← Lake Garda Marathon·1 night

Verona: One Night Beyond the Lake

A night in a Roman city with an amphitheatre, a river loop and old squares, reached from the lake by bus and train.

Duration1 night
TransitBus along the shore, then train, about 2 hrs
DepartsMalcesine

After the Lake Garda Marathon: Verona

The Route: Malcesine → Verona Logistics: No direct train serves the north-east shore. Take a bus south along the shore to Peschiera del Garda or a nearby station, then a train to Verona Porta Nuova. The whole journey takes about 2 hours. Check current bus and rail times. Marathon Month: April Duration: 1 night

Malcesine ──(bus along the shore)──> Peschiera del Garda ──(train)──> Verona Porta Nuova

Verona is the practical onward destination from the lake. It sits about 30 km south-east of Peschiera and 60 km from Malcesine, has an airport, and has a good deal to see on level ground. It is also a sensible last night before flying home.

April in Verona: mild, with daytime temperatures of about 13 to 19 °C, some rain and the first warm evenings. The summer opera season is not yet running, and the old town is comfortably busy without being packed.

A local bus service runs along the eastern lakeshore. Check the current timetable and fares with the bus operator and Trenitalia, since the schedule varies by season. Leave enough time for the transfer.

Night one: Verona

From Verona Porta Nuova station, walk up Corso Porta Nuova to Piazza Bra, about 20 minutes on level pavement, or take a city bus. Piazza Bra is the big oval square with the first-century Arena on one side. The amphitheatre is open to visitors outside performance dates, and prices and hours change. Check the operator's site.

Via Mazzini leads to Piazza delle Erbe, a market square on the Roman forum. Torre dei Lamberti, on the square, has a lift to the top and a wide view. Check its hours.

Verona is wrapped by a loop of the Adige, and the Ponte Pietra is the best crossing. The streets on the far bank lead to the Roman theatre by a short, steep climb, so keep that for another day if your legs object.

Castelvecchio, a fourteenth-century castle with a covered bridge, is on the west side of the old town. It houses the city's main art museum. Many museums close on Mondays, so check ahead.

For dinner, the local dishes include risotto all'Amarone and pastissada de caval, a slow-cooked horse-meat stew, and the region's red wine, Amarone, is a fair reward after a marathon. Book a table and check that the kitchen is open.

Hotels in the old town cluster around Piazza Bra and Piazza delle Erbe. A room near Piazza Bra is a short walk from the Arena. A hotel near Porta Nuova station makes the journey home easier, though it adds a walk on arrival.

Getting home

Verona has its own airport, Valerio Catullo, with a shuttle bus from Porta Nuova station. Check the timetable for your flight and allow extra time.