Everyone wants to go to Rome, Venice and Florence..  But the real gem is Verona. Most tourists skip it, and that’s a huge mistake. Because Verona is like if Rome and Tuscany had a baby, but with fewer crowds, lower prices, and shockingly better wine.

It’s got ancient Roman ruins, a world-class opera scene, medieval castles, lakeside escapes, and some of the best food you’ll eat in Italy, without as many tourist traps.

But here’s the problem:  Verona is still under the radar… for now.  That’s changing fast, and if you wait, you’ll miss what makes it so magical.  This article will cover exactly how to explore Verona like a local, with at least 10 must-see attractions, real Italian food and wine tips, and the secrets most guides will never tell you.

Hi everyone, I am Rick, and I’m Andrea! We live in Italy, and today we’re taking you to one of our absolute favourite cities, the magical, romantic, incredibly underrated Verona. We come here all the time. And we’re about to tell you how to visit Verona like a local, including where it is, how to get here, what to eat, how to get around, and of course… the absolute BEST things to do in Verona, including some local tips you won’t hear anywhere else. So, buckle up! Let’s dive in.

WHERE IS VERONA?

So, where is Verona? If you’re new to Italy or planning your first big trip, Verona is located in northern Italy, in the Veneto region, which is also home to Venice. It is 120km (75 miles)  west of Venice and 160km (2100 Miles) east of Milan. While from Rome to Verona the distance is approximately 505 km (314 kilometres). Verona is also pretty close to Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake. In fact, from Verona to Peschiera del Garda it is only 30 km (18 miles).  Now that we know where Verona is, let’s talk about: 

HOW TO GET TO VERONA 

Verona has a small airport called Valerio Catullo, airport code VRN, located approximately 10 km (6 miles) outside the city centre. The airport is well-connected to most European hubs, including Frankfurt, Paris, London, Amsterdam, and many more. Additionally, from Verona, there are charter flights to Zanzibar, the Maldives, Iceland, and the Dominican Republic. 

If you are travelling by train, Verona’s main station is called  Porta Nuova. You can get direct high-speed trains from: Milan in 1 hour 15  minutes, Venice in 1 hour and 12 minutes and Torino in 2 hours and 18 minutes. If you are coming from Florence or Rome, you will have to change trains in Bologna. From Rome to Verona, it will take 3 hours and 30 minutes, and from Florence, it will take 2 hours and 40 minutes. From the train station to downtown Verona, it will take about 20 minutes walking or 8 8-minute taxi ride.

If you are driving, Verona is very easy to reach because it sits right in the intersection of 2 major Italian highways: the A4, which connects Torino to Venice and the A22, which is the main highway that connects Modena to the Brenner Pass and Austria and Germany. Now, if you are driving to Verona, you will have to park in one of the many parking lots around the historic centre. Most of the parkades are not free. The city centre is a strictly limited traffic zone, and driving in it without a permit will end up costing you way more than the parkade. 

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WEATHER IN VERONA

Verona is located at the foothills of the Alps, and the mountains have a major influence on the weather. Winter temperatures range between 6 – 10 C (42 – 50°F) during the day and -1 and 0 °C (30 – 32°F) during the night. In the summer, the weather can be quite hot and humid with temperatures around 30 C (86 F) during the day and 18 C (64 F) at night. 

Spring and fall are the ideal months to visit  Verona; in fact, in the spring and fall temperatures range between 18 and 23 °C (64 – 73 °F) and 7 – 12 °C at night (44 – 73 °F). Spring and fall are also the rainiest seasons, with an average of 7-8 days of rain per month.  

So, based on the weather alone, the best time to visit Verona is during the spring and fall; however, keep watching and you will see that there are a few good reasons to visit in the summer or in the winter! 

Now that we have covered the weather, let’s talk about the:

HOW TO GET AROUND VERONA 

Verona is very walkable. Walking is the best way to soak up all the beauty from ancient Roman bridges to medieval piazzas. The majority of the historic city centre is pedestrian-only. Walking in Verona is incredibly pleasant, just wear some comfortable, well-broken-in shoes and you will be all set.

For people with mobility problems, there is a tourist train available that goes around the vicinity of all the major landmarks of the city. The ride takes about 25 minutes, and it runs daily from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm. Also, Verona has a Hop On, Hop, Off bus service available.

WHERE TO STAY IN VERONA

The best place to stay in Verona is as close as possible to the historic city centre, that way you can go out and explore the city without commuting. In the city centre, you can find several hotels and B&Bs that offer different levels of service, amenities and prices. Now, if you want to have a more relaxing stay, you can stay in the countryside, outside the city and commute to the centre. For example, you can stay in the Valpolicella area in one of the many wineries and bed and breakfasts of the area. Another great option is to stay at Lake Garda, where we have our own B&B, and you can enjoy the many stunning places around the lake, and you can then take the train to Verona when you want to visit the city.

Before we talk about what to see in Verona, we want to give you some very important information about the Verona Card. This card includes the entrance to Verona’s most important attractions, priority access to the Arena, and all public transport. You can get the card valid for 24 or 48 hours, depending on the amount of time you will spend in Verona. The validity is calculated starting at the time of the first use.

So, once you have your Verona card, it’s time to start getting your money’s worth and visit all the sites, starting with the most famous landmark, the Verona Arena.

BEST THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN VERONA 

The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheatre that is 2,000 years old and still in use today, not for gladiator fights, of course, but for concerts and most importantly, operas. Last week, was saw Nabucco at the arena and it was stunning.  If you’re visiting in summer, grab opera tickets even if you don’t like opera. Don’t worry if you don’t know the language – not even Italians understand what’s being sang. They’re there for the music.  Trust me. It’s an unforgettable experience. The arena is one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world, and it is possible to visit from Monday to Sunday. With your Verona card, you will enjoy priority access, avoiding the very long lines.  

The second most famous landmark of Verona is Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta), which is located about a 5-minute walk from the arena. Now, be prepared, because this is also one of the busiest places in Verona and sometimes the line outside is quite long. At Juliet’s house, you’ll see the famous balcony, the statue, and the walls full of love notes.  Now, if you look at the statue, you will notice that the right breast is way shinier than the other one. This is because, if you rub Juliet’s right breast, it will bring you good luck! Inside Juliet’s house, you’ll get to see some of the costumes and sets used in many movies about the two lovers from Verona! Also, you can go and take a selfie right on Juliet’s balcony, how cool is that!

If you continue a few blocks from Juliet’s balcony, you’ll get to Porta Leoni, one of the ancient Roman city gates still preserved. The gate was part of the old Roman fortifications of the city. It is worth a visit and maybe grab a coffee in the area.

After visiting those two landmarks, you can go to Piazza delle Erbe. This is the true heart of Verona. In Roman times, this was the forum of the Roman city. This stunning piazza is surrounded by amazing buildings with frescoes. In the middle of the piazza, you can see a nice market where you can buy souvenirs, food and grab some refreshments.. Also in the middle of the piazza, you can there is the fountain with the statue of the Madonna di Verona, which is also from Roman times. 

Also from the piazza, there’s The Torre dei Lamberti, one of the oldest towers of the city, which is also included in your Verona card. The visit to the tower, however, you’ll have to pay one euro extra per person if you want to use the elevator, which we happily paid. 

The view from the top of the tower is quite amazing and worth visiting.  Also in the piazza, you can see something very peculiar, under the arco della Costa, if you look up, you’ll see something that you won’t think about finding in Verona! Hanging from the arch, you can see a whale rib! Yes, you have heard it right, a whale rib. Now, there are several legends about why this rib is there.  The real reason why the rib is there is that a store owner put it there to attract business to his store in the 18th century! That’s some pretty creative marketing if you ask us.

From Piazza Erbe, in a few minutes walk, it is possible to reach the Ponte in Pietra, an ancient Roman bridge that still stands strong. Unfortunately, this bridge was destroyed in World War two, but it was completely restored to its original state after the war. 

On the other side of the bridge, you will see the Roman theatre from the first century. From here, it is possible to walk up the hill to the Castel San Pietro Viewpoint.  If you don’t feel like walking up the hill, you can take the funicular that offers stunning panoramic views while climbing the hill in less than 3 minutes – and costs 2 euro one way, and no, it’s not included in the Verona card but, we mentioned it because when you get to the top of the hill, you’ll find the absolute best view of the city so, don’t miss it!

After visiting the viewpoint, you can cross the bridge once more and walk down Corso Porta Borsari to another Roman landmark of Verona, Porta Borsari. This was another  Roman city gate, and today it is still very well preserved. You can walk under the gate and feel like an ancient Roman!

Continue strolling down Corso Cavur until you reach the Arco dei Gavi,  you guessed it, another Roman artefact in the city of Verona. This Arch is right by the Adige River, and it is a good spot to take a picture.  Next to the arch, you can admire the impressive Castel Nuovo. This medieval castle was the fortress of Verona. Inside, it is now a museum of ancient artefacts, religious art and painting – and it’s included in your Verona card. Also, it is possible to walk on top of the old walls of the castle, admiring a stunning view of the city and the Adige River. On the other side of the Castle, you’ll see the ancient Ponte di Castelvecchio, crossing this bridge to the other bank of the river is a must-do in Verona, please don’t skip it. 

After visiting the Castle, we suggest walking around the ancient streets of Verona, getting lost and admiring some of the stunning sites that this city has to offer. Also, visit all the beautiful churches in the city, and get inside the Duomo, which is included in your card! 

WHAT IS VERONA ALSO FAMOUS FOR?

We can’t create an article about Verona without talking about wine! Verona is world-famous for its wines, especially Amarone and Valpolicella. These two wines are famous all over the world, and if you have time, you should consider taking a side trip to the Valpolicella area for some wine tasting. It is a true magical experience.

EXTRA TIPS FOR VERONA

Before we wrap up, here are some special local tips just for you:

First, start your visit early in the morning; this way, you will beat the crowds and the heat. Second, when it is time for lunch, look for a typical restaurant, avoid the ones with flashy photos on the menu; those are usually way more expensive than they should be, and they target tourists. Third, be prepared to walk a lot. Verona is small, but to explore it all, you will have to do some serious walking; for this reason, comfortable shoes are very important. 

Lastly, if you have the time, go and explore the surrounding areas, Lake Garda, the Valpolicella wine region, or the stunning little town of Valeggio sul Mincio. By the shore of Lake Garda, you will see some stunning landscapes and medieval towns. Also, by Lake Garda, you can visit two of the most famous amusement parks in Italy, Gardaland, Caneva and Movieland. If you travel with the kids, these two parks will make everyone in the family very happy.

So that’s Verona: romantic, historic, charming, and walkable. What more could you want? We truly love this city. Every time we visit, we find something new. And we hope this guide helps you fall in love with Verona too.

Ciao