Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) are ideal, with mild days, lighter crowds, and the Valpolicella grape harvest happening in late September and October. Summer is hot and busy but brings the famous Arena Opera Festival, which runs roughly mid-June through early September under the stars. Winter is quiet and atmospheric, with Christmas markets around Piazza Bra and Verona's beloved pandoro cake everywhere; just expect cold, sometimes foggy days. Avoid mid-February if you dislike crowds, as Valentine's brings a romance-themed festival to Juliet's house.

Verona Villafranca Airport (VRN) sits about 10 km southwest of the center, linked by the Aerobus shuttle to Porta Nuova train station in roughly 15 minutes (around 6 euros). Many visitors instead fly into Venice, Milan, or Bergamo and take the train, as Verona Porta Nuova is a major hub (Venice and Milan are each about 1 to 1.5 hours by fast train). Once you arrive, the historic center is best explored on foot; it is small and largely pedestrianized. Skip a rental car for the city itself, as the ZTL traffic-restricted zone carries hefty fines, and use buses or the occasional taxi only for the train station or outlying hills.