An arena for 30,000, a balcony with a queue, a rebuilt bridge
Everything below is inside the ZTL, so walk in from Centro or Porta Palio. The Verona Card is €33 for 24 hours or €38 for 48, city buses included, and covers most of this list.
1. Enter the Arena at gate 5
The Arena di Verona held up to 30,000 spectators as built. Card holders get priority at gate 5. On show days from April to October the hours change.
2. Book Juliet's House or skip it
Casa di Giulietta needs a timed booking, even with the card. The bronze Juliet in the courtyard is a copy; the 1969 original by Nereo Costantini is indoors. The Capulet link is a legend, and I'd look from the courtyard and move on.
3. Climb Lamberti's 368 steps
Torre dei Lamberti is 84 m, the tallest building in town. The card covers entry, not the lift, which is €1 on the spot.
4. Cross Ponte Pietra at dusk
Retreating German troops blew up four of the five spans of Ponte Pietra in April 1945. It was rebuilt in 1957 from the original materials.
5. Give Castelvecchio an hour
The museum at Castelvecchio is free with the card. Walk out across the castle bridge afterwards.
6. Walk out to San Zeno
Basilica di San Zeno is one of four churches on the card, with Sant'Anastasia, San Fermo and the Duomo. Its blue bays are free on Sunday.
I'd buy the 24-hour card only on a day with the Arena, the tower and Castelvecchio in it.
Horse stew, Amarone rice and a star-shaped cake
1. Order pastissada de caval once
Slow-stewed horse with polenta, the dish Verona is known for. Gambero Rosso listed it in 2020 at Osteria Sottoriva, under the arcades near the river.
2. Taste Amarone in a risotto
Antica Bottega del Vino serves risotto all'Amarone and baccalà mantecato, creamed salt cod, on the same list. I'd go for the wine as much as the food.
3. Eat bigoli with duck ragù
Thick fresh bigoli with duck ragù, and sfilacci, shredded cured horse, at Al Bersagliere.
4. Take home a pandoro
Domenico Melegatti patented the pandoro's name, shape and recipe on 14 October 1894. Since July 2025 Melegatti has belonged to Dublin-based Valeo Foods.
Horse is the local test. Try it once.
Wine in April, opera all summer
1. Book parking early for Vinitaly
The wine fair runs 11–14 April 2027 at the Veronafiere grounds. I'd book parking before the hotel.
2. Leave the car outside on opera nights
The 104th Arena Opera Festival runs 11 June to 11 September 2027: La Traviata, Nabucco, Carmen and two Aidas. Nightly dates weren't out when I checked. The ZTL's evening window is for residents, so park at Centro, open all night.
3. Check the smog level in winter
Veneto's anti-smog season runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 April 2027. An older diesel needs checking before every winter trip.
What's on
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 1 October 2026 – 30 April 2027 | Veneto's winter anti-smog season; Verona's ordinance no. 56 applies from 1 October 2026. Electric and hybrid cars exempt |
| 11–14 April 2027 | Vinitaly, the wine fair, at the Veronafiere grounds |
| 11 June – 11 September 2027 | 104th Arena di Verona Opera Festival: La Traviata, Nabucco, Carmen and two productions of Aida. Nightly dates not yet published |