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Verona is one of the most rewarding small cities in Italy: a Roman amphitheatre still used for opera, medieval squares, a river curving around the old town, and some of the finest food and wine in the north. Just beyond the city walls lie the vineyards of Valpolicella, home of Amarone, and less than an hour away, the shores of Lake Garda. Few places in Italy combine culture, wine and lake scenery so easily.
This guide covers the tickets worth booking in Verona, how to taste Amarone in Valpolicella, the best day trips to Lake Garda, and how to plan two or three perfect days.
Our Verona Picks
- Verona Arena tour with fast-track entry
- Amarone wine tasting tour from Verona: the vineyards of Valpolicella
- Sirmione and Lake Garda with boat cruise and spritz tasting
- Verona Card with priority Arena entrance: museums and monuments in one pass
- Verona food tour: risotto all’Amarone, salumi and local wines
Verona at a Glance
| Experience | Why go | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Arena di Verona | A Roman amphitheatre from the first century AD, still used for summer opera | Arena tour or entry ticket |
| Juliet’s House | The famous balcony and courtyard | Fast-track entry with audio guide |
| Historic centre | Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza dei Signori, the Scaliger tombs, Castelvecchio | Guided walking tour |
| Valpolicella | Amarone, Ripasso and Recioto in the hills above the city | Amarone tasting tour |
| Lake Garda | Sirmione, the Scaliger castle and boat trips | Day trip with boat cruise |
The Arena di Verona
Built around the first century AD, the Arena is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres anywhere, and unlike most, it has never stopped being used. Since 1913, when Verdi’s Aida was staged there to celebrate the centenary of the composer’s birth, it has hosted a summer opera festival under the stars, with audiences of many thousands sitting on the ancient stone steps.
By day, you can explore the arches, corridors and stands. The Arena tour with fast-track entry explains the history from gladiators to grand opera, while a simple entry ticket lets you wander at your own pace. If you are planning to see several sights, the Verona Card includes priority access to the Arena and entry to the city’s main museums and churches. If you are in Verona between June and early September, book an evening at the opera well in advance, bring a cushion for the stone seats, and buy a candle at the entrance: the audience traditionally lights them as the sun sets.
Exploring the Historic Centre
Verona’s centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is compact and beautiful. Piazza delle Erbe, the old Roman forum, is lined with frescoed houses and market stalls; next door, Piazza dei Signori is quieter and more formal, with a statue of Dante, who found refuge in Verona during his exile. Climb the Torre dei Lamberti for the best view over the rooftops, see the Gothic tombs of the Scaliger family, the medieval rulers of Verona, and walk along the river to Castelvecchio, their fortress, now an excellent museum, and its red-brick bridge.
Juliet’s House, with its balcony and the bronze statue of Juliet in the courtyard, is the most visited site in the city; a fast-track entry with audio guide avoids the queue. Across the river, the Giusti Garden, one of Italy’s most beautiful Renaissance gardens, and the Roman theatre are calm in comparison.
A guided walking tour of history and hidden gems is a great first-day introduction; literature lovers will enjoy the Dante walking tour, and the bike tour covers more ground along the Adige. For something different, car enthusiasts can visit the Museo Nicolis of vintage cars and engineering just outside the city.
Valpolicella and Amarone
North of Verona, the hills of Valpolicella produce one of Italy’s most distinctive red wines. Amarone della Valpolicella is made from local grapes, mainly Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, which are left to dry for months after the harvest before being pressed. The process, called appassimento, concentrates the sugars and flavours, producing a rich, powerful and velvety wine with notes of dried cherries, chocolate and spice. The same grapes also make the fresh Valpolicella Classico, the rounder Ripasso, refermented on Amarone skins, and the sweet Recioto, the oldest style of all.
The Amarone tasting tour from Verona takes you into the hills with transport included, or you can visit a family winery such as Cantina Fratelli Vogadori in Negrar for a tasting among the vines. Short on time? There is also a wine tasting in the centre near Juliet’s House.
Day Trip to Lake Garda
Italy’s largest lake is less than an hour from Verona. The obvious first stop is Sirmione, a town on a narrow peninsula with a moated Scaliger castle rising straight out of the water, thermal springs and the remains of a large Roman villa at the tip, known as the Grottoes of Catullus. Book the Sirmione tour with boat cruise and spritz tasting or the Sirmione and Lake Garda tour from Verona; for wine lovers, the Lake Garda castles tour with wine tasting combines the lakeside villages with local wines such as Lugana and Bardolino.
Lake Garda is also a superb destination in its own right for sailing, golf and tennis, with luxury hotels along both shores. If you love the Italian lakes, our guide to Lake Como and our selection of Lake Como luxury hotels cover its more famous neighbour.
Soave: The White Wine Side of Verona
East of the city, the medieval walled town of Soave sits beneath its castle, surrounded by terraced vineyards of the Garganega grape. Soave Classico is a crisp, elegant white with notes of almond and white flowers, and the best examples from the volcanic hills age beautifully. Combine a visit to the castle with a tasting at one of the local estates; it is an easy half-day trip and a refreshing contrast to the power of Amarone.
Where to Stay
For atmosphere, stay in the historic centre, close to Piazza delle Erbe or along the Adige, where several palazzi have been converted into elegant boutique hotels. For a slower pace, choose a wine resort in the hills of Valpolicella, or a lakeside hotel on Lake Garda and visit Verona as a day trip.
What to Eat in Verona
Veronese cooking is hearty and full of flavour. Try risotto all’Amarone, made with the local red wine, bigoli, a thick spaghetti often served with duck or sardines, pastissada, a slow-cooked stew, and boiled meats with pearà, a peppery bread sauce. Pandoro, the star-shaped Christmas cake, was born in Verona. The Verona food tour is the easiest way to taste the specialities with a local guide.
A Three-Day Itinerary
- Day 1: morning walking tour of the centre, the Arena in the afternoon, aperitivo in Piazza delle Erbe, and opera at the Arena if in season.
- Day 2: Valpolicella with an Amarone tasting tour and a long lunch at a winery.
- Day 3: Sirmione and Lake Garda with a boat trip, back to Verona for dinner by the river.
Getting There and Practical Tips
- By train: Verona Porta Nuova is on the main high-speed lines, about an hour and a half from Milan, an hour and ten minutes from Venice and around an hour and a half from Bologna.
- By air: Verona’s airport is a short drive from the city; if your flight is delayed, AirHelp can check compensation.
- Getting around: the centre is walkable; the hop-on hop-off bus covers the outskirts. For Valpolicella and Lake Garda on your own, hire a car from Localrent.
- Luggage: leave your bags near Porta Nuova with Radical Storage if you arrive before check-in.
- Stay connected: an eSIM for Italy keeps your tickets and maps on your phone.
Prefer to explore at your own pace?
Self-guided audio tours play on your phone, work offline and let you pause for coffee whenever you like. Good options here are the Verona Arena fast-track ticket or the Verona audio walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Verona Card worth it?
Yes, if you plan to visit the Arena and two or three other museums or monuments; it also gives priority entry to the Arena.
When is the opera season at the Arena?
The Arena di Verona Festival runs in summer, usually from June to early September. Book early for the best seats.
What is Amarone?
A rich red wine from Valpolicella, made from grapes dried for several months after the harvest, giving a powerful, velvety style.
Can you visit Lake Garda from Verona in a day?
Yes. Sirmione is less than an hour away, and guided day trips include transport and a boat cruise.
How many days do you need in Verona?
Two days for the city, three if you want to add Valpolicella and Lake Garda.
Plan Your Italy Trip
Verona sits between Venice and the Italian lakes. Continue to Venice or Lake Como, or head south to Emilia-Romagna with our guide to Bologna and Ravenna and wine in Emilia-Romagna. For more Italian wine, see our guide to Italian wine regions, and use our Italy travel planner for transfers and connectivity. Browse more things to do in Verona.
Related guides: read our articles on Lake Garda, Venice tickets and the Motor Valley: Ferrari, Lamborghini and Ducati.
Spending time in Milan? See our guide to Milan: the Duomo rooftop, La Scala and the Navigli.
For galleries, opera and the Venetian masters, see our guide to Venice for art lovers.
To see Venice from the water, read our guide to Venice by boat: gondolas and the lagoon islands.
Hungry in Venice? See our guide to what to eat in Venice.
