Helpful tips to help you enjoy your family trip to Verona, Italy
Verona is an absolute gem in Italy, it was gorgeous. Traveling to Verona with kids was part of our two-week family trip to Italy, and if you have the opportunity to visit, I suggest it! It is absolutely beautiful and there are so many things to do in Verona with kids.
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How to travel to Verona with kids
Verona Airport (VRN) is a close airport. You can purchase flight and transportation tickets here. This site also includes rental car options.
This is a site for a different transportation service here.
Does Verona have a train station?
Verona Porta Nuava is about a 25-minute walk from the historic center of Verona. We did the walk, and it felt a bit long with our luggage.
You can easily access the public transportation buses to the train station, which I would recommend if you’re traveling to Verona with kids.
You can purchase all of you tickets for your family trip to Italy through here
How to get around Verona with kids
Verona is very pedestrian-friendly! Many of the streets are low-traffic if they do allow vehicles, and many roads are pedestrian-only. My toddler loved running around these streets.
Their public transportation is excellent and easy to use. We primarily enjoyed walking, as there is so much to discover on foot.
Is Verona stroller-friendly?
I saw many strollers in Verona; Verona is fairly stroller friendly. As far as strollers, I recommend a sturdy but compact stroller.
My husband and I decided to skip the stroller for our family trip to Italy, and we were very pleased with the decision to bring the backpack carrier.
It was perfect for walking around and letting my toddler be “tricked” into napping. Many of the streets in Italy are cobblestone, and it can also be challenging to find a space for strollers inside restaurants.
Where to stay in Verona with kids
While we were there, a huge wine event was going on, so we could not book an Airbnb in the historical center of Verona.
Our Airbnb was fantastic. It was located on the other side of the river, near the universities, about a 20-minute walk from the Piazza Bra. It was scenic and quiet.
I suggest staying in a family-friendly hotel or Airbnb closer to the Piazza Bra or historic center. This would be highly convenient, limiting the desire for public transportation or additional walking.
What not to miss in Verona with kids
Piazza delle Erbe
This is an absolute must-see. It is a large square that was historically significant during Roman times.
One of the oldest statues, Madonna Verona is in this Piazza.
Several restaurants surround it. Rows of market tents sell fresh fruits, sweet treats, and souvenirs. We spent a good bit of time in the square; my son loved chasing the pigeons.
As far as pigeon chasing, the square is somewhat congested with tents, and there are roads on the outer portions. It can get a bit crowded in the afternoons. But a lovely time can be spent here.
We didn’t favor the restaurants in this area; we did feel like they were a little more expensive and geared more toward tourists. But they were convenient and had great hours.
Roman amphitheater- the arena di verona
We visited Verona before our stop in Rome, and I am so glad we did! Verona, also known as “Little Roma,” has many Roman ruins, and the Amphitheater is breathtaking.
The contrast of ancient ruins to the surrounding buildings creates a breathtaking backdrop.
The arena is beautiful. Unfortunately, we didn’t purchase tickets beforehand, so we didn’t get a chance to visit the inside. We didn’t want to brave the line with our two-year-old.
The area around the amphitheater is gorgeous. There are so many restaurants, very pedestrian friendly, and an area with fountains and grass for shade. My son loved chasing the pigeons in this little park area. Many people were seen sitting and eating on the park benches.
This is also the main area where you can easily catch a hop-on hop-off bus tour, as well as easy access to rent bikes.
The Arena also hosts the Arena Opera Festival, which looks incredible!
For schedule and ticket purchases, click here!
Castle San Pietro- overlooking the river Adige
This was such a beautiful little trek! There are many stairs, so I would discourage using a stroller to walk up.
When you arrive at the top, the view is breathtaking! There is a cafe with a couple of toys for little kids. My son loved the rocking horse.
We spent a couple of hours here, enjoying the view while drinking and eating snacks. I was pregnant, so I settled for my aqua fizzante (sparkling water).
We decided not to go inside the castle, but I think you could buy tickets for the entrance. I recommend stopping at the little convenience store at the base so that you can have some water for the hike.
It gives you an outstanding view of Verona, nestled on the other side of the River.
Arche scaligere
My husband was working, so my two-year-old and I checked many sites. We typically find it best to avoid museums with our toddler- but we love walking into cathedrals. My son loves churches!
These were an easy walk from the Piazza delle Erbe; my son and I found them while we were exploring the city on foot. They are beautiful Gothic structures. You can read more about their historical significance here.
Explore the pedestrian-friendly streets
I loved walking through these streets; they were quite beautiful. There is plenty of gelaterias, restaurants, bakeries, and shopping stores.
We saw everything from candy stores and souvenir stores to high-end fashion shopping. My husband and I preferred the restaurants tucked away over the ones near the Piazza. You can easily spend a few hours exploring these streets.
Hop on hop off bus tours
This is the perfect way to visit sites that are farther than walking distance. My son loves these buses, and sometimes, we can get him to take a quick nap. Verona isn’t huge, but there are just a few important landmarks located outside the city center.
Purchase your tickets ahead of time here!
Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s house)
We were unable to visit, but I wanted to include it on the list
Juliette’s house and balcony are probably one of the most famous landmarks in Verona. It is easily accessible from the city.
Every time we walked by, there was a lengthy line to get in. Logistically, I couldn’t make the visit work while balancing my toddler solo.
I would suggest a visit and even recommend purchasing tickets.
I had looked into this before our trip. It looks like a must-do if you’re a Romeo and Juliet fan. Or even a romantic at heart! The magic of the letters to Juliet, Juliet Club.
Gardaland theme park
We didn’t visit, but I wanted to include it on the list.
My husband and I love taking our toddler to theme parks. Europa Park in Germany has been our favorite theme park so far!
If we had another free day, we would have looked into Gardaland.
Dining experience in Verona with kids
Before our family trip to Italy, I researched each city to see what food specialties they offered. To my surprise, each city offered its typical dishes.
The two dishes that I have tried- and I would highly recommend are famous dishes in Verona:
Gnocchi (this was outstanding!)
Risotto (Risotto All’ Amarone) was yummy, but I preferred the Risotto dish I had when we traveled to Milan.
Gelato– of course!
- Check out this blog post before your trip from Verona in tour about Verona’s famous dishes.
It is important to note that many restaurants don’t open for dinner until 7:30 pm. This was a challenge for us, as my son’s bedtime was closer to 7:00.
Many restaurants did not have a children’s menu but could make a smaller pasta dish. Most of the time, my husband and I ordered something my son would eat to share.
Helpful tips for traveling to Verona with a toddler
Patience is so important. Here are some of the struggles that we had with our little one on our family trip to Italy:
- Unstructured and short naps
- Out of our regular routine
- Late dinners
- Late bedtime
- A new place to stay
Check out my blog on how we enjoyed our two-week trip to Italy despite these challenges! Seeing how resilient our toddler is becoming with our travels has been incredible!
Essential items if you’re traveling with a toddler or baby to Verona Italy
- Travel crib
- Travel high chair
- Compact/ sturdy stroller
- Carrier
- The daily essentials diaper bag
Check out all of my travel recommendations for a baby and toddler here!
Is Verona, Italy safe?
At no point did we feel that Verona wasn’t safe. Living in Germany has given me a false sense of safety.
We did keep our items close and aware of pick pocketers in close-knit areas upon suggestions. But we had no issues while we were in Verona.
How many days in Verona is enough?
We spent three days in Verona. My husband was working during two of the days, so my son and I explored on our own.
Three days is a sufficient amount of time. If you can get the sites in sooner, take a trip out to Gardaland Amusement Park for a day- it looks like a must-see amusement park!
Related Post: The Best Toddler and Baby Packing List with Recommended Items for Traveling
Is Verona, Italy good for families?
Verona is beautiful, an absolute gem. Traveling is a hobby my husband and I share, and now that we are living in Germany, we are trying to take advantage of travel opportunities and hoping our little one will one day love traveling as well! I would recommend you travel to Verona with kids, make it a family trip to Italy!
Have you traveled to Verona with kids? How was your experience? I would love to hear about it!
Check out these other great family-friendly cities in Italy!
Milan
- Related Post: How to Travel Milan with Kids and Enjoy it!
Rome
- Related Post: How to Travel Rome with a Toddler and Have the Best Time
Venice
- Related Post: The Best Activities for Visiting Venice with Kids
Florence
- Related Post: A Guide for Traveling to Florence with Kids
Genoa
Vatican City
- Related Post: Family-Friendly Tips for Exploring the Vatican with Kids
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