10 Best Things to Do in Verona

Verona's Centro Storico, or historic center, is a great place to explore with plenty of age-old landmarks to admire. This pedestrian-friendly zone is full of medieval architecture, photogenic plazas, and plenty of places to eat, drink, and shop. The best way to see the Centro Storico is on foot, so take your time strolling around and taking in the sights.

If you're looking for a specific sight, start at Piazza delle Erbe, Verona's most popular square since the Middle Ages. From there, you can wander down Via Mazzini, the city's main shopping street, or explore one of the many side streets. Don't miss a chance to see Verona's famous stone balcony, located on Via Capello, depicted in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Juliet’s House is where you can reimagine the balcony scene from Shakespeare’s famous tale of romance and tragedy. It’s a minutes’ stroll southeast from Piazza delle Erbe, on Via Capello. Visitors may come in droves to the courtyard outside this 13th-century Gothic house to strike a pose with Juliet’s bronze statue or touch it for good luck and love, but it’s best to enter the museum (entry’s around €6) to truly appreciate the love story and the chance to stand on Juliet’s legendary stone balcony.

The Verona Arena is one of the Roman Empire’s biggest amphitheaters, right next to Piazza Bra. This first century structure still functions today as a grand venue for operas, mostly shown in the evenings. However, for around €10 you can visit the Verona Arena by day to explore its architectural features while checking out the upcoming shows (you can usually book on the same day). Tickets for seating on the stone steps are from around €18, while the more comfortable seats with backrests in the arena’s center can reach up to €226.

Piazza Bra is Verona’s largest square. It’s the city’s central park with a lush garden and large trees, as well as a fountain and statue of “Italy’s father”, king Vittorio Emanuele II. Sit around while taking in the city’s views of beautiful architecture and historical landmarks. The adjacent Verona Arena serves as an imposing backdrop, with the Verona City Hall or the Palazzo Barbieri also nearby. Check out the cafés with terrace setups along Piazza Bra’s northwest corner, where you can enjoy the view over good coffee.

Via Mazzini is a narrow marble-paved walking street that connects two of Verona’s main piazzas: Piazza Bra and Piazza delle Erbe. The half-kilometer route is also considered the city’s main shopping street, with rows of modern specialty shops and boutiques, which stock fashion brands such as Gucci, Zara, Swarovski, Stradivarius and Michael Kors. It’s a must-do in Verona, even if you don’t end up buying anything. Just off the end of Via Mazzini is Juliet’s House.

Piazza delle Erbe (Herb Square) is Verona’s main town square, around 10-minutes’ taxi ride from the Porta Nuova train station. Get a first sense of Verona’s historic charm and town life, with its centerpiece 14th-century Madonna statue and fountain surrounded by old multi-storeyed buildings. Several osterias and bars line the square, some with terraces where you can enjoy people watching over coffee, beer or gelato. The piazza is also popular for shopping – check out the tented market stalls in front of Borsalino designer hat boutique for great bargains.

Lamberti’s Tower (Torre dei Lamberti) is among Verona’s tallest towers, rising at around 84 meters over Piazza delle Erbe. The midsection of this 12th-century tower features a large clock, and at its top are 2 bells, 1 which plays the hourly chimes. You can climb up to the top via a spiral staircase, after entering the adjacent Palazzo della Ragione for around €6. There's well over 200 steps to climb, but it's well worth it for the prized view – you can take a lift if you’re pressed for time.

Ponte Pietra was completed by the Romans in 100 BC and is the oldest bridge in Verona. Known as the Stone Bridge, the bridge spans the Adige River and is still in use today. The bridge was reconstructed in the 1950s after it was damaged during World War II. The vast majority of the original material was recovered, which ended up in the river.

The Roman, medieval, and Venetian parts of the bridge were rebuilt with great care using a method known as "stone philology.” Walking the bridge is an excellent choice if you're looking for a way to soak up 2,000 years of history. But be sure to also walk down the river and look back at the bridge for some spectacular photos.

Teatro Romano (the Roman Theatre) features the well-preserved ruins of a 1st-century BC theatre that predates the Verona Arena. It regularly hosts summer music concerts. The amphitheater is set on a hillside on the eastern bank of the Adige, and has an archeological museum up the hill that houses ancient Roman artifacts. You can take in superb views of Verona’s cityscape across the river, from the small courtyard of the museum (access is from €1). But for even higher views, you can hike up the stairs from the Roman Theatre to the Piazzale Castel San Pietro castle (or ride a funicular up for around €2).

Terrace Bar Al Ponte is one of Verona’s best riverside spots for drinks, with the beautiful Ponte Pietra bridge in view. It’s great for chilling out after a visit to the Roman Theatre or opera at the Verona Arena. Booking is necessary, as it’s a small venue with a not-so-spacious terrace. The evening settings can also be a romantic highlight if you come as a couple – enjoy your Aperol Spritz and tapas to the sound of rushing water and twinkling lights.