Verona on $45, $130 or $380 a day
A Roman city in a loop of the Adige, where the first-century amphitheatre still stages opera every summer and Shakespeare set Romeo and Juliet. The Scaliger lords left the castle, the bridges and the tombs; Lake Garda and the Amarone vineyards of the Valpolicella are half an hour away.
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Plan by budget
One city, three ways to travel it.
How much does Verona cost per day? Budget travellers get by on about $45 a day, mid-range trips run around $130, and luxury starts near $380 — accommodation, food, transport and activities included. That makes Verona the joint 48th most expensive of 110 cities for a mid-range trip (see all 110 ranked).
Daily budget · Budget
Verona costs less than Venice or Florence for a city of its weight. The squares, the river walks and the view from Castel San Pietro are free, four historic churches share one €8 ticket, and an osteria's fixed lunch of a pasta and a main is about €26.
Where your money goes
What to Do
The first-century Roman amphitheatre on Piazza Bra, still an opera house every summer; €12 at the gate, or fast-track with a guide
Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →A guided visit to two small Valpolicella wineries, tasting Amarone with the people who make it
Get tickets on Tiqets →The Capulets' house of legend, its courtyard, bronze Juliet and the balcony added in the 1930s; timed entry only
Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →Where to Stay
Hostelworld's best hostel in Italy for 2024, in Veronetta near the university, with a garden and a kitchen
Map ↗Two-star that has been taking guests for over seventy years, in a lane a few steps from the Arena
Three-star in the old centre near the Arena, with a small spa and an underground garage
Map ↗Where to Eat
The Buglioni winery's tavern on Corso Porta Borsari: their Valpolicella Ripasso by the glass with Veronese dishes
Map ↗Wood-fired pizza in Galleria Pellicciai off Piazza delle Erbe; a margherita di bufala is under €10
Map ↗Old osteria under the arcades by the river; lasagna, horse-meat stew and wine by the glass
Map ↗Fixed menu of a pasta and a main in a medieval house: bigoli with donkey ragù, then pastissada de caval
Map ↗Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Roman Verona and the squares
The Verona Arena when it opens, then along Via Mazzini to Piazza delle Erbe and Dante's statue in Piazza dei Signori.
Climb the Torre dei Lamberti, see the Scaliger tombs, and look into Juliet's House courtyard on a booked slot.
Pizza at Du de Cope and an ombra of Valpolicella in the square.
Across the Adige
Cross the Roman Ponte Pietra and climb the steps to Castel San Pietro for the view over the bridges.
Lunch under the arcades at Osteria Sottoriva, then the Duomo's Titian and Pisanello's fresco in Santa Anastasia on one churches ticket.
Back up the hill for sunset over the river.
San Zeno and Castelvecchio
Walk west along the river to San Zeno for its bronze doors and Mantegna's altarpiece.
Castelvecchio's museum, then across the castle's fortified bridge and back along the Adige.
The fixed menu at Osteria al Duca: bigoli, then pastissada de caval.
Juliet's courtyard is now entered only on a booked timed ticket through the Teatro Nuovo, so book it or skip it for the free squares. On the first Sunday of the month Castelvecchio costs €4. The cheapest opera seats are the unreserved stone steps at the top of the Arena: arrive early and bring a cushion.
Daily budget · Mid-range
Mid-range Verona is a four-star room near Piazza Bra, a Verona Card for the Arena, the civic museums and the churches, a food tour of salumi and Valpolicella, and a day on Lake Garda by train and boat.
Where your money goes
What to Do
The Capulets' house of legend, its courtyard, bronze Juliet and the balcony added in the 1930s; timed entry only
Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →24 or 48 hours of skip-the-line Arena entry, the civic museums, the four historic churches and the city buses
Get tickets on Tiqets →Two hours of sopressa salame, local cheeses, Valpolicella wine and pandoro with a local guide
Get tickets on Tiqets →Where to Stay
Four-star on Corso Porta Nuova, halfway between the station and Piazza Bra
Map ↗Four-star in the old centre, a few minutes' walk from both the Arena and Piazza delle Erbe
Map ↗Twenty metres from the Arena, with a rooftop terrace and hot tub looking straight at it
Map ↗Where to Eat
Classic Veronese trattoria: risotto all'Amarone, bigoli with duck and pastissada, over a medieval cellar
Map ↗Open kitchen near Piazza Bra; mozzarella in carrozza, glazed suckling-pig shank and millefoglie
Map ↗Giancarlo Perbellini's Bib Gourmand osteria: soups, pasta and roast quail at fair prices
Map ↗Off Via Cappello by Juliet's House: a long list of salumi and cheese, guinea-fowl ravioli and calf's liver
Map ↗Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Verona with a card
Start a 24-hour Verona Card with skip-the-line entry to the Verona Arena, then the Torre dei Lamberti.
Castelvecchio and Carlo Scarpa's galleries, then Juliet's House on a booked slot.
Salumi and guinea-fowl ravioli at Trattoria al Pompiere.
Food and the hill
A Verona food tour: sopressa, cheese, Valpolicella and pandoro.
The funicular to Castel San Pietro, then the cypresses of the Giardino Giusti.
Dinner at Osteria Mondo d'Oro.
Lake Garda by train
Regional train to Peschiera del Garda, about fifteen minutes, and the boat across to Sirmione.
The moated Scaliger castle and the Roman villa at the Grotte di Catullo, then a gelato on the lakefront.
Back to Verona for dinner at Locanda 4 Cuochi.
The Verona Card covers the Arena with skip-the-line entry, Castelvecchio, the four historic churches and the buses, and pays for itself quickly. Hotel prices jump on opera nights and during Vinitaly in April. In summer the Teatro Romano's festival plays Shakespeare in the open air.
Daily budget · Luxury
Luxury Verona is a suite in a Scaliger-era palazzo, a stalls seat for Aida in the Arena, a driver through the Amarone wineries of the Valpolicella and a tasting menu at Casa Perbellini, Verona's three-star table.
Where your money goes
What to Do
A guided visit to two small Valpolicella wineries, tasting Amarone with the people who make it
Get tickets on Tiqets →A guided day in Sirmione with a private boat round the peninsula, past the Scaliger castle and the Grotte di Catullo
Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →The Capulets' house of legend, its courtyard, bronze Juliet and the balcony added in the 1930s; timed entry only
Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →Where to Stay
Fourteenth-century palazzo on Piazza Sant'Anastasia; Garibaldi appeared on its balcony in 1866
Map ↗A Venetian villa of 1700 among the Valpolicella vines, filled with contemporary art; 20 minutes by car
Map ↗Sixteen rooms and suites in the old centre, with an indoor pool, a rooftop terrace and the Sottovoce restaurant
Map ↗Where to Eat
Wine osteria off Via Mazzini with one of Italy's great cellars; order the risotto all'Amarone
Map ↗Giacomo Sacchetto's Michelin-starred tasting menus in Palazzo Soave
Map ↗The Rizzo family's Michelin-starred dining room in a fifteenth-century palazzo, with a celebrated wine list
Map ↗Three Michelin stars: Giancarlo Perbellini's tasting menus in the rooms of the historic 12 Apostoli
Map ↗Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Private Verona and the opera
A guide and fast-track entry at the Verona Arena, then the Scaliger tombs and Santa Anastasia.
A long lunch at Antica Bottega del Vino and a walk in the Giardino Giusti.
Opera in the Arena from a stalls seat in summer; out of season, dinner at Il Desco.
Amarone country
An Amarone wine tour to two small family wineries in the Valpolicella.
Lunch among the vines at the Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà.
Tasting menu at Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli.
The lake by private boat
Sirmione and Lake Garda with a guide and a private boat round the peninsula.
Free time in Sirmione's lanes, then a driver back to Verona.
Dinner at Iris Ristorante in Palazzo Soave.
Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli gained its third Michelin star in the 2025 guide and closes Sunday and Monday; book weeks ahead. The Byblos Art Hotel is a Venetian villa among the Valpolicella vines, twenty minutes by car, with its own restaurant, Amistà. For the opera, the poltronissima seats in the front stalls are the ones to book.
About Verona
When to go, and what it's like on the ground.
Best time to visit
April–June and September–October. The opera festival (mid-June to mid-September) and the Vinitaly wine fair in April fill the hotels and push prices up; book early for both.
Hot, humid summers (daily highs around 30°C in July and August) and cold, often foggy winters with daily means of 3–4°C. Rain is spread through the year, wettest in spring and November.
- January: 3°C average high, 6 rain days, low crowds
- February: 5°C average high, 6 rain days, low crowds
- March: 9°C average high, 6 rain days, moderate crowds
- April: 13°C average high, 9 rain days, high season
- May: 18°C average high, 8 rain days, high season
- June: 23°C average high, 8 rain days, high season
- July: 25°C average high, 5 rain days, high season
- August: 25°C average high, 6 rain days, high season
- September: 20°C average high, 7 rain days, high season
- October: 14°C average high, 8 rain days, moderate crowds
- November: 8°C average high, 9 rain days, low crowds
- December: 4°C average high, 7 rain days, moderate crowds
Getting around
Getting around Verona
The old town is compact and largely pedestrian; most sights are within 20 minutes' walk of Piazza Bra. There is no metro or tram: ATV buses link Porta Nuova station with the centre, and the Aerobus runs from Verona Villafranca airport (VRN) to the station.
A travel eSIM gets you online the moment you land in Italy — data plans start at $4 — no roaming bill, no queue for a local SIM, and nothing to swap in and out of your phone. Install it before you fly.
On foot
Walking routes in Verona.
The Roman amphitheatre, Juliet's courtyard, the two old squares, the Scaliger tombs and the Roman bridge.
The Romanesque basilica, the Scaliger castle and its bridge, the cathedral's Titian, the Roman theatre and the city from the hill above it.
Where to stay
Verona, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.
Città Antica
The old town inside the river's loop: Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza dei Signori, Juliet's House and the Scaliger tombs. The grand hotels and the smart shops of Via Mazzini are here, and it is quiet by midnight.
Best for luxuryPiazza Bra & Cittadella
The great square round the Arena and the streets south of it towards Porta Nuova station. Easy for arriving by train and for opera nights; the Liston's café terraces are pricey but the walk home is two minutes.
Best for mid-rangeVeronetta
Across the Adige from the old town, round the university: student bars, cheaper rooms and the Giardino Giusti. Ponte Nuovo and Ponte Navi put Piazza delle Erbe ten minutes away on foot.
Best for budgetSan Zeno
The quarter round the basilica, west of Castelvecchio: a big square, neighbourhood trattorias and few tourists after five. Twenty minutes' walk from the Arena along the river.
Best for budgetBorgo Trento
North across Ponte Garibaldi and the Ponte Scaligero: residential streets, local cafés and views back to the old town. Good apartments, quiet nights.
Best for mid-rangeLocal etiquette
Dos & Don'ts
Do
- Book Juliet's House online: the courtyard is entered only on a timed ticket through the Teatro Nuovo
- Order an "ombra", a small glass of wine, at the bar as the Veronese do
- Bring a cushion and water for the unreserved stone steps at the opera
- Cover shoulders and knees for San Zeno, the Duomo and Santa Anastasia
- Say "buongiorno" entering a shop and "buonasera" from mid-afternoon
- Book dinner on opera nights; restaurants near the Arena fill before and after
Don't
- Write on the walls or stick notes in Juliet's courtyard; it is banned and fined
- Drive into the old town: it is a limited-traffic zone watched by cameras
- Order a cappuccino after lunch or dinner
- Film or take photos during an opera performance
- Picnic on church steps or the monuments
- Expect a cheap room on an opera night or during Vinitaly
Useful phrases
Say it like a local.
Beyond the city
Day trips worth the journey.
Sirmione
The Scaligers' moated castle and a Roman villa at the tip of a peninsula in Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake.
Valpolicella
Villages of terraced vineyards where Amarone is made, with tastings at family wineries.
Vicenza
Palladio's city: the Basilica Palladiana and the Teatro Olimpico, with Villa La Rotonda just outside.
Mantua
The Gonzaga court: the Ducal Palace with Mantegna's Camera degli Sposi, and Giulio Romano's Palazzo Te.
Padua
Giotto's frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel and the Basilica of St Anthony.
Where to eat
Must-try dishes.
Risotto all'Amarone
Vialone Nano rice from the Veronese plain, cooked with the Valpolicella's big red wine.
Pastissada de Caval
Horse meat stewed for hours in red wine and spices, served with polenta; legend dates it to Theodoric's time.
Bigoli con l'Arna
Thick hand-pressed spaghetti with a duck ragù.
Bollito con la Pearà
Boiled meats with pearà, a peppery sauce of breadcrumbs, beef marrow and broth — a winter dish.
Gnocchi di Patate
Potato gnocchi, the dish of Verona's carnival, when the city crowns its Papà del Gnoco.
Pandoro
The tall star-shaped Christmas cake Domenico Melegatti patented in Verona in 1894, dusted with icing sugar.
Amarone della Valpolicella
A dry red made from grapes dried for months before pressing; by the glass in any osteria.
Travel insurance
Do I need travel insurance for Italy?
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any trip to Verona. Safety is rated Very safe. Pickpockets work the crowds in Juliet's courtyard, Piazza delle Erbe and the Arena queues; keep bags closed in the crush outside the Arena on opera nights. — even in safe destinations, unexpected medical emergencies or trip cancellations can be costly. Make sure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation.
Visa note: Schengen area — visa-free for 90 days for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passports; ETIAS pre-authorisation applies from its rollout.. Some countries require proof of travel insurance as part of the visa application.
Good to know
FAQ: Verona travel questions
Is Verona safe to visit?
Very safe. Pickpockets work the crowds in Juliet's courtyard, Piazza delle Erbe and the Arena queues; keep bags closed in the crush outside the Arena on opera nights.
When is the best time to visit Verona?
April–June and September–October. The opera festival (mid-June to mid-September) and the Vinitaly wine fair in April fill the hotels and push prices up; book early for both. Hot, humid summers (daily highs around 30°C in July and August) and cold, often foggy winters with daily means of 3–4°C. Rain is spread through the year, wettest in spring and November.
How much does a trip to Verona cost per day?
- Budget $45–$80 / day
- Mid-range $130–$220 / day
- Luxury $380–$800 / day
Do I need a visa to visit Italy?
Schengen area — visa-free for 90 days for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passports; ETIAS pre-authorisation applies from its rollout.
How do I get around Verona?
The old town is compact and largely pedestrian; most sights are within 20 minutes' walk of Piazza Bra. There is no metro or tram: ATV buses link Porta Nuova station with the centre, and the Aerobus runs from Verona Villafranca airport (VRN) to the station. Taxi base fare ~$5. Day pass ~$5.
Is tipping expected in Verona?
A cover charge (coperto) is often on the bill. Round up or leave €1–2 at a pizzeria and up to 10% in a restaurant for good service. Coffee at the bar needs no tip.
What currency is used in Italy?
The local currency is EUR, and the official language is Italian.
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