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Destinations / Italy

Verona

Roman arena, romance legends and riverside piazzas

coupleshistorymusicarchitecturefood
Plan your trip to VeronaSee the top 10
255,588Population
925,000Metro area
ItalianLanguage
EURCurrency
2 daysIdeal stay
$160-260Typical day

Verona is a compact, handsome city on a bend of the Adige river in northern Italy. It mixes a well preserved Roman arena, medieval squares and the Romeo and Juliet legend, with summer opera under the stars. It works well as a two day stop or a base for Lake Garda. Food and wine from the Valpolicella hills are a big part of the appeal.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. A huge Roman amphitheater from the 1st century AD, one of the best preserved anywhere. By day you can walk the stone tiers, and in summer it hosts a major open air opera festival.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $13-15Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    2026: EUR 12 full price for a day visit; opera tickets cost far more.

    Tip. Book opera seats well ahead and bring a cushion for the stone steps.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. The old Roman forum is now a busy market square ringed by painted palaces, towers and cafes. It is the social heart of the old town, lively from morning market to evening drinks.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Public square.

    Tip. Have a spritz here early evening.
    See on the map

  3. A medieval house tied to the Romeo and Juliet legend, with the famous balcony over a small courtyard. The courtyard is free to enter, while a ticket lets you see the rooms inside.

    45 minutesTime needed
    about $0-15Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    Courtyard is free; the house interior costs extra.

    Tip. Arrive at opening to avoid packed crowds.
    See on the map

  4. At 84 meters, this is the tallest tower in the center, and a lift takes you most of the way up. The top gives sweeping views over red roofs, church towers and the river bend.

    45 minutesTime needed
    about $6-8Cost
    noBook ahead

    2026: EUR 6 full price.

    Tip. Go near sunset.
    Official siteSee on the map

  5. A 14th century brick fortress built by the della Scala family, now home to an excellent art museum. Its fortified bridge across the Adige is free to walk.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    about $7-10Cost
    noBook ahead

    Ticket price varies, and first Sunday often free.

    Tip. Walk the bridge even if you skip the museum.
    See on the map

  6. An ancient Roman bridge leads across the river to steps and a short funicular up to Castel San Pietro. The terrace at the top has the best panorama of Verona.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Go at sunset for the view over the river bend.
    See on the map

  7. A beautiful Romanesque church with carved bronze doors, a rose window and an altarpiece by Mantegna. It sits in a quieter neighborhood west of the center.

    45 minutesTime needed
    about $4-5Cost
    noBook ahead

    Modest entrance ticket; included with the Verona Card.

    Tip. Ten to fifteen minutes walk west of the center.
    Official siteSee on the map

  8. An elegant square next to Piazza delle Erbe, with a statue of Dante and grand government palaces. The Gothic Scaliger tombs stand just around the corner.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Square and exterior tomb viewing are free; small ticket to enter the cemetery enclosure.

    Tip. Examine the wrought-iron fence surrounding the Scaliger Tombs to see the recurring ladder (scala) crest of the ruling family.
    See on the map

  9. Remains of a Roman theater cut into the hillside across the river, still used for summer shows. The archaeological museum above it, in a former convent, has Roman sculpture and mosaics.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $5-6Cost
    noBook ahead

    Combined museum and theater ticket; included with Verona Card.

    Tip. Combine with Castel San Pietro.
    See on the map

  10. Italy's largest lake lies a short trip west, and Sirmione sits on a narrow peninsula at its southern end. Visitors come for the moated castle, Roman villa ruins and lakeside walks.

    Full dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free to wander; castle and Roman villa ruins are paid.

    Tip. Train to Desenzano about 25 minutes, then a bus or boat to Sirmione.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Verona in three days

Day one for the core sights, day two for Castelvecchio, the Roman theatre and San Zeno, day three on Lake Garda.

  1. Arena di Verona1 hour · about $13-15
  2. Piazza delle Erbe30 minutes · Free
  3. Juliet's House (Casa di Giulietta)45 minutes · about $0-15
  4. Torre dei Lamberti45 minutes · about $6-8
  5. Castelvecchio1.5 hours · about $7-10
  6. Ponte Pietra and Castel San Pietro1 hour
  7. Basilica di San Zeno45 minutes · about $4-5
  8. Piazza dei Signori30 minutes · Free
  9. Roman Theatre and Archaeological Museum1 hour · about $5-6
  10. Lake Garda (Sirmione)Full day · Free
Beyond the city

Day trips

Valpolicella wine area

Hill villages and cellars producing Amarone.

12 mi · Car or tour, about 30 minutes

Mantua

Renaissance court city with the Ducal Palace.

28 mi · Train, about 45 minutes

Venice

Canal city easily done as a long day trip.

75 mi · Train, about 1h10

Soave

A walled wine town.

Train or car about 30 minutes

Vicenza

Palladian villas and buildings.

Train about 30 minutes

Mantua (Mantova)

Renaissance ducal city surrounded by artificial lakes, featuring the monumental Palazzo Te and Ducal Palace.

28 mi · Direct regional train from Verona Porta Nuova in 45 minutes.

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: April to June and September to October. Warm days and lighter crowds, with the opera festival running from June.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.9JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

42°F
Typical daily high
Average36°F
Rain1.6 in
About5 rainy days
Sun strength1.4 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Jun

Arena di Verona Opera Festival

Mid June to mid September (12 June to 12 September in 2026)

Large open air opera productions in the Roman arena.

Apr

Vinitaly

Spring, usually April

A major wine trade fair that fills hotels across the city.

Feb

Verona in Love

February

Valentine themed events for couples.

Nov

Christmas Market

Late November to December

German style market in the squares.

Sep

Tocatì (International Festival of Street Games)

September

Traditional folk festival transforming the historic city streets into outdoor arenas for historical European games.

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Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

Italy is at US State Department Level 2 (exercise increased caution) because of terrorism risk; Verona itself sees mostly petty theft in crowded spots.

5/5
Walkability

The historic center is compact, flat and partly pedestrian.

3/5
Public transport

City buses cover the center and the station; most visitors simply walk.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
12345

1. Centro Storico

$$$

Best for: first-timers, couples

You can walk to the arena, Piazza delle Erbe and the river in minutes.

2. Veronetta

$$

Best for: budget, food

Across the river, with student bars and cheaper rooms near the Roman theatre.

3. Porta Nuova

$$

Best for: rail travelers

Handy for the station and day trips.

4. Borgo Trento

$$

Best for: quiet stays, couples

Quiet residential area, close to the centre.

5. San Zeno

$$

Best for: foodies, quiet stays, authentic vibe

Charming residential neighborhood around the Romanesque basilica, featuring local osterias and antique markets.

Getting there and around

Main airportVerona Villafranca Airport (VRN), 7 mi from the center
To the centerThe Aerobus shuttle reaches Porta Nuova station in about 15 to 20 minutes.
Around townWalk the center; use buses or a short taxi from Porta Nuova station. Trains reach Lake Garda, Venice and Milan easily.
Ride appsUber, FREE NOW, Radio Taxi Verona
Taste it

What to eat

Risotto all'Amarone

Rich risotto cooked with the local red wine.

Pandoro

Star shaped sweet bread born in Verona, a Christmas classic.

Bigoli

Thick fresh pasta, often with duck or sardine sauce.

Pastissada de caval

A slow stewed horse meat dish, a Verona tradition.

Valpolicella and Soave wines

Reds and whites from hills close to the city.

Tortellini di Valeggio

Delicate, hand-folded egg pasta filled with mixed meats and spices, served in rich capon broth.

Good to know

PlugsType C, F and L, 230 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingService is often included as a cover charge; round up for good service.
PaymentsCards are common, but keep a little cash for cafes and markets.
EtiquetteCover shoulders in churches, and do not eat on monument steps where it is banned.
  • The VeronaCard bundles many sights and city buses.
  • Juliet's balcony courtyard gets very crowded; go first thing.
  • Many restaurants close one day a week.
  • A small tourist tax is charged per night at hotels.
  • Opera performances start late and finish near midnight; bring a cushion for stone seats.
  • The Verona Card can save money if you visit many sights.
  • Juliet's courtyard gets very crowded; the house interior costs extra.
  • Some sights close on Monday.

A short history

Verona grew as a Roman town where major roads met the Adige river, and its arena was built in the 1st century AD. In the 13th and 14th centuries the della Scala family ruled the city and left behind castles, bridges and elaborate Gothic tombs. Venice controlled Verona from 1405 for almost four centuries, followed by Austrian rule, until it joined Italy in 1866. Shakespeare set Romeo and Juliet here, and the city has embraced that story ever since. The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Verona