’s courtyard surrounded by high brick walls, a gift shop (of course), and a balcony.
Although you have to buy a ticket to enter Juliet’s house, this can easily be a free activity in Verona without a ticket. Buying a ticket to Juliet’s house allows you to look out from the balcony where one of your group should be waiting to take a five second photo of them leaning out from the balcony.
Good news! It doesn’t cost to enter the courtyard to see Juliet in Verona, Italy. You’ll also meet the crowd. This is where women of all ages line up to pose with the bronze statue of Fair Juliet. If you rub her breasts (which is obviously done often due to the metal discoloration), you get luck. Or something.
We chose to see Juliet for free, standing in the courtyard and laughing at people who rub the statue’s boobs while my high school drama queen quoted the Romeo and Juliet balcony scene. It’s a pretty house. Been there. Done that. (I much preferred the beauty of Castlevecchio.)
House of Romeo / Casa di Romeo
Hidden on a back street not too far from Juliet’s house, Romeo’s house was inconspicuous apart from a plaque on the doorway. It was a simple four minute walk away from downtown and away from the crowds. It looked just like any other Verona house but with a sign on the wall indicating it was his house.
~~~> Looking for a local United States Shakespeare experience? Don’t overlook local Shakespeare performances like my family’s favorite in Atlanta at the Shakespeare Tavern. Read “How to Visit Atlanta’s Shakespeare Tavern” here.
Colosseum / Arena di Verona
On your way back toward the train station, head to the Piazza Bra, the largest piazza in Verona. This is where you will find the well-preserved Verona Arena – the ancient Roman amphitheater. While this may not be the giant Colosseum, this is a great opportunity for you to grab a ticket and check it out. We didn’t get to go inside the Arena on this trip to Verona, but the outside alone was impressive.
Tickets to explore the Verona Arena are cheap! If you have time, head in. If you want a skip the line tour and a guide, this tour would be a good option.
If you have even more time, see if there’s a concert in the Arena during your Verona visit.
Is Verona, Italy Worth Visiting?
Although I do not claim to have throughly traveled all over Italy, I do know what I like.. and Verona is one of them. Despite the height of Italy travel season, Verona is a quieter, slower town. Verona solo travel would definitely be on my future radar with slow mornings walking down the cobblestone. Although you could see all the most important places in Verona in a day, you could spend a week just soaking in the atmosphere, wandering the towns, and having some mid-sized Italian city culture.
Final Note – Verona
Personally, I’m glad we didn’t over-plan a day in Verona. This small Italian town is much less stressful than the bigger cities like Rome and Florence where you have to get tickets months in advance. There’s nothing to do ahead of time. Just go.
Remember my number one rule to European travel. Allow detours. Head toward church steeples. Always look in doorways, always wander into empty courtyards, and always make sure to see “arena” when you see the words on your iPhone map. If you don’t, you’ll miss the hidden treasures and magic waiting to be discovered.
Check out these quick links:
- Omio train travel prices – Omio is my go-to for all Europe train research now.
- Wondering about amazing tours you can add to your Verona trip?
- Planning Italy trip housing? I highly recommend these amazing vacation rentals we used: luxury in Rome near the Castle Sant’Angelo and historic beauty for families in Florence
Save these Verona travel tips for your Italy bucket list adventure, and share it with a friend.
Thanks for stopping by my little corner! Here’s to your next adventure.
I’m Bobbie. As transplants from Texas, my family of six is on a mission to discover all of Georgia’s amazing places, experience amazing road trips across the United States, and create a homeschool life along the way.
Want to adventure like me? Reach out! I’d love to chat. Stop by my Instagram or Pinterest page to discover more of our adventures.
Want to work with me? I’d love to work with your destination and tourism board to help other family travelers see all you have to offer.
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