A City Trip to Verona

Verona is one of those cities in the world that just oozes romance. Baroque architecture, Roman history, and the romance of Romeo and Juliet give this picturesque city a charm that you undoubtedly won't be able to resist.

Verona is a city in northeastern Italy and one of the most beautiful places in the country. With around 260,000 inhabitants, it is the capital of the province of the same name, which is located in the Veneto region. Only about 30 kilometers from the popular Lake Garda, Verona is visited by numerous vacationers from around the world every year. No wonder, as this city has some fantastic sights and other highlights to offer. For everyone who has never been to Verona or desperately wants to visit this charming city in northern Italy, I have compiled useful tips.

Affordable Travel | Verona Card

City Walk | Arena of Verona

Romeo & Juliet | Squares, Churches & Museums

Shopping | Culinary Verona

Traveling directly from Germany to Verona, the romantic city is fastest reached by plane - cities like Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin-Tegel, and Frankfurt have daily flights. From the airport, you can take the Aerobus towards the city center. There are also plenty of taxis and rental car stands in Verona; however, to get a good deal on car rentals, it's worth booking a car online before departure.

Excursion from Venice: Are you wandering in Venice? Then make a short detour to Verona. The cities are only about 100 km apart, and there is a train connecting them.

If you live in the south of Germany, you can also easily and quickly reach Verona by car. Additionally, long-distance buses from Flixbus operate, giving you many options to travel to Verona affordably. Are you still looking for a budget hotel in the Italian city? Check out my hotel search; you're sure to find something!

Since you will want to see the majority of the attractions in Verona from the inside and learn more about them, I recommend getting a Verona Card in advance. With this card, you not only get numerous discounts but also often free entry to several attractions.

Public transport: With the Verona Card, you not only get discounts on admission prices, but you can also use public transportation for free.

There are two options: the Verona Card for €18 valid for 24 hours, and the Verona Card for €22 valid for 48 hours. The card can be purchased at the respective attractions, such as at monuments, churches, or museums, as well as in some hotels and tobacco shops in the city. Attractions that can be visited with the card include the Amphitheater Arena, Museo Lapidario Maffeiano, Museo di Castelvecchio, Complesso del Duomo, and Casa di Giulietta, among others. Reduced admission is available at, for example, the Museo Africano and the Arena Museo Opera. Also, you can use the public transport system of the operator ATV for free.

Those of you who have been to Verona will probably have noticed early on that this city can be comfortably explored on foot. It invites a leisurely stroll along the major sights and can impress with its historical buildings, beautiful squares, and impressive churches and museums. You can orient yourself on your city walk with my map to ensure you don't miss any of Verona's highlights.

Verona has something to offer for everyone's taste: from thrilling history to art and religion. Starting at the famous main square Piazza Brà, which is considered the reception hall of Verona, you will first encounter the impressive Arena of Verona, the city's landmark.

Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2018: This popular classical festival takes place this year from June 22 to September 1, 2018. Famous pieces like Carmen, Aida, and Nabucco will be performed during this time. Tickets are available from €25.

The Arena of Verona is a well-preserved Roman amphitheater built around 30 AD. It is also the third largest Roman amphitheater in Italy and is often referred to as Verona's main attraction. Various opera festivals, concerts, and theater performances are held here annually, and about 22,000 visitors can fit into this impressive ancient amphitheater. On Piazza Brà, alongside the arena, you can also admire the Verona Town Hall, Palazzo Barbieri, which resembles a Roman temple, as well as numerous beautiful townhouses from the 16th to 18th century.

Verona is also known as the city of lovers, and not without reason. After the Arena of Verona is the starting point for many tourists, most visitors then follow the famous shopping street Via Mazzini until they turn right onto Via Cappello, where they reach the world-famous house of Juliet through an archway.

This famous house, referred to in Italian as Casa di Giulietta, is one of Verona's most important attractions for anyone wanting to admire the alleged site of the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. Couples of all ages come here and vow eternal fidelity in memory of Shakespeare's novel, write love notes to attach to the wall. For a fee, you can even have your picture taken while standing on the balcony.

Another highlight is the bronze statue of Juliet. There is often a long line of tourists in front of the famous statue, and almost every visitor wants to be photographed with it to receive luck for the rest of their lives. The bronze statue of Juliet, the famous balcony in the courtyard, and countless love messages affixed to the wall make the setting of Shakespeare's novel so special, even though the main protagonists never truly existed, and William Shakespeare was never actually in Verona during his lifetime.

While strolling leisurely through the city, the picturesque Piazza delle Erbe with its ornate historic facades is an absolute must. It was once a significant meeting place as well as a venue for economic and political debates. The Piazza delle Erbe is Verona's central marketplace and is a real magnet for locals and visitors alike, thanks to its impressive monuments. The square is home to baroque buildings, such as the Palazzo Maffei and the Torre del Gardello from the 14th century. Additionally, the viewing platform of the Town Hall Tower, Torre dei Lamberti, where you can get a fascinating view over all of Verona, is very popular. Once you're there, it's worthwhile to visit the nearby Piazza dei Signori with the impressive government palace and the statue of Dante Alighieri in the center of the square.

In close proximity to Piazza dei Signori is the small church of Santa Maria Antica from the 8th century. West of this church, a bit away from the hustle and bustle and about a 25-minute walk away, lies the famous Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore. This significant Romanesque church is even regarded as one of the masterpieces of Romanesque art in Italy.

Besides the numerous churches and palaces, there is another highlight of the city, the Ponte Pietra. This bridge is used by many when heading from the old town towards the Roman theater. The fortress bridge spanning the Adige River offers a fantastic view of the river and part of the city.

For passionate museum visitors, Verona also has a lot to offer. For example, you can visit the Museo di Castelvecchio, a former castle, and the Museo dei Fossili di Bolca. At the Arena Museo Opera, you can learn more about the now more than a hundred-year history of the famous opera festival in Verona.

If you want a little change after all the sightseeing, I recommend strolling along the famous shopping street Via Mazzini. It is located between Piazza Brà and Piazza delle Erbe and greets you with a variety of Italian boutiques and many other tempting shops.

Here, you can not only visit store after store but also check out a restaurant or two. Shopping and taking breaks to relax and enjoy - that's how I would recommend it. And although many of the shops are often expensive Italian branded stores, there are also some affordable shopping options in Verona.

Are you in the mood for delicious Italian cuisine after all the sightseeing? Of course, there are many restaurants in Verona where you can dine and enjoy. I would like to recommend the following restaurants in Verona:

But what would a delicious meal in Italy be without a glass of wine? In the vicinity of Verona, there are several wineries, and like anywhere in Italy, wine is usually ordered with meals.

If you want to see for yourself the culinary delights, you can quickly find them, for example, at Piazza delle Erbe or directly across from the Castelvecchio museum. The latter especially attracts with a small old-fashioned restaurant offering many traditional dishes. By the way, in Verona, people prefer to meet during the day for a glass of wine, but there are, of course, various bars and clubs that are sometimes a bit outside the hustle and bustle. In summer, night owls like to meet outdoors in one of the many beautiful squares and then head to a bar from there. I think there's something for everyone!

Both in the heart of Verona and a bit outside, you'll find impressive monuments. Whether it be a church, a museum, or one of the many beautiful squares - Verona is simply a wonderful Italian city that you must visit at least once! With my tips, you are certainly well-prepared for your city trip. Do you want to pack your suitcase right away? You will definitely find something suitable for your trip to Italy in my Verona offers.