Verona

Old Nov 15th, 2015, 03:10 PM
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Verona

Considering a short (5 day) visit to Verona in June. It will be me, my 21 year old daughter, and my mother. We will be staying in liverpool for a few days and Verona is one of the places we can fly direct to from that airport. We are thinking we could do a day trip to Venice and looking for suggestions for perhaps one other day trip. We are also looking for suggestions for accommodations on a budget (under 100 euros a night?) in Verona. My mother and I were recently in lucca and barcelona and loved both. Enjoyed the laid back small town atmosphere of lucca. Loves the architecture and people watching in barcelona although I'm not normally a fan of big cities. Things to see in Verona? How is public transportation (we prefer not to rent a car)?
Thanks
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Old Nov 15th, 2015, 03:52 PM
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We stayed a few years ago at a place called Arena B&B in Verona. It was not super fancy but was quite nice. We stayed in a one bedroom unit but I think there were larger ones available. We walked to whatever we wanted to. Took a tour to an Olive place which we enjoy every much. I don't have their website but if you Google it I am sure it will come up. Address was like Via Tere 5 I found them through VRBO.com. Good luck, we totally enjoyed Verona...shopping was nice there also.
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Old Nov 15th, 2015, 08:45 PM
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You might get some ideas (including where to stay) looking at the many articles published in the UK press about short breaks to Verona. If you go into the archives of travel sections of the Guardian, the Independent, the Telegraph, etc, you can usually find a lot.

One interesting day trip from Verona that is often overlooked in Trento. If in June, you get an early heat wave, it can be quite pleasant to take the scenic train ride one hour north, have lunch in the beautiful piazza, and take a tour of the castle (in particular the Eagle's tower).

Also, in Verona itself, tourists sometimes overlook the Giardini Giusti and the church of San Zeno, both quite interesting places.
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Old Nov 15th, 2015, 08:47 PM
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(Also, check out AirBnB for well-located apartment rentals, many with elevators, in Verona.)
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Old Nov 16th, 2015, 12:35 AM
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I agree with sandra on San Zeno and the Giardini Giusti. San Zeno is MUCH better than the local cathedral. I also recommend the beautiful museum, as wonderful for its building as its art. You can't miss the arena

Verona is a wonderful town, great for strolling, and easy for day trips, including Vicenza as well as Venice and Padua.

If you ever wanted to try horse and donkey meat, it is a local specialty.
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Old Nov 16th, 2015, 03:29 AM
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The duomo/cathedral in Verona is worth visiting, however, with a painting by Titian and two scowling pink lionesses guarding the door, but also for the lovely surrounding streets, filled with pretty balconies.
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Old Nov 16th, 2015, 03:30 AM
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Venice is a definite easy day trip by train. If you had a car, even just for 1-2 days, you could easily get to Lake Garda and the mountains. Padua is the other obvious day trip - even closer than Venice and also on the train line.

In Verona itself, you can visit the arena even if you don't plan on seeing a production there, the roman theatre too, and just generally strolling the steets, eating and drinking in the little cafes, bit of shopping.
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Old Nov 16th, 2015, 03:30 AM
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In our several stays in Verona, mainly to attend opera performances, we have walked pretty much everywhere and never felt the need for a car. I know there is a local bus service but you may not need it.

In terms of rail trips elsewhere and depending upon where you are staying, spend the money for a taxi to and from the station. You will also need one to get into town from the airport unless you want to wait for a bus.
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Old Nov 16th, 2015, 06:59 AM
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Agree that much of Verona is walkable.

Also 2nd the recommendation of Vicenza as a day trip.
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Old Nov 16th, 2015, 07:24 AM
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We took a day trip to Bologna for it's gastronomical delights and another day trip to the Valpolicella area (Pegas Wine Tours).
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Old Nov 16th, 2015, 07:54 AM
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To re-iterate a car will give you more day trip options. You seldom need one in any major city, but if you want to see the lakes or the countryside properly, this is really the only way to do it - even if you just book the rental for the day of the trip itself, not the whole holiday. The train does stop at the foot of Lake Garda but it would be a shame to miss out on the much prettier towns further north.

If you are quite happy sticking to largeish towns served by the railway, then no problem, don't hire a car. I personally think it a shame to go all that way and not see the lakes though.
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Old Nov 16th, 2015, 08:03 AM
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Bear in mind, however, that a 1-day rental involves renting and returning the car within the hours that the rental car office is open. Anything more than a 1 day rental involves finding a place to park the car, and paying for it, and learning to drive in and out of Verona without getting caught in a ZTL.

Personally, I don't think Lago di Garda is unmissable. You can't see everything in a 5 day visit and Verona itself will take more than one day of exploration. The variety of easy day trips by train from Verona is fascinating: Venice, Padova, Vicenza, Mantova and Trento. If you want to a tour of wineries and smaller towns, it can be arranged. I'm sorry not everybody can be happy with that, but I certainly could be. Besides, if I wanted to see Lago di Garda, I could also quite easily see at least some of it with a train and boat ride.
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Old Nov 16th, 2015, 10:25 AM
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The original plan was for five days and that included possible two day trips.

I like Verona but I'm not sure that town is worth THREE full days.
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Old Nov 16th, 2015, 10:37 AM
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I wouldn't book more than one hotel stay on the premise that Verona is uninteresting after 2 days. I find the city quite interesting, in a variety of ways. But even if others don't find it as interesting as I do, Verona is extremely well positioned for a half a dozen day trips. You can decide when you get there how much time to devote to exploring Verona and how much time to spend elsewhere.
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Old Nov 16th, 2015, 11:48 AM
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You may find some useful information in my trip report from Verona. We used Verona as our base and explored Padua and Venice as well. We also went to a local winery which was lovely.
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Old Nov 16th, 2015, 11:55 AM
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Lake Garda is right next door and trains and buses go to several lakeside towns from where boats take you all around this gorgeous lake - check out Sirmione - one of the nicer Roman remains in Italy and a famous town itself though often overrun with tourists in season.

I especially liked the northern part of the there fjord-like lake.

a great day out.
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Old Nov 17th, 2015, 04:15 PM
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Thanks for all the advice. Definitely sounds like a good base with lots of choices for day trips! Any more specific recommendations for Verona. Restaurants, accommodations. ..? I looked on the us site vrbo and seems that rentals are plentiful and reasonably priced. Never used airbandb but will definitely check it out!
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Old Nov 17th, 2015, 04:26 PM
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There are several good day trips to be had from Verona - Garda, Descenzano, Treviso, Venice - but probably the nicest place we visited was Sirmione. A beautiful and fascinating place.

We stayed at the Ibis. It's a bit out of the centre (we had a car), so may not be what you're looking for, but it was very reasonably priced.
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Old Nov 17th, 2015, 05:42 PM
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I was in Verona in September for a language course.

Plenty to see and do there during that time (afternoons and weekends free, mornings in class). Stayed at b&b due Terrazze which was well located a block off main street in ancient center.

I stopped over in Vicenza on the way (which I liked very much) -- a short train trip -- and have spent a fair amount of time in Venice, which is indeed an easy train trip away. Visited Padua out of Venice so can't speak to getting there from Verona specifically.

I actually visited Sirmione, on Lake Garda, for an afternoon, and would have enjoyed more time there. A driver/taxi or car can get you there easily.

Appertivi and snacks on Piazze del Erbe (Caffe Barbarani) and the piazza adjacent to the arena make for wonderful moments and memories. Have an Aperol Spritz.

Only negative when I was there was the heat and humidity--even the cabbies complaining! Check the weather trend and dress accordingly.
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Old Nov 17th, 2015, 05:43 PM
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B&B Due Terrazze has an affiliated apartment around the corner -- you can still get breakfast at the b&b -- with a separate bedroom and a sofabed, and of course kitchen.
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