9 Best Things to Do in Verona

1. Stroll Around Old Town

If you only have one day or a few hours in Verona, spend it in the old town, or Città Antica. This is the area directly north of the train station that's surrounded on 3 sides by the Adige River. The entire area north of Piazza Bra is considered the historic city center and is spectacular.

While I'll give you my top recommendations for streets to walk down, I highly recommend you allow yourself to wander. Once you make it into old town, since most of the area is outlined by the river, you can't get lost. This is the perfect chance to put your phone down and get curious in the alleyways.

The main streets in old town will have most of the action but the small alleyways are full of hidden gems, boutiques, and small bars and restaurants that are well worth a visit.

A few of the top streets for shopping, eating, and people watching are:

• Corso Porta Borsari: If you have time for just one walking street in Verona, let it be this one. This shopping street has a nice mix of local and international brands, including my favorite, Paper Wardrobe. Their men's shop, Wooden Store, is just a block off this street. Start under the Roman archway and make your way down to the river, or vice versa.
• Via Giuseppe Mazzini: This is the main shopping street in Verona that starts right next to the Verona arena and ends at Juliet's house, at another shopping street. It's pedestrian-only and home to many known brands.
• Via Capello: Coming from Ponte della Navi, you'll pass Roman ruins as you walk along this street towards the beautiful Piazza delle Erbe.
• Via IV Novembre: Walk across Ponte della Vittoria to Via IV November to see a more residential area, Borgo Trento. This street, just across the bridge, is home to trendy brunch spots, cafes, and bars.

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2. Visit the Piazzas

You can't do number 1 without doing number 2. The old town is full of beautiful piazzas, or plazas, that you have to take the time to see. Luckily, most of the streets I highlighted above will lead you to one piazza or another.

In Italy, piazzas are where you'll typically find impressive cathedrals, a variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars, and great people-watching. The prices to eat and drink here are typically higher but depending on the piazza, the view is often worth it.

Some of the piazzas in Verona are also home to year-round and Christmas markets, making them extra lively.

A few piazzas you can't miss are:

• Piazza delle Erbe: Personally, I think this is the most beautiful piazza in Verona's city center. While I don't love the year-round market that takes place here, the architecture and grandeur of the plaza is undeniable.
• Piazza dei Signori: This piazza is right next to Piazza delle Erbe and is home to the seasonal Christmas market. Even during summer though, it's a smaller yet lovely piazza and is home to a statue of the Italian writer and poet, Dante.
• Piazza Bra: This is likely considered the most famous and main piazza in Verona since it sits next door to the ancient roman theater. Unlike your typical piazza that's stone or concrete, much of this piazza is a park with grass and a fountain. You'll likely see plenty of kids playing here and dogs on walks.
• Piazza Pasque Veronesi: This piazza sits right in front of the Castelvecchio Museum (mentioned later in this article). This piazza is relatively small but vibrant. If you want some quirky Italian or Verona-specific souvenirs (think t-shirts and socks), I recommend Strillone Society.

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3. Eat & Drink Local Delicacies

One of the best things about living in Italy has been the delicious food. It's made even better since all cities and some small towns have their own delicacies. While there is some overlap throughout the country, the local food in Bologna, for example, is very different from the local food in Verona, even though they aren't that far away from each other.

So, while you'll always find pizza and fresh pasta on menus, I recommend you dive into the dishes you can't easily find in other parts of Italy while you're here.

A few of the best dishes and wines to try in Verona are:

• Risotto all'Amarone: Risotto made with Valpolicella amarone wine.
• Gnocchi: This is one you likely know but will be pleased to learn its a super common and tasty dish in Verona.
• Risino: This morning pastry is a type of bread filled with rice pudding.
• Horse meat (cavallo): Yes, you read that correctly. It's not uncommon to find horse sold in butcher shops or in select menus. I've tried it as a meatball served as an aperitivo and actually, it's not half bad.
• Valpolicella wine: Verona sits right next door to the Valpolicella Valley, giving it direct access to this famed wine. Drink up in the city or take a short trip to the valley for a wine tour to visit a vineyard or 2.

A food tour or a wine tour is the perfect way to get to know the cuisine.

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4. Get Romantic at Juliet's House

Although just the architecture of Verona will have you in the mood for romance, the real reason this is the city of love in Italy is because it's home to the real life Romeo and Juliet.

Now I don't want to break any hearts here but Romeo and Juliet were based on fictional characters and never actually lived in the house claimed to be Juliet's (and nearby the one said to be Romeo's). Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is based in Verona and is said to be based loosely off 2 rival families but the similarities end there.

Regardless, Juliet's house is charming, complete with a courtyard, balcony, and bronze statue. There's also a museum dedicated to the play and a place where people can drop off love letters to be answered by 'Juliet' herself. You can also step out on Juliet's balcony yourself.

Full disclosure, I've never been inside the museum, only in the courtyard. It's typically full of tourists but if you're patient, you can steal a few quiet minutes.

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5. Go Back in Time at Castelvecchio

Castelvecchio, meaning Old Castle, is home to the impressive pedestrian bridge and a museum. The castle was originally built by the once ruling family of Verona, the Scaligero or della Scala family. Although no descendants of this family still live in Verona, their influence still stands strong today.

If you don't have time or the interest in visiting the Castelvecchio Museum, I recommend you at least walk across Castelvecchio bridge, Ponte Scaligero. This bridge was originally built in the 13th but after being destroyed in WW2 has been rebuilt in accordance to the original.

I've never been inside the art museum, just across the bridge and around the area. I do know that their collections stretch across a number of periods including medieval, Renaissance, and modern art.

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6. Take in the Views from Castel San Pietro

On a clear day, I highly recommend the short trek up to Castel San Pietro for great panoramic views of Verona. To get here, you'll cross Ponte Pietra (Stone Bridge) at the north end of old town and either walk up a few flights of stairs or take the short funicular to the top.

Early in the morning or sunset are the best time of the day to go, otherwise the sun will be directly over the city, obscuring your view - trust me, I've learned the hard way!

From the top, you can simply admire the view from the park or go to the bar or restaurant to grab a bite and soak it up for longer. Or, if you want to learn more about Verona's history, you can go inside the Roman Archeology Museum that's connected to the castle.

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7. Take It Easy in San Zeno

Want to see more of Verona than just old town? Visit the charming neighborhood of San Zeno. You can get here walking or by bus. Personally, I recommend the walk along the Adige River if you have the time and energy. After Castelvecchio, there's a nice walking path along the river right into this neighborhood. It provides great views of Castelvecchio Bridge.

In San Zeno, I recommend heading to the Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore and the area surrounding it. This is the center of the neighborhood and from here you'll find local shops, restaurants, and a big park. If you're traveling with your pets like we often do, head to the Bastilione for a chance for them to run off some energy.

For a nice meal outside, I recommend Osteria all'Organetto.

On our last visit to Verona, we decided to stay in San Zeno right on the river. It was the perfect location for us. I'll share more about where we stayed and other recommended places below.

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8. Catch a Concert at the Roman Amphitheater

Verona became a part of the roman empire in 89 B.C. due to its important location in Northern Italy. Decades later in 30 A.D., the arena was built that you can still see and visit today. Since then, it's needed massive repairs to its outer walls but still stands proudly today in Piazza Bra.

While you can see the outside of the ancient Roman amphitheater any day of the week, during the summer, the city holds opera concerts at it. At times, even rock and pop stars have come to perform at the amphitheater.

If you're visiting Verona during the summer months I highly recommend you check the performance schedule and try to get a ticket for a show. Even if opera isn't your style, it's not everyday a Roman amphitheater is your next concert venue.

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9. Take a Day Trip to Lake Garda

Although there are plenty of things to do in Verona without the need to leave the city center, there's even more to see and do just outside of it. Within an hour, there are a number of day trips from Verona that are all worth the journey.

If you're short on time though, the best day trip I can recommend is to Lake Garda. Lake Garda is one of Italy's stunning mountain lakes, comparable but not quite the same as Lake Como.

Peschiera del Garda

Along the shores of Lake Garda are a number of small towns you can visit, the closest being Peschiera del Garda. From Porta Nuova train station, the trip to Peschiera is only 12 minutes. This small town is perfect to walk around for a day or to take a ferry to another nearby town if you want to see more of the lake.

Desenzano del Garda

It's also possible to take the train to the next stop after Peschiera del Garda to Desenzano del Garda, another small lake town. This trip takes 20 minutes. Here, you can also spend the day roaming around the old town or take a ferry to a harder to reach spot.

Sirmione

The most popular destination for a day trip to Lake Garda is Sirmione. Although you can't get here directly by train, you can arrive by ferry from Peschiera or Desenzano. You can also arrive by bus or car but do know the old town is pedestrian-only. The town itself is built on a narrow peninsula so it's very easy to explore. The highlight for most is the castle built in the lake, accessible only by bridge.

Sirmione also has more beaches to enjoy in the summer than the other towns.

Northern Lake Garda

For just a day trip, I highly recommend you visit one of the towns in southern Lake Garda in order to have more time exploring and less time commuting. If you have more time though, northern Lake Garda will blow you away.

Here you'll be able to better enjoy the mountainous landscape and the rocky landscape. A personal favorite of mine is Malcesine but Torbole and Riva del Garda are also recommended.

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Verona Travel Tips

This once Roman city really is a sight to behold. Although you'll do just fine arriving in Verona without a plan except to talk around, there are a few more tips I want to share to enjoy that your visit to Verona goes smoothly.

Where to Stay

Verona is well-connected by public transportation so even if you start outside of the city center, it'll just be a bus ride away. That being said, I highly recommend you stay at least close to old town so you can explore Verona thoroughly before it's time to go.

The 3 times I've been to Verona, these are the 3 places I've stayed in. They're all slightly different based on what exactly you're looking for but all comfortable and well-situated without paying the price of being in the heart of old town:

• Carrera Home: This apartment is perfectly located next to Castelvecchio Museum and Piazza Bra. It's pet-friendly and large enough for 5 guests.
• Verona House Aparthotel: This hotel is situated near Carrera Home, giving you a great view but small space. It's perfect for those that prefer a hotel than an apartment rental.
• Casa Archi: Another pet-friendly apartment, this one is seriously unique. It's hard to beat the river views and staying in San Zeno is a nice alternative to being in the middle of the city center.

How Much Time Is Enough

I mentioned before that I could easily live in Verona so the amount of time I want to suggest likely won't be feasible for you. That being said, 3-days is a good amount of time in Verona.

If you walk a lot, you'll be able to see the highlights of old town in 1 day but that won't give you much time to explore the small alleyways and the Italian way of dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing).

This will also give you a chance to go on a day trip to either the Valpolicella Valley or Lake Garda.

Best Time to Visit

Verona is lively all year-round. I've visited in spring, fall, and winter, only missing a trip in the summer. Regardless, there's always plenty of things to do, events, and businesses open.

Small towns, like those around Lake Garda, tend to get really quiet in the off-season but Verona is a big enough city to always be open.

Note that in the summer, the most tourists visit Verona and Italy in general. You'll likely need to make your reservations farther in advance and be aware that the landmarks like Juliet's House will be packed. That said, in the summer you can enjoy the concerts in the Verona Arena and other events.

In the winter, Verona is home to a Christmas market and the city really goes out of its way to decorate. It's chilly but not too cold considering the rest of Northern Italy.

Fall and spring you can expect mild weather and less crowds, making it the calmest times to visit. Just know, Verona gets its fair share of rain and humid weather.

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How Will You Spend Your Trip to Verona?

With so many things to do in Verona, how will you spend your trip here? As a long-time traveler and expat, I'm constantly intrigued by new destinations and have few places that I can regularly visit with equal enthusiasm. Verona has become one of those places for me. I only hope you enjoy it as much as I have.