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.
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…
Travel Informations
Arrival
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 …
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.
Best time to travel
The climate in Verona is continental.
In winter, mostly in January and February, it can get quite cold. Summers are often hot. Temperatures of up to 37 degrees can be quite common.