The setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Verona is a place where fairy tale romance feels real. While it gets less attention than nearby Venice, this city in northern Italy rewards visitors with subdued yet surprising charms. From opera at the Arena, the city’s Roman theatre, to piazza tours full of millennia-old relics and medieval palaces, there’s always something new to discover. For the best views around, head to the top of the Lamberti Tower (Torre dei Lamberti), the city’s tallest building. And while the list of things to do in Verona is impressive, day trip opportunities for wine tasting beckon nearby, with Valpolicella on one side of the city and Soave on the other.
In summer, Verona overflows with tourists—it’s Italy’s fourth-most visited city–—in search of Juliet’s House, of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet fame. Savvy travelers know that the best times to visit are in spring and fall when there are fewer crowds. The heart of summer is opera season, with open-air, evening performances held in the spectacular Roman-era theater: far and away one of the best things to do in Verona.
The city’s main train station, Verona Porta Nuova, sits on the busy Milan-Venice rail line. From there, the old quarter is easy to explore on foot. If you’re traveling by car, keep in mind that the city center is a restricted traffic area: most non-residents must leave their cars outside the center. Bikes, e-bikes, and scooter rentals are plentiful, just make sure to drive or ride on the correct side of the road and avoid dedicated bus lanes.
Just across from the historic center, on the eastern bank of the Adige River, lies Veronetta—or what locals call the “other Verona.” Cross the Ponte Nuovo or Ponte Navi bridges, and the tourist crowds tend to disappear. If you’re looking for local things to do in Verona, the neighborhood offers a lively street and pub scene catering to university students. Then there its riverside Roman theater and adjacent history museum, and the 16th-century terraced garden, Giardino Giusti.
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A hopeless romantic at heart, Italy-based travel writer Rebecca can never stay away from this city of star-crossed lovers and opera under the stars for long.
check the Arena schedule to see if you can catch an evening performance at this spectacular Roman amphitheater while you’re in town.
starts with breakfast in Piazza delle Erbe before a walk through the old town to browse the shops. Later, hop on a bike to pedal along the River Adige and up to Castel San Pietro for sunset views.
posting a love letter at Juliet’s Balcony. Sure, it’s silly, but you’ll get an earnest reply back from one of Club di Giulietta volunteers.
linger in the square fronting the Church of San Zeno to blend in with retirees gossiping on park benches, children chasing soccer balls, and locals on their lunch break paging through the L’Arena newspaper.
scale the 368 steps (or purchase a ticket for the elevator) to the top of Lamberti Tower for 360-degree vistas over the terracotta-tiled roofs and River Adige.
is thinking that it’s hard to get tickets to the Arena. Sure, some blockbuster shows do sell out, but there are often last-minute day-of spots for each evening’s performance up for grabs at the amphitheater's box office.
Ancient-history buffs may know Verona for its spectacular Arena—an intact Roman theater dating from the first century—but the world’s romantics recognize this UNESCO-listed city as the setting of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Enthusiasts can still visit the iconic balcony at Juliet’s House in the city’s historic center.
...MoreVerona is quite compact, making it easy to see the top sights in a day, including Juliet’s House and the Castelvecchio fortress and bridge. See the Scaliger Tombs, which date to the 13th and 14th centuries. And don’t miss churches like the 12th century Santa Maria Antica and the 14th century Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore (famous for its bronze doors).
...MoreJuliet’s House is certainly charming, and a top city sight, but the Arena is Verona’s true cultural headliner. Ancient Romans used it for games and gladiator battles. Today, opera, music, and dance performances entertain audiences of up to 15,000 people.
...MoreYes. Verona offers world-class cultural sites, a historic center, and a more authentic feel than tourist hotspots like Rome and Florence. It’s worth soaking up the ambiance in the Piazza dei Signori, admiring the Loggia del Consiglio, taking in the ancient Arco dei Gavi, and strolling across the Ponte Pietra.
...MoreVerona is a very walkable city. Stroll through the Old Town to take in the two main squares (Piazza Bra and Piazza delle Erbe), the Arena, and Porta Borsari. Cross the Adige River on the Ponte Scaligero to admire Castelvecchio. And climb up to Castel San Pietro for bird’s-eye views.
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