The Perfect Day Trip from Bologna to Verona by Train
Are you considering taking a day trip from Bologna to Verona by train? This is a rewarding visit and with just a little planning, you can hit the highlights of Verona with ease.
Get the lowdown in my guide to taking a day trip to Verona from Bologna by train, which has all you need to know about getting there and the best things to see.
Some articles on this website contain affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.
Day Trip from Bologna to Verona by Train at a Glance
- Distance from Bologna to Verona: 67 miles
- Journey time: From 52 minutes
- Cost of train ticket: From €9 one-way
Why Do a Bologna to Verona Day Trip?
Bologna is one of Italy’s finest cities and has enough attractions to keep you busy for at least a few days. That said, it’s good to escape for a day to see a different side of Italy.
Thanks to its proximity, excellent rail connections and wealth of historical, architectural and artistic treasures, Verona is an excellent day trip from Bologna by train.
As the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the city has become a symbol of romance across the globe. Literary connections notwithstanding, Verona is famous for its Roman ruins, including the Arena, which is the majestic setting for the renowned annual opera festival.
Is One Day in Verona Enough?
As Verona is a relatively compact city, it is easy to explore its top attractions in a day, including Juliet’s Balcony and the world-famous Roman Arena.
Top travel tip!
Time your day trip from Bologna to Verona carefully. Many of the city’s main attractions are closed on a Monday.
If possible, avoid Saturday and Sunday when trains will be busier.
How to Travel from Bologna to Verona by Train
For your Bologna to Verona day trip, you have the choice of two train operators: Trenitalia and Italo. Trains depart from Bologna Centrale and arrive at Verona Porta Nuova station.
If you travel on a high-speed train you will be in Verona in under an hour.
Avoid the services that require you to connect in Padua as this will significantly increase your travel time.
Take a look at prices and timetables for Trenitalia here and for Italo here. However, it may be easier to check fares and times across both operators here.
READ THIS NEXT: Italo Prima Class Review: Is The Upgrade Worth It?
High-speed trains from Bologna to Verona
High-speed train services between Verona and Bologna are provided by Italo and Trenitalia (Frecciarossa trains)
Regardless of which operator you choose, these services are comfortable and fast. The journey time is 52 minutes with both operators.
As both of these rail companies have set allocations of seats in the lower fare classes, you will pay more the closer you get to your travel date.
If you book in advance, the cost of a ticket for either of these high-speed services may be less than that of the regional service.
Eurocity trains from Bologna to Verona
Eurocity trains are similar to Italy’s high-speed trains, but they connect cities across Europe at an international level. Expect similar levels of comfort as the Frecciarossa and Italo trains.
Expect a journey time between Bologna and Verona of 55 minutes. Like the high-speed train services, pricing is dynamic and booking in advance bags you a cheaper ticket.
Regional trains from Bologna to Verona
Trenitalia operates hourly regional trains between Bologna and Verona. As fare prices are fixed, there is no advantage in booking in advance.
The Regionale trains will get you to Verona in 1 hour 30 minutes, almost 40 minutes longer than the journey on one of the high-speed trains.
Remember to stamp your ticket in one of the machines before boarding a regional train service.
Getting to Bologna Station
Bologna Centrale station is the city’s main railway station. It’s a 20-minute walk (just under 1 mile) from the station to the Piazza Maggiore & Piazza Nettuno in the heart of the city centre.
Getting from Verona Porta Nuova Train Station
Verona’s Porta Nuova train station is a 15-minute walk from the Roman Arena.
Getting Around Verona
The best way to get around Verona is on foot but city buses are also available.
Tickets for the green and blue ATV buses are sold at bus stations and newsagents. You can also buy tickets on board the bus, but these are more expensive. Find out more here.
You can also explore Verona on a bike, including a guided bike tour, and on a hop-on-hop-off bus.
What to See on Your Day Trip from Bologna to Verona
As with any city day trip, don’t try to cram too much in. Pick a handful of things to see on your Bologna to Verona day trip and stick with them.
The Verona Card saved me lots of money and should be good value for most travellers. This city pass includes a skip-the-line ticket for the Arena di Verona.
You can buy the Verona Card from various places across the city, including the train station and the Tourist Office on Piazza Bra. I bought my card online before my visit.
>>> BUY YOUR VERONA CARD HERE
1. Arena di Verona
Dating from the 1st Century AD, the Arena is the jewel in Verona’s Ancient Roman crown. Measuring a whopping 466 by 400 feet, this was the eighth-largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire and the fourth-largest in Italy.
It’s top of the list of sightseeing attractions in Verona.
Verona was an important Roman city and up to 30,000 of the city’s residents would cheer gladiator duels at the Arena. Today’s pleasure-seekers watch plays and concerts and attend the world-famous Verona Opera Festival.
Climb the steps to the seats at the top of the Arena for fabulous views of Verona and beyond.
To beat the crowds, this is one attraction for which a guided tour with a skip-the-line ticket is worth considering. A fast-track ticket for the Arena is also included in the Verona Card.
2. Juliet’s House
Incurable romantics from across the globe come here to touch Juliet’s bronze breast, said to bring good fortune in love.
If you want to blow kisses from Juliet’s balcony, you will have to pay a small fee to visit Juliet’s House. Inside, the house is nothing special but it does have props and costumes used in Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet, including a bed.
3. Scaliger Tombs
Verona was ruled by the powerful Scaliger family from 1277 until 1387. The Scaligeri were to Verona what the mighty Medici were to Florence.
They are buried in lacy 14th Century Gothic tombs enclosed by a wrought iron fence.
4 St. Peter’s Bridge (Ponte Pietra)
Ponte Pietra is Verona’s sole surviving Roman bridge. Just.
St. Peter’s Bridge suffered bomb damage in World War II and was rebuilt with slabs of marble fished out of the Adige River.
There are fabulous views of Verona from both ends of the bridge. The fortress of Castello San Pietro, crowns the hillside on the opposite side of the river to the historic core. Beneath this is the Roman Theatre and Archaeological Museum which are well worth a visit if you can squeeze it into your day trip.
5. Castelvecchio
Including the Castlevecchio art gallery in your Verona day trip itinerary may be ambitious, but it’s worth taking a look at this medieval castle from the outside. Built by the Scaligeri in the 14th Century as both a residence and a fortress, it has ramparts with crenellated parapets and an internal moat.
6. Verona Cathedral
Visit Verona Cathedral for the Romanesque carvings on its façade and the baptistery’s font carved with eight biblical scenes. It is also home to Titian’s Assumption.
7. Basilica di Sant’Anastasia
Consecrated in 1497, the light-filled Basilica di Sant’Anastasia is my favourite church in Verona. Its important works of art, include St. George and the Princess (1438) by Pisanello, above the chapel to the right of the main altar.
Don’t leave before touching the hump of the grimacing hunchbacks near the entrance. It’s said to bring good luck.
8 Lamberti Tower
Climb Lamberti Tower for views of Verona you won’t forget. This bell tower was built in the 12th Century and stands 84 metres high.
9. Piazza dei Signori
Piazza dei Signori is one of the loveliest squares in Northern Italy. Linked by arches – try to spot the whale’s rib hanging over one of them – its elegant buildings span five centuries.
Taking centre stage is a statue of Dante Alighieri, deep in thought. The Scaliger family granted him asylum in Verona after he was expelled from Florence by the pope.
10. Piazza del Erbe
Once the site of the Roman Forum, Piazza del Erbe has been the focal point of civic life in Verona for millennia. A basin from the Roman baths was recycled in the square’s Fountain of Madonna Verona, a symbol of the city.
This is also the perfect place to stop for an Aperol Spritz at the end of your day in Verona.
Saluti!
Wine Tasting in Verona
Did you know that this is one of the best areas for wine tasting in Italy?
So if you have a bit more time on your hands, why not try wine-tasting in Verona? Better still, choose an experience that combines a guided tour of the city with trying local food and win.
READ THIS NEXT: Wine Tasting in Verona, Italy: 7 Fabulous Wine Tours
