The best things to do in Verona Italy
Today I am talking about the best things to do in Verona Italy, and this is something I had to research a lot before I went, because you have to think about how long you want to spend in Verona. I have been to this town a couple of times now, with friends and family, so you have to make sure everything suits who you are going with, whether you are going by yourself or not.
I will be talking about food, the ancient buildings, and Romeo and Juliet, so hopefully you will be able to find a good itinerary for what to do in Verona Italy.
Verona is a magical city in Italy that offers something special for every traveler. Its streets are filled with history, romance, and incredible experiences. As you explore, you'll quickly discover the best things to do in Verona Italy that make this destination truly unforgettable.
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| The best thing to do in Verona | The top thing to do in Verona is visit Juliets house |
| Top free thing to do in Verona | The top free thing to do in Verona is go to Piazza delle Erbe |
| Best thing to do in Verona for great photos | For incredible photos, go to Castel San Pietro. There were many places I stopped and took beautiful photos of the whole of Verona from high up. |
| The best unique thing to do in Verona | If your looking for something a bit different visit the nearby wine region of Valpolicella |
How I selected the top things to do in Verona Italy
It comes straight from my own adventures and family. Before I actually went to Verona, I spoke to my family, because a lot of them live in Italy and have been to Verona.
We also speak the language, so when I was at restaurants, I asked in Italian about some good things to do in Verona. Also, just by walking the streets and going down little alleyways. We had a lot of time here, so there were quite a few things we could do.
Here are the top things to do in Verona Italy
Arena di Verona
The first thing I saw when I went to Verona was the Arena di Verona, and this arena has been around since the first century AD. Here you will be able to look at the tiered seating, the central stage, and really nice marble. I booked a tour here because they really help you understand a lot about its construction, and you find out things you just would not have known if you had not booked a guide, like that there was a twelfth-century earthquake and it survived. Now it has been transformed into a venue, and it has been made famous with the Verona Opera Festival, which takes place under the stars each summer, which is amazing.
My tip would be to join a small group tour, to really enjoy a personalised experience and also skip the long lines with priority access. I went there in the morning and there was quite a long line, and my friends actually booked a tour, so I should have done that before. Usually you can get free cancellation too.
View prices & availability for the Arena di Verona skip the line tour.
Visit Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta)
This is really why I came to visit Verona, and Juliet's house is a thirteenth-century medieval home that inspired the love story Romeo and Juliet. There is a courtyard, a balcony, and also a bronze statue. It was quite packed, and what you can do is leave notes in the courtyard, but there is not much space. I wonder if they take them off at some point, but anyway, there was not much space to leave notes.
Then you can pose by the balcony or by Juliet's bronze statue. It is believed if you rub Juliet's right breast, it gives you good luck in love. There was a huge line, but we managed to do that, and we kind of just jumped in because there is no entrance fee to get in there, so you just jump in and take photos.
I would consider visiting later in the day, so I tried to go a little earlier, but it is packed. After lunch, around two o'clock, that is when it starts to ease off, so hopefully that tip works for you. I would probably say Juliet's house is one of the best free things to do in Verona.
Piazza delle Erbe
This was one of my favourite things to do in Verona. It is a market square that has been the social and commercial centre for many centuries. The Piazza is about a five-minute walk from the arena, and a couple of minutes from Juliet's house, so very convenient, especially if you are also exploring other spots around Italy on the same trip. It is surrounded by medieval buildings and has a really nice fountain.
You can get bits to buy from the local vendors, fresh produce, and traditional crafts, and there are also quite a lot of cafes dotted around, so it is a perfect spot to people watch and have a coffee. I went during the summer and it was pretty busy, so hard to find shade, but you will find it.
I also grabbed a panino on the way from a really nice shop called Brusco Panini, then a few seconds away, you can sit down and check out the market stalls while you eat. Here's a link to Brusco Panini on google maps.
Go luxury shopping in Verona
One of my next favourite things to do in Verona was to go shopping. Something that really surprised me, compared to all the other towns I have been to in Italy, is I was not expecting luxury shopping there. There is one long road all the way from the arena connecting to the Piazza delle Erbe that just has loads of shops: casual wear, jewellers, high-end. So shopping is one of the best things to do in Verona.
Popular shops in Verona include:
This is just a few; I do not want to give you all the shops. Go and explore Verona's shopping scene when you are next in Italy. I would probably try to save a couple of hours for this walk and shopping, even on top of the other attractions.
P.s.The road is called Via Giuseppe Mazzini.
Castel San Pietro
This was probably one of the highlights when I went to Verona. To get here, you have to first cross the Ponte Pietra, then either climb the very long staircase or take the cable car. But look at the view, all the way up, all the way down; there are so many pictures you can get of the city.
We actually opted for the cable car/ Funicolare on the way up because it was so hot when we went, and it costs a couple of euros, or you can get there and back for three euros. We took the ride up, then took a walk back down and took loads of pictures on the way.
There is actually a bar right at the top called Sunset Bar della Funicolare, which has really nice views, and if you did walk, having a spritz once you get to the top is just fantastic, a perfect way to soak in the views.
Summer Hours (Monday – Sunday): 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Winter Hours (Monday – Sunday): 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Torre dei Lamberti
Very close to the Piazza delle Erbe is the Torre dei Lamberti, a historic tower built in 1172, and it is actually the tallest tower in Verona. They are open from 10 AM; last time I checked, Monday to Friday or Saturday, 11 AM.
Here you get some really nice views of all the landmarks and distant mountains in Verona. Tickets do sell out quickly, so it is best to call or email a few days in advance to secure your spot. The ticket price is six euros.
Opening Hours:
Saturday & Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Here’s the link to the Torre dei Lamberti ticket office for more details.
Castelvecchio and its museum
One of the things to do in Verona, more if you love history, is to visit the museum. Castelvecchio is a medieval fortress. Inside the castle you will find the Castelvecchio Museum, which has an incredible collection of medieval and Renaissance art. You can spend a couple of hours here going through the ancient stairways, the balconies, and checking out the treasures in each room.
My tip on this one: I would probably advise joining a walking tour that can be purchased for just a few euros, and here you get a guide who will tell you stories you just will not find in guidebooks, and you will be able to access the castle's courtyard and garden for free. But the walking tour does not go into the museum, so you may have to do that separately.
Walking tour tickets can be purchased here.
Go wine tasting in the Valpolicella region
One of my favourite things to do in any country, and in Verona, is to go wine tasting in the Valpolicella region. If you love wine and have a few extra days, go visit Valpolicella. There are so many different wineries you can go to, and they are really known for red wine, especially the Amarone.
I spent the afternoon going to a couple of different wineries: the lighter Valpolicella Classico, the more complex Ripasso, and then the special Amarone, which is actually made from dried grapes through a unique traditional process.
Definitely book a tour, as you are going to learn so much more, and the guides know the top wineries to go to in the area and can help as a translator. I have been to wineries before where they did not speak any English, so having a translator for the winemakers was great.
Based on popular reviews this winery tour seems to be one of the best.
Visit one or all of the 4 churches in Verona
Verona Cathedral is a very old and beautiful church in Verona, built in 1187, interestingly after an earthquake destroyed two old churches that were there. What I liked is that the cathedral is in a Romanesque style, and though it changed over time, the main shape is still the same. Inside the tower, there are nine big bells that ring in a special way, only found in Verona, which was really interesting. I recommend this as one of the things to do in Verona.
The cost of the ticket is four euros and includes an audio guide in different languages. If you want to see more churches in Verona, there is actually a four-church ticket that lets you visit some of the other churches, like San Zeno, Santa Anastasia, and San Fermo. The ticket is good for ninety days, and you can buy it online or at the church.
For more information and tickets go on the official website here.
A Map of the best things to do in Verona Italy
I have also put a map of the best things to do in Verona, so you can see where everything is. Whether you are there for a few days or one day, it is a very walkable city, so it will not be too hard to get around.
More things to do in Verona
Things to do in Verona Italy FAQ's
Is Verona in Italy worth visiting
Absolutely. I remember when I was younger watching Romeo and Juliet, and I had never been to Italy when I was younger, and when I went, I just could not believe it, going up to Juliet's balcony. Then you start finding out about all the other things to do in Verona, such as the churches, the wine regions, and all the hidden little viewpoints I have talked about earlier.
Is 2 days in Verona enough
Two days is a squeeze in Verona, but you can do it. You can go visit Juliet's balcony, go to the Piazza delle Erbe, do some of the shopping, and go out to Castel San Pietro. Then the next day you could do other things, like going to the Torre dei Lamberti, Castelvecchio, the museum, and potentially squeezing in a wine tasting, though it is very difficult.
What to do in Verona for the day
If I had one day in Verona, you would have to plan it very well. First, I would probably walk to the Piazza delle Erbe, maybe go to a couple of shops, then go to Juliet's house, then go to Castel San Pietro, and then finish off by going to the Arena di Verona, but you are going to have to book tickets beforehand.
Things to do in Verona with kids
I think everything I have talked about today you can do with kids. You can go visit the Arena di Verona; maybe, depending on the time of night, maybe not go to a show. You can go to Juliet's house, the Piazza delle Erbe, go shopping with them, and walk up to Castel San Pietro, or maybe with the kids you can take the cable car instead, especially if you have young kids. Go to Castelvecchio and the museum; maybe not the wine region, though you can still go with them, and then you can go visit the churches.
Free things to do in Verona
You can go to Juliet's house, go to the balcony and take some pictures there, then to the Piazza delle Erbe. From there walk up to Castel San Pietro; just do not pay for the cable car because it costs. You can go to Castelvecchio and go to the courtyard and garden for free as well.