constanza

We are traveling by train from Venice to Verona, where I lived briefly as a teen with a local family. I'd like to show my daughter the town where I lived (Pescantina) and Lago di Garda, particularly Sirmione. The wine area would be lovely, too. We plan to spend Saturday in Verona, then Sunday on and around the lake. We have checked on both renting a car for the day and hiring a car (incredibly expensive and inconvenient for a one-day rental, according to AAA). We need to be back in Verona for a performance of "Aida" that night at 9:15. Does anyone have suggestions for: 1) transport for the lake adventure -- my main concern 2) when we need to be at the Arena for a 9:15 performance (must pick up tickets for reserved seats at "will call," I believe, that day 3) how to find a cab/transportation post opera back to our hotel (we are staying close to the Porta Nuova rail station, and must leave early the next day on the train) 4) restaurant suggestions. Molto grazie!

rex

So what are you doing on Friday and/or Monday? Your problem is that this plan would be great with 48-72 hours to do it, instead of trying to fit it in (by way of public transportation) in 8-12 hours. What are you unwilling/unable to sacrifice, on the days before or after this weekend?

Or is this just a weekend getaway from wherever it is you live IN Europe?

My interpretation of all this may be way off base.

Best wishes,

Rex

ellenem

If you cannot add more time to your plan as rex suggests, why not switch your Saturday and Sunday plans?

Take a bus to Sirmione on Saturday. (I'm not sure of the schedule now, but three summers ago they busses ran hourly, and took 60-90 minutes or so, depending on traffic.) Spend a leisurely day in Sirmione, perhaps take a boat ride, return by bus.

Stay in Verona on Sunday, visiting old haunts, and go to the opera without having to worry about being back in time for the performance.

Porta Nuova is the main train station? I've walked Piazza Bra to this station a number of times--perhaps a mile? There are also busses if you can't find a cab.

constanza

Thanks for your response so far. We are in Venice for 3 nights before that (Wed-Friday) and in Verona for Saturday and Sunday nights. We will arrive on an early train from Venice. Unfortunately we cannot add more time to this trip. It's really a short detour from a longer trip to Prague and Vienna.

My reasoning for the city Saturday and the lake Sunday is that I thought the city markets, museums, castle and shops (yes, shops ? an absolute necessity for a teenage girl!) would be more likely to be opened that day. (Maybe we have spent too much time this year in Austria, where the many things close up early on Saturdays and all day Sundays.) I also have happy memories of wandering around the shores Lago di Garda with my Italian family on Sunday afternoons, eating gelato and admiring the mountains beyond.

I have been entirely unsuccessful trying to find a small day tour out to Sirmione from Verona, or information about buses or trains for same. Does anyone have recommendations? There seem to be lots of day trips out of Venice to the wine country, Palladio villas and Lago di Garda, however.

Also, I'd love to hear from Fodorites who have done the opera: How early do you need to arrive for reserved seats? The performance time is 9:15, I gather, based on sunset.

GAC

There is hourly bus service from the Verona Porta Nuova Intercity Bus Terminal (100 yards from the train station) to Sirmione. Travel time is one hour in each direction and fare is 2.75 Euros each way.

ellenem

I took the bus GAC mentions. It was very easy to do, especially if you are staying right near the train/bus station.

Just be aware that many make this trip on a Sunday. We went on a Sunday in late June (before opera season) and I recall the return bus to Verona taking an extra 45 minutes at least because of heavy traffic. Plan accordingly to make it back in time for your opera.

GAC

The road between Verona and Sirmione is ONE LANE in each direction, and there are many, many trucks and cars using this road, which accounts for the frequent delays, particularly during the summer and on weekends.