Verona and Lake Garda With Children

October 30, 2026

Children do well in Verona because the old town is small and several of the best family outings are a short drive or train ride away. The sections below move from the biggest days out to the short, free ones that fit around nap time.

Big days out

Parco Natura Viva, Bussolengo. This is a safari park and walking zoo in one site, with a large animal collection. In 2026 it opened for weekends from 14 February, went daily from 28 February and sold tickets valid until 6 January 2027, so it is not a summer-only trip. The gate price for Park plus Safari is 30 EUR, while pedestrian-only or safari-only entry is about 25 EUR. Children aged 0 to 2 enter free. Prices are on prezzi.parconaturaviva.it .

Gardaland, Castelnuovo del Garda. The area’s main theme park keeps its own seasonal calendar and is not open all year. Next to it, the SEA LIFE Aquarium has a separate ticket and separate, season-dependent hours. It is the closest aquarium to Verona, because the city has none. Check dates for both before you set off.

Parco Giardino Sigurta, Valeggio sul Mincio. A botanical park with wide lawns, a boxwood maze and an educational farm. The 2026 season ran from 7 March to 15 November, daily from 09:00 to 19:00, with last entry at 18:00 and an earlier closing in winter time. Adult tickets are quoted at about 16 to 18 EUR. Dates for 2027 have not been published, so look at sigurta.it before booking.

In the city

Giardino Giusti. The Renaissance garden at Via Giardino Giusti 2 has a boxwood labyrinth and cypress-lined terraces that children enjoy exploring. It is open daily except 25 December, and some areas may close during restoration. Expect an adult price of about 12 EUR.

The funicular to Castel San Pietro. A short ride on the Funicolare di Castel San Pietro, from Via Fontanelle Santo Stefano 6, takes you to a free terrace above the river. It runs daily 10:00 to 21:00 from April to 25 October, and 10:00 to 17:00 from 26 October through March. Ask at the ticket window about fares for children.

Ponte Scaligero. The fortified bridge beside Castelvecchio costs nothing to cross, and from there you can follow the river on the Lungadige.

The Arena by day. The amphitheatre on Piazza Bra is open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 19:00, last entry 18:30, and it is closed on Mondays. It closes early on performance days. Adult entry is about 12 EUR.

An opera evening with children

For the 2027 Arena season, the Tribune family sector is listed at 68 EUR per adult plus 2.50 EUR for each child under 14. That sector is released separately from the main sale, so check arena.it and buy only from the official shop at shop.arena.it. All seats are numbered, and photo ID is required at the gate.

Practical tips for parents

Lake Garda beaches are mostly pebbles and stones, not sand, so bring water shoes.
The VeronaCard, at 33 EUR for 24 hours and 38 EUR for 48 hours, includes the city buses, which helps when little legs tire.
Pickpockets work the buses and the crowded lanes around Juliet’s courtyard, so keep bags in front of you.
Check each park’s opening days, because seasons differ between the parks and some close in winter.

Search family-friendly outings: Verona family tours on GetYourGuide .