16 Best Things to Do in Verona, Italy
Verona might be best known as the setting of Romeo and Juliet, but there’s so much more to the city than its famous love story. With its impressive Roman arena, beautiful piazzas, medieval towers, and scenic riverside views, Verona is easily one of the most charming cities in northern Italy.
If you’re wondering what to do in Verona, this guide covers the city’s must-see attractions, best viewpoints, and a few delicious food experiences. Whether you’re visiting for a day or staying for a weekend, these are the best things to do in Verona to add to your Verona bucket list.
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Quick Travel Planning Tips for Verona
🏨 Where to Stay: I recommend staying in Verona’s historic center, where all the main attractions are within walking distance. Hotel Milano & Spa is hands down the best choice, while Hotel Mastino is a great budget-friendly alternative.
🌟 Best Tours: See Verona’s main highlights on this small-group walking tour with Arena admission and a funicular ride, or learn to make fresh pasta and tiramisu in this Italian cooking class.
🎟️ Tickets to Book in Advance: Online booking is mandatory for Juliet’s House, so reserve your preferred time slot before your visit.
🚶 Getting Around: Verona is compact and easy to explore on foot, so you won’t need a car for sightseeing.
🗺️ Best Day Trips: Visit Sirmione and Lazise on this Lake Garda day tour with a boat cruise, or spend a day in the mountains on this full-day Dolomites tour from Verona.
📱 Stay Connected: Use an eSIM from Airalo to stay online for maps, transport, and bookings without swapping SIM cards.
Best Things to Do in Verona
1. Visit Juliet’s House
Visiting Juliet’s House is one of the most famous things to do in Verona, but it’s worth knowing that this isn’t the real home of Juliet.
Romeo and Juliet are fictional characters, and the house was connected to the story because it once belonged to the Dal Cappello family, whose name sounded similar to Capulet. The famous balcony was added during renovations in the 20th century.
Still, since it’s the most famous attraction in Verona I think it’s worth visiting, especially if it’s your first time in the city!
Your visit now begins at Teatro Nuovo, where a one-way route leads you into Juliet’s Courtyard. This is where you’ll find the bronze statue of Juliet and get your first view of the famous balcony.
There are two ticket options. The first includes Teatro Nuovo and the courtyard, while the second also grants entry to Juliet’s House. Inside, you can explore several rooms dedicated to the story of Romeo and Juliet and step onto the balcony yourself.
The courtyard used to be free to visit, but you now need a paid ticket even if you only want to see the statue and balcony from below. Booking online is mandatory for both options, including for Verona Card holders, so make sure to reserve a time slot in advance on the official website.
2. Try the tiramisu at Il Tiramisu di Giulietta
If you want to see Juliet’s balcony but don’t want to pay the entrance fee, there’s another option! Right next door, you’ll find Il Tiramisù di Giulietta, a small tiramisu shop with the perfect view of the courtyard and balcony.
Yes, you’ll still have to pay, but this time you’re getting tiramisu and a view, so I think it’s a very good deal!
The entrance is inside the gift shop you’ll walk through after exiting Juliet’s House. However, you can also enter the gift shop directly from Via Cappello, even if you haven’t visited the courtyard. Once inside, look for the staircase on the left leading up to the tiramisu shop.
They serve artisanal tiramisu in individual glass jars, with several flavors to choose from, including classic, pistachio, and dark chocolate. We tried the pistachio one and it was very good!
3. Cross Ponte Pietra
Ponte Pietra is the oldest bridge in Verona and easily one of the prettiest spots in the city. It crosses the Adige River and connects the historic center with the Roman Theatre and Castel San Pietro.
The bridge is only open to pedestrians and cyclists, so you can slow down and enjoy the beautiful views in every direction. You’ll see colorful riverside buildings, church towers, the surrounding hills, and Castel San Pietro rising above the city.
Take your time crossing the bridge and stop along the way for photos. Once you reach the other side, you’ll be perfectly positioned to continue up to Castel San Pietro for an even better view over Verona.
4. Take in the views from Castel San Pietro
For one of the best views over Verona, head up to the terrace in front of Castel San Pietro. From here, you can see the Adige River winding around the historic center, Ponte Pietra below, and the city’s terracotta rooftops, towers, and church domes stretching into the distance.
You can reach the viewpoint by climbing the scenic staircase beside the Roman Theatre or taking the funicular, which gets you to the top in just a few minutes. The viewpoint itself is free, although you’ll need to buy a ticket if you use the funicular.
The castle has very limited opening times, but the viewing area outside is open 24/7, so you can visit at any time. It’s especially beautiful around sunset, but this is also one of the busiest times to visit. If you prefer a quieter experience, come earlier in the morning and take your time enjoying the panorama.
5. Visit the Verona Arena
The Verona Arena dominates Piazza Bra and is one of the city’s most impressive landmarks. Built in the first century AD, this remarkably well-preserved Roman amphitheater once hosted gladiator fights and large public spectacles.
During a daytime visit, you can explore the ancient passageways, walk through the interior, and climb the stone seating. However, the Arena still hosts lots of concerts, operas, and other performances, along with rehearsals and technical preparations. This means there are plenty of days when daytime visits are limited or not possible at all.
We happened to visit on one of those days, so we could only admire the Arena from the outside. It’s still an incredible sight, but if you want to go inside, check the official schedule before your trip.
If you’re visiting during the summer, you can also attend a performance at the Arena di Verona Opera Festival. Tickets for the most popular dates often sell out, so it’s worth booking well in advance.
6. Have drinks at Terrazza Arena Sky Lounge Bar
There aren’t many places where you can sip a cocktail while looking directly over a Roman amphitheater, but Terrazza Arena Sky Lounge Bar lets you do exactly that!
Located on the rooftop of Hotel Milano & SPA, the terrace sits just a few steps from the Verona Arena and offers an incredible close-up view from above.
You don’t need to be staying at the hotel to visit. Stop by for an aperitivo, a cocktail, or dinner, although I think it’s worth coming mainly for the view. Drinks are more expensive than at most bars in Verona, but you’re definitely paying for the location.
I recommend reserving a table in advance, especially if you want to go for sunset. We went in the afternoon and just walked in without a reservation, and it was not busy at all.
7. Explore Piazza delle Erbe
Piazza delle Erbe has been at the center of life in Verona since Roman times, when this area served as the city’s forum. Today, it’s a busy square lined with cafés and historic buildings, with market stalls filling much of the space during the day.
Take some time to admire the frescoed Mazzanti Houses, Palazzo Maffei, and the Madonna Verona fountain in the center of the square. It can get very crowded, so visit early in the morning if you want to see the architecture more clearly and take photos without too many people around.
The entrance to Torre dei Lamberti is also just a few steps away.
8. Climb Torre dei Lamberti
Rising 84 meters above the historic center, Torre dei Lamberti is the tallest tower in Verona. While Castel San Pietro gives you a view of the city from a distance, this viewpoint puts you directly above the rooftops, with Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori right below.
You can climb the stairs or pay a small additional fee to take the glass elevator most of the way up. There are still a few steps to reach the highest viewing platform, but it’s a much easier option if you don’t want to tackle the full climb.
The viewing platforms offer panoramic views in every direction, and the enclosed lower level is a good alternative if you’re uncomfortable with heights. Just be prepared for the bells, as they can be extremely loud if they ring while you’re at the top.
9. Take a pasta and tiramisu cooking class
One of the most enjoyable things to do in Verona is learning how to make some of Italy’s best-known dishes yourself. This hands-on pasta and tiramisu cooking class takes place in the heart of the city and lasts around three hours.
With help from a professional chef, you’ll prepare two types of fresh pasta, including fettuccine and ricotta and spinach ravioli, followed by a classic tiramisu. A welcome glass of prosecco and wine or soft drinks with the meal are also included.
Once everything is ready, you’ll sit down with the group and enjoy the food you’ve made. The class has excellent reviews and often sells out, so I recommend booking your place in advance.
10. Visit the Verona Cathedral
Tucked away in a quieter part of the historic center, Verona Cathedral is easy to reach from Ponte Pietra and well worth a quick visit. Also known as the Duomo di Verona, it looks fairly simple from the outside but has a much more impressive interior.
Look out for the pink marble columns, decorated chapels, and Titian’s Assumption of the Virgin. Your ticket also gives you access to the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte, where you’ll find a large octagonal baptismal font carved from a single block of marble.
Opening hours can change for religious services, so check the schedule before visiting.
11. Walk through Piazza dei Signori
While most lists of what to do in Verona focus on Piazza delle Erbe, the neighboring Piazza dei Signori is also worth seeing. Simply walk beneath the Arco della Costa, where you’ll spot a large whale rib hanging above the passage, and you’ll arrive in the square.
Piazza dei Signori was once the political center of medieval Verona and is surrounded by several important buildings, including Palazzo della Ragione, Palazzo del Capitano, and the Loggia del Consiglio. It’s also known as Piazza Dante because of the large statue of Dante Alighieri standing in the center.
The square is usually much quieter than Piazza delle Erbe, so it’s a good place to slow down and take a closer look at the architecture before continuing to the nearby Scaliger Tombs.
12. See the Scaliger Tombs
A few steps from Piazza dei Signori, the Scaliger Tombs are a group of elaborate Gothic monuments built for members of the Della Scala family, who ruled Verona during the Middle Ages. The tombs stand beside the small Church of Santa Maria Antica and are topped with statues of the former rulers on horseback.
You can see most of the monuments for free through the wrought-iron fence surrounding the courtyard. There is also a small entrance fee if you want to walk inside and view the carvings and statues more closely.
The courtyard has limited opening hours, but the tombs remain visible from the street when it’s closed. You only need around 10 to 15 minutes here, making it an easy stop while exploring this part of the historic center.
13. Take a day trip to Lake Garda
Lake Garda is only a short drive from Verona, but its towns are spread around the lake and getting between them by public transport can take a lot of planning. If you don’t have a car, I think joining a guided day tour is the easiest way to make the most of your time.
I recommend this Lake Garda and Sirmione day tour from Verona. You’ll travel from Verona by air-conditioned minibus, visit Sirmione, and take a boat trip around the peninsula for views of Scaliger Castle and the Grotte di Catullo from the water.
The tour also gives you free time to explore Sirmione before continuing by ferry to Lazise, another small town on the eastern shore of the lake. It’s a full-day tour and includes a good mix of guided sightseeing, time on the water, and independent exploring.
14. Visit the Basilica di Santa Anastasia
The unfinished brick façade of the Basilica di Santa Anastasia doesn’t give much away, but the interior is one of the most impressive in Verona. It’s the largest church in the city, with a high vaulted ceiling supported by rows of red Veronese marble columns.
There is plenty to see inside, from decorated chapels and colorful frescoes to Pisanello’s famous Saint George and the Princess. Near the entrance, look out for the two carved hunchback figures supporting the holy water fonts, which are easy to miss if you walk straight past them.
15. Wander through Giardino Giusti
If you’re looking for things to do in Verona away from the busiest streets, spend an hour or two at Giardino Giusti. Located across the Adige River in the Veronetta district, this 16th-century garden is within walking distance of the historic center.
The lower garden has a formal Italian layout with cypress trees, fountains, statues, grottoes, and a small hedge maze. From there, you can follow the paths into the upper garden and climb to the belvedere for another view over Verona.
Some of the paths are fairly steep and uneven, so comfortable shoes are a good idea. Your entrance ticket also includes access to Appartamento 900, a collection of rooms inside Palazzo Giusti that were once used by the family.
16. Eat at La Prosciutteria
When you’re ready for a break from sightseeing, La Prosciutteria is a great place for a casual lunch or aperitivo. It’s located directly on Piazza delle Erbe, so it’s easy to stop by while exploring the historic center.
The menu focuses on large sharing boards piled with cured meats, cheeses, bread, and other small bites. You can also order schiacciate, which are Tuscan flatbread sandwiches filled with different combinations of meat, cheese, and vegetables.
Most of the seating is inside, but there are three small tables on the balcony upstairs overlooking Piazza delle Erbe. We managed to snag one of these, and they’re easily the best seats in the house!
