Verona in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

If it is said of Rome that a lifetime is not enough to get to know it, the same could be said of Verona, because the city that inspired William Shakespeare to set one of the most famous love stories of all time, has many more attractions to offer apart from the popular balcony of Juliet's House.

Below, you can discover the best things to see and do in Verona to get to know the city in 3 days:

Verona's main attractions are in the historic centre, so for the first day I suggest a tour around the old part of the city, which is highlighted by Juliet's House, Piazza delle Erbe, the Lamberti Tower, which offers the best views of the city, and the Arena.

Visit Juliet's House

Verona's main attraction is the Juliet's House Museum, which is a medieval palace built in the centre of the city that served as the home of the Capulet family, one of the main characters in William Shakespeare' s Romeo and Juliet.

Its balcony, which is the most famous in the world, is the setting for one of the most memorable scenes of the play and the most famous dialogue Romeo and Juliet. Nowadays it is the most visited place in Verona and every tourist seeks to have his or her picture taken next to the balcony.

Juliet's House is located in the centre of the old town and is often included in the best tours of Verona, which also often pass by Romeo's House, which is located a few streets away but is not open to the public.

• Price: General admission to the museum costs approximately 6 euros per person.
• Where... Piazzetta Navona, Verona.
• How to get there... Buses 31, 32, 33 and 95 and the city's hop-on-hop-off tourist buses.

Stroll through Piazza delle Erbe and have lunch in the old town

Very close to Juliet's House, 4 streets away, is the Piazza delle Erbe, which is one of the most famous public spaces in the city. If you plan to visit Verona during Christmas, you will see the giant Christmas tree that is set up every year and you can visit some of the best restaurants and bars on the site.

Since you may not be able to make a gastronomic tour of Verona due to lack of time, you can at least visit some of the places that are included in these tours, such as the Ristorante Maffei, which is known for its pasta, Billy Paletta or the Osteria del Bugiardo. There you can have lunch before continuing your tour.

If you are also an ice cream lover, in the area of Piazza delle Erbe you will come across two of the most famous ice cream parlours in Verona, which are Gelateria Impero and Amorino.

Climb to the top of the Lamberti Tower

The Torre dei Lamberti, an 84-metre high medieval civil tower, was considered one of the tallest buildings in the city and now serves as a lookout point, being one of the places to contemplate the skyline of the city.

This construction, which also functions as a clock tower, is striking for the complexity of its materials and its architecture. It also has two bells at the top, one that signals the fires of the city and the hours of the day and the other that summons the people to take up arms to defend themselves from invaders.

You can visit the tower to see a wide panoramic view of the city including the Adige river, the Castle of San Pietro, the old town, the Arena and the Cathedral. If you visit Verona in summer, you can also see the Alps mountain range.

• Price... Tickets for access to the belvedere cost approximately 6 euros per person.
• Where... Via della Costa 1, Verona.
• How to get there... You can get there on bus lines 11, 13 and 52 or on the city's hop-on-hop-off tourist bus.

Visit the Verona Cathedral

Five streets away from the Torre dei Lamberti is the Verona Cathedral, which you can reach after a 10-minute walk, by bus on line 70 or by hop-on-hop-off tourist bus from the city.

This Cathedral stands out for the simplicity of its Romanesque structure and its gabled roof, something unusual in religious buildings. Inside you can discover frescoes and sculptures from the Renaissance and the altar that was built from the ruins of the two previous churches that occupied the site and were demolished by an earthquake.

Verona Cathedral is open every day and you can also attend religious ceremonies on Sundays.

• Price... Admission to the Cathedral is free.
• Where... Piazza Vescovado, Verona.
• How to get there... You can get there on bus lines 70 or on the hop on-hop off tourist bus of the city.

Walk around the Arena of Verona and see a show

The Arena of Verona is one of the most important Roman amphitheatres in Italy and with its 2000 years of age it would be the main attraction of the city if it wasn't for Juliet's House. Musical concerts are held here every year as well as the Verona Festival, a series of opera performances that take place every year between June and August.

You can tour the Arena di Verona on your own or in a group with a guided tour. With the entrance ticket you will be able to see inside the Arena, learn about its history and also about the many uses it has had over the years.

The total tour of the Arena will take you about 1 hour and a half, so you will have plenty of time to also visit Piazza Bra, which is located at the exit of the amphitheatre and is one of the busiest squares in the city and a meeting point for tours of Verona.

If you want, and as night has already fallen, you can choose to see a show at the Arena di Verona, which is available all year round, and after dinner in the restaurants of the old city.

• Price... Tickets to see inside the Arena have an initial cost of approximately 10 euros per person.
• Where... Piazza Bra 1, Verona.
• How to get there... You can get there on bus lines 11, 12, 31, 32, 33 and 52 or on the hop on-hop off city bus.

For the second day, after having visited the main sites on the first day, I suggest a visit to the outskirts of the historic centre, to visit Castelvecchio, the picturesque Stone Bridge where you can take some of the best pictures of the city and the Roman Theatre with its museum, before climbing to the top of the Castle of San Pietro to watch the sunset.

Visit Castelvecchio and Verona's most famous museum

The most famous museum in the city is Castelvecchio, which is characterised by its 20 exhibitions, which have some of the most important works of art in the country and is also notable for the architecture of the building.

The museum also has two 14th century Veronese bells, frescoes from the royal residences, paintings from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and the largest number of 15th century Venetian works. There you can also find some of the city's main sculptures, which were removed from the public squares during World War II.

You can take guided tours of the museum or tour it on your own, and if you plan to visit Verona during the summer you can also take part in the evening exhibitions.

• Price... Entrance to the museum costs approximately 6 euros per person.
• Where... Corso Castelvecchio 2, Verona.
• How to get there... Buses 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95 and the hop on-hop off tourist buses in the city.

Take a picture on the Stone Bridge

From Castelvecchio you can reach the Stone Bridge on bus line 70 and there you can take some of the best pictures of the city on the only Roman bridge still standing in the city and used since ancient times to cross the river Adige.

The Stone Bridge is not only the oldest bridge in the city, but also one of the main features of the Veronese skyline, which stands out for its medieval constructions and the Roman influence in its main buildings. Moreover, due to its strange architecture, it is a favourite among children, so visiting it is an ideal plan if you plan to visit Verona with children.

The importance of the Stone Bridge was central in the past, as it linked the old part of the city with the Castle of San Pietro, which crowned the resistance of the city against the invaders.

• Price... The visit to the bridge is free of charge.
• Where... Stone Bridge, Verona.
• How to get there... You can get there by bus on line 70 or by the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus of the city.

Tour the Roman Theatre and the Archaeological Museum

Crossing the Stone Bridge you will find the Roman Theatre, which at 2000 years old is the oldest theatre in the city and is still in operation! Nowadays the theatre is the stage for concerts and shows and also houses the Archaeological Museum.

This museum includes more than 600 works on display indoors and another 200 outdoors and there you will find inscriptions, sculptures, mosaics, bronzes, vases, stelae and funerary altars, Etruscan urns and Greek inscriptions.

If you are a history buff you will enjoy the theatre and the exhibition that will give you an insight into what life was like in the city during Roman times. Without a doubt, the archaeology museum is one of the best museums in Verona.

• Price... Entrance to the museum has an initial cost of approximately 4.5 euros per person.
• Where... Regaste Redentore 2, Verona.
• How to get there... by bus lines 11, 12, 31, 32, 33 and 90 and by the hop on-hop off tourist buses of the city.

Watch the sunset over the city from the Castle of San Pietro

At the top of the hill adjacent to the Roman Theatre you will find the Castle of San Pietro, which is the highest point in the metropolitan area of Verona and the ideal place to enjoy a panoramic view of the city at sunset from the belvedere. To get there you can use the stairs or the San Pietro funicular.

From the San Pietro viewpoint you can discover the colourful houses on the banks of the Adige river, the textures and materials of the Stone Bridge and the narrow streets of the old part of Verona, which shelters the main attractions of the city.

To see the sunset from the belvedere you will have to go up during the last shift, so I suggest that you visit the Castel San Pietro towards the end of the second day's tour.

• Price... Entrance to the castle and the viewpoint has an initial cost of approximately 10 euros per person.
• Where... Castel San Pietro, Verona.
• How to get there... You can get there by bus lines 21, 22, 23, 24 and 61 or by Verona hop on-hop off tourist buses.

On the last day of your visit, I suggest a trip to the outskirts of Verona to discover the famous Lake Garda, the thermal baths of Sirmione and the cool breeze on the banks of the Adige River.

Take a trip to Lake Garda

Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake and also has some of the best scenery to be found at any time of year outside Verona. If you plan to visit Verona at Christmas time, you'll have a magical experience at the flea markets and in June you'll experience the best weather on the lake.

In Garda you can go on water tours, visit the thermal baths, visit the spas and discover the lakeside villages, including Sirmione, Salò and Torri del Benaco.

Touring Lake Garda is one of the best activities you can do from Verona and also a different alternative to get away from the ancient buildings and medieval architecture of Verona during your 3-day intensive tour.

• Price... Entrance to the lake sector is free of charge.
• Where... Lake Garda, Verona.
• How to get there... by Flixbus private buses.

Enjoy the thermal baths of Sirmione

One of the prettiest towns in Garda is Sirmione, but it's also the best place to enjoy the thermal waters in a complex overlooking the lake. In the town's thermal centre you'll find bubble beds, whirlpools and freshwater pools.

Unlike other thermal resorts in the area, Sirmione offers a natural lakeside setting with one of the best open views of Garda and also medical services, which is why for a long time Sirmione was considered a clinic for body recovery.

You can visit Sirmione for half a day on your tour of Lake Garda or make it a full day trip, although in this case a couple of hours to relax will be enough before returning to the city to close your Verona trip.

• Price... Entrance to the Sirmione thermal complex costs approximately 68 euros for a day pass.
• Where... Piazza Don A. Piatti 1, Sirmione.
• How to get there... You can get there on the Flixbus private bus service.

Walk along the banks of the Adige river and dine in a restaurant on Via Mazzini

To say goodbye to Verona I suggest a walk along the banks of the Adige to cool off in the river breeze, which will help you beat the heat, especially if you plan to visit the city in summer. If you do it during the winter, a coat will be enough to keep you warm.

Also, if you still feel like walking around the city , you can opt for a stroll through the old part of the city or you can go straight to Via Mazzini to dine at some of the best restaurants. I recommend you choose Le Vecete or Il Bacaro dell'Arena, but you'll certainly find plenty of interesting places.

You can say goodbye to the city in a bar or cafe to try the local coffee and delicious desserts.