Verona

Which Lake Garda towns are worth the trip and how do I get there?

Lake Garda is the star day trip. Verona sits at its southern tip. The train to Desenzano del Garda runs every 30 minutes from Verona Porta Nuova. Cost is 5.20 EUR single. Travel time is 18 minutes. From Desenzano station, catch the LMV bus to Sirmione. It costs 3.00 EUR and runs twice an hour. The trip takes 20 minutes. Sirmione has the Grotte di Catullo Roman ruins. Entry is 8 EUR. The Scaliger Castle is 6 EUR. Do Sirmione on a Wednesday when crowds are thinner. Avoid weekends in July. The old town gets shoulder-to-shoulder by 11:00 AM.

Malcesine is better if you want mountain views. Take the train to Peschiera del Garda (15 minutes, 4.80 EUR). Then take the ATV bus 483 to Malcesine. Bus runs hourly. Cost is 5.20 EUR. The journey lasts 50 minutes. Malcesine has the Monte Baldo cable car. Round trip is 24 EUR. The top is 1,500 meters higher. You see the whole lake. Go early. The queue at 10:00 AM on a summer Saturday can be 90 minutes.

Skip the town of Garda itself. It is flat and full of package tourists. The beach is rocky. Parking is a nightmare.

Can I do a wine tasting in Valpolicella without a car?

Yes. Bus 21 from Verona Porta Nuova bus station goes straight into the Valpolicella hills. Cost is 3.80 EUR single. Buy tickets at the tabacchi in the station. Validate them in the machine on board. The bus runs every 45 minutes. Get off at San Pietro in Cariano. Walk 10 minutes uphill to the Corte Santini winery. They do a 25 EUR tasting with 5 wines and local cheeses. Reserve 24 hours ahead by phone. Another option is bus 22 to Fumane. Get off at the stop near Villa Spinosa. That winery charges 30 EUR for a structured tour. Both places close at 18:00. Last bus back to Verona is at 20:15.

Is Soave worth the short train ride?

Yes. Soave is a fortified medieval village surrounded by vineyards. The train from Verona Porta Nuova to Soave station costs 3.60 EUR. The journey is 15 minutes. Trains run every 60 minutes. From the station, it is a 10 minute walk through the walls to the main piazza. The Scaliger Castle costs 6 EUR entry. Climb the tower for a view of the entire Soave valley. The town is small. Two hours is enough. Eat at Osteria Montebello, a trattoria on Via Matteotti. Their pasta with truffle and local Soave white wine costs 16 EUR. Avoid the tourist trap enotecas on the main square. They overcharge by 5 EUR per glass.

Can I see Venice or Milan as a day trip from Verona?

Yes, both are doable but exhausting in summer. The Frecciarossa train from Verona to Venice Santa Lucia takes 1 hour 10 minutes. Cost is 29 EUR one way if you book 7 days ahead. Walk up to 17 EUR at the kiosk on the day. Venice is packed in July. The heat is brutal. Carry a water bottle. The public fountains near Rialto are free. Milan is 1 hour 20 minutes on the same line. Same price range. The Duomo queue is 45 minutes at 10:00 AM. For a quieter day, stay local.

Quick comparison: Best day trips from Verona by train

What common mistake should I avoid?

Do not buy train tickets from the automated machines on the platform without validating them. In Italy you must validate your ticket in the yellow boxes before boarding. If you forget, the fine is 55 EUR minimum. Station inspectors are relentless in July. Also, do not change money at Verona Porta Nuova. The exchange rate is 8% worse than an ATM. Use the ATM outside the station for the best rate.

Are there any free day trips?

Yes. A hike on Monte Baldo without the cable car is free. From Malcesine, walk the old military road north of the town. It climbs 4 km through forest. The view at the first ridge is free and good. Bring your own water. There are no shops on the trail. Another option is the free ferry from Punta San Vigilio to the island of Garda. The ferry costs 6 EUR round trip but the island park has no entry fee. You can picnic on the grass. The ferry runs May through September.