Verona Travel Guide

Start at the Roman Arena

Arrive near opening at 9:00 to see the tiers before midday crowds and heat.

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  Verona Arena

  First-century amphitheater on Piazza Bra, still used for summer opera.

Market square and lunch

Cafe tables ring the square; look up for painted facades and the Torre dei Lamberti.

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  Piazza delle Erbe

  Verona's old forum, now a market square lined with frescoed houses and cafes.

Sunset above the river

Take the funicular up if the stairs feel steep, and check the last descent time.

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  Castel San Pietro

  Hillside terrace with the widest view over the Adige bend and rooftops.

Inside the Roman amphitheatre

Arrive near opening at 9am to walk the tiers before the midday crowds build.

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  Verona Arena

  The first-century amphitheatre on Piazza Bra, still used for summer opera.

Market squares and frescoed facades

Stalls wind down by late afternoon, so browse before 5pm for produce and souvenirs.

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  Piazza delle Erbe

  Verona's old Roman forum, ringed by painted houses and market stalls.

Sunset above the rooftops

The funicular beside Ponte Pietra saves the climb; check the last descent time.

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  Castel San Pietro

  Hilltop terrace across the Adige with the widest view of the old town.

Fortress museum by the Adige

Combine the galleries with a walk over the fortified bridge behind the castle.

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  Castelvecchio

  Fourteenth-century brick castle holding Verona's civic art collection.

Romanesque masterpiece

Bring a shawl or light layer, as shoulders and knees should be covered inside.

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  Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore

  Bronze-doored basilica sheltering Mantegna's altarpiece and a vast crypt.

Regional cooking near the courtyard

Reserve ahead and ask for risotto all'Amarone, a Verona specialty.

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  Osteria Sottoriva

  Arcaded tavern on Via Sottoriva serving Veronese plates and local wines.

Train and bus to the lake

Trains reach Desenzano or Peschiera in about 20 minutes, then a short bus ride.

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  Castello Scaligero

  Moated lakefront castle guarding the entrance to Sirmione's old town.

Roman villa above the water

Wear sun protection, as the olive-grove paths have little shade.

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  Fumane Cave

  Ruined Roman villa at the peninsula tip, with open views down the lake.

Last stroll back in Verona

Lanes here stay busy after dark, and the courtyard is free to enter.

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  Juliet's House

  The balconied medieval house tied to Shakespeare's Verona story.

Inside the Roman arena

Arrive near opening time, and bring a hat since the upper tiers have little shade.

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  Verona Arena

  The first-century amphitheatre on Piazza Bra, still used for summer opera.

Market square lunch

Cafe tables fill by 1 pm, so aim slightly earlier for a seat under the umbrellas.

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  Piazza delle Erbe

  Frescoed palaces ring this old Roman forum, now a produce and souvenir market.

Sunset on the Adige

Walk the bridge toward the Castelvecchio side for the warmest light on the brick.

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  Ponte Pietra

  Verona's oldest bridge, with river views back toward the bell towers.

Fortress turned museum

The Scaligero bridge walkway is free to cross, even without a museum ticket.

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  Castelvecchio

  A riverside brick castle holding medieval sculpture in Carlo Scarpa's spare galleries.

The famous courtyard

Queues peak midday; late afternoon gives you more room in the courtyard.

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  Juliet's House

  The balcony house off Via Cappello, tied to Shakespeare's Verona story.

Scaliger tombs by lamplight

The wrought-iron enclosure is visible from the street after closing hours.

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  Scaliger Tombs

  Gothic canopied tombs of Verona's ruling family, tucked beside Santa Maria Antica.

Terraced Renaissance garden

Wear steady shoes, as the climb to the belvedere is on stone steps.

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  Giardino Giusti

  A 16th-century garden with cypress avenues and a viewpoint over the rooftops.

Roman theatre and hill museum

The lift inside the site saves the steepest part of the hillside climb.

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  Museo Archeologico

  Riverside Roman theatre with an archaeological museum in the convent above.

Risotto all'Amarone

Book ahead, since Veronetta trattorias are small and fill with local regulars.

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  Trattoria al Pompiere

  A long-running dining room known for cured meats and regional risotto.

Village on the hillside

Buses from Verona Porta Nuova run less often on Sundays, so check return times.

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  San Giorgio di Valpolicella

  A hilltop hamlet with a Romanesque church and views across the vineyards.

Ancient parish church

Bring a light layer, as the stone interior stays around 64°F (18°C) in summer.

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  Pieve di San Floriano Martire

  A 12th-century church in the valley, striped in local tufa and marble.

Back for a quiet square

The basilica facade is floodlit after dark, and the square stays calm.

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  Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore

  Verona's great Romanesque church, with bronze doors and a Mantegna altarpiece.

Peninsula town on the lake

Trains reach Desenzano, then a local bus continues to the town gate.

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  Sirmione

  A narrow lakeside peninsula with a moated castle and pedestrian lanes.

Roman villa ruins

Shade is limited among the olive terraces, so carry water on warm days.

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  Fumane Cave

  Extensive Roman villa remains at the peninsula's tip, above clear lake water.

Last view over the city

The funicular from Via Santo Stefano climbs to the terrace in a few minutes.

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  Castel San Pietro

  A hilltop terrace with the widest panorama of the Adige bend and old town.