Verona stands out in the Veneto region, rivalling even Venice in its abundance of Roman sites and picturesque streets adorned with pink-hued medieval buildings. This laid-back city offers a wealth of attractions, surpassing other places in the region in terms of sheer sights. While the city’s allure extends beyond tourism, drawing strength from its economic success as a pivotal crossroads.

Shakespeare’s timeless tale of Romeo and Juliet further amplifies Verona’s charm, with visitors flocking to explore the settings of the iconic, albeit fictional, romance. Adding to its cultural significance, Verona hosts a prominent outdoor opera festival at the Roman Arena, transforming it into a magical venue. Unlike Venice, Verona’s prosperity doesn’t solely hinge on tourism; instead, its economic vitality is rooted in its strategic location at the intersection of key routes connecting Germany and Austria to central Italy, as well as serving as a gateway from the west to Venice and Trieste.

The city’s economic prosperity, in turn, fuels a vibrant street life, creating a lively atmosphere that is among Verona’s most attractive features. Beyond the allure of its historical and cultural treasures, Verona thrives as a dynamic hub where the spending power of its residents contributes to its enduring appeal.

Visiting Verona for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in Verona on the first visit. Top help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!

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Dating back to prehistoric times, Verona’s origins can be traced to a modest settlement that evolved between the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE. It attained the status of a Roman municipium in the 1st century BCE, experiencing a swift rise in significance. The city underwent various occupations, including by the Ostrogoth Theodoric I in the 5th century, followed by the Lombards, and ultimately, Charlemagne in 774. Transitioning into an independent commune in the early 12th century, Verona flourished under the governance of the Scaliger family, reaching its zenith under Cangrande I, before succumbing to Venetian rule in 1405. From 1797, it became part of the Austrian Empire, later joining the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.

The historical nucleus of Verona encompasses the Roman town nestled along the river, boasting one of the most extensive collections of Roman remnants in northern Italy. Noteworthy relics from this era include the city gate, Porta Borsari, remnants of Porta Leoni, the Arco dei Gavi (reconstructed near Castelvecchio in the 1930s), Ponte Pietra, the Roman theatre, and the Amphitheatre Arena.

During the Middle Ages, the Scaligers undertook the reconstruction of city walls, expanding the territory significantly on both the west and east banks of the river. This spatial configuration persisted until the 20th century. At the heart of Verona lies the captivating ensemble of Piazza delle Erbe, adorned with a vibrant fruit and vegetable market, and Piazza dei Signori, featuring historic structures such as Palazzo del Comune, Palazzo del Governo, Loggia del Consiglio, Arche Scaligere, and Domus Nova. Additionally, Piazza Bra boasts diverse buildings spanning different epochs.

Verona’s surviving architecture and urban structure reflects the evolution of this fortified town over its 2,000 year history.

This complete guide to Verona not only tells you about the very best sights and tourist attractions for first-time visitors to the city but also provide insights into a few of our personal favorite things to do.

This is a practical guide to visiting the best places to see in Verona and is filled with tips and info that should answer all your questions!

Piazza Brà (Verona)

Piazza Bra, or more simply the Bra (from the German “breit”, meaning “broad”), is the largest square in Verona, located in its historical centre. The widening of the Bra began to turn into the square only in the first half of the sixteenth century, when the architect Michele Sanmicheli completed the Palazzo degli Honorij : […]

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Location: Piazza Bra, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.10km

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Visiting Piazza Brà (Verona)

Arena di Verona

The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheatre located in the historic centre of Verona , an icon of the Venetian city together with the figures of Romeo and Juliet . It is one of the large buildings that have characterized Roman architecture and one of the ancient amphitheatres that has come to us with the […]

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Location: Arena di Verona, Piazza Bra, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 8.30am-7.30pm Tue-Sun, 1.30-7.30pm Mon | Price: adult/reduced €10/7.50 | Distance: 0.20km

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Visiting Arena di Verona

Museo di Castelvecchio (Old Castle Museum)

Castelvecchio or Castle Vecchio Museum,  is a medieval fort located in the historic centre of Verona, and constructed in 1354. It is currently used as the seat of the civic museum ; it is the most important military monument of the Scala family . It used to be called the castle of San Martino in […]

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Location: Castelvecchio, Corso Castelvecchio, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 1.30-7.30pm Mon, 8.30am-7.30pm Tue-Sun | Price: adult/reduced €6/4.50, free with VeronaCard | Distance: 0.30km

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Visiting Museo di Castelvecchio (Old Castle Museum)

Arco dei Gavi, Verona

The Arco dei Gavi is an ancient structure in Verona, northern Italy. It was built by the gens Gavia, a noble Roman family who had their hometown in Verona, at the beginning of the Via Postumia, the Roman road leading to the city. In the Middle Ages, during the communal age of Verona, the city’s […]

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Location: Arco dei Gavi, Corso Cavour, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 24 hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.30km

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Visiting Arco dei Gavi, Verona

Ponte Scaligero

The Ponte di Castel Vecchio or Castel Vecchio Bridge or Scaliger Bridgeis a fortified bridge in Verona, northern Italy, over the Adige River. The segmental arch bridge featured the world’s largest span at the time of its construction (48.70 m). It was built (most likely in 1354-1356) by Cangrande II della Scala, to grant him […]

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Location: Ponte Scaligero, Corso Castelvecchio, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 24 hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.40km

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Visiting Ponte Scaligero

Porta Borsari, Verona

Porta Borsari is an ancient Roman gate in Verona, northern Italy. It dates to the 1st century AD, though it was most likely built over a pre-existing gate from the 1st century BC. An inscription dating from emperor Gallienus’ reign reports another reconstruction in 265 AD. The Via Postumia (which here became the decumanus maximus) […]

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Location: Porta Borsari, Corso Porta Borsari, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.40km

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Visiting Porta Borsari, Verona

Piazza Delle Erbe (Verona)

Piazza delle Erbe (Market’s square) is a square in Verona, northern Italy. It was once the town’s forum during the time of the Roman Empire. Piazza delle Erbe is ringed with buzzing cafes and some of Verona’s most amazing buildings. The northern side of the square is occupied by the ancient town hall, the Torre […]

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Location: Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza delle Erbe, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.70km

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Visiting Piazza Delle Erbe (Verona)

Torre dei Lamberti

The Torre dei Lamberti is an 84 m high tower in Verona, northern Italy. Construction of the tower was started in 1172. In May 1403 the top of the tower was struck by lightning, but the restoration works didn’t start until 1448 and took 16 years. During that time, the tower was enlarged: The more […]

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Location: Torre dei Lamberti, Via della Costa, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 11am-7pm Sat & Sun | Price: adult/reduced incl Galleria d'Arte Moderna Achille Forti €8/5, with VeronaCard €1 | Distance: 0.70km

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Visiting Torre dei Lamberti

Casa di Giulietta

Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta) is a main symbol of Verona. It is a medieval palace in Verona , located in via Cappello , a short distance from the central Piazza delle Erbe . The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet found confirmation in Verona and fantasy mixed legend and reality, so much so that various […]

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Location: Casa di Giulietta, Via Cappello, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 1.30-7.30pm Mon, 8.30am-7.30pm Tue-Sun | Price: adult/reduced €6/4.50, free with VeronaCard | Distance: 0.70km

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Visiting Casa di Giulietta

Arche Scaligere

The Arche scaligere or Scaliger Tombs are a group of five Gothic funerary monuments in Verona, Italy, celebrating the Scaliger family, who ruled in Verona from the 13th to the late 14th century. The tombs are located in a court outside the church of Santa Maria Antica, separated from the street by a wall with […]

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Location: Scaliger Tombs, Via Santa Maria Antica, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 24 hours | Price: 24 hours | Distance: 0.80km

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Visiting Arche Scaligere

Loggia del Consiglio

The loggia is located in Piazza dei Signori, in front of the Palazzo della Ragione. In Renaissance style from the second half of the 15th century, it was used for city council meetings during the domination of the Serenissima. It is spread over two floors: on the ground floor there is, interspersed with 3 marble […]

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Location: Loggia del Consiglio, Piazza dei Signori, Verona, VR, Italy | Distance: 0.80km

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Visiting Loggia del Consiglio

Piazza della Signoria 

Piazza dei Signori , also known as Piazza Dante , is a square located in the historic center of Verona , adjacent to Piazza delle Erbe. The square was born in the Middle Ages from the development of the Scaliger palaces , and from the very beginning assumed political, administrative and representative functions. The square […]

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Location: Piazza dei Signori, Piazza dei Signori, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.80km

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Visiting Piazza della Signoria 

Duomo di Verona

Duomo di Verona or Verona Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Verona, northern Italy, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the designation Santa Maria Matricolare. It is the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Verona. It was erected after two Palaeo-Christian churches on the same site had been destroyed by an earthquake in […]

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Location: Verona Cathedral, Piazza Duomo, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Price: Adult €3,00 | Distance: 1.00km

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Visiting Duomo di Verona

Sant'Anastasia, Verona

Sant’Anastasia is a church of the Dominican Order in Verona, northern Italy. In Gothic style, it is located in the most ancient part of the city, near the Ponte Pietra. The current church was started in 1280 and completed in 1400, designed by the Dominican friars Fra’ Benvenuto da Imola and Fra’ Nicola da Imola. […]

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Location: Sant’Anastasia, Piazza S.Anastasia, Verona, VR, Italy | Distance: 1.00km

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Visiting Sant'Anastasia, Verona

Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore

The Basilica di San Zeno is a minor basilica of Verona, northern Italy constructed between 967 and 1398 AD. Its fame rests partly on its Romanesque architecture and partly upon the tradition that its crypt was the place of the marriage of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It stands adjacent to a Benedictine abbey, both dedicated […]

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Location: Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore, Piazza San Zeno, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 8.30am-6pm Mon-Sat, 12.30-6pm Sun Mar-Oct, 10am-1pm & 1.30-5pm Mon-Sat, 12.30-5pm Sun Nov-Feb | Price: €3 | Website | Distance: 1.10km

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Visiting Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore

Ponte Pietra (Verona)

The Ponte Pietra (Italian for “Stone Bridge”), is a Roman arch bridge crossing the Adige River in Verona, Italy. The bridge was completed in 100 BC, and the Via Postumia from Genoa to Aquileia passed over it. It is the oldest bridge in Verona. It originally flanked another Roman bridge, the Pons Postumius; both structures […]

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Location: Ponte Pietra, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 24 hours | Price: Free | Distance: 1.20km

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Visiting Ponte Pietra (Verona)

Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano

The archaeological museum at the Roman theater is a large museum complex located in the Veronetta district of Verona , near the bend of the Adige river ; it is made up of Palazzo Fontana, which serves as the entrance to the large area, the archaeological site of the Roman theater in Verona and the […]

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Location: Teatro Romano, Rigaste Redentore, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 8.30am-7.30pm Tue-Sun, 1.30-7.30pm Mon | Price: adult/reduced €4.50/3, with VeronaCard free | Website | Distance: 1.30km

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Visiting Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano

Giardino Giusti

These 16th-century, sculpted Renaissance gardens are immaculately maintained and intricately designed, with its grass kept as neatly trimmed as the cypress trees and box hedges. There’s a lot of garden to wander around here, but make sure you venture up the steps, even if it looks like a long way up – once at the […]

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Location: Via Giardino Giusti, 2, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: 9am-7pm | Price: adult/reduced €8.50/5 | Distance: 1.30km

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Visiting Giardino Giusti

Castel San Pietro

Castel San Pietro is located on Colle San Pietro (Saint Peter’s Hill) is a hill, which rises a few hundred meters above the Roman Theatre. It was inhabited since Roman times of Verona and continued to be inhabited during the barbarian invasions from Alboino and Rosamund, by Pepin, by Berengar, King of Italy. On the […]

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Location: Castel San Pietro, Piazzale Castel San Pietro, Verona, VR, Italy | Hours: You can only visit from the outside. | Distance: 1.40km

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Visiting Castel San Pietro