Editorials
How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Verona and Mantua
Plan the perfect Romeo & Juliet trail through Verona and Mantua
Verona’s association with Romeo and Juliet is hard to miss, from the crowds at Juliet’s House to souvenirs bearing the lovers’ names. But the city’s romance extends well beyond Shakespeare: opera in a Roman arena, walks beside the Adige and dinner in a square framed by centuries-old palaces.
Its compact historic centre lends itself to a few days on foot, exploring between Piazza delle Erbe, the boutiques of Via Mazzini and the bridges across the river. The famous sights draw plenty of visitors, but there is room in a stay for quieter streets, small wine bars and an afternoon without a fixed itinerary.
Verona also makes an appealing starting point for a longer journey through northern Italy. Mantua adds Renaissance palaces and extraordinary frescoes, while Lake Garda offers waterfront towns and time on the water. Together, they create a varied itinerary with art, good food and space to relax between visits.
Why Verona should be your next city break
In the heart of the city, you’ll find a remarkably preserved Roman amphitheatre dating from 30 AD, which remains the third-largest in Italy. The amphitheatre now hosts an opera festival from June to September. You can watch a Verdi opera in the amphitheatre and imagine you’re in a Fellini movie.
Naturally, Juliet’s Balcony is the most famous tourist attraction in Verona. Juliet never existed beyond the realm of fiction, but that doesn’t stop people from queuing up to see “her” fabled balcony. Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s House) is a 13th-century building that once belonged to the Cappello family – the surname sounds a bit like “Capulet.” A tangential link if there ever was one! Shakespeare himself never set foot in Italy, so another connection that doesn’t fully connect.
The real charm of Verona isn’t in its tourist attractions, but in walking around at your own pace and taking it all in. You’ll find countless places to wine, dine and shop along the way.
Be sure to take a trip to Castel San Pietro, the hilltop castle and viewpoint where you can enjoy panoramic views over Verona. This medieval fortress sits on the Colle San Pietro (Saint Peter’s Hill) on the north bank of the Adige River, directly opposite the historic city centre.
To reach the top, you can either take the funicular railway (a small cable car that’s been operating since 1941) or climb the steep stone staircases that wind up through the cypress-lined hillside. Many visitors choose to walk up the stairs for the exercise and photo opportunities along the way, then take the funicular back down. You can fortify yourself with Aperol Spritz when you reach the bar at the top of the hill.
Combining Verona with Venice
Verona and Venice make a rewarding pairing, with direct fast trains connecting the two in a little over an hour. Arriving at Venezia Santa Lucia puts you beside the Grand Canal, ready to continue on foot or by water taxi to your hotel.
A day visit allows time for a walk through the city, lunch and a carefully chosen museum or palace. For a first visit, however, two or three nights gives Venice the attention it deserves. St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace can fill much of a day, while neighbourhoods such as Cannaregio and Dorsoduro invite a slower afternoon among canals, galleries and small restaurants.
The busiest routes draw substantial crowds, particularly around Rialto and St. Mark’s Square. Staying overnight gives you time to explore early in the morning and enjoy dinner without watching the clock for your return train. A hotel with its own landing stage also makes arriving with luggage considerably easier.
Three nights in Verona followed by two or three in Venice creates a manageable journey with time for both cities. Depending on your flights, departing from Venice can avoid returning to Verona at the end
Daytrip to Mantua – Lombardy’s hidden gem
Mantua continues the Shakespeare connection: this is where Romeo takes refuge after killing Tybalt. Around 40 kilometres southwest of Verona, the city makes a rewarding day excursion, with grand squares and Renaissance palaces that deserve attention beyond their literary associations.
The Palazzo Ducale introduces the world of the Gonzaga family, whose patronage helped shape Mantua’s artistic heritage. Its great highlight is Andrea Mantegna’s Camera degli Sposi, where painted figures gather around an illusionistic opening in the ceiling. A private guide can draw out the personalities and political messages behind the decoration.
Palazzo Te offers a different expression of Gonzaga ambition. Designed by Giulio Romano as a pleasure palace, it contains the spectacular Sala dei Giganti, where tumbling figures and collapsing architecture surround the viewer. Allowing time for both palaces makes this a substantial day of art, with a break for lunch between visits.
Mantua’s compact centre is also enjoyable on foot, particularly around Piazza Sordello and Piazza delle Erbe. A day is enough for an introduction; staying overnight gives you more time for the palaces and an evening in the city after sightseeing.
For a Verona-based journey, Mantua is particularly well suited to travellers interested in painting, architecture and the lives of Renaissance patrons. The Shakespeare connection supplies the introduction, but the art gives you a reason to stay.
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Request a quote →Daytrip to Lake Garda
Lake Garda is a popular addition to a Verona stay, with its southern shores close enough for a day exploring the waterfront towns. It is also a major holiday destination in its own right, so busy promenades, restaurants and boat services are part of the summer experience.
Sirmione draws visitors to its castle and narrow streets on a peninsula extending into the lake. Its setting makes it worth visiting, although peak-season crowds can make progress through the historic centre slow. An early arrival leaves more time to explore before lunch.
On the eastern shore, Bardolino and Garda town offer waterfront walks and plenty of places to eat, while Torri del Benaco has an attractive harbour beside its Scaliger castle. These towns also attract substantial numbers of visitors; the choice comes down to which setting appeals and how much travelling you want to do.
For a day excursion, one or two towns with time for lunch is enough. A private boat outing can add views from the water, while a stay of two or three nights gives you time to enjoy a lakeside hotel, swim and explore at a more leisurely pace.
Fancy a trip a Milan?
Milan makes a rewarding addition for travellers interested in fashion, design and art. Two or three nights gives you time for its major sights, shopping and evenings out, with a distinctly metropolitan change of pace after Verona or Lake Garda.
The Duomo is a natural starting point, particularly its rooftop terraces, where walkways bring you close to the cathedral’s elaborate spires. Nearby, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II opens onto a world of historic cafés and designer boutiques. Brera offers galleries and restaurants along handsome streets, while Leonardo’s The Last Supper merits planning well ahead for tickets.
Milan also adds more choice for LGBTQ+ nightlife. Porta Venezia is a focal point for drinks and socializing, and a stay in the city gives you the freedom to enjoy an evening without arranging a late return to Verona.
For a week-long journey, Verona and Milan provide two contrasting bases, with Mantua as a possible day excursion. With more time, a few nights on Lake Garda adds a slower interlude. The order can follow your flight arrangements, finishing in whichever city offers the most convenient departure.
Exploring the gay scene
Milan offers the widest choice of LGBTQ+ nightlife among the destinations covered here. Porta Venezia is a good starting point for an aperitivo and an evening around its bars, with time for dinner before heading somewhere later. Staying overnight makes more sense than trying to fit a night out around a return train to Verona.
In Verona and Mantua, the appeal of a couples’ journey is more likely to be an opera evening, a privately guided palace visit or dinner within walking distance of your hotel. LGBTQ+ events and parties can add to a stay, but current local listings are more useful than planning around a single bar mentioned in an older guide.
Out Of Office can combine those cultural experiences with time on Lake Garda or a few nights in Milan, choosing hotels and local partners with your comfort in mind. The route should follow your interests and flight options: Verona can make a convenient start or finish, while Milan or Venice may suit an onward journey without doubling back.
Ready to start planning your dream trip around Northern Italy? Whether you’re looking to cover the Romeo & Juliet trail, sail around Lake Garda or party in Milan (or all of the above!), we can arrange the perfect itinerary for you.
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