Contents
This post will share all the details of my Milan to Verona day trip.
For the second part of my Easter gateway, I decided to find a nearby Italian city I could visit for a day trip. I planned to visit three cities over 72 hours but had to tell myself to slow down. There’s nothing worse than over-exerting yourself and coming home tired.
It is the Easter holiday and my first proper break this year. I told myself it was Italy and I could always come back. There’s no rush.
So, I settled on day trips to Lugano, Switzerland and Verona, Italy, with Milan as my base.
I’m sure you’re wondering how I settled for Verona. You’ll be happy to know that I have an Italian map that has all the capital cities in Italy across all regions circled. I’ve visited the four major cities (Milan, Venice, Florence & Rome), so I decided to visit the less popular cities.
Also, since my base was in Milan, my focus was a day trip under two hours. In a separate post, I’ll compile all the day trips you can take from Milan in under two hours.
After some back and forth between Verona, Turin and Genoa, I settled for Verona.
Here are all the details that went into planning this trip.
Getting To Verona From Milan
Cost: €36.24 return
Verona is the biggest city in the Veneto region of Italy. It’s also the same region as Venice, the capital city. Verona is famous for being the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. The City of Verona is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From Milano Centrale, I booked a direct train on Italo to Verona Porta Nuova station. For some reason, I got the times wrong, so I missed my actual train.
In a state of panic, I bought a new ticket I shouldn’t have. I only needed to speak to customer service in front of the platform. She graciously put me on a new train for free. Best believe, I immediately requested a refund on Trainline.
The journey took about 70 minutes, which went by fast.
Moving Around Verona
Cost: €1.30 for a single journey
Immediately after stepping out of the Verona Porta Nuova station, I felt overwhelmed and destabilized, which was surprising because I hadn’t felt this in a long time.
It wasn’t until I looked up that and saw a huge number of students all simultaneously. Turns out there’s a bus station in front of the train station, and for some reason, every damn student in the city decided to turn up.
I had to take some time to get myself together and find a way to the city centre. I thought about jumping on one of the several buses in front of me, but after that crowd I saw, I thought against it.
After going back and forth for about fifteen minutes, I took the twenty-minute walk to the city centre.
Even after buying a one-way bus ticket, there was no way I was jumping on the bus with many unruly teenagers.
So, if you visit Verona, don’t bother taking a bus. You can easily walk back and forth to the city centre. It doesn’t take long at all.
If, for some reason, the weather isn’t great, you can easily take one of the buses, which will drop you right in front of the Verona Arena. You can get tickets in front of the bus terminal.
The Best Things To Do On Your Milan To Verona Day Trip
A nifty trick I use to find where the city centre is if I’m going on foot is to plug in the most popular attraction into Google Maps and find my way. It works every single time.
This time the major attraction I was walking towards was the Verona Arena. More often than not, the attraction is within or in very close walking proximity to the city centre. Also, you can tell you’re approaching the centre of any city by how busy it gradually becomes.
Walking from the Verona Porta Nuova station to the city centre might initially look deserted depending on your route, but trust me, keep going. Halfway through, you’ll start to notice a lot more crowds.
If you visit during the holiday like me, you’ll be astonished by how incredibly busy the city centre is.
So, here are some must-see attractions that would make your trip to Verona worthwhile.
Iconic Landmarks
- Verona Arena: A 30AD 22,000-capacity Roman amphitheatre still used today for large-scale musical events. It is the third largest in the city after Rome’s Colosseum.
- Ponte Pietra: A Roman arch bridge across the Adige River, Italy’s second-longest river. The bridge is the oldest one in Verona.
- Arco dei Gavi: A 1st-century Roman arc demolished in 1805 and rebuilt in 1932.
- Porta Borsari: A 1st-century ancient Roman arched gate.
- Porta Leoni: The ruins of another 1st-century ancient Roman gate.
- Juliet’s House: The iconic stone balcony of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.
- Piazza delle Erbe: An iconic public square with ancient monuments.
- Ponte Scaligero: A 13th-century arch bridge which featured the world’s longest span when it was constructed.
- Palazzo Maffei: 15th-century historical palace housing ancient and modern art.
- Castelvecchio Museum: A restored ancient castle used to store art and weapons.
- Torre dei Lamberti: 84m bell tower constructed in the 11th century but struck by lightning. Restoration started in the 14th century and took 16 years.
- Piazza Bra: The largest public square in Verona, which I think is remarkable. If you’re walking from the train station, this is where you’ll find the most crowds.
Where To Get The Best Gelato In Verona
Cost: €3 for two scoops
I highly recommend checking out Gelateria Savoia Verona in the city centre. It’s just a five-minute walk from the Verona Arena and beside the Porta Borsari: the arched entrance into the city. You’ll instantly recognize it with the queue outside.
This was, quite frankly, the best gelato I’ve had in Italy, and I’ve tried quite a few across various cities. The flavours, especially Pistachio, are incredibly rich and flavourful and is honestly worth returning to Verona for.
Overall,
Verona was worth the day trip. The city has just enough attractions without being overwhelming, which is typical for many Italian cities.
As a result of the crowds, I preferred walking down the bridges rather than getting cooped up. It was less busy, and the views were immaculate.
Also, expect crowds at the train station on your way back. To ensure you can secure a seat, get to the platforms early enough.
If you have the time and want to explore Roman history further, Verona is worth the day trip.