Venice or Verona: Which One To Visit?

Venice or Verona? It’s a common question travellers ask when planning their Northern Italy itineraries. If you’ve landed on this page, then you’ve already done your planning and know for absolute certain, without a doubt, that you can only do one of these iconic spots, right? If not, go away and book tickets to both.

For those of you that truly are time pressed and can only fit in either Venice or Verona, this post will help you decide. I love both cities, and I’ve got wonderful memories in each of them, but there’s no denying that each one is a very different vibe.

In Venice, you’ve got a floating city where water replaces the roads and you could spend days wandering through tiny alleys, admiring the gondolas, and imagining what Venice was like back in the days of the Doge.

In Verona, you’ve got the beautiful Centro Storico, the arena that’s older than the Colosseum, and a city that feels both postcard-friendly and yet like a place real humans live.

So, back to your question: Venice or Verona? Let’s break them down.

The Case for Venice

The very first time I travelled to Venice, I was 19 years old, with my friend, and we had about €50 to our names. We stayed in what can generously be described as a plastic shed on a campsite on the mainland. Forget wine tastings and cicchetti, our dinners were a carefully rationed bag of dried pasta and jar of pesto cooked on an open-air stove on the campsite. And yet, it’s still one of my favourite memories.

Yes, Venice can be incredibly expensive, but for two broke 19 year olds, it was still absolutely magical. We wandered the canals, wondered why anyone would pay the cost of a gondola ride, and sat in St. Mark’s Square with a bottle of wine we’d bought in the supermarket and then decanted into McDonald’s cups.

This is one of the beautiful things about Venice. If you have the budget, you can get your gondola rides, you can pay for the gorgeous water taxis up and down the canals, and you can stay in one of the historic palazzo hotels that open out onto the water.

Equally, if you’re on a shoestring like I was, you can spend your days roaming around, join a free walking tour, and know that every bridge you cross and alley you squeeze down is absolutely steeped in history.

Venice is a classic for a reason. There’s nowhere like it on earth. It’s somewhere that you’ll see boats used as ambulances, mail carriers, and freight, as well as the tourist rides.

I mean, come on, you’ve seen photos of Venice right? Imagine how much more beautiful that is in person.

Why You Should NOT Visit Venice

On the flip side, being a world renowned beauty comes at a price. Sadly, it’s at risk of being classified as an “Endangered City” by UNESCO, in part due to overtourism.

Venice is crowded, there’s no way to sugarcoat it. The city has introduced a tourist tax on peak days to try and manage the day trippers that come into the city. If you’re visiting on a weekend or in peak holiday season, you’ll see why. Those gorgeous alleys suddenly become slow funereal marches towards a monument, and in the hot sun, you may find yourself getting too cranky to appreciate the beauty around you.

If you were to ask my husband the “Venice or Verona?” question, he’d immediately tell you to skip Venice, specifically for the crowds. If you’re someone who gets anxious in crowds, then it’s worth looking at going in shoulder seasons or even during the winter.

Another “con” for Venice is the cost of everything. While I still maintain that a supermarket picnic and wine from paper cups is delightful, if you do actually want to stay, dine, or take boat rides in the city, it’s noticeably more expensive than other cities in Veneto.

Finally, there’s the logistics side of it. If you’re on a big voyage through Italy, bringing heavy bags with you, dragging them over the canal bridges is not fun. Ask me how I know. If this is you, a day trip might be a better option for you.

Likewise if you’ve got mobility impairments or you’re travelling with an infant in a buggy, Venice is going to be a lot harder to get around. It’s not impossible, but it does take more upfront planning, and you’ll likely end up spending more to get boats from A to B if you need to avoid the bridges and steps.

The Case for Verona

Okay so full disclosure, I love Verona. The first time I visited was kind of by accident. I was supposed to be going to Bologna, but my plans changed last minute and I ended up in Verona instead.

Maybe it’s because I went in with no expectations, but I fell completely in love with this charming city. I’ve actually lost count of how often I’ve been back since, and I’m even planning my birthday this October in Verona.

Verona is an incredibly walkable city. Everything you’re going to want to see on a first time visit is right in the Centro Storico, the old town, and I’d be surprised if it takes you longer than 25-30 minutes to walk from one end to the other.

It’s got plenty of history, including Juliet’s Balcony, and the Arena. And, if you’re visiting during the opera season, you can actually go listen to an opera under the stars in an amphitheatre older than the Colosseum.

It’s cheaper than Venice, and you’ll find your money goes much further in the local enotecas and restaurants (and for my fellow vegans, it’s got some great spots too).

Verona is also in a prime position for day trips to places like Lake Garda, Venice, or even Bolzano up in the Dolomites (although honestly, I’d give Bolzano more than a day).

And don’t even get me started on the wine. Verona is right next to Valpolicella, where Amarone comes from.

Why You Should NOT Visit Verona

This section honestly hurts a bit to write because I really do love Verona so much. However, it’s also pretty easy for me to say “do both!” when I live in London and there are regular Ryanair flights to Italy.

If you’re travelling to Italy on a big, once in a lifetime trip, it’d be completely understandable that you want to hit up the main sights. Many travellers pick the Big 3 of Rome, Florence, and Venice, and it’s for very good reason. Each city is unique, historic, and beautiful. As charming and wonderful as Verona is, it’s not going to pack as big a punch for you if you’re looking for those big bucket list moments.

Verona is also a bit smaller than Venice, and you can realistically get around the main sights in a day or two. If you’re looking to fill multiple days, Verona is an amazing hub for day trips, but longer than that and it’s a better pick for fans of slow travel.

Venice or Verona: How to Decide

If I really had to choose between Venice or Verona, my honest opinion would depend on how long you’re staying, and what kind of vibe you’re looking for.

I’ve put together this table to help you decide.

Where to Stay

If you’re still trying to decide between Venice or Verona, you should know they’re only about 60 minutes apart by train. If you’re staying for 3 nights or more, I’d honestly recommend you stay in Verona and use it as a base. It’ll be a lot cheaper than booking a hotel in Venice would be, and it’s very easy to do Venice as a day trip.

If you’ve got even longer, as I mentioned earlier, Verona’s also a great hub for visiting Lake Garda, Valpolicella, and Bolzano.

Hotel Aurora is a great mid range pick right on Piazza delle Erbe in the Centro Storico, or I’ve got a guide to Verona’s neighbourhoods and my top picks of stays in each, which you can find here.

Final Thoughts

While I’ve got a real love for Verona, there’s no denying that Venice is an incredibly special, spectacular city. If you’re deciding between Venice or Verona neither one is a “wrong” choice, it just depends on what you’re hoping to get out of your trip.

If you can be flexible with your itinerary, I really do recommend visiting both. Despite the fact that they’re both in the same region of Veneto, each one has its own completely unique character, and will give you a completely different experience.