Best Things to Do in Verona (2026 Guide)
Verona compresses extraordinary history into a compact riverside city — a first-century Roman arena still hosting opera, medieval towers overlooking the most colourful market square in northern Italy, and a Romeo and Juliet setting that's become entirely its own tourist mythology. Lake Garda and the Valpolicella wine country are 30 minutes away.
Find Things to Do →
The unmissable in Verona
These are the staple sights — don't leave Verona without seeing them.
Attractions in Verona
Browse by experience type
More attractions in Verona
Compare tours, check availability, and book with free cancellation.
Verona earns its UNESCO World Heritage status through sheer concentration of monuments: a Roman arena that seats 22,000 for summer opera, a medieval city whose red-brick towers and churches date mostly to the Scaligeri lords of the 13th and 14th centuries, and a piazza market so photogenic it rivals anything in Italy. The Romeo and Juliet connection is entirely manufactured — Shakespeare probably never visited — but the city has embraced it magnificently, and Juliet’s House has become one of northern Italy’s most-visited spots regardless.
Best Time to Visit Verona
June through August brings the Arena di Verona Opera Festival — performances of Aida, Nabucco, and Carmen in a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre are among the great travel experiences in Italy. Book tickets well in advance; performances sell out months ahead. Spring and autumn are the best times for general sightseeing: comfortable temperatures, manageable crowds, and the wine harvest in September-October in surrounding Valpolicella. Winter is cold and quiet but the city is atmospheric with fewer tourists.
Getting Around
The historic centre is compact and entirely walkable — the Verona Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, Castelvecchio, and Juliet’s House are all within 15 minutes of each other on foot. Verona Porta Nuova train station is a 20-minute walk from the Arena (or short bus/taxi ride). High-speed trains connect to Venice (75 min), Milan (75 min), and Bologna (55 min). Lake Garda is 30-45 minutes by bus or car; Valpolicella wine country is 15-20 minutes by car.
Best Neighborhoods in Verona
Piazza delle Erbe and the Market Quarter: The most beautiful piazza in Verona — a medieval market square ringed by frescoed palaces, a Venetian-era column, and a Roman-era column topped by the Capitello. The daily vegetable and flower market fills the centre. Via Mazzini, the pedestrian shopping street, runs from here to the Arena.
The Arena and Bra Quarter: The vast Roman amphitheatre dominates Piazza Bra, the city’s main square. The surrounding cafes and restaurants are geared to tourists but pleasant for a pre-opera aperitivo. The streets immediately behind the Arena are less visited and have better neighbourhood restaurants.
Castelvecchio and the Adige Bend: The 14th-century Scaligeri fortress and its covered bridge (Ponte Scaligero) are among Verona’s finest sights. The castle houses an excellent medieval and Renaissance art collection including Pisanello. The Adige riverfront has good walking on both banks.
San Zeno and Western Verona: The Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, 20 minutes’ walk west of the Arena, is one of the finest Romanesque churches in Italy — its bronze portal reliefs and Mantegna altarpiece are exceptional. Less visited than the centre and worth the detour.
Food & Drink
Verona sits at the heart of the Valpolicella wine zone, producing Amarone (rich, powerful, expensive), Ripasso (more accessible), and light Valpolicella. The local cuisine is hearty Veneto cooking: risotto all’Amarone (cooked with Amarone wine), pastissada de caval (horse meat stew, a medieval Veronese tradition), and perlèe (pearled barley soup). For wine, the Osteria del Bugiardo near Castelvecchio is a reliable enoteca with good by-the-glass selection. Soave (white wine) is produced 25km east — day trip or wine tour worthwhile.
Practical Tips
- For Arena opera: book online months in advance. Ground-level unreserved seats (gradinata) are cheaper but uncomfortable; reserved seats with cushions cost more but are worth it for long performances. Bring a cushion regardless.
- Juliet’s House is free to enter the courtyard; the balcony and museum require a ticket. The wall of love notes and locks is part of the experience, not something to avoid.
- A Verona Card covers the main museums and monuments at a discount — worthwhile if visiting Castelvecchio, the Roman Theatre, and Arena museum.
- Valpolicella winery visits: book ahead, especially September-November harvest season. Many wineries require appointments and are not walkable from town — car or tour essential.
- Lake Garda is very accessible but gets extremely crowded in summer. Sirmione (45 min by bus or boat from Peschiera) is the most photogenic village.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Romeo and Juliet connection to Verona real?
No — Shakespeare set the play in Verona but never visited Italy, and the Capulet and Montague families appear to be fictional. "Juliet's House" is a medieval building that Verona designated as such in the 1930s for tourism. The story is made up; the city's embrace of it is completely genuine and entirely enjoyable.
Is it worth seeing opera at the Arena di Verona?
For most visitors, yes — it's a singular experience. The acoustics of the Roman amphitheatre are naturally excellent, the atmosphere is unlike any modern opera house, and productions tend toward spectacle. Performances run late (9pm start, often finishing past midnight); bring layers as it cools significantly.
How many days do you need in Verona?
One full day covers the Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, Juliet's House, and Castelvecchio comfortably. Two days adds San Zeno, the Roman Theatre, and time for a Valpolicella excursion or Lake Garda. Three days allows a proper exploration of the wine country.
What wine is Verona famous for?
Amarone della Valpolicella — made from partially dried Corvina grapes, producing a rich, intense red that needs years of ageing. Ripasso is the more accessible everyday version. The Soave zone (white wine from Garganega grapes) is directly east of the city. Both are worth seeking out in local restaurants.