How many times have you wondered whether a botanical garden can really hold a child's attention for half a day? At Parco Giardino Sigurtà in Valeggio sul Mincio, the answer is yes — as long as you choose the right moment. And for families coming from Verona with children, that moment has a precise name: a weekday in May.
Why a weekday in May changes everything at Sigurtà
The paradox of this park is well known to regular visitors: on spring weekends and public holidays it turns into a bottleneck. Weekdays in May are a completely different story. The paths empty out, the maze can be tackled without families waiting outside, and children can stop — really stop — in front of a box hedge trimmed into a giant mushroom without anyone nudging them along.
In May, roses bloom along the Viale delle Rose, a one-kilometre path that fills the still morning air with scent. The water lilies in the ponds begin to stir. The light lasts longer, the green is lush and saturated, and the pace is exactly what children ask for without being able to put it into words: slow, sensory, full of surprises within easy reach.
One practical detail not to overlook: on Easter Monday, 25 April and 1 May, entry is only possible with a named ticket purchased online, with limited availability. In the weeks that follow, the park is accessible without booking — and you can breathe again.
The maze, the hedges and the farm: what keeps children on the path
The great strength of Sigurtà with children is not a single attraction — it is a sequence of highlights that alternate at just the right pace, never overstimulating and never boring.
The maze (the Polirinto) is the stop children remember most. It covers 2,500 sq m with corridors running between tall hedges and a central tower with a copper dome and two opposing staircases: those who reach the top look down on the park's green geometry and finally understand where they went wrong. For children it is a mission, not a walk.
Around the maze, the Sigurtà box hedges have something unique about them: the park's gardeners do not trim them in the rigid, symmetrical Italian style. They coax them, allowing the canopies to take on eccentric, individual forms. A six-year-old sees animals, castles, friendly monsters. An adult sees vegetable craftsmanship. Both stop to look.
The didactic farm completes the trio: donkeys, sheep, goats, hens, turkeys and ducks wait in a corner of the park's old farmstead. It is not a zoo — it is a close encounter, the kind a child talks about at dinner for a quarter of an hour.
Those with short legs can board the little train on the Itinerario degli Incanti: in just over half an hour it covers the most evocative points of the park, with an included audio guide. Children under one metre tall ride for free.
How to get there from Verona and practical information 2026
Parco Giardino Sigurtà is located at Via Cavour 1 in Valeggio sul Mincio (Verona), about 28 km from the city centre. By car it is the most practical option: take motorway A4, exit at Peschiera del Garda, then 8 km towards Valeggio. The park has four free car parks. Alternatively, from Verona Porta Nuova there is the ATV line 160 running directly to Valeggio sul Mincio, with a stop five minutes from the entrance — useful for those who prefer not to drive.
2026 season opening hours: open every day from 7 March to 15 November, 9:00 to 19:00 (last entry at 18:00). In March, October and November the park closes earlier at 18:00.
2026 prices (ticket office): adults €18, children aged 5–14 €10, children up to 4 years free, over-65s €14. Discounted tickets are available online; it is worth checking in advance.
You are welcome to bring your own bicycle at no extra charge — the internal route is approximately 6 km, entirely flat and traffic-free. Bikes with child seats are also available to hire at the entrance. Picnics on the lawns are permitted: bringing something from home and sitting on the Grande Tappeto Erboso is one of the most enjoyable moments of the day.
How long does the visit take?
Allow at least three hours to cover the main attractions on foot (maze, farm, Viale delle Rose, ponds). With curious children and stops for the little train, a full half-day is the right measure. Setting off before 10 on a weekday means you will have the maze almost to yourselves.
Is the park suitable for young children, including pushchairs?
The main paths are wide and firm-surfaced, easy to navigate with a pushchair. Children under 4 enter free. The internal train is accessible to the youngest visitors too (those under one metre ride without paying). For the narrower side paths, a front carrier or backpack child carrier is a better option.
Is there a way to combine Sigurtà with another stop?
Yes: the village of Borghetto sul Mincio is just a few minutes on foot from the park exit. It is well worth pausing for the medieval Ponte Visconteo and the local tortellini — the ideal lunch after a morning among the hedgerows.
For your stay in Verona before or after the trip, the apartments at The Verona Stay near the Arena and the Teatro Ristori are less than thirty minutes by car from Sigurtà — and returning to the old city centre in the evening, after a day in the green, strikes exactly the right balance between nature and urban life.