Day in Verona – what to do and see

Verona had been on my bucket list for a long time. We squeezed in a visit between our Lido di Jesolo stay and the Lake Garda trip during the summer break. A hot summer day wasn’t exactly ideal for sightseeing, but I knew I had to take my chance then, because it might not come again. We went straight from the sea breeze into the city heat — but it was absolutely worth it. There’s something about Verona that feels almost theatrical — as if the city itself is performing a love story just for you. Nestled along the Adige River, this northern Italian gem is often overshadowed by Venice, but spend just one day here and you’ll understand why it deserves center stage.

Let me take you through the day in Verona — where to wander, what to see, and a few surprising secrets even seasoned travelers might not know.

A BIT OF HISTORY

During Roman times, the city flourished, building major structures such as the Arena, roads, and bridges that still shape its layout today. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Verona passed through various rulers, including the Ostrogoths, Lombards, and Franks, before becoming a self-governing medieval commune, often marked by internal conflicts between rival families. The city reached a cultural and architectural peak under the Scaliger (della Scala) family in the 13th–14th centuries, who developed many of its landmarks and supported artists like Dante.Later, Verona was ruled by Venice from 1405, then by Napoleon and Austria, before finally joining the Kingdom of Italy in 1866. Today, its layered history—from Roman ruins to medieval streets—makes Verona one of Italy’s best-preserved historic cities.

FACT: Shakespeare never actually visited Verona, but he set Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona here — and the city embraced it fully.

WHAT TO DO AND SEE IN VERONA

We started a bit outside the city center, since we parked near the stadium where we found free parking. It was about three kilometers on foot to the Arena and the old town.

CASTELVECCHIO MUSEUM

Our first stop was Castelvecchio, which is Verona’s most important museum, housed inside a 14th‑century medieval fortress built by the Scaliger dynasty. It stands on the banks of the Adige River and includes the castle, courtyards, towers, and the iconic Ponte Scaligero. The museum holds 29 rooms of medieval, Renaissance, and early modern art, including:

• The famous equestrian statue of Cangrande I della Scala
• Sculptures from the Romanesque period
• Paintings by Pisanello, Bellini, Mantegna, Tintoretto, Rubens
• Ancient weapons, ceramics, goldwork, miniatures, archaeological finds

Between the 1950s and 1970s, architect Carlo Scarpa redesigned the museum interior. His work is famous for blending old and new — modern materials, floating staircases, custom display mounts — while respecting the medieval structure. Today it’s considered one of the best museum restorations of the 20th century.

ARENA

Next, on our way was the Arena of Verona. Built in the 1st century AD, the Arena is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world and still hosts performances today, especially opera. If you’ve never been to any arena before, I suggest buying a ticket and going inside. It’s like stepping into ancient Rome. Movies like Spartan or Gladiator comes to your mind straightaway.

Even though it’s older than the Colosseum in Rome, Arena di Verona is incredibly well‑preserved.

It hosts concerts and performances, and it can hold around 30,000 spectators. People say the acoustics is so good that opera singers can perform without a microphone.

This isn’t just a ruin — it’s a living monument.

FACT: During medieval times, parts of the outer ring were destroyed by an earthquake, but locals reused the fallen stones to build other parts of Verona. So pieces of the Arena are scattered throughout the city.

PORTA BORSARI

Next, through Porta Borsari we went to the old town. Porta Borsari is an ancient Roman city gate that once marked the main southern entrance to Verona. Today it stands right at the edge of the old town, beautifully preserved and still framing the street like a stone postcard from the past. The gate dates back to the 1st century AD, during the Roman Empire. It was originally called Porta Iovia, because a nearby temple was dedicated to Jupiter (Iovius). The façade is made of white limestone, with two levels of arches and decorative columns. The façade you see today was rebuilt in 265 AD under Emperor Gallienus. It’s considered one of the best‑preserved Roman gates in northern Italy.

The name Borsari comes from medieval times, when tax collectors (“borsari”) worked here and charged merchants entering the city.

CASA DI GIULIETTA

Following the narrow streets of the citta antica we reached Casa di Giulietta. It was extremely crowdy, with a long queue to the balcony of course.

The courtyard is charming, the balcony is iconic. But… The building itself is medieval, but the famous balcony? That was actually added in the 20th century to satisfy tourists’ expectations. Shakespeare’s story is fiction, though it may have been inspired by local legends about feuding families.

And yet… standing in that courtyard, watching people write love notes and touch Juliet’s statue for luck, it still feels magical.

DID YOU KNOW? Juliet’s statue gets replaced regularly because the original wears down from millions of people touching it

TIRAMISU

Right next to Juliet’s house you can treat yourself to a creamy, coffee-kissed tiramisu. They have plenty of options to choose from. It’s not just the original one, but you can get mango, strawberry or pistachio tiramisu as well. It’s called: Il Tiramisù di Giulietta by Tiramisocial

And honestly? Eating tiramisu in a place dedicated to love stories just hits differently. Sit for a moment and soak up the atmosphere.

SECRET: On the top floor there’s another balcony, where you get a glimpse on the courtyard.

PIAZZA DELLE ERBE

From Juliet’s house, we wandered into Piazza delle Erbe, one of the prettiest squares we’ve ever seen. Market stalls, frescoed buildings, a fountain in the middle — it’s lively and colorful and full of life.

Here you can buy yourself fruits, souvenirs or a slice of focaccia on the go and sit on a bench watching the world go by.

PONTE PIETRA

We stopped at the Ponte Pietra, a beautiful Roman bridge, just to stare at the beautiful buildings on the other side of the Adige River. It’s the Bastione di San Giorgio with surrounding Plinio Codognato Public Garden and the iconic Castel San Pietro that caught our sight. Unfortunately this is where we had to finish our sightseeing trip. But I do really recommend exploring the city on the other side of the bridge. It’s the Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano or the castle that’re awaiting your visit. I’m pretty sure the view from the uphill is incredible.

If you can, stay for the sunset and admire the city under beutiful colours.

SOMETHING TO ADD

Verona was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it preserves 2,000 years of urban history in one place

Shakespeare never actually visited Verona — yet he made it eternal

STAYING A NIGHT?

Luxury

• Due Torri Hotel — elegant and historic
• NH Collection Palazzo Verona — modern luxury in a classic building

Mid‑Range

• Hotel Accademia — central and comfortable
• Hotel Giulietta e Romeo — steps from the Arena

Budget

• Hotel Trieste — stylish and affordable
• B&B Hotel Verona — simple and convenient

PARKING

Parking in Verona can be tricky near the center.

• Blue lines = paid
• White lines = free
• Yellow = residents

You can either choose the parking garages, or if you’re not afraid to leave your car outside of the city, you can try our trick and park near the stadium.

• Parcheggio Cittadella
• Parcheggio Arena
• Parcheggio Centro

ARE YOU READY?

to sum up Verona adventure. I think it’s beautiful without being overwhelming, romantic without being cliché, and lively without being chaotic. It’s the kind of city where you wander slowly, eat well, drink even better, and feel genuinely happy to be there.

If you’re looking for a city that blends history, beauty, and that warm Italian glow, Verona is absolutely worth a visit. I left with a full heart, a full stomach, and a strong desire to return.