Day Trips from Verona

Vicenza and Padova immediately jump to my mind as day trip possibilities. You might also look into the all day or half day cruises on the Brenta Canal. They leave from either Venice or Padova, and include stops to visit some Palladian villas. We did one and enjoyed it very much; but in retrospect, I'd say that half a day is sufficient. There are two companies with very similar offerings. You can find them by googling "Brenta Canal Cruises."

Tracy,

My mom & I were in Verona for 3 nights also but this actually means that you will have 2 full days plus part of the day when you arrive there.

We took a day trip to Lake Garda ( Peschiera) as it's an easy 15 minute train ride from Verona.

We did not visit Sirmione because I'd read that it was way too touristy, instead we took a ferry boat in Peschiera & visited some of the villages by the lake such as Garda, Bardolino & Lazise.

Here is the website for the ferry schedule where you can also read about the villages along the lake: http://www.navlaghi.it/eng/g_illago.html

FYI, the spring ferry schedules just came out.

We actually stayed in Padua (Padova) too but you can also go there on a day trip from Venice (26mins by high speed train) or from Verona (43 mins).

Have a wonderful trip!

Tracy, I spent four nights in Verona in May of 2014, and I loved it. In all of Italy, I found it to be the best blend of an ancient city and a modern lifestyle that I found. The city itself is very flat and walkable, with wide marble pedestrian areas. Not particularly touristy I don't think, certainly less so than almost every other stop on your itinerary. While there are not world-class sites, other than perhaps the Arena, there are a variety of churches, museums, towers and other interesting sites. I stayed in a very lovely B&B mid-way between the train station and Piazza Bra, which made getting around very easy. I did take two day trips, one by bus to the south end of Lake Garda, Sirmione and Bardolino, the other a longer one to Ravenna, where the mosaics in various sites are magnificent. Ravenna is also a very flat and walkable small city. I got an advance super-economy train ticket on the fast 7:00 am train connecting through Bologna, then stopped in Bologna for a quick look and dinner on the way back. There are also some very interesting things to see and do in Padua, including Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel and one of the most beautiful and interesting indoor and outdoor daily marketplaces in Italy. Also St. Anthony of Padua's Basilica and a large and beautiful square nearby.

Hi Tracy,

My husband and I spent three nights in Verona in September and LOVED it, We did a day trip to Padua and saw the Scrovegni Chapel, the University Anatomy Chamber, and St. Anthony's Basilica. It was a great day trip for us. The other day trip we had planned was to rent a car and drive to Maranello to see the Ferrari Factory and Museum. Our rental car fell through because of a change in computer systems so I can't tell you if it would have been good, but with a car enthusiast for a husband it was pretty disappointing that we didn't get to go. We managed to have a great day just wandering around Verona and using the hotel loaner bikes to see the city a little. The city center between Piazza Bra and Piazza Erbe is an enchanting place to wander in the evening. Enjoy your trip!
Janelle

We stayed in Verona for three nights a couple of years ago. We personally didn't care for Verona, but we did love a day tour that we took with a local. Her family owns a Amarone vineyard in Valpolicella and she came and picked us up from our hotel and drove us all over the place and gave us history lessons. She also does food tours, lake garda tours, or really wherever you want to go. She will customs design tours as well, and at a very affordable price. She is a Verona native, but has lived abroad. She is highly educated and very informative. She is also just a very nice person. We really enjoyed her company. Here is her website. http://valpolicellatours.com

Tracy,
If you do decide to visit Lake Garda from Verona, you're better off traveling by train than by bus.

My mom & I took the bus to Peschiera and it took over 90 minutes to get there, as we got stuck in traffic on a one lane highway!

Our original plan was to go to Bardolino & Garda, so we'd purchased bus tickets at the TI the day before, but the bus never showed up (it was a Sunday), so we ended taking a different bus to Peschiera...

Needless to say, we took the train back, & it only took 15 minutes!

You probably don't want to attempt 2 day trips while in Verona, because 3 nights really only gives you 2 full days in Verona. If you did 2 day trips, you wouldn't have much time in Verona.

Thank you for all the valuable input!

Has anyone traveled by train or bus from Verona to Bolzano or Castelrotto? Is it easily accessible by train/bus? It looks like a semi-long ride (1.5-2 hours), but looks incredible. I'd love to hear from anyone who's been to Bolzano area and their thoughts.

Thank you,
Tracy

There is plenty to do in Verona for 3 nights. A daytrip to Padova would be easy.

From Verona to Bolzano is about 1.5 hours by train, 2.5 hours by bus. Verona to Castelrotto is 2+ hours by train (with one change), 3+ hours by bus.

Rome2Rio.com has comparative transportation modes with links to the train/bus companies' schedules.

Hi, Tracy,
I, too, hope to visit Verona at some point, and have been looking into day trips - Mantua looks very appealing.

If you leave Venice around noon, you hotel room in Verona SHOULD be ready when you get there. That will give you all afternoon to get lunch and get the lay of the land. Believe me, there is enough to keep you busy in Verona for two full days without a side trip anywhere. In addition to the Arena, there is the Roman Theater, a really great castle, and numerous churches. Verona is not too touristy with the exception of Juliet's unauthentic balcony. If you must do a day trip my suggestion is Vicenza which is only about a half hour away by train. Great architecture by Palladio. Hope this helps. TC

I plan to end my 20 days in Italy with 4 days in Verona. Here is my plan for those days.
Train and bus to Malescine. Train to Peschiera del Garda and bus to Malcesine -total 2 hours. Malcesine because it looks like a very pleasant lakeside town to walk around and enjoy the ambience and also there is a cable car up to Monte Baldo, walk around on top with views of lake and region. Would be suitable for someone with bad knees, I would think.
Another day take the train to Treviso, walk along the canals (flat walking I would assume) , enjoy the town and return with a stop in Padova--trains are frequent along this route. Plenty of time for a day trip, not rushing through either town.
Another day will go to Bergamo, in the foothills of the Alps, with lots of art, and ambience. About 2 hours by train.
Another day perhaps return to another location on Lake Garda or Mantua. Mantua, because it looks fascinating and different from other cities in my list, also only 1 hour by train from Verona.
I could add to the list, but that takes up my 4 days!