How to spend a day in Verona on a budget with kids

Table of Contents

Verona is a magical place to spend a day with the kids – full of history, culture and stunning architecture – and it’s actually a really easy place to explore with a small budget. There are lots of affordable things that you can see and do in Verona – perfect for families travelling in a frugal way. So, if you’re visiting Northern Italy, make sure you take a trip to Verona – it’s one of our favourite cities and you won’t be disappointed! Pack up a picnic, and here are five fantastic, budget-friendly things to see and do in Verona that the whole family will love. Here’s how to spend a day in Verona on a budget with kids:

1. Stroll along the Adige River

Verona is easier to reach than some of the other busier cities – we visited from Lake Garda and were actually able to drive most of the way and then park cheaply slightly outside of the city in a parking bay by the river. Verona is a really walkable city, which is perfect for a budget-friendly adventure with the kids, so start your day with a scenic walk along the river, taking it all in. From there head to Piazza Bra, the vibrant heart of Verona – it’s a gorgeous spot and it really sets the tone for a day in Verona.

2. Take a trip inside the Verona Arena

The Piazza Bra square is also home to the Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheater, which is your next stop on your itinerary. Built in 30AD, the condition of Verona Arena is absolutely remarkable – and it’s really affordable so be sure to head inside to check it out. Whilst Rome Colosseum may be larger and more impressive from the outside – Verona Arena is much better preserved and incredibly it’s still used as a venue for concerts today – we saw a pop concert rehearsal when we visited. (There were also smaller queues!)

Tickets cost €10 for adults, €1 for children, and children aged 7 and under go free – so it’s a more affordable place to visit than the Colosseum in Rome, and it’s actually in much better condition. Want to compare Rome’s Colosseum with Verona Arena? Read my post: How to spend a day in Rome on a budget with kids. Just make sure that you aren’t planning to visit Arena di Verona on an event day, such as a concert, as it would be a shame to get all the way there to find you couldn’t view inside. (As long as there aren’t any events it’s usually open to the public 7 days a week.)

3. Have a picnic lunch

Directly across from Arena di Verona, is the perfect spot for a picnic lunch and some people watching. Though there are lots of restaurants to choose from nearby too, if you have a bigger budget, this seating area is definitely the best spot in Verona for a DIY alfresco lunch. If you need some lunch supplies, head to a nearby bakery or a take-away pizza spot – pizza in Verona is not only delicious but also budget-friendly, with slices starting at just a couple of euros. Look for small eateries outside the main tourist areas for the best prices and authentic food. If the kids need to let off steam Giardino Giusti, one of Verona’s most beautiful gardens, is about a 15 minute walk from the square and another great picnic spot.

4. Head to Juliet’s Balcony (Casa di Giulietta)

From Piazza Bra, take a leisurely walk through Verona’s cobblestone streets. Head toward Via Mazzini, a bustling pedestrian shopping street, where window-shopping costs nothing and is fun for kids thanks to the colourful displays and street performers you might encounter. Just a four minute walk from there you’ll find what Verona is most famous for – Juliet’s Balcony! This house is said to have inspired Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and no trip to Verona is complete without visiting Casa di Giulietta. While entry to the house and museum costs extra, viewing the balcony from the courtyard is completely free.

5. Climb the Torre dei Lamberti Tower

Lastly, enjoy panoramic views over Verona by climbing the Torre dei Lamberti Tower. Tickets are only €6, with reductions at weekends, and kids aged 7 and under can enter free – so it’s a great budget-friendly activity for your day in Verona. You can climb the many steps (if the kids are willing!) or take the clear elevator up the Torre dei Lamberti – to experience a fun way for kids to see the city from above. If you’re thinking of visiting inside Verona Arena, Juliet’s Balcony and the Lamberti Tower, it might be worth getting a Verona Card. The Verona Card includes entrance to all three (with ‘skip the line’ at the Arena), public transport and reduced entrance costs for the museums.

Can I see Verona in a day?

If you’re wondering if you can see Verona in a day then yes you definitely can – it’s more compact than some other cities and easy to navigate on foot – it’s a gorgeous place for a day trip. Of all of the cities that we visited whilst in Italy, we found Verona to be the most chilled – it’s a stunning place with a lovely relaxed atmosphere – great for a wander in the sunshine. Hopefully I’ll have convinced you by now that Verona is definitely worth a visit – and with such affordable attractions and sights, it’s the perfect place to spend a day on a budget with kids!

Where are the best places to stay in Lake Garda with kids?

If you’re looking for an affordable base nearby, we loved our stay at Camping Cisano San Vito, in Lake Garda, and it was only 30 minutes from Verona. Staying outside of the city centre is a brilliant way to avoid high accommodation prices – and you can benefit from the brilliant child-friendly swimming pools and facilities that the campsite has to offer. (Lake Garda is an amazing spot for a family holiday!) We paid just £250 for 10 nights – read my full review for more information: Eurocamp Holiday Review: Camping Cisano San Vito, Lake Garda, Italy.

In fact, there are loads of family orientated, budget-friendly Eurocamp holiday parks in the Lake Garda area – it’s a fantastic spot for an Italian getaway. Here are my top 5 picks for the best places to stay in Lake Garda with kids:

All of these holiday parks are less than 30 minutes away from the nearest airport (Verona) so perfect for a car free Eurocamp holiday if you want to avoid driving or hiring a car. Find out all of the information you need in my article: Eurocamp Italy: The 5 best Lake Garda holiday parks for families.

How do I get from Lake Garda to Verona?

As I said above, mixing a stay at Lake Garda with a visit to Verona makes for an amazing trip – Lake Garda in itself is gorgeous, and you can reach Verona in half an hour or less by car. If you’d like to get between Verona and Lake Garda by train then the fastest trains from Peschiera del Garda to Verona only take around 13 minutes – you can be there in no time! Verona is so close to Lake Garda, so if you’re holidaying at either spot make sure you check out both areas – there’s loads of brilliant things to do with the kids in Lake Garda area – find out more in my Lake Garda family holiday itinerary.

Verona or Venice?

If you’re wondering whether to do a trip to Venice or Verona this is actually a tricky one to answer because they’re so different! Verona is my favourite of the two by a long shot – we adored the chilled out vibe and it’s just so stunning and interesting. However, I do think everyone should visit Venice at least once because it’s utterly unique and there’s something magical about travelling by boat. For more info check out my Venice guide: How to spend a day in Venice on a budget with kids.

However, I do think Verona lends itself better to a day with the kids – it’s easy to navigate on foot, generally less busy (or at least it was when we visited!) and less people makes for a more relaxing family day out. But, if you’re staying in Lake Garda, it’s really easy to visit both Verona and Venice – we did both cities during our stay there. From Camping Cisano San Vito the drive to Venice was about 90 minutes (we then trained the last bit from Mestre train station – you can find out more about in my Venice guide) or to get the train from Lake Garda to Venice is about a 2 hour journey.

And one last thing…

If you’re looking for a guide on the Ultimate Italian Road Trip then you’ve come to the right place. You can find out about everywhere we went, the places we stayed, how much we spent and what we got up to in my comprehensive guide to exploring Italy with the kids on a budget: