Verona - City of Romeo and Juliet
In the north of Italy, on the banks of the Adige River, lies the beautiful city of Verona. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in Veneto.
Who doesn’t know the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet? The two lovers are said to have lived in Verona and there are places all over the city that refer to them. But it is not only the story about the House of Capulet that attracts visitors from all over the world, but also the large Roman amphitheatre in the heart of the city. In summer, breathtaking opera performances take place here, which are also enjoyed by visitors who are not opera fans.
Those who are less interested in cultural events or themes will not be disappointed in Verona. The city’s history is over 2000 years old and even today you can still find architectural remnants of a chequered history in the city. In addition to the Arena, the Scaliger Tombs, the Porta Leoni and the old city wall are impressive.
Via Mazzini, one of the oldest and most beautiful shopping streets in Europe, invites you to go shopping. Here, the people of Verona stroll leisurely from one boutique to the next and treat themselves to one of the world-famous aperitivi to end the day in style. Taste the excellent regional wines and delicacies such as the unique Vino Rosso and the delicious Pandori.
Verona is not only a stronghold of culture and history, but also a true paradise for gourmets. The city delights with its exceptional cuisine, which is characterized by the regional specialties of the Veneto region and influences from neighbouring Emilia-Romagna. The Veronese specialty par excellence is bollito misto – a dish of boiled beef, veal and sausages served with a spicy mustard sauce. To round off a culinary journey of discovery, you should try the pandoro, the traditional Venetian cake, and the Mandorlato di Cologna Veneta nougat.
But the landscape around Verona is also beautiful. The city is framed by a hilly landscape and nestles along the meandering course of the Adige River. An excursion into the surrounding area is well worthwhile.
Excursion tips in Verona
It was the nightingale and not the lark….…oh Romeo, oh Juliet…this classic leaves no one untouched. And anyone travelling to Verona should know the story of Romeo and Juliet.
A walk through the old town of Verona can be beautiful. The best thing to do is to walk along the smaller streets and you will see that this city has a lot to offer. It is not for nothing that the old town of Verona was declared a World Heritage Site.
My absolute highlight of our stay in Verona was the visit to the Arena di Verona for the performance of Aida by Giuseppe Verdi.
No longer an insider tip, Castell S. Pietro is a free viewpoint high above Verona, which you can also reach by bus.
In the centre of the old town stands the Torre dei Lamberti - the Tower of Lamberti. At 84 metres, it is the tallest building in Verona and towers over the entire old town.
Cities that lie on rivers always have bridges. Many are modern, some are ugly and others are beautiful and then old. Verona's Ponte Scaligero is one of the most beautiful bridges we have seen so far.
Castelvecchio in Verona is famous for its museum, but we are not really museum visitors at all. Maybe that's because we've already seen a lot of exhibitions back home in Berlin.
Verona secret tips
City tours are really beautiful, but also very exhausting. If you are looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of Verona, you should walk along the banks of the Adige River.
You don't always have to climb expensive lookout towers when in some places the topography allows you to find a natural viewpoint. Fortunately, in Verona you can find several points.
Those who visit Verona walk through the city centre, past the Arena, churches, balconies and noble boutiques. And who doesn't feel like that? Verona has even more to offer, sometimes you just have to look very closely. Off the beaten tourist track, you can take a wonderful walk along the city walls in Verona.
The most important church in Verona is the Basilica di San Zeno. It was built in the Romantic style, but also has the first Gothic architectural elements. The church was built in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Tips for eating
Italy is known as the land of ice cream. Everyone raves about ice cream in Italy, but is it really as good as its reputation or can other ice cream parlours keep up?
When you go to Italy, you think of pizza and pasta. It's no different for us! Of course we had to look around for pizza, and on our first evening we came across a small shop with a great selection of pizzas that we couldn't pass by.
Accommodation
As this trip to Verona had been planned for a long time, we started looking for accommodation almost three quarters of a year beforehand. There were not too many criteria that our dream flat in Verona had to fulfil, but for us it was important to have free Wi-Fi access, as we were dependent on…
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Travel Informations
How to get to Verona
By plane
Verona can be easily reached by plane. The airport “Valerio Catullo” is only about 10 kilometres outside the city. There are direct flights to Verona from some cities.
From the airport you can reach the main railway station in 15 minutes (line 164 and 199). There is also an aerobus (shuttle).
By train
The main railway station, Porta Nuova, is not far from the city centre.
The Milan-Venice line runs here. There are high-speed trains and regional trains.
From Germany and Austria, Eurocity trains arrive in Verona about every 2 hours. The direct night trains from Vienna are also popular.
From the station it takes about 15 minutes to walk to the city centre. Numerous buses also leave from the forecourt in all directions.
Trains leave from Porta Peschiera station for Lake Garda.
By bus
There are several long-distance bus lines from German-speaking countries to Verona.
By car
Verona is close to the A4/E70 Milan-Venice and A22/E45 Bologna-Innsbruck toll motorways.
On the way in Verona
By car
The city centre of Verona, around the theatre, is a “Zona Traffico Limitato” (limited traffic zone), where access is by special permit only.
In the city centre there are a few pay-and-display car parks. Parking at the side of the road is hardly possible.
If you use the Verona Card, you can park for a little less in some car parks.
By bus
In the city, you can take the bus, especially to the suburbs. Towards the evening, the frequency of the bus service decreases.
On foot
The ideal way to explore the city centre is on foot. The distances are not too great and there is always something to discover along the way.
There are signposted themed circular routes in the city that lead past the most important sights.
By bike
There are several bikesharing stations in the city centre.
By cable car
The Castel San Pietro cable car goes to the panoramic terraces on the San Pietro hill.
Parking in Verona
Verona offers a variety of parking options, both paid and free, allowing visitors to explore the city in comfort.
Paid
Paid parking is widely available in the heart of Verona and offers a convenient option for visitors.
Parking garages such as SABA Arena and Parcheggio Cittadella are located in close proximity to major attractions such as the Arena and Piazza Bra. Charges in these parking garages vary, with hourly rates ranging from 2.00 euros to 2.30 euros and daily rates from 20 to 24 euros. Parking fees can vary depending on location and time of day, with prices near the Verona Arena being relatively high, especially during events.
Inexpensive Park+Ride parking is available near Verona Porta Nuova train station and at the trade fair.
Free parking spaces
You will find free parking spaces on white marked parking strips, which are mainly located in the outskirts.
Parking and traffic regulations
Yellow markings indicate an absolute parking ban, while blue markings indicate time-limited parking areas, often for a maximum of two hours.
Parking is strictly prohibited in most parts of the historic old town, even if you have booked a hotel there.
Best time to visit Verona
Spring
Spring in Verona begins with mild temperatures, averaging 14 °C in March and rising to a pleasant 22 °C by May. The end of April to May is a particularly recommendable time to visit, as the climate is ideal for exploring the city and outdoor activities.
Rainfall in April averages 106 mm, which is one of the wetter months, but the weather is generally good.
Summer
The summer months of June to August are warm to hot, with maximum temperatures rising from 26°C in June to up to 30°C in August. July and August are the warmest months with an average temperature of around 25 °C.
Autumn
In September, temperatures are still warm, with average highs of 25 °C, making early fall a perfect time to visit. Temperatures gradually drop, and by November the average highs only reach 13°C.
Rainfall increases in the fall, with the highest average in November at 129 mm.
Winter
The winter months are cool, with average maximum temperatures of 6 to 8 °C. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 3.2 °C.