Centro Storico
First-timersInside the river bend, around the Arena and Piazza delle Erbe.
Verona city guide
Things To Do In Verona
A Roman arena still used for opera, a medieval centre in a loop of the river Adige, and a balcony that belongs to a fictional girl. An hour from Venice, without the crowds.
17
Hostels in the city
8.8
Average, from 12,482 reviews
~15,000
Seats in the Arena
1913
First opera in the Arena
30 min
To Lake Garda
Fair Verona, and not just for Juliet
Verona sits in a tight bend of the river Adige, and for two thousand years it has guarded the route from Italy through the Alps. The Romans left the arena, a theatre and a bridge; the della Scala family, who ruled it in the Middle Ages, left a castle, a fortified bridge and some extraordinary tombs; and Shakespeare gave it Romeo and Juliet, which the tourist trade has never let go of.
The whole centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, compact enough to walk in a day and handsome enough to fill two. It is also the capital of a wine region, with Valpolicella, Amarone and Soave on its doorstep and Lake Garda half an hour away.
In summer, the Arena stages one of the world's great open-air opera festivals. Verona makes an easy base between Venice and Milan.
Where to stay
Stay in the centre inside the river bend, or in Veronetta across the river for better value.
Veronetta
Value and studentsAcross the river, near the university. Cheaper and local.
San Zeno
A calmer stayWest of the centre, around the great Romanesque basilica.
Porta Nuova
TransportAround the station, south of the centre.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
How long have you got?
The routes we would take, in the order we would take them.
Things to do
Things to do in Verona
The Arena, the Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra, is one of the best-preserved in the world and still in use: from June to September it hosts the opera festival, and during the day you can walk the stone tiers. It seats around fifteen thousand people.
Piazza delle Erbe, the old Roman forum, is the heart of the city, with the Torre dei Lamberti above it; take the lift or the stairs for the view. Piazza dei Signori, next door, is quieter and grander.
Juliet's House, a medieval house with a balcony added in the twentieth century, is the most visited site in the city, and its courtyard is often packed. Juliet is fictional; go early or skip it.
Castelvecchio, the della Scala castle, has a fine museum and a fortified bridge across the Adige. Cross the Roman Ponte Pietra and climb to Castel San Pietro, on foot or by funicular, for the best view of the city.
Free things
Free things to do in Verona
The centre is free to walk: Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza dei Signori, the Scaliger Tombs and the Ponte Pietra.
The Castelvecchio bridge is free to cross, and the walk along the Adige is lovely at sunset.
The view from Castel San Pietro, above the Roman theatre, is free on foot; the funicular costs a little.
You can see Juliet's balcony from the courtyard; the house itself has a ticket.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Verona
Veronese food is hearty and northern. Risotto all'Amarone is made with the region's great red wine. Bigoli, thick pasta, are served with duck or sardines, and pastissada de caval, horse stew, is the traditional dish. Pandoro, the Christmas cake, was born here.
The wine is the reason many people come. Valpolicella, Amarone, Ripasso and Soave are all local, and a glass in an osteria costs €4 to €7.
The restaurants on Piazza Bra and Piazza delle Erbe charge for the view. The osterias in the side streets and in Veronetta are cheaper and better.
Nightlife
Going out in Verona
Verona has a relaxed night out. Aperitivo in Piazza delle Erbe is the evening ritual, with spritz on the terraces.
Veronetta, across the river, is the university quarter, with cheaper bars and a young crowd. In summer, the opera nights fill the city until late, and bars around the Arena stay open for the crowds leaving the shows.
A spritz is €4 to €7.
Getting around
Getting around Verona
The centre is small and walkable. Verona Porta Nuova station is about twenty minutes' walk from the Arena, and buses run into the centre.
The airport, Villafranca, is about twenty minutes away, with a shuttle bus to the station.
Verona is a rail hub. Trains reach Venice in about an hour and ten minutes, Milan in about an hour and a quarter, and Bologna in under an hour. Regional trains and buses go to Lake Garda.
The centre is a ZTL zone.
Costs
What Verona costs
Verona is mid-priced. Hostel beds are limited and typically start around €25; prices rise sharply during opera nights and big trade fairs like Vinitaly.
A careful day is €55 to €75. The costs that add up are the Arena, the museums and the opera. The Verona Card covers most sights and can save money.
Stone-seat opera tickets are the cheapest way to see a performance.
Safety
Staying safe in Verona
Verona is very safe. Ordinary care is needed in the crowds at Juliet's House and around the Arena on opera nights.
The area around Porta Nuova station can feel rough at night.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Verona
Lake Garda, the wine hills and Palladio's city are all close.
Lake Garda
Italy's largest lake, with the castle and Roman villa at Sirmione.
Vicenza
Palladio's city, with his villas and the Teatro Olimpico.
Mantua
The Gonzaga palaces and Mantegna's painted room.
Venice
The lagoon city, a day away.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The opera festival in the Arena is the reason many people come.
Staff pick
5–8 November
Fieracavalli
Fieracavalli, held at Veronafiere in Verona, Italy, is a renowned international equestrian exhibition with a legacy spanning over 125 years. Drawing around 140,000 visitors…
1–4 October
Notre Dame de Paris
A modern opera that has captivated audiences since its Italian debut in 2002, Notre Dame de Paris returns to Verona's ancient Arena for four…
8 October
Osteria Giacobazzi
Giuseppe Giacobazzi turns the elegant Teatro Filarmonico into a rowdy osteria for an evening of stand-up, stories, and spontaneous chaos. The show blends comedy…
9–11 October
Artverona
Artverona is an annual art fair held in Verona that brings together a diverse range of contemporary artworks and galleries. You will find a…
25 Oct – 1 Nov
Card Game
The ballet returns to Teatro Filarmonico with a playful and original double bill pairing two distinct 1936 works. One is Menotti's light opera parodying…
6–7 November
Brahms: Serenade No. 2
The final symphonic event of 2026 features the much-anticipated return of Dmitri Jurowski conducting the Fondazione Arena Orchestra. You'll hear two rare performances at…
20–22 November
Verona Mineral Show
Verona Mineral Show is an exhibition dedicated to precious hard decorative stones, fossils, and related stone giftware. It gathers enthusiasts and professionals interested in…
22–29 November
La Bohème
La Bohème tells a timeless story of friendship, youth, and love through Puccini's memorable characters and beautiful melodies. Set in Paris on Christmas Eve,…
Hostels
Where to stay in Verona
Verona has only a few hostels, and they fill up during the opera festival. These are the top-rated right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
May to September is ideal, and the opera runs through the summer. Winter is cold and foggy.
Jan
Cold and foggy
Feb
Quiet and cold
Mar
Spring
Apr
Vinitaly fills the city
May
Excellent
Jun
The opera begins
Jul
Hot. Opera nights
Aug
Opera and Ferragosto
Sep
Excellent. Harvest
Oct
Quiet and mild
Nov
Cold and foggy
Dec
Christmas market
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Verona is hot in summer and cold in winter, with fog in the Po valley.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Transport assumes walking. Opera stone seats are the cheapest tickets.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Verona travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Verona worth visiting?
Yes. It has a Roman arena still used for opera, a beautiful medieval centre, excellent wine and far fewer crowds than Venice.
How many days do you need in Verona?
Two, plus a day for Lake Garda or the Valpolicella.
Is Juliet's balcony real?
No. Juliet is fictional and the balcony was added in the twentieth century. The courtyard is often packed; go early.
How do I see an opera in the Arena?
Book for the summer festival. Unnumbered stone seats are the cheapest; bring a cushion.
Can I visit Lake Garda from Verona?
Yes. Trains to Peschiera or Desenzano and buses to Sirmione take about thirty minutes.
How far is Verona from Venice?
About an hour and ten minutes by train.
When is the best time to visit Verona?
May to September, for the weather and the opera. Book beds early on opera nights and during Vinitaly.
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