Verona family guide
Verona is a walkable, river-bend city with a Roman arena still used for summer opera, a balcony linked to Romeo and Juliet and some of Italy's best gelato. It also makes an easy base for Lake Garda: Gardaland, Italy's biggest theme park, is about 30 minutes away. Families often mix two days in town with a lake day of boats, beaches and castle walls in Sirmione.
Create a Verona activity book
Best ages
Gardaland suits ages 4-12, with many rides needing 100-120 cm; the arena, tower lift and castle walls appeal most to school-age children who like Roman stories.
Stroller
The centre is mostly pedestrian with smooth stone streets, but Castel San Pietro needs the funicular or steep steps and the arena itself has worn stone stairs.
Take this guide on the trip
Signal and roaming are not guaranteed abroad. Print this guide or save it as a PDF, then add a Verona travel journal and packing list. All three are free and are made in your browser.
Travel journal for Verona Packing list for VeronaTop things to do in Verona with kids
Arena di Verona Ages all ages
Walk the inside of a 2,000-year-old amphitheatre and climb the top rows; daytime visits are shorter in summer opera season, so check hours before going.
Gardaland Ages 3+
Italy's largest theme park near Castelnuovo del Garda, open roughly April to early November plus Christmas weekends; online tickets are about €40-55 and kids under 1 m go free.
Castel San Pietro funicular Ages all ages
A short funicular climbs from the river to a terrace with the best view of the city's red roofs and bridges, especially near sunset.
Torre dei Lamberti Ages 5+
Take the lift most of the way up the 84 m medieval tower above Piazza delle Erbe, then climb the last steps to see the Alps on clear days.
Sirmione on Lake Garda Ages all ages
A castle surrounded by water, shallow pebble beaches and gelato; reach it by train to Desenzano or Peschiera then bus, or by lake ferry in summer.
Rainy-day and cold-day options
Museo di Storia Naturale
Fossils from nearby Bolca, minerals and stuffed animals in a palace near the river.
Castelvecchio Museum
A brick castle with armour, swords and a bridge with swallowtail battlements to walk across.
Sea Life Gardaland
Aquarium next to Gardaland with a walk-through tunnel, good for a wet lake day.
A simple first day
- Morning
- Explore the arena early, then walk Via Mazzini to Juliet's courtyard before crowds build.
- Afternoon
- Ride up Torre dei Lamberti and share gelato in Piazza delle Erbe.
- Evening
- Take the funicular to Castel San Pietro and watch the lights come on over the Adige.
Getting around
Walk the old town from Piazza Bra; for Gardaland take the 15-minute train to Peschiera del Garda and the park's free shuttle bus.
Food kids like
Kids like pizza, tortellini from nearby Valeggio, gnocchi and pandoro, the star-shaped Christmas cake invented in Verona; lunch is 12:30-14:30 and dinner rarely before 19:30.
What Verona costs for a family
About €150-240 a day for a family of four, excluding lodging; Gardaland days cost more.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Gardaland day ticket online (per person) | €40-55 |
| Arena di Verona entry (adult) | €10-12 |
| Castel San Pietro funicular (one way) | €2-3 |
| Two scoops of gelato | €3-4 |
The Verona Card covers the arena, tower and most museums for 24 or 48 hours, and Gardaland tickets are cheaper booked online for a fixed date. Prices are typical ranges checked for 2025–2026; confirm current prices before you book.
Safety notes
- Summer days around Lake Garda and in the arena reach 32-35 °C, so carry water and hats and rest in the shade after lunch.
- Some streets in the old town still allow scooters and delivery vans, so hold small hands near Piazza Bra and Via Mazzini.
- On Lake Garda, swim only at guarded beaches and keep kids close as the lakebed can drop quickly; tap water is safe.
What's inside the Verona activity book
A personalized printable book for one child (or up to three with Family), built around Verona: landmark spotting, a 12-item scavenger hunt, a local food tasting page, local phrases and a quiz. Print it at home before you leave and bring a pencil.
Missions
- Roman arena explorer
- Gelato flavour taster
Landmarks to find
- Arena di Verona
- Juliet's balcony
- Torre dei Lamberti
- Ponte Pietra
Foods to spot or taste
- pizza
- gelato
- tortellini
- pandoro
Words to try
- Ciao Hello
- Grazie Thank you
- Per favore Please
- Sì Yes
Mini €5.90 (10 pages), Adventure €9.90 (25–28 pages) or Family €14.90 (up to three children). One-time purchase, no subscription; the book is printed at home in English.
Create a Verona activity bookQuestions parents ask
Is Verona good for young children?
Gardaland suits ages 4-12, with many rides needing 100-120 cm; the arena, tower lift and castle walls appeal most to school-age children who like Roman stories.
Can you use a stroller in Verona?
The centre is mostly pedestrian with smooth stone streets, but Castel San Pietro needs the funicular or steep steps and the arena itself has worn stone stairs.
How much does a family day in Verona cost?
About €150-240 a day for a family of four, excluding lodging; Gardaland days cost more. The Verona Card covers the arena, tower and most museums for 24 or 48 hours, and Gardaland tickets are cheaper booked online for a fixed date.
When is the best time to visit Verona with kids?
Best months: April, May, June, September, October.