You only have the afternoon free, you've already seen the Arena, and you don't want to spend a fortune. The answer Veronese locals give in these situations is almost always the same: head to the bookshops in the centre, browse a few shelves, chat with the bookseller, and end the day with a spritz. It costs very little, lasts four hours, and you walk back to your hotel with a book in your bag and the feeling of having seen a Verona that organised tours never show you.
The three independent bookshops in Verona not to miss in 2026
The itinerary starts at Libraccio, at Via Roma 7/A — practically on your doorstep if you're staying near Piazza Bra. It's one of those places that feel larger than they appear from the outside: two floors, the ground floor with new and secondhand fiction, the basement with non-fiction and stationery. Used and out-of-print books discounted by 50%: here you can find a novel for the train home for 3–4€, and the selection changes every week because locals are constantly bringing volumes in on consignment. Convenient opening hours: Monday to Friday 9–19, Saturday 9–20, Sunday 10–13 and 15.30–19.30. From The Verona Stay Arena in Via Roma 21, you can get there in literally one minute on foot.
Second stop: Gulliver Libri per Viaggiare, at Via Stella 16b, about ten minutes' walk towards the heart of the city. It's a specialist bookshop — guidebooks, maps, travel literature, photography — and the owner is exactly the kind of bookseller who remembers where you've been, what you've read, and what you're still looking for. The counter is small, the selection precise. If you're planning a trip around Lake Garda or through the hills of the Valpolicella, here you'll find the maps and local books you won't easily come across online. Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 9.30–12.30 and 15.30–19.30 [⚠ TO BE CONFIRMED: call ahead, hours subject to seasonal changes].
Third stop, and the most unusual: Libre! Cooperativa, on the Interrato dell'Acqua Morta, in the Veronetta neighbourhood. It takes about ten minutes' walk beyond the river — and it's worth every step. Libre! is a cultural cooperative that works along a short supply chain, without mass distribution, maintaining direct relationships with independent publishers. It also has a fine selection of secondhand books received daily as donations. Walking in feels different: you sense that behind every title there is a deliberate choice, not an algorithm. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10–13 and 16–20.
How to organise the 4 hours: realistic timings and budget
The logic of the itinerary is simple. Set off in the early afternoon — around 14.30–15.00 — and walk without rushing.
- 15.00 — Libraccio (Via Roma 7/A): 45–60 minutes browsing the shelves. Average budget: 5–8€ for a couple of secondhand books.
- 16.00 — Gulliver (Via Stella 16b): 30–40 minutes. Even just looking is a pleasure in itself. Budget: 0–12€ depending on temptation.
- 17.00 — Walk towards Veronetta: 15 minutes on foot, crossing Ponte Pietra or Ponte Nuovo — the crossing alone is worth the detour.
- 17.15 — Libre! (Interrato dell'Acqua Morta): 30–45 minutes. Secondhand books from 2–3€, independent new titles around 15–18€.
- 18.00–18.30 — Aperitivo: head back towards the historic centre for a spritz with cicchetti.
Total budget: one secondhand book (4€) + one spritz with cicchetti (7–9€) = 13–15€. Under €20 without even trying.
Where to have the final aperitivo: cicchetti and spritz in Verona without overspending
A golden rule every Veronese knows well: the further you move from Piazza Bra, the less a spritz costs. In the square itself, drinks run to 6–7€ a glass, sometimes more. In the osterie tucked into the side streets — Via Mazzini, the lanes between Corso Sant'Anastasia and Via Cappello — you can easily pay 4–5€ with cicchetti included or at minimal extra cost.
Cicchetti are the heart of the Veronese aperitivo: little meatballs, crostini with local cheeses and cured meats, finger sandwiches, savoury pastries. This is not mere snacking — it's a ritual. A glass of Soave or Bardolino in place of a spritz costs about the same and pairs better with the flavours of the territory. Two cicchetti and a glass of wine: you're looking at 7 to 10€, well within budget.
My practical tip as a local: if you've come from Veronetta after visiting Libre!, stop at one of the neighbourhood's bars before heading back. The atmosphere is different from the centre — more students, fewer tourists, more honest prices. Veronetta has that rare quality of still feeling like an authentic part of the city, not a stage set. An aperitivo here closes the day in exactly the right way.
How much does a spritz typically cost in Verona?
In the historic centre (side streets, not Piazza Bra) expect to pay 4–6€. On Piazza Bra or at the more tourist-facing terraces: 6–8€. In Veronetta and off-the-beaten-track osterie: 3–5€, often with a cicchetto included.
Is Libre! open on Sundays?
No. Libre! Cooperativa is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10–13 and 16–20. If you have Monday or Sunday free, focus your visit on Libraccio (open Sunday 10–13 and 15.30–19.30) and Gulliver [⚠ TO BE CONFIRMED for Sundays].
Can I bring secondhand books to sell at Libraccio?
Yes. Libraccio Verona buys secondhand books and pays in cash. Bring your volumes during opening hours and they'll give you a valuation on the spot — useful if you want to turn old books into new purchases while you're travelling.
If you're staying near the Arena — as you are in the apartments of The Verona Stay in Via Roma — Libraccio is the natural first stop, less than a minute's walk away. The rest of the itinerary is entirely on foot, with no public transport needed. Four hours, three bookshops, one aperitivo: this is the best way to get to know Verona.