Things to do in Verona: top sights and where to go
Verona is a small city on the Adige between Milan and Venice and the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Its highlights sit close together: the Roman Arena on Piazza Bra, home to a summer opera festival, and Juliet's House with its balcony five minutes away. Verona is also the gateway to Lake Garda and the Gardaland theme park. One day covers the city; allow two or three with the lake.
Sights
Verona itineraries
Verona travel guide
What to know before you go: where to stay, the Arena and opera, Juliet's House, Lake Garda, the airport, weather and food.
Verona on your own: the essentials
- Entry
- Schengen rules; ETIAS for visa-free visitors when it starts
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - How long
- 1 day for the city, +1–2 for Lake Garda
- Best time
- April–June and September–October; opera in summer
- VeronaCard
- A pass for the Arena, museums and buses
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Money
- Euro; cards widely accepted
- Airport
- Valerio Catullo (VRN) — bus to the station ≈ 15 min
- Trains
- Milan ≈ 1 h 15 min, Venice ≈ 1 h 10 min
- City tax
- Charged per person per night by your hotel
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Centre
- Compact, all on foot
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 797Sourcei
Wikipedia, Verona ArenaSourcei
Wikipedia, Verona ArenaSourcei
MapThings to do in Verona
Verona's essentials are the Roman Arena on Piazza Bra and Juliet's House with its balcony, plus Via Mazzini and the market square of Piazza delle Erbe nearby. Verona is also the base for Lake Garda and the Gardaland theme park. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Piazza Bra | Verona Arena, Piazza Bra | 1.5 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Old town | Juliet's House, Piazza delle Erbe | 1 hour |
| Lake Garda | Sirmione and lakeside towns | 1 day |
| For kids | Gardaland | 1 day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above includes a ready-made one-day itinerary.
Verona itinerary: 1 or 2 days
One day in Verona covers Piazza Bra and the Arena, Via Mazzini, Juliet's House and Piazza delle Erbe, then an evening stroll along the Adige or a summer opera. Spend day two at Lake Garda in Sirmione, or at Gardaland with children.
- Day 1 — Piazza Bra, the Arena, Juliet's House, Piazza delle Erbe.
- Day 2 — Lake Garda: Sirmione or Bardolino.
- With kids — a full day at Gardaland.
Where to stay in Verona
Verona's historic centre is small, so stay inside it, between Piazza Bra and the river. The Porta Nuova station area is cheaper and handy for Lake Garda. Hotels get pricier during the opera festival and trade fairs, so book early.
| Piazza Bra | The Arena and opera | Pricier, busy in summer |
|---|---|---|
| Old town | Everything on foot, atmosphere | Narrow streets, no parking |
| Veronetta | Across the river, quieter, cheaper | 10 minutes to the Arena |
| By the station | Trains to Garda and Venice | Less picturesque |
Verona airport and trains
Verona Airport, Valerio Catullo (VRN) at Villafranca, is 12 km from the centre; the Aerobus reaches Porta Nuova station in about 15 minutes. Verona sits on the rail line between Milan and Venice, so many visitors fly into either and arrive by train.
| Aerobus | Airport — Porta Nuova station | ≈ 15 min |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi | Airport — centre | ≈ 20 min |
| Train | Milan — Verona | ≈ 1 h 15 min |
| Train | Venice — Verona | ≈ 1 h 10 min |
| Train | Verona — Lake Garda (Peschiera) | ≈ 15 min |
Verona weather by month
Verona has a continental climate: hot summers around 30 °C and cold winters of 6–9 °C by day, with fog. The best months for the city are April to June and September to October; for opera at the Arena, June to August, when evenings are warm.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 6° | 9° | 14° | 18° | 23° | 27° | 30° | 29° | 25° | 19° | 12° | 7° |
| Night | -1° | 0° | 4° | 8° | 12° | 16° | 18° | 18° | 14° | 10° | 4° | 0° |
| Rain | 6 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: May–June and September–October
- day ≈ 6°
- night ≈ -1°
- rain 6 days
Cold and foggy.
- day ≈ 9°
- night ≈ 0°
- rain 5 days
Fresh, Valentine's Day.
- day ≈ 14°
- night ≈ 4°
- rain 6 days
Spring, warming up.
- day ≈ 18°
- night ≈ 8°
- rain 9 days
Warm, wine fair.
- day ≈ 23°
- night ≈ 12°
- rain 9 days
A lovely month.
- day ≈ 27°
- night ≈ 16°
- rain 7 days
Warm, opera begins.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 18°
- rain 6 days
Hot, opera at the Arena.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 18°
- rain 6 days
Hot, opera and the lake.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 14°
- rain 6 days
Warm, grape harvest.
- day ≈ 19°
- night ≈ 10°
- rain 8 days
Mild, few tourists.
- day ≈ 12°
- night ≈ 4°
- rain 8 days
Cool and damp.
- day ≈ 7°
- night ≈ 0°
- rain 6 days
Cold, the star on Piazza Bra.
In mid-February Verona celebrates Valentine's Day as 'Verona in Love', with concerts and decorated squares.
What to eat in Verona
Veronese cooking is hearty northern fare: risotto made with Amarone red wine, tortellini from nearby Valeggio, boiled meats with peppery pearà sauce and pandoro, the Christmas cake invented here. The wines are Amarone, Valpolicella and white Soave from the surrounding hills.
- Risotto all'Amarone — made with red wine.
- Tortellini di Valeggio — delicate filled pasta.
- Bollito with pearà — boiled meats with pepper sauce.
- Pandoro — Verona's Christmas cake.
- Amarone and Valpolicella — red wines.
- Soave — white wine from the hills.
Verona sightseeing costs
Free in Verona: the squares, streets, the Adige riverside, Juliet's courtyard and the balcony from outside. You pay to visit the Arena, Juliet's house museum, the museums and the opera. For several museums, the VeronaCard city pass is better value.
| Verona Arena | 60 | 1 h 15 min | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juliet's House | 39 | 30 min | Courtyard free, museum paid |
| Lake Garda | 38 | 8 h | Free; castle and ferries paid |
| Gardaland | 17 | 7 h | Paid |
Free — 1 places: Piazza Bra.
Tips
- Book summer opera at the Arena early.
- For several museums, the VeronaCard is better value.
- Lake Garda is 15 minutes by train to Peschiera.
FAQ
What should I see first in Verona?
The Verona Arena on Piazza Bra, Juliet's House and balcony, Piazza delle Erbe and Via Mazzini.
How many days do you need in Verona?
One day for the city and another one or two for Lake Garda or Gardaland.
How do I get from Verona airport to the centre?
By Aerobus to Porta Nuova station in about 15 minutes, or by taxi.
How do I get to Verona from Milan or Venice?
By train: about 1 hour 15 minutes from Milan and 1 hour 10 from Venice.
When is the opera at the Verona Arena?
In summer, roughly June to September; tickets are sold on the festival site.
What's the weather like in Verona in May?
About 23 °C by day and 12 °C at night, one of the best months.
Where should I stay in Verona?
In the historic centre by Piazza Bra, or across the river in Veronetta; cheaper near the station.
How do I get from Verona to Lake Garda?
By train to Peschiera del Garda in 15 minutes or Desenzano in 25.
What food is Verona known for?
Amarone risotto, Valeggio tortellini, pandoro and the local Amarone, Valpolicella and Soave wines.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 797 — City of Verona
- Wikipedia: Verona; Verona Arena; climate of Verona (1991–2020 normals)
- Verona Airport — official site; Trenitalia