Verona

Though close to the more popular tourist destination of Venice, many people consider Verona a more relaxed and pleasant place to visit. There are many tourists, but the number of tourists per square metre is lower.

• IAT Verona

  phone: +39 045 8068680
  address: Via Degli Alpini, 9

By plane

• Aeroporto Valerio CatulloAlso known as Verona Villafranca Airport. Mostly budget flights, including from Brussels (both National & Charleroi), Dublin, London (Gatwick & Stansted), Paris Beauvais, and Madrid, and domestic routes from Alghero, Palermo, Trapani, Brindisi and Rome. Free WiFI is available with registration, SID: @FreeLuna_CATULLO.

Connections to the city:

• AerobusThis bus service connects the airport with Verona Porta Nuova railway station. Tickets can be bought directly from the bus driver.

• If you have a rental car the trip to Verona isn't difficult: take the A4 towards Padova (Padua) and follow all the way to Verona (approx 7 km).

Venice Marco Polo (VCE) is further but has far more flights. From there take the shuttle bus to Mestre railway station (25 min), then the train to Verona (1 hour) – see Venice: Get in by air page for shuttle bus details.
Also within a couple of hours of Verona are Venice Treviso and Bergamo airports. These have no obvious advantage.

By train

• Stazione di Verona Porta NuovaThe main railway station in the city. You can reach Verona Porta Nuova station by train from Milan: 1 hr 22 min by EuroCity train (EC) (€18.00); 1 hr 50 min by Regionale Veloce (RV) (€9.05). From Venice, it's 1 hr 10 min by EuroCity (EC) (€19.00); 1 hr 22 min by RegionaleVeloce (RV) (€6.25); 2 hr 10 min by Regionale (R) (€6.25). From Bologna, it's 49 min by TAV (€22); 1 hr 28 min by RegionaleVeloce (RV) (€7.55). From Munich, it's 5 hr 30 min by EuroCity.

• Some local trains (regionali) also stop at another station in Verona, .

By bus

• APTV stazioneBuses to destinations in the province. Ticket office is in the railway station building. There are automated tickets machines at the platforms.

By car

City bus schedules are difficult to obtain on-line and also not available on maps.google.com. The 11, 12 or 13 bus on weekdays will get you from the train station (Stazione Porta Nuova) to the Arena (Piazza Bra). Sunday and holiday schedules differ with a separate numbering system. You can obtain bus schedules sending SMS to a number printed on bus stop. Some of them have an indication of the time left for next bus to arrive. You can pay the fare using euro directly on the bus, but only for one ticket, while you can easily buy tickets at a lower fare nearly everywhere there is a cigarette or lotto shop. ATV shops are in the railway station and in Piazza Renato Simoni, near the railway station.

Verona was a Roman city, and many Roman ruins have been preserved, notably the Arena. The ancient city was badly wrecked by the earthquake of 1117 AD, which led to a flurry of re-building. Therefore, most of the historical sights on view today date from the past 800 years, while the Roman city lies 6 metres below you.
Verona showcases the transition of Western European art from late medieval to early renaissance styles, with its rich offering of 12th-century churches and art museums. Verona's military importance has also left city fortifications and an excellent castle. Look out for architectural details related to the Scaligeri (or della Scala) family, who ruled the city from the 12th to 14th century, e.g. their family emblem is a ladder, scala in Italian.
Top sights are the Arena, Castelvecchio, the churches of St Zeno and of Sant'Anastasia, and the cathedral. Much of the pleasure of Verona comes from simply strolling the medieval centre, especially in the evening when the day-trippers have departed. The Arena hosts performances by the world's top singers, and when these are on the whole city, not just the Arena, will be booked solid.

• ArenaAn enormous, spectacular Roman amphitheatre, crumbling on the outside but still in use today. It was erected in the 1st century AD in an elliptical shape, and is the world's third-largest amphitheatre to survive from antiquity. The outer wall fell down during the earthquake of 1117, except for a small section locally called the "Ala" or wing, and enterprising citizens used the rubble to build houses on the back of the structure. What you see today is the masonry supporting the tiered interior. Catch an opera here if you possibly can, but you'll need to book months ahead. There's another smaller amphitheatre across the river, see below.

• CastelvecchioA 14th-century, red brick, fortified castle on the banks of the river Adige. The main castle buildings house the city art museum which is packed with a rich collection of medieval sculpture and Renaissance paintings. As well as the museum, the extensive castle ramparts are great for exploring - ideal for families with children who enjoy running around castle fortifications. The Castelvecchio has an adjoining bridge over the river which is open all the time - walk over the bridge for some fantastic views of the castle on the river. Castelvecchio hosts the Circolo Ufficiali, which is reserved to people who joined the army as officers. Sometimes hosts musical events or art exhibitions.

• Piazza delle ErbeHome of the Forum in Roman times, this is still a focal point of the city. Contains the 'Britney Verona' fountain, 14th-century 'Gardello Tower', and a market that, while picturesque, seems to have become another tourist cliche during its refurbishment.

• Lamberti Towercompleted in 1463, this is the tallest of Verona's towers. The distinctive clock tower looms over the Piazza delle Erbe, and you enter via the palace courtyard. 238 steps to the top, or take the lift, for great views. Ticket also includes admission to the Modern Art Gallery - but this is closed Monday and price is reduced.

• Porta BorsariThe remains of a Roman gate, dates to at least the 2nd century AD, but is almost certainly older.

• Verona CathedralIt was built to replace an 8th-century church which was destroyed in the earthquake of 1117. Consecrated in 1187, the church features an ornate marble Romanesque façade by the Veronese architect Nicolò; its pillars are supported by two griffins. Stone reliefs around the door include Biblical scenes. The smaller side door is also worth a look - medieval carvings include Jonah being swallowed by a whale. Inside, the nave has many Gothic alterations, and oil paintings around the side chapels include an Assumption by Titian. The Romanesque baptistery adjoining the chapel of Sant'Elena is preserved, with its exquisite marble font and collection of medieval paintings.

• Basilica of St ZenoA 10-minute walk NE of Castellvecchio. The church is dedicated to Verona's patron saint, Zeno, a 4th-century North African and a keen fisherman who was ordained Bishop of Verona in 363. Zeno's tomb lies in a shrine in the church undercroft, and he is also commemorated in a grinning medieval statue in full episcopal robes, dangling a golden fish on the end of a fishing rod. The entrance to the church is graced with an ornate Romanesque façade by Nicolò; like the cathedral, this church was erected after the earthquake of 1117. The church was a centre of European pilgrimage for centuries; pilgrims were greeted by huge 10-metre frescoes of St Peter, patron saint of pilgrims. Visitors across the centuries have left their mark - pilgrims happily inscribed graffiti in the frescoes, and signatures dating from 1390 survive to this day. There is also graffiti left by the invading Austrians in 1865.

• Chiesa di Sant'AnastasiaRichly decorated in 13th-15th century Gothic style. Note especially the Pelligrini Chapel, with the Pisanello depiction of St George setting off to fight the dragon.

• Chiesa di San GiorgiettoA tiny chapel immediately next to Sant'Anastasia. Easily overlooked, this church is richly decorated with early Renaissance frescoes depicting the walled garden of the Virgin Mary.

• Chiesa di San Lorenzo

• Chiesa di San Fermo Maggiore

• Casa di Giulietta

  phone: +39 045 8034303
  address: via Cappello 23
  Presented as the location of the famous balcony love scene from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the house is a major destination for tourist pilgrimage, as the tiny courtyard is normally packed with love-struck teenagers photographing each other on the famous balcony. Shakespeare's characters were fictional, but the house used to belong to the Capello family (Shakespeare's Capulets). Although the house is old, the balcony was added in 1936 and declared to be "Juliet's house" to attract tourists. You can visit the house, which contains a sparse collection of Renaissance frescos rescued from other demolished palaces, and the bed from Zeffirelli's 1968 movie, but not a lot more. The balcony overlooks a tiny courtyard containing a statue of Juliet. There is an unbelievable amount of graffiti and general scrawling on the walls, floor, seats, anything that will hold ink - there is a tradition of writing love messages to Juliet, and visitors leave notes, trinkets and bits of chewing gum fashioned into love hearts. Juliet's house is a popular romantic shrine, but its popularity belies its value; compared to some of the treasures around Verona, Juliet's house has very little to offer.

• Casa di Romeo

  address: Via Arche Scaligere, 4
  So, if Juliet lived there, what about Romeo? A couple of streets away another house has been designated as his home. It is private, so other than a sign on the wall there is nothing much to see.

• Juliet's TombThe church also houses the Antonian Fresco Museum.

A little further out across the river, find the Castel San Pietro, the Giusti gardens, and the other amphitheatre. The walk along the riverside is usually enjoyable, but in 2016/17, the pavement between the Roman Bridge and the Garibaldi Bridge was under reconstruction, with no end in sight.

• Castel San PietroThis former Austrian barracks dates back to the Austrian occupation of the left bank, and while the building is not open to the public, the views from the hill over Verona are spectacular. Nice sunset views.

• Giardino GiustiOne of Italy's most important Renaissance/mannerist gardens, with grottoes, fire-breathing masks carved into the hillside, etc.

• Roman amphitheatre

• Fort Wohlgemuth & World War I Museum

  phone: +39 045 7281166
  address: Via Traversa Castello, 6; Rivoli Veronese
  The fort was built between 1850 and 1851 on the Mount Castle (227 m), north-west of Rivoli. The fort hosts a museum on World War I and on vintage radios.

• Lamberti towerClimb to the top of it or take the lift. Great views over Verona.

• Take the Bus 41 for having a breathtaking view from S. Maria di Lourdes Sanctuary, placed on the edge of Verona's highest hill.
• Wander around Carega block (just ask for 'Carega', close to the Duomo), near Garibaldi Bridge, and experience traditional wine bar and cosy restaurants.
• Take a short walk to Castel San Pietro or take the funicular (€1 each way, Oct 2019) for a great lookout on the town center.
• Hire a tourist guide for a guided sightseeing tour or a wine tour in Valpolicella or Soave.
• Visit the Christmas markets during your winter holidays.

• Via MazziniVerona's golden mile of shopping, taking you between Piazza Bra and Piazza delle Erbe. Most of the major Italian labels are represented, and even if you can't afford them it is great to wander and window shop.

• Corso Porta Borsariis another elegant shopping street in Verona, eg Lo Scrittoio, an old-fashioned shop selling papery and elegant pens and pencils.

• Corso Santa AnastasiaThis street is the centre of the antiques shops' zone. Narrow streets where you can find authentic masterpieces.

• Eurospar

  address: Via Daniele Manin
  A large two-storey supermarket with normal prices where you can find everything for your picnic.

• Piazza Bra barsEat gelato there.

• The Veronese are keen eaters of horse-meat (cavallo), a local speciality. Pastisada de caval, is a dish of braised horse meat, as is Picula de Caval.
• Pizza is not traditionally eaten locally, but pasta dishes feature widely on restaurant menus. Try Pizzocheri (buckwheat pasta with cheese and sage), casoncelli (a type of ravioli) or bigoli (thick spaghetti).
• Casoela is a pork casserole, and a bollito misto is a mixture of boiled meats, usually served with mostarda, a traditional accompaniment of fruit and vegetables in mustard.

• Al' Duomo

  phone: +39 045 800 4505
  address: Via Duomo 7
  Excellent family-run restaurant, just next to the Cathedral (as its name suggests). It's popular with the local Veronese (a good sign) and with a menu full of traditional local specialities. You'll find this is a good place to blend in with the local scene, and has welcoming staff who will help you with unfamiliar items on the menu. On Wednesdays, Al' Duomo plays host to a local mandolin ensemble, so if you're on a traditional music tour, put this on your list. As it's a popular place, booking is advised.

• Osteria Al Carroarmato

  phone: +39 045 803 0175
  address: Vicolo Gatto 2A
  A charmingly atmospheric and good value restaurant/wine bar in the 'ancient canteen' style with shared tables and paper place mats. Food is authentically Veronan but unpretentious. There is an enormous, equally good value wine list, which can however rise to meet all budgets.

• Signorvino

  phone: +39 045 800 9031
  address: Corso Porto Nuova 2
  Restaurant and wine shop. Good food and great wines at very reasonable prices (wine at the table cost the same as in the shop). You eat either inside between wine racks or outside at one of 5 small tables. The menu consists of dishes from different regions of Italy.

• Brek

  address: Piazza Brà, 20
  Quite popular among the tourists. At the places inside there is a buffet-style service. At the places outside – more traditional a la carte.

• Farcito

  phone: +39 045 457 8454
  address: via Oberdan 18/a
  A good place for sandwiches in Verona, in a friendly, laid-back setting. All sandwich options come as baked potato dishes as well, with a very good vegetarian option. Plates are priced at €6-8 and are well-worth the price.

Avoid the hordes of tourists in Piazza Bra and head to Piazza delle Erbe. At least slightly more genuine, this Piazza has a number of good bars where you can sit and enjoy a coffee or aperitivo in the sun. Great for your coffee in the morning and your drinks into the evening.

• Caffè delle Erbe

  address: Piazza delle Erbe
  Great coffee and brioche

• Rain

  address: Via Stella 13A
  A wine bar and jazz club in the heart of Verona owned by brothers Giuseppe and Riccardo Zambelli Rain. Giuseppe is fluent in English. Ask for him if you have any questions about the area.

Verona is frequented annually by millions of tourists, so you'll be able to choose among a lot of different accommodation options, all a lot cheaper than nearby Venice. However it is essential to have booked hotel accommodation on days when the annual arena opera performances are taking place. Turn up on spec or late and it is possible to find every bed in the city taken.

Budget

There are three youth hostels in Verona, all within walking distance of the town centre and a short bus ride from the main train station (Porta Nuova). A tourist map, available from the station's tourist information centre, will point you to their locations. The northeasternmost hostel of the trio, near Piazza Isolo (regular buses from Porta Nuova) has a stunning converted Renaissance complex complete with porticoes, verandas and a huge forested garden, dorm beds for only €15 per person, with a passable breakfast included.
Also consider several small bed and breakfasts in the immediate province, after all a car rental for €30/day and a substantial saving on the nightly fee is an acceptable turnaround. Especially if you need the car to visit the surroundings.
There is also a campsite:

• Campeggio Castel San Pietro

  phone: +39 045592037
  address: Via Castel San Pietro, 2
  Spectacular views over the city and about 15 minutes walk from the centre. Peaceful, luxuriant vegetation. Also cabins and tents-for-rent offered.

• Agriturismo Sommavalle

  phone: +39 346 140 4242
  address: Via Sommavalle 9/a
  In the Torricelle suburb north of Verona, 4 km from the historical centre; it occupies a sunny and panoramic area on the southern side of a hill about 300m above sea level. It can be easily reached by car or with the urban bus service. Reaching the train station (Verona Porta Nuova) will take about 20 minutes by car.

Mid-range

• Apple Suite B&B

  phone: +39 3403499558
  address: Via Santa Felicita 9
  Full apartment, gentle host, in the heart of city centre.

• Ca Vendramin apartment

  address: Via Dietro Filippini 2
  In the quiet Filippini area, next the Arena (at five minutes walking).

• B&B Mambrotta

  phone: +39 329-2322572
  address: via Case Nove 3
  14 km from the center of Verona, and 2 minutes from autostrada A4 Verona Est exit, in a quiet and wonderful environment of Venetian plain, in Mambrotta village. It's 20 minutes by car to Opera of Arena of Verona and to Soave town, it's 18 minutes by car to Verona fair show and exhibitions.

• Grand Hotel Verona

  phone: +39 045 595600
  address: Corso Porta Nuova 105
  An elegant aristocratic building decorated with paintings and sculptures of some of best Italian artist of the 20th century, for this luxury four-star hotel of Verona. From the Grand Hotel one can easily reach by walk the famous Arena and the other monuments of the historic centre of Verona.

• Hotel Gardenia

  phone: +39 45 972122
  address: Via Unità d’Italia 350, San Michele Extra
  High quality service with rooms from around €80.

• Hotel Italia Verona

  phone: +39 045 918088
  address: Via Gofreddo Mameli, 58
  Thanks to its large meeting room, restaurant and comfortable position close to the Central Train Station and the city centre of Verona, this excellent and economic three star hotel is one of the best accommodations for both business travellers and holiday makers coming to Verona, the romantic city of Romeo and Juliet.

• Agriturismo Ca' del FerroRooms are very cosy and spacious and the owner is very helpful and friendly. You need to have a car though to reach it and move around. Single rooms at €45-€50 and double rooms from €75. They all have private beautiful coloured bathrooms.

• Agriturismo Delo Relais

  phone: +39 045 4858380
  address: Via del Torresin, Novaglie, 37141 Verona
  A charming farmhouse a few kilometers away from Verona city center in the Veneto hills. The property features 4 standard rooms, 2 junior suites and 2 suite.

Splurge

• Hotel Gabbia d’Oro

  phone: +39 045 590293
  address: Corso Porta Borsari 4a
  This is a lovely place, de luxe rooms in an 18th-century palazzo.

The surrounding area around Verona offers access to some of Italy's most spectacular scenery - to the north you have rolling hills with vineyards and small towns, to the west the Lake Garda (Lago di Garda).
Drive to the nearby valley Valpolicella, famous for its renowned Amarone, Recioto and valpolicella wines as well as for its ancient villas.
Lake Garda can be easily reached from Verona for a day trip. Buses run by APTV (the regional bus company) leave from Porta Nuova - catch a 62-64 bus in the morning from the railway station or from Corso Porta Nuova (the boulevard just south of Piazza Bra). It takes about 2-3 hours, depending on lakeside traffic (which can be heavy), to reach pretty towns of Malcesine or Torbole. Get a timetable (orari) from the tourist office or from APTV transport website (Lake Garda is in Zone C). Tickets can be bought from the tobacco shop down the road or on the bus. Lake Garda has its own theme park, Gardaland, with accommodation.
Other centres easily done as a day-trip by rail from Verona include Vicenza, Padova, Mantova and of course the big draw Venice.