The 4 Best Day Trips from Verona Without a Car

It’s no secret that Verona is my absolute favourite city in Italy. I love the architecture and history, I love the local wines, I love that it’s less crowded than Rome or Florence, and I especially love how easy it is to take day trips from Verona without needing to drive.

Which is handy, because I’ve never bothered getting my driver’s licence (I blame living in Central London).

Aside from being a genuinely gorgeous city, Verona is a wonderful base to explore more of northern Italy, and it’s often cheaper to stay in than nearby Venice or Milan.

If you’re planning your own northern Italy escape, then day trips from Verona while using the city as your base is a wonderful way to see it… and saves you dragging a suitcase around every couple of days.

In this post, I’ll walk you through what I think are the best day trips from Verona, all accessible by public transport if you want to travel independently, and with some tour options if you’d rather someone else did the thinking for you.

At a Glance

Best Day Trips from Verona

For each of the places on this list, I’ve actually made the journey from Verona. One of the things I love about these day trips from Verona is the sheer variety you get – you’ve got iconic Venice, the lakeside calm of Lake Garda, the fun of the wineries in Valpolicella, and the total contrast between Italian and Austrian influence up in the Dolomites.

I’ve laid out the best journeys, based on what I’ve actually done myself and the mistakes I’ve learned from, but whichever one you choose, you’re going to have a wonderful time.

Lake Garda – Sirmione

Lake Garda isn’t just a single destination, so I’ve written a separate post on Lake Garda day trips from Verona. For first time visitors though, Sirmione will always be my recommendation. It’s the best for that “wow” moment as you walk through the castle gates at the entrance to the town, and on a sunny day, there’s nothing quite like boarding a speedboat and flying through the water.

Getting there:

From Verona Porta Nuova train station, book train tickets to either Peschiera or Desenzano. They’re both fairly equal distance to Sirmione, so pick the one that best lines up with your travel times.

Once you’re off the train, hop on the LN026 bus to Sirmione.

If you’re using Google maps, it may suggest that you take the LN026 all the way from Verona. Do not listen to it. The bus can be delayed, and I’ve sat at the bus stop in Verona for over an hour in the hot sun before. At least if it’s delayed on the Lake Garda side, it is possible to walk or grab a taxi the rest of the way.

How long you need:

If you leave early, you can definitely make Sirmione work as a half day trip, although honestly, I’d recommend the full day. While it’s not a big town, it is beautiful and the crowds start to thin out in the later afternoon, leaving you to enjoy the sunset with a spritz by the lake.

Rather a tour?

Lake Garda – Peschiera

If you’re tight on time, or you’re worried about the bus connection to and from Sirmione, you could just hop off the train at Peschiera.

The town sits at the southern end of Lake Garda, with colourful buildings, waterfront restaurants and canals through the centre of it. It’s actually a fortified town, surrounded by walls going back to the Venetian republic days.

How long you need:

For Peschiera, a half day is plenty. On a recent trip to Verona, my flight home wasn’t until the evening, so my husband and I popped into Peschiera for lunch, walked around the lake, and had an Aperol spritz by the water… and we were still back in Verona early enough to collect our bags and make our way to the airport.

Valpolicella

If you’re a wine lover, then Valpolicella is one of the best day trips from Verona for you. You can make a full day of it, like I’ve outlined in this guide, or just pick one winery and head out for a tour. On my birthday last month, my friends and I went out to Farina, and Speri is a favourite too.

Valpolicella is easily accessible from Verona by bus, and there’s something really special about being out amongst the vines, learning how the wine is produced, and getting to pick up a bottle or two to take home. I always bring a checked bag to Verona, just to stock up on Amarone.

Getting there

If you’re heading to one of the big wineries like Farina, Bolla, Speri, or Tommasi, the 103 bus from the city centre leaves every half hour and will bring you right into the town. You can pay for the bus on the bus by tapping your contactless payment. Buses stop running fairly early, but don’t worry, the wineries usually close well before the last bus!

How long you need:

As lovely as Valpolicella is, it’s quite a residential area, so outside of the wineries, there isn’t that much to do in the town. Realistically, this is ideal as an early afternoon activity, getting you back in Verona in plenty of time for dinner.

Rather a tour?

Venice

I know Venice is usually a destination its own right, and honestly, if you have the time, it is somewhere worth visiting for a few days. But we’re talking about day trips from Verona, so Venice deserves a spot on this list. Like the others, I’ve written a full, separate post about making a day trip to Venice if you need help planning your day.

Venice really needs no introduction as it’s one of the most famous cities in Europe, never mind Italy. If you’ve never been though, be warned: It gets incredibly crowded, especially in the summer months – which is actually why I think it’s perfect for day trips from Verona. You get the beauty of the city, but you don’t have to spend your entire holiday battling crowds.

Getting there

The train from Verona train station is about an hour and a half direct to Venice on the Regionale trains, or you can save 15 minutes by taking the high-speed Frecciarossa. Honestly, I’d go for the cheaper regionale option personally – it’s usually about a third of the price, and you’re better off saving your money for gelato.

How long you need:

Take a full day if you’re doing Venice as a day trip and make the most of the day. Set off early in the morning, explore the city, take a walking tour, hop on one of the vaporetto water buses, and be back in your bed in Verona by night time.

Sure, in theory, you could do this as a half day trip, but Venice truly is beautiful and it deserves the day.

Rather a tour?

I’ve looked, and the best tour I could find from Verona to Venice was this one – although between you and me, unless you really want the luxury experience and a private driver, I don’t think it’s worth the money. When train tickets are about €15, and you can explore the city entirely on foot anyway, you’re better off saving your euros and doing it independently.

Dolomites – Bolzano

One of my favourite trips last year was a visit to Bolzano. I went for a couple of days just before Christmas to visit the famous Christmas Markets, and my word this city is gorgeous. At one point in history, it was a part of Austria, and you can see the combined Italian-Austrian influence everywhere. The old town looks like a scene from a Hallmark movie – you know the one, big city girl goes off to a picturesque town and falls in love with a guy who somehow makes a living from selling gingerbread one week a year?

Getting there

Honestly though, put Bolzano on your list for day trips from Verona. It’s a direct train from Verona Porta Nuova, and even though it’s nearly a 2 hour journey, it’s such a change of scene that it’s worth the journey.

How long you need

Like Venice, Bolzano is a destination in it’s own right and there’s plenty there to keep you occupied for a few days. But if all you’ve got is a day, make the most of that day. Get up early, throw back an espresso, and head out on a morning train.

I’ve written this post on how to spend a day in Bolzano, covering all the highlights, and you can definitely get around them in one day if you’re only there from morning til evening.

Rather a tour?

Where to Stay in Verona for Day Trips

If you’re planning a few day trips from Verona as part of your trip, it may be tempting to book a hotel near the train station. Don’t do it. Even though the train station is a little ways outside of the main town, there is nothing of note around it, and the area isn’t the prettiest. You’ll spend your evenings schlepping back into the city and back out again just to get a bite to eat or a glass of wine somewhere.

I’ve got this post on where to stay in Verona to help you decide, but my vote would be for Centro Storico. You’ll be in the centre of everything, with easy bus access to and from the train station – or easy taxis if you’re coming in late. I probably wouldn’t splurge on a fancy hotel if you’re taking lots of day trips from Verona, but a pretty mid-range option like Hotel Aurora is ideal.

Which Day Trips from Verona are Easiest without a Car?

I’ve deliberately kept this list of day trips from Verona to those I’ve actually done myself, so I can vouch for each of these as doable without a car. But if you want my absolute top picks, I’d say Valpolicella and Peschiera are the quickest to get to and from.

Venice is easy by train, and even though Bolzano is a longer train ride, it’s a very pretty one. Sirmione is the only one that can be a bit tricky with the bus transfer if it’s a day the buses are playing by their own rules… but again, I’ve done it and lived to tell the tale.

How Many Day Trips During a Verona Stay?

It’s easy to look at this list and think “great, we’ll do all these day trips from Verona!” And sure, you can if that makes you happy. But if you’re spending all your time on journeys out of Verona, then you’re missing out on an incredible city.

Personally, I’d do a 2:1 ratio on days in Verona vs day trips from Verona. If you’re there for a week, you could do two day trips without feeling like you’re spending your entire holiday in the train station. If you’re there for a weekend, one of the half day trips might be a better shout.

Final Thoughts

I’ve visited Verona more than any other city in Italy (and I go to Italy a lot). I really do love how good it is as a base for day trips, as well as having such a genuine affection for the city itself.

Usually at this point in a post, I’d wrap it up by telling you which trip I’d recommend or which my favourite on the list is – but I can’t do that here. Each of the places I mentioned is somewhere I’ve loved visiting, and in most cases, have done more than once. Each have their own completely different appeals, so none are “better” than the others.

Whichever day trips from Verona you end up doing, you’ll have a great time and I wish you happy travels!