Italy is the land of hidden gems and a very popular tourist destination with the most visited cities being Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan, Lake Como, Cinque Terre, and the Amalfi Coast.
Nevertheless, if you want to see more of Italian culture, heritage, and authenticity, I recommend exploring the best of the Northern cities of Verona and Lake Garda or as Italian call it “Lago di Garda”.
In this post, I’ve customized a travel itinerary highlighting the best of Verona and Lake Garda. You’ll find where to stay, where to eat, tons of insider tips, hidden gems, must-do activities, plus I’ve also included a day trip to Venice.
Let’s dive in!
Verona and Lake Garda – Quick Facts:
- Verona is situated in the Veneto region in the Northeast of Italy, and the South tip of Lake Garda is under 20 minutes’ drive from Verona.
- Lake Garda is the biggest lake in Italy and one of the most scenic. The lake is split between 3 regions Veneto, Lombardia, and Trento.
- Climate: Verona and the Southern towns of Lake Garda enjoy the 4 seasons from a climate perspective, cold in the winter and warm in the summer. Visiting Verona and Lake Garda in all seasons has its own glam. If you are a summer person, Lake Garda offers beautiful sceneries with plentiful of water activities and Verona buzzes with nonstop cultural events at the open-air Roman Arena.
- Flights to Verona: can be reached by international flights to its own airport that connects to over 80 destinations or within less than a 2-hour drive from any of Milan’s 3 airports or under 1:30 hours from Venice’s airport.
- Transportation in Verona: Verona is well connected to the rail network that connects the country from the north to the south.
- Currency: The currency used is Euro and most places accept both cash and card payments, although some of the smaller shops may prefer cash payments.
Accommodation in Verona and Lake Garda:
For Ultimate Luxury stay:
Verona:
For your chance to spot a celebrity or if you want the ultimate comfort and lux during your stay, Hotel Due Torri is the perfect stay.
Located at the heart of Verona within walking distance from Piazza Bra, Piazza Erbe, and House of Juliette.
Lake Garda:
To unwind and relax in one of the top Spas at the shores of Lake Garda in Lazise, The Quellenhof Luxury Resort, waits for you!
Mid-range and comfortable stay:
Verona
- The best for staying in the city center is Relais La Torre, they don’t have a car parking space, but offer a comfortable and dream stay at the heart of the city.
- The best of staying on the outskirts of Verona, best you have a car, is the Casa Chiara (apartment modern house). On-street car parking and lovely host.
Lake Garda
- Classique is situated on the hills overlooking Lake Garda with its stunning views of the lake and offers affordable luxury.
- On the shores of Lazise town, you can find Hotel Corte Valier just a 10-minute walk to Lasize town.
The Best 7 Day Verona and Lake Garda Itinerary
Verona Itinerary Day 1:
After your arrival at your accommodation in the city centre of Verona, I suggest you have a nice stroll around Verona’s historical city centre and perhaps enjoying a meal by Verona Arena at one of the nice restaurants around Piazza Bra.
Arena di Verona
The Arena is an incredible Roman amphitheatre. During the summer months, the Arena hosts almost daily cultural shows, from opera, music, and others.
If you can visit Verona Arena during the summer months, make sure you book an event, my personal favourite was Opera Aida, the atmosphere is just magical and mesmerising.
You don’t have to speak Italian to understand the Opera, they do have screens to translate the show and trust me, you won’t need it! Your sensations will be tickled with this beautiful Opera. To check out the Arena events Calendar click here.
Piazza Bra – Verona main Piazza (Square)
Piazza Bra is located next to the Arena. Whenever I am in Verona, I make sure to enjoy a proper Italian Breakfast at one of the restaurants at the Piazza.
The traditional Italian breakfast is usually sweet and consists of the Jam or Custard Cornetto (croissant) and a cappuccino. They do offer savoury and international breakfast options too.
Croissant and Italy
Insider tip: In Italy, the croissant is very popular but unlike France where you find a selection of savoury and sweet croissants, in Italy, croissants are all sweet, and they don’t serve the butter and savoury ones (unless you are staying at one of the 5 stars hotels)
Verona Itinerary Day 2:
It is time to explore Verona’s top attractions, be prepared to walk over 10k steps, therefore, ensure you are wearing comfortable shoes, and if you are travelling during the summer months, ensure you are wearing light clothes too.
Verona’s Top Attractions:
Verona Top Attraction: Piazza Delle Erbe & Shopping in Verona
Shopping in Verona
Pizza Erbe is only 5-minute walking distance from Piazza Bra, you will be walking through the narrow pedestrianized streets while those streets are filled with shops on both sides.
You can find anything from top brands retail shops to boutiques and local brands. Verona has one of the nicest shopping streets in Italy after Rome, Milan, and Florence. So yes, if you have shopping in mind, Verona is a great choice.
Piazza Delle Erbe (Erbe Square)
Piazza Delle Erbe is a beautiful Piazza and full of character, the buildings are so colourful. It feels like you are in an open-air museum!
You will find beautiful fountains, old churches, and significant architecture at this open-air museum. My advice is to explore all those tiny alleys and look up to appreciate the artistic facades.
Piazza Delle Erbe Market
During the day, Piazza Erbe turns into the local haven, where locals buy their daily groceries fresh from the Piazza’s market.
You can find anything from local foods to local art designers and during the Christmas period, the Piazza turns into a very festive Christmas market that competes with the German Christmas market, if you ever want to visit Verona during winter time (which I, usually, tend to do as its less bustle!)
Verona Marbled Streets
Quick Fact: you will notice that the pavements in Verona historical centre are all made of unique marble, unlike any other city in Italy. That is because the mountains nearby Verona, it is where the Italian marble mines are!
Verona Top Attraction: Casa di Giulietta (Juliette’s House)
A visit to Verona is not complete without visiting the famous house and balcony of Juliette from Romeo and Juliette’s classical novel by William Shakespeare.
Not far from Piazza Erbe, within a few minutes of walking you will reach the Casa, you can book your visit in advance using their website.
Bonus Info: One of my all-time favourite movies was filmed in Verona, the film called “Letters to Juliette”, a romantic and classical movie.
Verona Top Attraction: Castel Vecchio Museum & Ponte Scaligero
While you are still in the city centre, walk towards Castel Vecchio and Ponte Scaligero bridge, a stunning castle with a bridge linking both sides of the city that was built in the Middle Ages to protect the city from the invasions.
You are guaranteed breath-taking sceneries of the river Adige from the Scaligero Bridge, it is just beautiful walking over the bridge stopping and watching the river Adige with its clear waters running underneath.
Verona Top Attraction: Castel San Pietro
Within walking distance, you could also walk to Castel San Pietro, take the funicular to the top of the Castle, and enjoy an uninterrupted view of Verona and Adige River from the top. Sunset views are not to be missed from this point.
There is a cute bar at the top of the castle where you could sit, sip a drink, have a snack, and have a dreamy sunset from the top of Verona city centre.
Verona and Lake Garda Itinerary Day 3:
Valpolicella, Amarone Wine and Olive Oil
If you are a wine lover and enjoy top-notch olive oil, a visit to Verona won’t be complete without visiting the vineyards and the olive tree groves!
Verona is the home of the famous Valpolicella Wine and the Amarone and both are produced at the Valpolicella Valley which is less than 20 minutes’ drive from Verona.
My top choice to taste the best of the Valpolicella and Amarone wines is a day visit to Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde, they provide a tour of their beautiful valley that overlooks the wine valleys and the marble mines.
During the tour, you will get to taste a selection of their organic Valpolicella wines and olive oils.
At Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde they offer pick-up and drop-off services too.
Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde offers a few different tours:
- Vineyard and Winery Tour with Wine Tasting
- Marano di Valpolicella: DOP Olive Oil Tasting Experience
- Truffle Hunting Experience & Amarone Tasting
- Champagne Experience with Premium Wines
Venice Day Trip: Day 4 Itinerary
Full day in Citta Dell’Amore Day Trip – Venice
Did you know that you could get the fast train from Verona and in 1 hour you could reach Venice?
Well, you know now! If I were you, I would grasp this opportunity to take the train and spend a full day in Venice.
Venice is one of the most romantic cities in Europe and you should check it out for yourself!
Transport in Venice
After breakfast, head to the Porta Nuova train station where the train journey ends at Venice’s train station.
Once you are out of the station you will see the ferry taxis either private or public transport tickets office in front of you.
A full-day boat ferry ticket with unlimited stops that gets you everywhere in Venice costs around £25 per person, I would recommend purchasing the unlimited ticket.
Tip: English is not widely spoken in public places, and the ferry schedule table is not 100% reliable, therefore, always ask and check with each boat if they stop at your destination. During the summer months the scene can be chaotic, just be prepared for the hustle if you opt for the public ferries.
Key Attractions in Venice for a Day Visit:
San Rialto Bridge & Piazza San Marco
Your best starting point is walking towards the famous San Rialto Bridge where all the signs will lead you for an easy 10-minute walk towards Piazza San Marco where you will be greeted by the enormous beauty of Basilica di San Marco.
While walking and exploring the piazza, similar to Verona, walk at a slow pace, and look up and inside the gates to admire the unbelievable architectural details embedded everywhere in this beautiful city.
Bridge of Sighs
Another beautiful bridge is the Bridge of Sighs. Perhaps you could treat your partner to a romantic Gondola ride underneath this iconic bridge.
Dine at El Magazen Restaurant – Romantic & Cozy Authentic Venice Cuisine
This restaurant is a true hidden gem in Venice, I recommend you book in advance and request a table for two by the window, it gives direct views to the canal, and it is such a romantic restaurant with a truly Venetian where you will see lovers roaming in their Gondolas next to you.
Island of Murano – the Murano Glass Island
Murano is famous for producing coloured Murano Glass, and the ferry can take you to Murano, it is roughly around 25 minutes by public ferry.
Murano is a very colourful island and, on both sides, you can enjoy the Murano glass-making shops and the Murano glass retail shops.
Murano Glass Making Experience
Book the Blow Glass experience and prepare your wallet to buy lots of authentic Murano glass as a tasteful piece of souvenirs to remind you of this magical trip.
Suggested tour: You could also book this 6-hour experience which combines boarding a panoramic boat to discover the most famous islands of Venice. You get to stroll through Murano, Burano, and Torcello Islands and after enjoy an authentic glassblowing demonstration in Murano.
Lake Garda Itinerary Day 5
Lake Garda
On your fifth day, you transfer to your accommodation at Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy.
As explained above, Lake Garda houses 3 different regions in Italy, and given the Southern bits of the lake are just under 25 minute drive from Verona, I recommend exploring the Southern towns of the lake.
Exploring Lazise Town
Lazise is a beautiful medieval town on the shores of Lake Garda, it has a beautiful castle and town centre that bustles with shops, nice restaurants, and waterfront walks and bars.
Lazise is the perfect town for giving it the “Dole Vita” vibes, with its slow paced lifestyle and picturesque sceneries.
Tip: There is a tour in Lazise where you can learn about the winemaking process from start to finish with this guided visit to Bergamini Vini winery. Top off your experience with a lovely tasting of delicious Garda wines, cheeses, and cold cuts.
My top places to drink & dine in Lasize are:
| Pergolo | PERGOLO, Lazise – Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number – Tripadvisor | Lazise, Lake Garda | |||
| Porta Lion Ristorante | PORTA LION RISTORANTE, Lazise – Menu, Prices, Restaurant Reviews & Reservations – Tripadvisor | Lazise, Lake Garda | |||
| Ristorante Al Cardellino | RISTORANTE AL CARDELLINO, Bardolino – Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number – Tripadvisor | Bardolino, Lake Garda | |||
| Ristorante Esplande | Ristorante Esplanade | La cucina di Massimo Fezzardi e un’incantevole vista lago (ristorante-esplanade.com) | Lake Garda | Fine Dining with Romantic Views on the Lake | ||
Lake Garda Itinerary Day 6
Sirmione
South of Lasize town, you will find another medieval town called Sirmione, famous for its medieval castle that was built over the lake.
Sirmione is a small town and walking around its narrow alleys is so much fun! For your perfect lunch spot, I recommend the one Michelin-star restaurant called, La Speranzina.
In my opinion, this restaurant is a must-visit, it has amazing, lush gardens next to the lake and offers a true and authentic Italian deliciousness.
Top things to do at Lake Garda
- Boat tour around the lake or Sunet Tour around the Lake.
Suggested tour: Cruise around the beautiful Lake Garda and admire its historic castles while enjoying a Bardolino wine tasting on a half-day boat tour.
- Garda Land for a family fun day.
It is the Disney land for Lake Garda, a huge place that offers games, fun, water park for the entire family, perfect to cool down during the summer months.
Note: Make sure to book your open-date ticket in advance.
- Water sports in Lake Garda
Enjoy a family-oriented canyoning adventure in Lake Garda, designed with kids from 6-9 in mind. Jump, slide, and splash through a scenic canyon guided by instructors, and stop for a relaxing swim.
Note: If you are not into water sports, you could get this entry ticket to enjoy a day relaxing in the luxurious Villa Cariola Hotel’s pool, surrounded by nature among the green hills overlooking Lake Garda.
From Lake Garda to Verona Day 7
This itinerary is coming to an end, if your flight is late during the day, perhaps you choose to enjoy your last day chilling by the lake for one last nice meal and wine!
Other optional things to do:
If you still want to explore, take a bike tour to explore the charming village of Borghetto sul Mincio and immerse yourself in the relaxed atmosphere starting from Peschiera del Garda.
If you just want to relax, experience optimal relaxation and wellness luxury at QC Terme Garda Spa & Golf Resort. Restore, relax, and absorb the beauty of the spa surroundings, set in the countryside near Lake Garda.
Buon Viaggio!
Author’s Bio: Ruba is a travel blogger in her forties. She is originally from the Middle East and married to an Italian and together they live in the UK.
In August 2023, Ruba took the leap, left her corporate full-time job, travelled solo to Bali, Indonesia, embracing slow traveller mode in this beautiful country, and stayed for 5 months to discover Indonesia’s hidden gems. In January 2024, Ruba started her return journey to Europe and by April 2024, she will make Puglia, Italy her permanent home to explore the Italian beautiful towns and gems.
Passionate about authentic cultures, hidden gems, and the sea, Ruba is sharing her travel guides and tips on her travel blog www.travelwithruba.com
