Planning a trip to Verona? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
Ah, Verona. A city of history, culture, food, wine, and romance. We fell in love with it the moment we arrived and spent a few weeks here doing everything there was to do. We understand not everyone can do that, so we put together this list of its best activities so you can cherry-pick the best ones for you!
From seeing the city’s historic areas to learning how to make authentic Italian food, you can’t go wrong with anything we have below. So keep reading to discover Verona’s best things to do!
Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE thing we did in Verona was this history and food tour! It perfectly blended sightseeing with amazing food and wine. It even includes a skip-the-line ticket for a funicular ride to one of Verona’s best viewpoints!
- Don't Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
- Things to do in Verona, Italy
- 1. Go on a Romeo and Juliet tour of Verona
- 2. See Verona’s best (and tastiest) sights on a historic walking food tour
- 3. Go wine tasting in Valpolicella
- 4. Learn how to cook fresh Italian pasta and tiramisu
- 5. Explore Verona on a bicycle tour
- 6. Take a boat tour on Lake Garda and visit the medieval town of Sirmione
- Where to Stay in Verona, Italy
- Thanks for reading!
- Free ebook Stay safe in Europe & avoid scams!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Renting a Car in Italy
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Things to do in Verona, Italy
1. Go on a Romeo and Juliet tour of Verona
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Time: 1:45 pm
- Highlights: Exploring the city on foot, learning about Verona’s historic family feuds, visiting the Arena, Casa di Giulietta, Piazza delle Erbe, visiting the tombs of the Scala family
- Inclusions: Local guide, small group tour
- Rating: 4.8 stars (check 100+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Verona is famously the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, so we were excited to find out why this town was chosen for his masterpiece on this guided walking tour.
We had the best time uncovering the juicy details behind the city’s family feuds, love stories, and power struggles. Talk about bringing history to life!
The tour began at the iconic Arena di Verona, a grand amphitheater that actually predates Rome’s Colosseum! From there, we explored Verona’s storied streets and even visited spots from the play, such as Juliet’s House, with its famous balcony. We also learned about the mystery surrounding Shakespeare’s connection to Verona, as there’s actually no concrete evidence that he ever visited the city.
We got to see many of Verona’s most beautiful attractions, including the Lamberti Tower and the historic Domus Mercatorum. Admiring the city’s magnificent Renaissance and medieval architecture definitely helped us to understand why Shakespeare would want to set a dramatic love story here!
We finished up at the Scaliger Tombs, the resting place of the powerful Scaliger family, whose influence and feuds echo the dramatic conflicts in Romeo and Juliet.
Whether you’re a Shakespeare enthusiast or just a sucker for juicy gossip, this tour is the perfect way to explore Verona’s romantic charm. It feels a million miles removed from a stuffy history tour, but we still learned so much.
Find out more and book this tour here, with FREE cancellation!
2. See Verona’s best (and tastiest) sights on a historic walking food tour
- Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Time: 10:30 am or 4:30 pm (depending on time of year)
- Highlights: Eat and drink at historic restaurants and wine bars in Verona’s city center, get the best views of Verona on the funicular railway
- Inclusions: English-speaking guide, all food tastings and beverages, skip-the-line funicular railway ticket
- Rating: 4.9 Stars (Read the 300+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
When in Verona, do as the locals do – explore the city through food, wine, and history! We couldn’t resist booking this walking tour, which blends sightseeing with delicious tastings and even a funicular ride to one of Verona’s best viewpoints.
Our guide Laura was fantastic, one part history nerd and one part foodie, she brought the city to life with history and incredible tastings. We stopped at family-run eateries and wine bars to sample local specialties, from artisanal cheeses to freshly baked treats, risotto, and gnocchi – we seriously tried it all.
Of course, no food tour in Verona would be complete without a glass (or two) of regional wine, and we had the chance to sip some fantastic Amarone and Valpolicella, which are famous in this region.
If you’re a Shakspeare fan, then you’ll love the stop at the Juliet House. It is widely believed that this stone house was the inspiration for one of the writer’s most famous plays, Romeo and Juliet! We didn’t go inside, but admiring the stone balconies from outside was more than enough for me.
One of my favorite parts was riding the funicular up to the highest viewpoint in Verona. It’s a beautiful city and seeing it from high up was awesome. The small group setting made it all feel relaxed and intimate, giving us plenty of time to enjoy each stop and chat.
You can book the best food, wine, and walking tour in Verona here!
3. Go wine tasting in Valpolicella
- Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Time: 10:30 am
- Highlights: Visit a local family-run winery in the Valpolicella wine region, learn the process of winemaking with the winemaker, and enjoy a wine tasting with extra virgin olive oil, salami, and cheese
- Inclusions: English-speaking guide, round trip transportation, wine and food tastings
- Rating: 4.8 Stars (Read the 300+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Do you love wine? Me too! So it only makes sense that you check out this Valpolicella wine tour. I loved that instead of going to multiple wineries we spent all of our time at one with the winemaker learning how they produce some of the best wine in the world.
Arriving at the family-run vineyard felt like stepping into a postcard. Vines stretched out in every direction against the backdrop of Valpolicella’s rolling hills, and the centuries-old stone estate was the cherry on top.
The owners welcomed us like old friends, leading us through their vineyard and 17th-century cellar, where we learned about making Valpolicella, Ripasso, and Amarone wines.
Then came the best part—the tasting! We sampled a variety of wines they made, including a light and fruity Valpolicella Classico and a rich, velvety Amarone. Each was perfectly paired with local cheese and freshly sliced salami. We sat around and laughed with everyone in our group while admiring the views of the countryside. Wine really does bring people together!
With a small group setting and a relaxed pace, this tour felt intimate and authentic. It’s perfect for wine lovers and even if you aren’t as into wine as we are, I’m positive you will enjoy it regardless. So if you’re looking for the perfect wine experience in Verona, this is it!
You can book our favorite Verona wine tasting experience here!
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4. Learn how to cook fresh Italian pasta and tiramisu
- Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Time: 10 am
- Highlights: Learn how to make traditional Italian food from scratch, enjoy your creations with local wine, take all of the recipes home with a personalized cookbook
- Inclusions: English-speaking chef, all food and drinks, local ingredients, cookbook
- Rating: 4.9 Stars (Read the 200+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
I’ll be honest, I’m not a great cook. But weirdly enough, cooking classes are some of my favorite experiences! I love taking home recipes to share with friends and family. So when we signed up for this authentic Italian cooking class I was definitely a little more than excited.
The experience began with a warm welcome from our local chef at a charming venue in the city center. We jumped right into the art of preparing classic dishes from scratch, using fresh, seasonal ingredients while the chef tried to teach us Italian. Luckily, making Italian food is much easier than speaking it!
The class included making tomato-topped bruschetta, pasta, creamy risotto, and a mouth-watering dessert of tiramisu. What I really appreciated was how informative the whole experience was. We didn’t just learn how to make each dish but were told the history behind each, and let me tell you, pasta has a surprisingly complex history!
After our hard work in the kitchen, we sat down to savor the fruits of our labor, accompanied by local Italian wine. The small group setting, limited to just 10 participants, allowed for everyone to get to know each other over the food we just made.
As a bonus, we received a booklet containing the day’s recipes, allowing us to more easily recreate these Italian classics at home!
Don’t delay and book our favorite cooking class in Verona here!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
5. Explore Verona on a bicycle tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: 9:30 am
- Highlights: Visit Verona’s highlights such as ancient Roman theatres, bridges, and walls, see Juliet’s House which inspired Shakespeare’s famous play
- Inclusions: English-speaking guide, bike and helmet
- Rating: 4.9 Stars (Read the 240+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Exploring Verona on a bike was easily one of the most enjoyable ways to see the city. This small-group tour made it fun and effortless to cover a lot of ground while taking in some of Verona’s most historic sights.
The best part? It focused heavily on the city’s fascinating Roman past, and our guide did an incredible job of bringing the history to life.
After meeting our guide and getting set up with our bikes and helmets, we began exploring the city’s ancient cobblestone streets. We pedaled through the heart of Verona’s hhistoric center, stopping at major landmarks like the Arena di Verona, an ancient Roman amphitheater that still hosts concerts and operas.
Crossing the Roman Ponte Pietra bridge, we took in gorgeous views of the Adige River before stopping at the remains of two ancient theaters. It never ceases to amaze me how well Roman buildings stand the test of time.
Of course, no visit to Verona is complete without a stop at Juliet’s House. We parked our bikes and gathered under the famous balcony as our guide shared the legend behind Shakespeare’s most famous love story.
With a small group and an easy pace, this tour was the perfect mix of sightseeing and storytelling. If you want to see Verona’s highlights in a fun, active way, this is the way to do it!
You can book the best bike tour in Verona here!
Related Read: To make sure you make the most of your time in Verona, we created this expert itinerary that covers everything from the top spots to visit to the best places to eat!
6. Take a boat tour on Lake Garda and visit the medieval town of Sirmione
- Duration: 7 hours 30 minutes
- Time: 9 am
- Highlights: Visit Lake Garda and take a boat cruise around the Sirmione peninsula to see ancient Roman ruins, learn the history of the villages of Sirmione and Lazise, free time to explore
- Inclusions: English-speaking guide, round-trip transportation from Verona, boat tickets
- Rating: 4.7 Stars (Read the 240+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check the reviews here!
Exploring Lake Garda’s picturesque towns from Verona can be challenging without proper transportation, which is why I loved how easy this boat tour made it to visit these out-of-the-way places. Even better? There’s scheduled free time at each of the villages so you’re free to explore as you please!
The day started with a bus ride to Sirmione where we boarded a boat and were ferried around to enjoy the lake’s beautiful scenery and see elaborate villas. My favorite spot was the Grotte di Catullo, an ancient Roman villa that must have been stunning back in the day. It’s easy to see why everyone wants to live here!
After the boat ride, our guide spent an hour with us in Sirmione showing us historic landmarks and explaining its history. But it was the following three hours that we got to poke around the village on our own that I really enjoyed! We grabbed a coffee, walked to 14th-century Scaliger Castle, and enjoyed the views after climbing its tallest tower. It was a blast and we loved that this tour gave us free time to explore.
The day ended with a ferry ride to Lazise, an even smaller village, where we had another hour to explore and take in the stunning scenery. This tour was the perfect mix of history, beautiful sights, and free time. It’s a must-do for anyone visiting Verona!
You can book this tour to Lake Garda here!
Where to Stay in Verona, Italy
Choosing the right place to stay in Verona can make your visit even more magical. Whether you’re here to explore its rich history, stroll along charming streets, or soak in the romance of Juliet’s city, staying in the heart of Verona puts you close to all the action. To help you find the perfect spot, I’ve rounded up the best hotels for every budget below!
Luxury – $$$
The Due Torri Hotel is a top choice for a luxury stay in Verona. This elegant 5-star hotel is housed in a historic building just steps from Juliet’s House and Piazza delle Erbe. Expect beautifully decorated rooms with classic Italian charm, a rooftop terrace with panoramic city views, and two on-site restaurants serving delicious local cuisine. If you’re looking for a luxurious and atmospheric stay in the heart of Verona, this is it!
Prices vary depending on the time of year but usually start between €300 – €400 per night. You can check prices and book this stay on Booking.com.
Mid-range – $$
The Lady Verona Residence is a fantastic mid-range option in Verona, offering stylish and charming accommodations in a great location. Just a short walk from the city center, this hotel provides easy access to Verona’s top attractions while offering a peaceful retreat. The rooms come equipped with great amenities including air conditioning – perfect for those warm Italian summers!
Prices usually range between €140 – €200 per night depending on the time of year. You can book this stay on Booking.com.
Budget – $
Hotel Piccolo is a fantastic budget-friendly option in Verona, just a 20-minute walk from the famous Verona Arena and only 400 meters from the train station. The rooms are simple yet comfortable, all featuring private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, and air conditioning. Guests can also enjoy a daily buffet breakfast, making it a great value stay in a convenient location!
Rooms start as low as €65 per night and sell out quickly, so make sure you reserve your room on Booking.com in advance!
For more options, see all of the hotels in Verona here!
Renting a Car in Italy
Renting a car in Italy is one of the best ways to explore the country beyond the cities—think charming Tuscan villages, dramatic Amalfi Coast drives, and hidden gems in the countryside. While Italy’s roads can be a little chaotic (especially in cities), with the right preparation, renting a car here can be an unforgettable and rewarding experience!
We always use Discover Cars when booking our rentals, and highly recommend them. They compare dozens of providers to find you the best rates, include important filters like “automatic transmission,” and offer affordable full insurance coverage. For more info, you can read our in-depth Discover Cars review here.
Tips for Renting a Car in Italy
What You Need to Rent a Car in Italy
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Thanks for reading!
Verona is such a magical city to explore and one of our favorite places in Italy. Hopefully, our list has given you some amazing experiences to add to your Verona itinerary while you’re here!
For more help exploring this part of the world, have a look through all our Europe blogs. Or I picked out a few articles about Italy below that might help while you’re planning a trip here!
How to Spend THREE Days in Verona, Italy: 3-Day Itinerary
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