One day in Verona

Day by day

1. Day 1: Arena di Verona and Piazza delle Erbe

   Arena di Verona, Piazza delle Erbe, Juliet's House and Torre dei Lamberti, then Opera at the Arena in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Arena di Verona

      Climb to the top tiers for a view over Piazza Bra and the rooftops; daytime access can be reduced on opera days while sets are prepared. Allow 1 hour.

   2. Late morning

      Piazza delle Erbe

      For aperitivo, sit at one of the cafés on the square's edges and order a spritz or a glass of Soave as the light fades. Allow 45 minutes.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Risotto all'Amarone

      Osterie in the old town and wine-estate restaurants in Valpolicella.

   4. Afternoon

      Juliet's House

      Come early or late in the day to see the courtyard without a dense crowd; writing on the walls or leaving padlocks is banned. Allow 30–45 minutes.

   5. Late afternoon

      Torre dei Lamberti

      Go late in the afternoon for warm light over the terracotta roofs. Allow 45 minutes.

   6. Evening

      Opera at the Arena

      On the stone steps, rent or bring a cushion, arrive early for a good spot and pack a layer; performances often end after midnight.

Before you go

• Opera at the Arena: Book weeks ahead for weekend performances and the most popular operas; the unreserved step seats are the least expensive.

If it rains

• Swap in Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero (Castelvecchio): Walk across the Ponte Scaligero, rebuilt after it was blown up in 1945, for the best views of the castle's swallowtail battlements.
• Swap in Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore (San Zeno): A combined ticket covers San Zeno, Sant'Anastasia, the Duomo and San Fermo if you plan to visit several churches.
• Swap in Verona Cathedral (Città Antica (Piazza delle Erbe)): The cathedral sits in a quiet corner of the river bend; continue to Ponte Pietra, a couple of minutes away.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 6–7 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.7 hours in December to 15.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. Most sights lie within a 20-minute walk of Piazza Bra, and pedestrian streets such as Via Mazzini link the main squares.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Verona
• 3 days in Verona

Questions travellers ask