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Verona

Veneto, Italy

Italy Veneto
Verona

Famous as the setting for Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," Verona enchants thousands of visitors every year. Beyond Juliet's overrated balcony, you'll discover a picturesque, laid-back town you'll fall in love with. Wander through charming cobblestone streets, explore beautiful piazzas, and savor the vibrant culinary scene with its regional wine.

If you love music, enjoy a world-class opera performance in the famous Arena di Verona during summer — a unique experience in a very special setting.

Top 10 Highlights of Verona

Where Antiquity Rocks
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Verona Arena
Verona, Veneto
The Arena di Verona, one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters, draws thousands of visitors each year. Built in 30 AD, it stands majestically over Piazza Bra, impressing with its grandeur and the distinctive pink marble that takes on a magical glow in Verona’s soft light.
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Castelvecchio
Verona, Veneto
Castelvecchio is a castle in Verona, northern Italy. It is the most important military construction of the Scaliger dynasty that ruled the city in the Middle Ages. The castle is powerful and compact in its size with very little decoration - one square compound built in red bricks, one of the most prominent examples of Gothic architecture of the age, with imposing M-shaped merlons running along the castle and bridge walls. It has seven towers, a superelevated keep with four main buildings inside. The castle is surrounded by a ditch, now dry, which was once filled with waters from the nearby Adige. Castelvecchio is now home to the Castelvecchio Museum and the local officer's club which can be accessed through the left door on Corso Cavour.
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Basilica of San Zeno
Verona, Veneto
The Basilica di San Zeno is a minor basilica of Verona, northern Italy constructed between 967 and 1398 AD. Its fame rests partly on its Romanesque architecture and partly upon the tradition that its crypt was the place of the marriage of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It stands adjacent to a Benedictine abbey, both dedicated to St Zeno of Verona.
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Piazza delle Erbe
Verona, Veneto
Piazza delle Erbe is a square in Verona, northern Italy. It was once the town's forum during the time of the Roman Empire.
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Verona Cathedral
Verona, Veneto
Verona Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Verona, northern Italy, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the designation Santa Maria Matricolare. It is the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Verona. It was erected after two Palaeo-Christian churches on the same site had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1117. Built in Romanesque style, the cathedral was consecrated on September 13, 1187. The structure was later modified by several renovation interventions, although the plan has remained unchanged.
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Scaliger Tombs
Verona, Veneto
The Scaliger Tombs is a group of five Gothic funerary monuments in Verona, Italy, celebrating the Scaliger family, who ruled in Verona from the 13th to the late 14th century. The tombs are located in a court outside the church of Santa Maria Antica, separated from the street by a wall with iron grilles. Built in Gothic style, they are a series of tombs, mostly freestanding open tabernacle-like structures rising high above the ground, with a sarcophagus surmounted by an elaborate baldachin, topped by a statue of the deceased, mounted and wearing armour. According to the French historian Georges Duby, they are one of the most outstanding examples of Gothic art.
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Ponte Pietra
Verona, Veneto
The Ponte Pietra is a Roman arch bridge crossing the Adige River in Verona, Italy. The bridge was completed in 100 BC, and the Via Postumia from Genoa to Aquileia passed over it. It is the oldest bridge in Verona. It originally flanked another Roman bridge, the Pons Postumius; both structures provided the city with access to the Roman theatre on the east bank. The arch nearest to the right bank of the Adige was rebuilt in 1298 by Alberto I della Scala. Four arches of the bridge were blown up by retreating German troops in World War II, but rebuilt in 1957 with original materials.
A touch of Shakespeare's eternal love
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Juliet's House
Verona, Veneto
The Casa di Giulietta in Verona – the supposed home of literature’s most famous lovers – draws countless visitors each year. Originally built in the 13th century and once owned by the Cappello family, the medieval building was later linked to the fictional house of the Capulets from Shakespeare’s tragedy.
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Roman theatre
Verona, Veneto
The Roman theatre of Verona is an ancient Roman theatre in Verona, northern Italy. It is not to be confused with the Roman amphitheatre known as the Verona Arena.
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Sant'Anastasia
Verona, Veneto
The chiesa di Sant'Anastasia, or the Basilica of Saint Anastasia is a church built by the Dominican Order in Verona, northern Italy. In Gothic style, it is the largest church in the city, located in its most ancient district, near the Ponte Pietra.
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Inspiration

The 9 best activities in Verona
Verona is a splendid city southeast of Lake Garda and a popular destination for day trips. The city has a lot to offer, and you can easily spend one to two days here. We've compiled the most important and beautiful sights for you so you know what to do.

Travel Information

Is the Verona Card worth it?

If you visit more than two attractions a day, then yes. The Verona Card offers a cost-effective way to explore the city's major attractions, including the Arena, Juliet’s House, Castelvecchio Museum, the Cathedral and the Church of San Zeno. It costs €27 for 24 hours and €32 for 48 hours (2024), and includes free bus travel. Further discounts are available for various activities in and around town.

The card can be purchased at the Tourist Information Office, at the Verona Porta Nuova Train Station (money exchange office, Maccorp Italiana Spa - Forexchange), in museums (except for Tower of Lamberti, Lapidary Museum, Arche Scaligere and Juliet's House), and the main churches, like the Cathedral. You can also buy it online (e.g. GetyourGuide), but be aware that you will need to exchange your voucher for a phisical card at the Tourist Office in Verona.

Priority access is available only at the Arena. For Juliet’s House, booking a time slot is mandatory.

Note: The card is not valid for the Aerobus airport shuttle, the extraurban bus service or the Funicular.

For more details, visit Visit Verona.

How long should you stay?

Visit Verona on an independent city getaway, or include it in a longer North Italy or Dolomites road trip.
Many visitors stay for just a day, either as a day trip from Lake Garda or as a stop during a road trip. However, you can easily stay for a weekend break of 2 to 3 days. This allows you enough time to visit the main attractions, enjoy the local cuisine, and possibly take a nearby day trip to Lake Garda or the Valpolicella wine region. Additionally, you will need to stay overnight if you want to see an opera in the arena.

Best time to visit?

The best time to visit Verona is during late spring (May-June) or early autumn (September-October) when the weather is mild and the tourist crowds are a bit thinner.

How to get to Verona?

By Plane

If you are coming from farther away, book a flight to Verona's airport, Verona Villafranca Airport. It is located just a short drive from the city center. From the airport, you can take a taxi, bus, or rental car to reach your destination in Verona.

By Train

If you are from southern Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, you can easily take the train to Verona. There are great connections, and you can travel overnight and arrive fresh in the morning to explore the town. The city's main railway station is Verona Porta Nuova, which is one of the major hubs in Italy. High-speed trains also connect Verona to larger Italian cities like Venice, Milan, and Florence, if you want to travel further by train from Verona.

Additionally, there are regular bus services that connect Verona to nearby towns, good for day trips out of town.

Fancy a roadtrip?

Be inspired by our hand-picked road trips.

Trip map
3-week Road Trip from Trieste to Tuscany
10
81
1012 km
21 days
Trip map
Delicious Round Trip from Bologna to Lake Garda
8
52
510 km
11 days

Interested?
Start planning your next adventure!

Day Trips from Verona

Lake Garda

Just an hour away from Verona, Lake Garda awaits with its breathtaking scenery, crystal-clear waters, and majestic mountains. You can take a boat tour, indulge in sailing or windsurfing, or simply relax in one of the charming lakeside towns like Sirmione or Malcesine. And don't forget to explore the historic castles – they are absolutely worth seeing.

Valpolicella Wine Region

Less than an hour's drive from Verona, lies the Valpolicella wine region – a paradise for wine lovers. This picturesque area is renowned for its lush vineyards and the exquisite Amarone wine. Enjoy a leisurely tour of the local wineries, sample fine wines, and learn more about traditional winemaking. The idyllic landscape, dotted with ancient villas and gentle hills, is perfect for a relaxing day.

Culinary Specialties

What to Drink

  • Amarone della Valpolicella: A robust, dry red wine from the Valpolicella region.
  • Soave: A crisp, dry white wine produced in the nearby Soave region.
  • Aperol Spritz

What to Eat

  • Risotto all'Amarone: A rich risotto made with the famous local Amarone wine.
  • Gnocchi di Patate: Traditional potato dumplings often served with rich sauces.
  • Pastissada de Caval: A hearty horse meat stew, a Veronese specialty.
  • Pandoro: A sweet, star-shaped cake traditionally eaten around Christmas.

History

Originally founded by the ancient Romans, Verona flourished as a bustling commercial center along the Adige River, due to its strategic position. It was during this time that the famous Roman amphitheater, the Arena, was built.

Verona's history is also intertwined with the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet, immortalized by William Shakespeare in his iconic play. Visitors can still visit Juliet's house, complete with a balcony where lovers from around the world come to leave letters and tokens of affection.

During the Middle Ages, Verona flourished under the rule of the Scaliger family from the 13th to the 14th centuries. The Scaligers transformed Verona into a fortified city with impressive structures like Castelvecchio and the Scaliger Tombs, and their rule marked a period of cultural and economic prosperity.

The Renaissance era saw Verona becoming part of the Venetian Republic in 1405, which brought stability and further artistic growth. Many of the city's stunning palaces and churches, adorned with frescoes and intricate designs, were built during this period.

In the 19th century, Verona was annexed to the Austrian Empire, before becoming part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866 following the Third Italian War of Independence. Throughout its history, Verona has been a crossroads of trade, culture, and political power, which is reflected in its diverse architectural styles and historical landmarks.

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