What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Verona, Italy.
Photo: pcdazero / Pixabay
Verona is an inland Italian city of about 255,588 people. Most of its main sights are in the Città Antica, the old town. These include Piazza delle Erbe, the Lamberti Tower, Verona Cathedral and Juliet's House. The Verona Arena stands on Piazza Bra, and the Roman Theatre is in Veronetta. The old town suits first-timers and opera-goers. San Zeno is quieter. The best months to go are April, September and October.
Many sights are short. Juliet's House takes about 30 minutes and Piazza delle Erbe 30–60 minutes. Allow more time for Castelvecchio Museum (2–3 hours) and the Verona Arena (1–2 hours). Add time for San Zeno and Veronetta if you want to go beyond the old town.
Piazza Bra
A Roman amphitheatre that is still in use, best known for its summer opera festival. You can walk the stone tiers and look down into the arena. Seeing an evening opera here is a very different experience from a daytime visit.
Città Antica (old town)
The city's oldest square, on the site of the Roman forum, lined with painted houses and market stalls. The stalls are now mostly souvenirs, but the square itself is the heart of old Verona and a good place to start a walk.
Città Antica (old town)
The tallest tower in the old town, next to Piazza delle Erbe. You can climb the stairs or take a lift most of the way. From the top you get the best view over the rooftops, the river and the hills.
Città Antica (old town)
A calmer square next to Piazza delle Erbe, surrounded by old government palaces and a statue of Dante. Just around the corner are the Scaliger Tombs, the ornate Gothic tombs of the family that once ruled Verona.
Castelvecchio
A medieval brick castle turned into an art museum, with sculpture and paintings from Verona and the Veneto. The modern redesign by architect Carlo Scarpa is famous in its own right. Afterwards, walk across the fortified Castelvecchio Bridge over the Adige.
San Zeno
One of the finest Romanesque churches in northern Italy, a pleasant walk from the centre. Look for the bronze panels on the main doors and the Mantegna altarpiece inside. It is usually much quieter than the old-town sights.
Città Antica (old town)
A medieval house with a balcony, linked to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The connection is a legend, not history, and the small courtyard is often very crowded. Go early if you want to see it, or skip it if crowds bother you.
Città Antica (old town)
The Duomo mixes Romanesque and later styles and holds Titian's painting of the Assumption. The complex also includes older church remains and a cloister. It is a short walk north of the main squares.
Veronetta
The remains of a Roman theatre built into the hillside across the river, with a museum of Roman finds in the old convent above it. Reach it by crossing the Ponte Pietra, the city's old stone bridge.
Veronetta
A hilltop terrace above the Roman Theatre with a wide view over the river bend and the old town. You can walk up the steps or take the funicular. It is a popular spot around sunset.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C / 0°C | 6 days (42 mm) | 6.8 h/day | 3.6/10 |
| February | 11°C / 2°C | 8 days (73 mm) | 7.0 h/day | 4.5/10 |
| March | 15°C / 5°C | 9 days (60 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 6.5/10 |
| Best month: April | 19°C / 8°C | 10 days (72 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 8.0/10 |
| May | 22°C / 13°C | 16 days (136 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| June | 28°C / 18°C | 11 days (89 mm) | 13.2 h/day | 6.9/10 |
| July | 31°C / 21°C | 10 days (64 mm) | 13.5 h/day | 5.6/10 |
| August | 30°C / 20°C | 9 days (70 mm) | 12.1 h/day | 6.2/10 |
| Best month: September | 25°C / 16°C | 8 days (83 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 8.3/10 |
| Best month: October | 20°C / 11°C | 9 days (95 mm) | 8.0 h/day | 8.2/10 |
| November | 13°C / 5°C | 9 days (84 mm) | 6.4 h/day | 5.2/10 |
| December | 9°C / 1°C | 7 days (61 mm) | 5.7 h/day | 3.4/10 |
Avoid. Highs reach only 8°C and nights fall to about 0°C. Rain is rare, with 5.5 rain days, but it is cold and the score is just 3.6.
OK, with a score of 4.5. Highs of 11°C and 8.3 rain days. It is still chilly and damp, but slowly warming up.
Good, with a score of 6.5. Highs climb to 15°C with 8.6 rain days. Days are mild enough for walking, but evenings stay cool at about 5°C.
Best, with a score of 8. Pleasant highs of 19°C, 10 rain days and 10.6 hours of sun. A very good time for long walks around the city.
Good, with a score of 7, but wet. Highs of 22°C are pleasant, yet May is the rainiest month: 15.6 rain days and 136 mm. Pack an umbrella.
Good, with a score of 6.9. Warm highs of 28°C and about 13.2 hours of sunshine. Expect 11.3 rain days.
OK only, with a score of 5.6. The hottest month, with highs of 31°C and warm nights near 21°C. Midday sightseeing can be tiring. 10.4 rain days.
Good, with a score of 6.2. Still hot at 30°C, with 8.8 rain days and 12.1 hours of sun. Plan outdoor sightseeing for mornings and evenings.
The top-scoring month at 8.3. Highs of 25°C, 8.4 rain days and 10.4 hours of sun make it ideal for exploring on foot.
Best, with a score of 8.2. Comfortable highs of 20°C and 8.8 rain days. Rain totals rise to 95 mm, so bring a light jacket.
OK, with a score of 5.2. Cooler highs of 13°C, 9.1 rain days and only 6.4 hours of sun. Expect grey, damp days.
Avoid. It has the lowest score of the year, 3.4. Highs are just 8.5°C, lows near 1°C and there are only 5.7 hours of sun.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Italy →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, sightseeing, opera-goers
This is the old town inside the bend of the Adige river, around the Arena, Piazza Bra and Piazza delle Erbe. You can walk to almost every major sight, and the streets feel lively into the evening. The drawback is crowds and noise, especially on opera nights, and cars are restricted, so driving to your room is awkward.
Good for train travellers, short stays
This area sits between the Porta Nuova station and Piazza Bra, linked by the wide Corso Porta Nuova. It is practical if you arrive by rail or plan day trips, and the Arena is an easy walk away. The streets nearest the station are busy with traffic and less attractive than the old town.
Good for repeat visitors, quiet, couples
West of the centre, this neighbourhood grew up around the Basilica of San Zeno and has a calm, residential feel with a few good local restaurants. Castelvecchio and its bridge are close by. It is a longer walk to Piazza delle Erbe and the east bank, and evenings are quiet.
Good for families, quiet, longer stays
North of the river, this is a leafy residential area with wide streets and everyday shops. It is calmer than the old town and a bridge crossing takes you into the centre on foot. There is little nightlife, and it can feel far from the sights after a long day.
A slow-cooked horse meat stew made with red wine, usually served with polenta. It is an old Veronese dish, and traditional trattorias still serve it, mostly in the colder months.
Mixed boiled meats served with pearà, a thick, peppery sauce of breadcrumbs, beef marrow and broth. Locals eat it as a hearty winter meal and at family lunches.
Risotto cooked with Amarone, a strong red wine from the nearby Valpolicella hills. The wine gives the rice a deep red colour and a rich taste. Many local restaurants offer it.
Potato dumplings are closely tied to Verona. The city celebrates them at carnival time, when locals eat gnocchi with butter, tomato sauce or a meat ragù.
A tall, star-shaped sweet bread from Verona, dusted with icing sugar. Italians eat it mainly at Christmas, and you will find it in bakeries and shops across the city.
September, October and April are the best months to visit Verona. September scores highest at 8.3, with highs of 24.8°C, 10.4 hours of sun a day and 8.4 rain days. October scores 8.2 and is cooler, with highs of 19.5°C. April scores 8, with highs of 18.6°C, but it has 10 rain days, so pack a light jacket.
Yes, August is a good month, but expect heat. It scores 6.2. Highs average 30.1°C and nights stay warm at 20.1°C. You get 12.1 hours of sun a day and 8.8 rain days. July is slightly hotter at 30.6°C and scores lower, at 5.6. If you dislike heat, choose September instead.
No, December and January are the months to avoid. December scores 3.4 and January scores 3.6. December highs are only 8.5°C, with 5.7 hours of sun a day, the least of the year. January is the coldest month, with highs of 7.8°C and lows of -0.1°C. Go in April or September for a better trip.
Yes, May is the wettest month in Verona. It gets 136 mm of rain over 15.6 rain days, far more than any other month. It still scores a good 7, because it is warm, with highs of 22.1°C and 10.7 hours of sun a day. Plan some indoor sights, such as the Castelvecchio Museum, for wet afternoons.
Most of Verona's main sights take between 30 minutes and 2 hours each. The Castelvecchio Museum needs the longest, at 2–3 hours. The Verona Arena and the Roman Theatre and Archaeological Museum each take 1–2 hours. Juliet's House takes about 30 minutes. Many sights, such as Piazza delle Erbe and Lamberti Tower, are in the Città Antica (old town), so you can group them together.
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