Romantic, hypnotic Verona
Verona is famous as the setting for Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, but this is a place to fall in love with in its own right. This candy-coloured, terracotta-roofed city is packed with Medieval architecture, beautiful shops and riverfront cafés and wine bars just perfecto for people watching.
Expect a mix of north Italian and world cuisine on holidays to Verona, with places such as Al’ Duomo and Al Carro Armato providing excellent traditional food and wine at good value.In terms of nightspots, there are swish nightclubs and cosy wine bars to let your hair down in.
As far as must-see sights go, one of the oldest and most impressive is the massive Roman amphitheatre, still used today for public events, theatre and opera performances. There are also lots of romantic cathedrals and churches – the best of which, is the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore.
Explore our map of Verona
Why book with us?
Your Verona questions, answered
It's one of Italy's most romantic cities, so couples will love Verona.
It’s perfect for a city break. Compact and walkable, everything is packed into a wonderfully chaotic small centre. You’ll find beautiful boutiques, cosy restaurants, and cafe-lined piazzas. Less visited than some of Italy’s larger cities, Verona is a pocket-sized edition of everything good about them. It has art galleries and museums, an impressive amphitheatre to rival that in Rome and picturesque riverside walks. And it’s all within reach of Lake Garda if you want to see some extraordinary scenery.
Lots of Medieval buildings and some beautiful Baroque facades.
Take-homes include local wine, beautiful stationery and olive bowls carved from wood and hand painted.
It’s impossible to miss the vast amphitheatre here and, if you come in the summer, go to an evening concert. Thousands of audience members are given candles to light and it’s a truly magical scene. You’ll also not be able to avoid Juliet’s Balcony. It doesn’t really matter that this is an entirely fictional connection to Shakespeare, the balcony is beautiful, and there’s a wall covered in lovers’ notes. There are also countless castles, churches and squares to explore here.
Verona’s a good choice for families, even if it is traditionally known as a city for lovers. The buildings and castles are fun to explore but, if your children have energy to burn, there’s a waterpark nearby. If you want an adrenalin rush, there’s also a theme park with rollercoasters and water rides. Much of the city is free of traffic and a bike tour is a fun way to explore Verona.
Very. It’s a compact little city that packs a lot into a handful of interwoven streets. Turn a corner and suddenly there’s another little piazza filled with cafe terraces. Walk up an alleyway and find boutiques tucked away with exquisite handcrafted products. Find a flight of stairs and suddenly you’re at the top of a tower overlooking the terracotta rooftops of the city. All the main sites in Verona are extremely walkable. When you’re tired of the bustle, head along the footpath that snakes beside the romantic Adige River.
Absolutely – there are hotels here to suit all budgets. And if you head away from the restaurants and bars within the immediate vicinity of the main tourist attractions, you’ll find local family-run eateries with budget prices. For the best deals, always look for fixed-price menus. If you want to visit Lake Garda, you don’t need to rent a car. Just hop on the cheap trains that’ll take you to a couple of southerly towns on the lake. Once at the lake there are regular buses to help you explore further afield.
If you’re driving it’ll take just over an hour between the two cities. Alternatively, there are regular trains and these take about two hours. The advantage of the train is you’ll be taken right into the heart of Venice. Just step out of the Santa Lucia station and you’re only a 20-minute walk past glorious canal-side palaces from the Rialto Bridge. Combining time in both cities is a good idea for a holiday with a difference, especially if you add in Lake Garda as well.