Verona wears its history like a well-cut suit: effortless, elegant, and tailored to last. A Roman amphitheater still hosts opera under the stars, medieval towers cast long shadows over market squares, and the Adige River embraces it all in a lazy S-shaped curve. Shakespeare set a love story here; you’ll write your own—starring gelato, Renaissance gardens, and sunlit stones worn smooth by centuries of footsteps.

Beyond the postcard icons—Arena di Verona, Piazza delle Erbe, Juliet’s Balcony—you’ll find artisan pastas shaped by hand, wine bars pouring velvety Amarone, and hidden lanes that suddenly open to river views. Verona is compact and walkable, with a cable car to hilltop vistas and frescoed churches that reward a quiet pause. Day trips unfold with ease: vineyards of Valpolicella, sparkling Lake Garda, the cliff-perched Madonna della Corona.

Practical notes: Verona’s ZTL (limited-traffic zone) is strictly enforced—park on the perimeter if you’re driving. Consider the Verona Card (24–48 hours, around €27–32) for free/discounted entry to top sights and tower climbs. Trains connect Verona Porta Nuova with Milan (~1h10), Venice (~1h10), and Rome (~3h). For European trains and buses, search on Omio Trains and Omio Buses; for flights within Europe use Omio Flights, and for long-haul options check Trip.com Flights.

Verona

Picture-perfect Verona is a UNESCO World Heritage city where Roman, medieval, and Renaissance layers meet café culture and Northern Italian flair. Climb Torre dei Lamberti for a panoramic spread of terracotta roofs, step across the ancient Ponte Pietra to the Roman Theater, and time sunset for the view from Castel San Pietro.

• Top sights: Arena di Verona, Piazza delle Erbe, Juliet’s Balcony & Casa di Giulietta, Castelvecchio & Ponte Scaligero, Basilica di San Zeno, Giardino Giusti, Roman Theater & Archaeological Museum.
• Don’t miss: Risotto all’Amarone, bollito misto con pearà, cheeses from Lessinia, and Valpolicella reds (Ripasso, Amarone).
• Great coffee and sweets: Caffè Borsari (tiny, old-world espresso bar), Pasticceria Flego (modern pastries and mignons), Caffè Filippini (historic spot on Piazza delle Erbe).

Where to stay

• Classic elegance near Santa Anastasia: Due Torri Hotel
• Steps from the Arena with a rooftop hot tub: Hotel Milano & Spa
• Smart-value with a pool and spa (great for families): Hotel San Marco Fitness Pool & Spa
• Browse apartments and historic lofts: VRBO Verona or check more hotels on Hotels.com Verona.

Getting in

• Fly into VRN (Verona Villafranca). Taxi to the center: ~15–20 minutes, €25–35. Airport bus to Porta Nuova station runs about every 20 minutes (~15 min, ~€7).
• High-speed train: Milan–Verona ~1h10 (€15–35), Venice–Verona ~1h10 (€10–25), Rome–Verona ~3h (€30–70). Compare and book on Omio Trains.
• Long-haul flights: Compare fares on Trip.com Flights.

Day 1: Arrival, Piazza Bra glow, and a first taste of Verona

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs around Piazza Bra, where the pink marble Arena di Verona anchors the square. Walk Via Mazzini’s polished stone to Piazza delle Erbe—once the Roman forum, now a lively market ringed by frescoed façades.

Evening: Aperitivo at Osteria del Bugiardo (Valpolicella by the glass with crostini). Dinner at Ristorante Maffei, tucked into a Roman cryptoporticus—order risotto all’Amarone or homemade tagliolini with lake fish. Finish with gelato at Gelateria Savoia (since 1939), then a gentle stroll to Ponte Pietra to hear the river.

Day 2: Roman bones, Juliet’s legend, and the hilltop view

Morning: Espresso and a tiny almond pastry at Caffè Borsari, then join a guided walk that stitches the city’s greatest hits together.

Featured activity: Verona Small Group Walking Tour with Cable Car and Arena Tickets

This engaging small-group tour typically includes the Arena’s interior, a stop at Romeo’s House and Juliet’s Balcony, the Scaligero tombs, and a cable car ride up to Castel San Pietro for the postcard panorama.

Afternoon: Lunch at La Bottega della Gina (handmade tortelloni; grab a seat at the counter). Meander to the Roman Theater and Archaeological Museum on the far bank; the stone tiers climb the hillside, scented by cypress.

Evening: Dinner at Trattoria al Pompiere (fantastic cured meats and Veronese classics; try pearà, a peppery bread sauce). Nightcap at Archivio, a snug cocktail bar known for Italian bitters and inventive spritz riffs.

Day 3: Renaissance gardens and a pasta masterclass

Morning: Start at Giardino Giusti, a Renaissance garden with hedged mazes and a cypress-lined climb to a belvedere. On the way back, browse artisan shops along Via Sottoriva beneath medieval arcades.

Featured activity: Verona : THE ORIGINAL Cooking Course Pasta and Tiramisu with wine

Afternoon: Roll tagliatelle, shape ravioli, and whip up tiramisù in a convivial class—welcome Prosecco included, plus wine with your meal. The hands-on session demystifies dough textures and traditional sauces; you’ll leave with recipes and a happily full stomach.

Evening: Keep dinner light: cicchetti and a glass of Lugana at Osteria Sottoriva by the river, or go for Neapolitan-style pies at Du de Cope. For something sweet, Gelateria La Romana churns excellent nocciola and pistachio.

Day 4: Basilica di San Zeno and Amarone in Valpolicella

Morning: Coffee and a sfoglia at Pasticceria Flego, then visit the luminous Basilica di San Zeno—note the bronze door panels and Mantegna’s famed altarpiece (original in the museum, a faithful copy in the church).

Featured activity: Pagus Wine Tours® - A taste of Amarone - Half day wine tour

Afternoon: Head out to Valpolicella’s rolling hills. Learn about appassimento—the grape-drying technique that concentrates Amarone’s flavors—during cellar tours and tastings (expect Valpolicella Classico, Ripasso, and Amarone). The scenery alone is worth the trip.

Evening: Back in town, dinner at Locanda 4 Cuochi near the Arena—seasonal plates with a modern touch and a strong wine list. If you’re in the mood, a stroll over Castelvecchio’s crenellated bridge is atmospheric after dark.

Day 5: Lake Garda day trip and an intimate opera night

Morning: Grab a cappuccino standing at the bar in Caffè Filippini, then ride a regional train from Verona Porta Nuova to Peschiera del Garda (~15 minutes, ~€4). Check schedules and book on Omio Trains. From Peschiera, buses reach Sirmione in ~20–30 minutes, or you can ferry between lakeside towns—see options on Omio Ferries.

Afternoon: Explore Sirmione’s moated Scaliger Castle and wander to the Roman “Grotte di Catullo” ruins at the peninsula’s tip. Lunch on lake fish—bigoli with sardines or grilled coregone—then return to Verona by late afternoon.

Featured activity: Opera Concert in Verona Palace with Prosecco

Evening: Enjoy arias and duets in the elegant Sala Antonio Girelli at Palazzo dei Mutilati—an intimate counterpart to the Arena’s summer spectacles. Before the show, have a pre-theater dinner at Osteria Le Vecete (polenta with mushrooms, roast meats) or share boards at Enoteca Segreta tucked in a quiet lane.

Day 6: Castelvecchio, last tastes, and departure

Morning: Tour Castelvecchio Museum, a masterful blend of medieval fortress and modern museography (keep an eye out for Pisanello and early Venetian works). Pick up edible souvenirs—Amarone, Monte Veronese cheese, mostarda—then linger over a farewell lunch at Antica Bottega del Vino, a storied enoteca with cellar-deep vintages and hearty Veronese fare.

Afternoon: Departure. If you’re continuing by rail, Verona Porta Nuova has frequent high-speed connections—compare tickets on Omio Trains. Flying out? Check fares and schedules on Omio Flights within Europe or Trip.com Flights for intercontinental routes.

Dining and sip notes to bookmark

• Traditional: Trattoria Greppia (handmade pastas, braised meats), Osteria al Duca (hearty Veronese classics).
• Wine-focused: Osteria del Bugiardo (Valpolicella producers), Antica Bottega del Vino (legendary list), Signorvino (riverside pours near Ponte Pietra).
• Pizza: Pizzeria da Salvatore (old-school institution), Du de Cope (airy cornicione).
• Sweets & coffee: Caffè Borsari, Pasticceria Flego, Gelateria Savoia, Gelateria La Romana.

Getting around & tips

• Walk almost everywhere; the historic center is compact. The Castel San Pietro cable car whisks you up in minutes for the best view.
• ZTL: If driving, confirm your hotel’s policy for temporary access or choose parking outside the restricted zone.
• Best seasons: Spring and early fall for mild weather; summer evenings for the Arena Opera Festival; December brings Christmas markets around Piazza dei Signori.

Six days in Verona let you savor its Roman stage, Renaissance brushstrokes, and vineyard-backed horizons at an unhurried pace. You’ll leave with an Amarone-soft spot for the city—and a few new kitchen skills to recreate the flavors at home.