Venice or Verona? Which city best suits you? 

Two Italian cities that attract large numbers of visitors, Venice and Verona shouldn’t need any introduction. 

However, if time was limited and you had to choose between the two, which one should you visit? 

In this post, I'll be outlining the things to consider when visiting Venice or Verona. But this isn’t a guide to point out which city is better.  

On the contrary, this resource is intended to highlight the different factors that differentiate Venice from Verona. 

Two cities that undoubtedly deserve a place on any Italy bucket list use this post to plan your Italy trip. 

Why am I writing this guide? 

Venice and Verona are both located in the Veneto region in northeastern Italy. 

The distance between them isn’t big (75mi/120km), meaning that it’s more than possible to see both cities. Verona to Venice by car takes around 1hr 18mins while it's approximately 1hr 12mins by direct (fast speed) train.

So why am I writing this post? 

After asking the question ‘Venice or Verona?’ on my X profile, I was surprised by the results. Most of the respondents answered Verona and some users even added that they’d never return to Venice again. 

As a local living in Vicenza — a city situated between the two cities — admittedly I was taken aback by the results. 

Personally, I much prefer Venice and never miss the chance to visit. It’s a city that has many flaws but ultimately, it’s a destination that’s worth seeing.  

Also, as a local, I know when to visit Venice and am familiar with the places that locals frequent. 

But personal biases aside, I want to provide an objective review of the differences between Venice and Verona.  

By the end, I hope this guide helps you decide which city better meets your travel needs. 

Venice or Verona: 5 factors to consider 

Which city has more crowds? Venice or Verona? 

The number one reason that respondents on the X poll gave for favoring Verona over Venice was the crowds.  

To put it bluntly, there's no escaping the crowds in Venice. Visit during peak seasons like Carnival or in the summer and be prepared to feel like a tinned sardine. 

Crowds are prevalent the second you set foot in Piazzale Roma or step off the train at Venezia Santa Lucia. 

Verona, on the other hand, is busy but not as chaotic as Venice. Move away from the main piazzas like Piazza Brà and you’ll find plenty of quiet spots. 

How to visit Venice during busy periods 

However, if you can’t avoid visiting Venice during the peak seasons, these tips will help to navigate the city. They include: 

• Arriving in Venice as early as possible 
• Booking top attractions in advance and selecting early time slots (for tours) 
• Dining at less busy times of the day 
• Bringing bottled water and snacks 
• Staying overnight at a hotel/B&B on the parade route (for carnival). It’s a more comfortable way to watch the festivities from the terrace while avoiding the crowds in the streets 

Winner: Verona 

Which city has the better attractions? Venice or Verona? 

Without a doubt Venice has more attractions to see within the island city than Verona.  

Some of the most popular attractions include: 

• Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)     
• St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs (Basilica di San Marco)    
• Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) and Piombi Prisons 
• Grand Canal gondola ride with in-app commentary (this includes a 15-minute walk introduction to the gondola experience and 30-minute ride)  
• Shared gondola ride with app commentary (split the cost of a gondola ride on this 30-minute cruise) 

This isn’t even counting excursions to neighboring islands like Lido di Venezia and Murano, Burano and Torcello.  

Instead, Verona’s main attractions pale in comparison to Venice’s. 

Verona’s most popular landmark is the Arena di Verona, followed by Juliet’s house, St. Peter's Castle and Giusti Gardens.  

While there's enough in Verona to constitute a day trip, it withers in comparison to things to do in Venice. 

Winner: Venice 

Which city is more expensive?  

Neither Venice nor Verona carries the reputation for being the most affordable cities to visit in Italy.  

But for the purpose of this travel guide, Venice would be considered the more expensive of the two. 

Why? 

For one, Venice is much larger, and the choice of hotels, restaurants and activities is more considerable compared to Verona.  

Its Grand Canal (Canal Grande) is a desired place to visit, and to stay for many visitors. Lined with sumptuous, luxury hotels, they offer guests Venetian-style rooms with the possibility to wake up to canal views.  

The same applies to the many Grand Canal restaurants and bars. Expect to pay a premium price for the chance to drink and dine with the most spectacular Venice views. 

Expensive spots in Verona 

By comparison, Verona also has places in the city center that’ll cost slightly more. These will be the restaurants and eateries in prime spots like Piazza Brà, the square overlooking Verona Arena.  

Hotel prices in Verona’s city center will also vary according to its comfort level and location in the city.  

Ultimately, there’s more chance of going over budget when traveling to Venice. 

Winner: Verona 

How to visit Venice and Verona on a budget 

The following tips are some helpful ways to see both Venice and Verona on a budget. 

• Book flights and hotels in advance 
• The sooner you book accommodation/flights for Venice or Verona, the more likely you’ll secure a better price. 
• Visit during quieter periods whenever possible 
• Visiting Verona or Venice in winter may not suit everyone’s travel tastes. However, with fewer crowds can come lower prices for hotels and the chance to fully enjoy the city.  
• One downside to be aware of when visiting Italy in winter is that some hotels and restaurants may be closed. I write about this in greater detail in things to know about visiting Venice. 
• Book attractions in advance. Some of the main attractions in Venice can sometimes work out much cheaper. 

Map of Venice Italy

City taxes, which is higher? Venice or Verona? 

It's common in many Italian cities for a city tax to be added to a visitor’s hotel bill. This can range from €2.50 ($2.69/£2.15) to €5 ($5.39/£4.30) per person per night depending on the hotel’s number of stars. 

These city taxes typically go towards the upkeep and cleaning of the city.

City taxes in Verona 

In Verona, the current tax is €3.50 (for visitors over 12 years) per person per night for 3-star hotels.* This is capped at 4 nights. Discounts apply to visitors aged 70 and over and for 15- to 25-year-olds.  

City taxes in Venice 

Venice has had an overnight tourist tax in place since 2011. It works in the same way as Verona as the amount due depends on the hotel’s number of stars.  

However, in April 2024, Venice Council introduced a pilot scheme for a new Venice day tax. It applies to visitors over the age of 14 traveling to Venice for the day and costs €5* per person.  

But not everyone has to pay the Venice day tax. Exemptions include: 

• Visitors staying overnight in Venice  
• Visiting extended family living in Venice 
• Residents that live in the region of Veneto (ID required) 

Visitors can pay the day tax on the Venice council website. Bookings can be canceled until 11.59 p.m. on the day before the booked visit. 

My guide on 'things to know before visiting Venice' covers this in more detail.

Winner: Verona. While no-one likes the idea of paying additional taxes, Verona has just the overnight tax.

Venice has both the overnight and day taxes meaning that payment of some sort is due. As it’s still in its infancy it’s too early to say whether Venice Council will keep, or discard, it. 

Which city is friendlier? Venice or Verona? 

There’s no wrong or right answer to this question as it’s one that will differ from person to person.  

However, speaking from my own experience, I’ve had past encounters in Venice that wouldn’t be considered so friendly.  

Unfriendly Venetian locals 

One that stands out was my first trip to Venice when I was 21 years old.  

When trying to order a sandwich in Venice train station the waiter behind the counter quickly became irate. Speaking aggressively in Italian he angrily pointed to the cash register on the other side of the bar. 

Realizing that I needed to pay first, I began walking away only to hear him insult me in perfect English. It was one of several unfortunate incidents that occurred during that Venice trip.  

At the time it put me off returning to Venice, something quite ironic as I now live in the region. 

Then and now 

And while I’d like to tell you that nothing negative has happened since in Venice I’d be lying. On a recent solo trip, I encountered a rude female gondoliere who shouted at me to stop filming her. 

Older, more confident and an Italian speaker, I responded telling her that I wasn’t filming her but the general area.  

I also added that she should probably change her profession seeing as gondoliere were regularly filmed/photographed by visitors. The look on her face was priceless as she quickly stopped talking and walked away. 

My experiences aside, other Italians will likely tell you that some Venetians can be standoffish towards visitors. While it won’t ruin your trip, it could potentially affect your overall travel experience. 

In Verona 

In comparison, I’ve never encountered unfriendly or standoffish Veronese locals despite visiting Verona many, many times.  

Maybe I’ve just been lucky or maybe the locals are more welcoming to visitors. Personally, I’ve always had a good experience with the Veronese, and many are friendly towards visitors. 

Winner: Verona 

And the winner is… 

From the results of this Italy post, it’s clear that Verona is the clear winner.  

But this isn’t to say that you should avoid visiting Venice. Being aware of what to expect and how to travel around the island city will make you better prepared. 

What are your thoughts on this post about Venice or Verona? Have you visited both cities? Did you prefer one over the other? Let me know in the comments below. 

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