Things to do in Verona: the Arena, opera, Lake Garda and climate

Things to do in Verona? Step inside the Roman arena on Piazza Bra, see an open-air opera in summer, pass through the courtyard of Juliet’s House, stroll around Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori, climb the Torre dei Lamberti, cross the Ponte Pietra to Castel San Pietro for the view, then visit Castelvecchio and the basilica of San Zeno. To visit Verona, allow one day for the essentials, two to enjoy it without rushing, and an extra day for nearby Lake Garda.

A city in the Veneto on the banks of the Adige, between Milan and Venice, Verona is explored on foot. This guide brings together the must-sees, 1- and 2-day plans, combining the city with Lake Garda, the month-by-month climate and a calculation specific to the city: sunset times during the Arena opera season, whose performances begin at dusk.

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Things to do in Verona: the must-sees

The Verona Arena and Piazza Bra

The Roman amphitheatre, on the edge of the vast Piazza Bra, is one of the best preserved in the Roman world and the symbol of the city. You can visit it during the day when there are no performances: climb the tiers for the view over the square and the rooftops. Piazza Bra, lined with cafés along the Liston, its marble pavement, and by the Gran Guardia palace, is the natural starting point for any visit.

An opera at the Arena

Every summer, the Arena hosts the Arena di Verona Opera Festival, a tradition launched in 1913 with Aida for the centenary of Verdi’s birth. Performances begin at dusk, and spectators on the stone tiers traditionally light small candles. The 2027 season is announced from 11 June to 11 September 2027 on the Arena’s official website (checked 14 October 2026). Book early for numbered seats; the unnumbered stone tiers mean arriving early and bringing a cushion.

Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta)

On Via Cappello, the courtyard of this medieval house, with its balcony and statue of Juliet, draws huge crowds. The interior can be visited, but many travellers settle for the courtyard. Come at opening time or late in the day to avoid the crush; otherwise, do not spend too long here, as the rest of the city has more to offer.

Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza dei Signori and the Torre dei Lamberti

A former Roman forum, Piazza delle Erbe is the liveliest square, surrounded by painted façades, with its market and the Madonna Verona fountain. Just behind it, the more solemn Piazza dei Signori has a statue of Dante. The Torre dei Lamberti offers the best panorama over the historic centre (lift or stairs). Close by, the Arche Scaligere are the Gothic tombs of the Scaligeri, the family that ruled the city in the Middle Ages.

Ponte Pietra and Castel San Pietro

The Ponte Pietra, a bridge of Roman origin rebuilt after the Second World War with stones recovered from the Adige, leads to the left bank. From there, a staircase or a funicular climbs to Castel San Pietro: it is the best viewpoint over Verona, especially at sunset. Below, the Roman theatre and the Veronetta district, more student-oriented and less touristy, are worth a detour.

Castelvecchio and the Ponte Scaligero

A 14th-century Scaliger fortress, Castelvecchio houses an art museum (medieval and Renaissance sculpture and painting) in a remarkable display designed by the architect Carlo Scarpa. The Ponte Scaligero, a fortified bridge of crenellated red brick, links the castle with the opposite bank; crossing it is free.

The Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore

A little out of the way, about 20 minutes’ walk from the centre, the basilica of San Zeno is one of the great Romanesque buildings of northern Italy: bronze doors, a rose window known as the « wheel of fortune », a crypt and a cloister. It is quieter than the centre.

The Duomo, Sant’Anastasia and the Giardino Giusti

The Duomo (cathedral of Santa Maria Matricolare) and the Gothic church of Sant’Anastasia, the largest in the city, complete the religious sights. On the left bank, the Giardino Giusti is an Italian Renaissance garden, with a cypress avenue and a belvedere: a welcome break in spring.

Around Verona: Valpolicella and Lake Garda

To the north-west, the Valpolicella hills produce Amarone and Valpolicella wines: many estates offer visits and tastings, by car or on an organised tour. To the west, Lake Garda is the easiest day out: see below how to combine it, and our full Lake Garda guide (Sirmione, Malcesine, villages, boats).

Verona and Lake Garda combined

Trains on the Milan-Venice line stop at Peschiera del Garda and then at Desenzano del Garda-Sirmione, on the south of the lake. From Verona Porta Nuova, it is an easy day trip without a car. For the east shore (Garda, Bardolino, Malcesine), buses and lake boats take over.

If you…	Then
have 3 days without a car	2 days in Verona + 1 day in Sirmione by train to Desenzano, then bus or boat
want to see an opera	stay in Verona: performances end late, after the last trains to some lakeside towns
like villages and hiking	base yourself on the lake’s east shore and visit Verona for the day
are travelling by car	avoid driving in the historic centre (limited traffic zone) and park on the outskirts
are coming in July-August	visit Verona early in the morning, enjoy the lake in the afternoon and keep the evening for the Arena

Visiting Verona in 1 or 2 days: itinerary

In 1 day:

1. Piazza Bra and a visit to the Arena (at opening time).
2. Via Mazzini, Juliet’s House, Piazza delle Erbe.
3. Piazza dei Signori, the Arche Scaligere, a climb up the Torre dei Lamberti.
4. Lunch, then Sant’Anastasia and the Duomo.
5. Ponte Pietra and Castel San Pietro for sunset.

In 2 days: add Castelvecchio and the Ponte Scaligero, the basilica of San Zeno, the Giardino Giusti and Veronetta, and in summer, an evening of opera at the Arena. A third day lets you see Lake Garda or the Valpolicella. Verona is well suited to a romantic weekend, and fits easily into a trip between Milan, Venice and Bologna.

When to go to Verona

The best times are late April to June and September. The climate is continental, influenced by the Po plain: hot summers (an average high of 30.4 °C, or 87 °F, in July and August), cool winters with lows close to 0 °C (32 °F) in December and January, and frequent winter fog on the plain. Rain is spread over the year, peaking in autumn (95.9 mm, or 3.8 in, in November). Summer is opera season, but also the season of heat and crowds.

Month	High °C (°F)	Low °C (°F)	Rain mm (in)	Crowds	Prices	Verdict
January	7.3 (45)	−0.5 (31)	42.7 (1.7)	Low	Low	⚠️ Cold, possible fog, few people
February	10.0 (50)	0.1 (32)	45.4 (1.8)	Low	Low	⚠️ Cool, quiet, low prices
March	14.9 (59)	3.9 (39)	45.1 (1.8)	Medium	Medium	✅ Mild by the end of the month, few crowds
April	19.1 (66)	7.6 (46)	72.3 (2.8)	High (Easter)	High	✅ Pleasant spring, busy at Easter
May	24.1 (75)	12.5 (54)	81.9 (3.2)	High	High	✅ A lovely month, a few thunderstorms
June	28.2 (83)	16.9 (62)	72.2 (2.8)	High	High	✅ Opera season begins, heat building
July	30.4 (87)	18.9 (66)	62.9 (2.5)	Very high	Very high (opera)	⚠️ Hot, opera, crowds
August	30.4 (87)	18.7 (66)	71.8 (2.8)	Very high	Very high	⚠️ Very hot, opera, Ferragosto
September	25.4 (78)	14.2 (58)	90.9 (3.6)	High	High	✅ The best compromise, end of the opera season
October	19.1 (66)	9.5 (49)	85.8 (3.4)	Medium	Medium	✅ Mild, grape harvest in the Valpolicella
November	12.6 (55)	4.8 (41)	95.9 (3.8)	Low	Low	⚠️ The wettest, fog
December	7.8 (46)	0.2 (32)	64.6 (2.5)	Medium (holidays)	Medium	⚠️ Cold, Christmas markets

Opera at the Arena: what time does it get dark? Our calculation

Performances at the Arena begin at dusk. To help you choose a date, we calculated the sunset time in Verona on the 15th of each month of the season, and set it against the average low temperature, which gives an idea of how cool it will be at the end of the performance.

Month (15th)	Sunset	Day length	Average high	Average low	Key point
June	9:05 pm	15 h 39	28.2 °C (83 °F)	16.9 °C (62 °F)	The longest evenings: it gets dark after 9 pm
July	9:02 pm	15 h 20	30.4 °C (87 °F)	18.9 °C (66 °F)	The mildest nights, hot in the afternoon
August	8:25 pm	14 h 08	30.4 °C (87 °F)	18.7 °C (66 °F)	Dark earlier, still very hot by day
September	7:28 pm	12 h 35	25.4 °C (78 °F)	14.2 °C (58 °F)	Earlier nightfall, cool evenings by the end of the performance

Key takeaway: between mid-June and mid-September, sunset moves forward by about 1 h 35 (from 9:05 pm to 7:28 pm). In July, the average low of 18.9 °C (66 °F) makes evenings on the tiers mild; in September, with 14.2 °C (58 °F), bring a sweater for the end of a long opera. In July and August, the day is hot (30.4 °C, or 87 °F): visit the city in the morning and rest before the evening.

• Spring (March to May): 15 to 24 °C (59 to 75 °F) in the afternoon, gardens in bloom, ideal for walking; May is one of the best months despite a few thunderstorms. See our selection where to go in May.
• Summer (June to August): intense heat in July and August, lively streets, opera season. Book accommodation and seats very early.
• Autumn (September to November): September combines the end of the opera season with milder heat; October, grape-harvest time, stays pleasant; November is wet and misty. More ideas in where to go in September.
• Winter (December to February): cold, sometimes foggy, but quiet and inexpensive; Christmas market in December. For snow, the Dolomites are not far away.

To compare with the rest of the country, see our page when to go to Italy.

Item	Budget	Comfort
Accommodation (per night, double room)	roughly €70 to €110	roughly €150 to €300 (more on opera nights)
Meals (per person)	roughly €15 to €25 (trattoria, pizza)	roughly €40 to €70
Transport	on foot, city buses	taxis, a rental car for the Valpolicella
Activities	squares, bridges, churches from outside	the Arena, the Torre dei Lamberti, museums, opera (numbered seats)

Getting to Verona and getting around

• Air: Verona Villafranca airport is linked to Porta Nuova station by a shuttle bus.
• Train: Verona Porta Nuova is on the Milan-Venice, Verona-Bologna and Verona-Innsbruck (Brenner) lines. An Interrail pass can be worthwhile if you are linking several Italian cities.
• Car: the historic centre is a limited traffic zone (ZTL); park in a car park on the outskirts. The State Department notes that fines for driving in restricted zones are sent to drivers’ home addresses.
• Getting around: everything in the centre is on foot; city buses run from the station (about 20 minutes’ walk to Piazza Bra). Validate tickets bought from kiosks or machines before travelling (GOV.UK).

Where to stay in Verona

Around Piazza Bra for the opera and doing everything on foot, at the highest prices. The historic centre (Erbe, Signori, Sant’Anastasia) for charm, in pedestrian streets. Veronetta, on the left bank, for lower prices and a more local feel. Near Porta Nuova station if you are taking day trips by train to Lake Garda, Venice or Milan. On opera nights, prices soar: book early.

Entry requirements, health and safety

• US citizens: Italy is in the Schengen area. You may enter for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa; your passport must be valid at least 3 months beyond your stay, and you need proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket (U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025).
• UK citizens: no visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as a tourist. Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive and be valid at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is being implemented: fingerprints and a photo may be taken at your first entry, free of charge (UK FCDO, GOV.UK, updated 21 October 2026).
• ID: under Italian law, police can stop you at any time for an identity check: carry photo ID at all times (GOV.UK).
• Health: UK travellers can use a GHIC or EHIC for medically necessary state healthcare (GOV.UK); travel.state.gov advises being up to date on CDC-recommended vaccinations and recommends insurance that covers medical evacuation.
• Theft: crime levels are generally low, but bag-snatching and pickpocketing are more common in city centres, at major tourist attractions and on public transport (GOV.UK); the State Department notes that break-ins of rented vehicles are common, so never leave luggage in a parked car.
• Summer heat: the State Department lists heatwaves among Italy’s most frequent weather events; carry water to the Arena in July and August.
• Emergencies: 112 (police), 118 (ambulance), 115 (fire), according to GOV.UK; the State Department gives 112 for all emergencies.

For assistance and repatriation, consider travel insurance.

Practical tips

• Opera: numbered seats for comfort; on the stone tiers, bring a cushion and water, and arrive early.
• Juliet’s House: at opening time or late in the day to avoid the crowds.
• Tipping: a cover charge (coperto) is often added; tipping is not compulsory.
• Wine: try Valpolicella, Amarone and Soave, produced on the city’s doorstep.
• Mobile data: check your home carrier’s roaming charges before you leave, or see our guide to travel eSIMs.
• Other lakes: if you prefer a more mountainous setting than Garda, compare with Lake Como.

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• Climate: 1991-2020 normals for the Verona Villafranca station (ISPRA, « Valori climatici normali in Italia »; WMO via NOAA), from the weather box of the English Wikipedia article « Verona »
• Arena di Verona (arena.it): 2027 Arena di Verona Opera Festival dates, checked 14 October 2026; English Wikipedia « Arena di Verona Festival »
• English Wikipedia: « Verona Porta Nuova railway station » (lines and services)
• Destination de Voyage calculation: sunset and day length (NOAA algorithm)
• Entry requirements, health and safety checked on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, Italy country information (last updated August 11, 2025) and UK FCDO, GOV.UK foreign travel advice for Italy (updated 21 October 2026)
• Our methodology

Updated October 2026.

For more ideas, see our Italy travel guide and our destinations in Europe.