Things to Do in Verona Italy Beyond the Obvious

A Walkable City

Verona makes the most sense when you walk it. Not in a purposeful, attraction-to-attraction way — but slowly, without deciding too much in advance.

The UNESCO historic center unfolds easily. Roman order gives way to medieval intimacy street by street, without announcing the shift.

Staying at Lady Capulet Apartments placed me in a part of the city I wouldn’t have otherwise sought out.

That’s one of the quiet advantages of slow travel: choosing accommodation that opens your itinerary instead of narrowing it.

I stumbled onto Vicolo Cieco S. Pietro Incarnario — a short, almost hidden street that ends at Ristorante Darì.

From there, my walks led me past Chiesa di San Fermo Maggiore — a layered, atmospheric church built over earlier Roman remains, where light filters softly across frescoed walls and the pace drops immediately.

Finding places like this felt like uncovering a small secret. No crowds. Just me and the city.

And if you’re short on time, this way of moving through Verona matters even more. Yes, you might see less, but you will remember more.

The Three Places Almost Everyone Comes to See — and How to Experience Them Well

Even if you approach Verona with a slow-travel mindset, there are a few places most visitors are naturally drawn toward. They appear on every map, every guide, and nearly every first-time itinerary. The difference isn’t whether you see them — it’s how you approach them, and what you expect in return.

Juliet’s Balcony — Set Expectations Before You Arrive

Juliet’s House is one of Verona’s most visited sites, largely because of its symbolic pull rather than what it physically offers.

The courtyard is small, the balcony itself more modest than most people imagine. There is a bronze statue of Juliet that stands out against the red brick.

My Personal Experience:
I arrived early in the morning, and even then, there was already a steady line. Once inside the courtyard, the experience felt compressed — a wall of people, constant noise, cameras raised. I felt claustrophobic, and I’m not one who ever gets that sensation.

The romantic atmosphere I’d pictured simply wasn’t there. I stayed for a matter of a few minutes, long enough to take it in and leave. On my way out, I walked slowly to read the notes and love affirmations covering the walls — a more intimate moment than the balcony itself. I left one too. If you return, look for the M with a heart around it.

This is a place best approached with clear expectations. Many travellers choose to see it briefly, then move on, treating it as a cultural reference point rather than a moment to linger.

Piazza delle Erbe — Let Timing Do the Work

Piazza delle Erbe sits at the heart of Verona’s historic center, layered with Roman, medieval, and Renaissance history. Once the site of the Roman forum, it’s now surrounded by landmark buildings like Palazzo Maffei, the Case dei Mercanti, and the Madonna Verona fountain at its center.

My Personal Experience:
My first visit was mid-morning, and I left almost immediately. The crowds, the waiter standing out front trying to hand you a menu and the cheap tourist kiosks overwhelmed the space.

The next day, I returned at dawn — and it changed everything. Without distractions, the buildings stood on their own. The square finally made sense to me then. I had a chance to see it without any distractions.

If there’s one place in Verona where when you visit matters as much as that you visit, it’s here.

The Roman Theatre — Perspective Beyond the Historic Core

The Roman Theatre sits slightly removed from Verona’s most concentrated tourist routes. Built in the 1st century BCE, it once hosted performances for thousands and today offers a summer series that many visitors rave about.

Personal note:
When I visited, parts of the theatre were closed for renovations, likely ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. Even so, walking around it felt worthwhile.

From here, Verona opens outward, toward Piazza Bra — a larger, airier public square that is worth visiting.

Piazza Bra feels almost oversized for Verona, opening up suddenly after the city’s tighter streets. Palazzo Barbieri, Verona’s neoclassical town hall, the Gran Guardia with its monumental arches, and the Museo Lapidario Maffeiano, one of Europe’s oldest public museums, are just some of the highlights here.

Cafés perfect for people watching trace the perimeter. Piazza delle Erbe is for tourists, and Piazza Bra is for locals.

Sacred Spaces Worth Your Time (Choose One, Maybe Two)

Verona, just like every Italian city, big or small, has no shortage of churches.

You don’t need to step inside all of them to understand the city. In fact, Verona’s sacred spaces are most rewarding when you choose intentionally — noticing atmosphere, proportion, light, and silence as much as art or history.

Think of churches here as places to pause throughout your day’s itinerary.

Below are the most notable options that I visited, each offering something distinct, so you can decide what fits your interests — or your route.

Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore
Verona’s most important Romanesque church is known for its striped façade, bronze doors, and deep sense of stillness. If you choose only one, make it San Zeno Maggiore.
👉Combine it with: a walk through the San Zeno neighbourhood, one of Verona’s most local-feeling districts.

Verona Cathedral (Duomo di Santa Maria Matricolare)
Layered and restrained, the Duomo reflects Verona’s long religious history. Inside, notice the shift between Romanesque and Gothic elements and the way light moves through the nave.
👉Combine it with: nearby Ponte Pietra and a walk along the river.

Sant’Anastasia
Grand and vertical, this is Verona’s most impressive Gothic church. Look for the carved holy water stoups held by hunchback figures and the frescoes that reward slow looking.
👉Combine it with: Piazza dei Signori and a climb toward Castel San Pietro.

Santa Maria in Organo
Smaller and often overlooked, this Renaissance church is known for its intricate wooden choir stalls.
👉Combine it with: wandering the quieter streets east of the historic center.

San Giorgio in Braida
Sitting just across the river, this church houses paintings by Tintoretto and Veronese, but the real appeal is its calm interior.
👉Combine it with: a riverside walk or views back toward the historic core.

Verona From Above: When I Fell for Verona

Verona changes when you see it from above. Not in a “check off the best viewpoint” way, but in the quiet shift that happens when the city spreads beneath you and its streets, squares, and rooftops begin to make sense.

From this height, the Adige curves naturally, and the medieval core feels intimate rather than crowded. Timing matters more than effort: early morning light gives detail, late afternoon casts long shadows.

For those who want the traditional options, there are a few popular viewpoints: the Torre dei Lamberti in Piazza delle Erbe and Ponte Pietra – not elevated in the traditional sense, but the surrounding riverbanks give a linear vista that is quite incredible.

For lesser-known viewpoints, I recommend you visit Giardino Giusti Terrace, beautiful Renaissance gardens east of the city center or Bastione di Castelvecchio, ancient ramparts offers views over the river and the Ponte Scaligero bridge.

My personal recommendation: Cross the river, where the city immediately feels slower, despite it being popular with the occasional crowd. Walk — or take the funicular — up to Castel San Pietro. This is the point where I fell in love with Verona.

The view stretches over the rooftops, the river, and the rolling hills beyond, giving the city scale all at once. I didn’t rush. There are crowds, yes, but it somehow didn’t bother me. I walked deliberately, pausing often, letting the city sink in with each step.

By the time I descended, it was late afternoon: the perfect hour for an aperitivo, as the Italian tradition calls for. I stopped at Re Teodorico, where the city’s golden light shines on the rooftops with a new perspective of San Pietro hill.

Skip the other viewpoints. Make time for this one. Take your time here. Let Verona unfold.

Hidden Corners and Quieter Discoveries of Verona

If the main squares and landmarks tell you what Verona is, the quieter streets and tucked-away corners hint at who it is.

These are the places you stumble upon when you walk without a plan, when you slow down, and when you let the city unfold at its own pace.

The Loggia del Consiglio, tucked into the edge of Piazza dei Signori, is a reminder of Verona’s civic life in the Middle Ages. The frescoed walls, delicate arches, and stone balconies speak of councils and ceremonies that shaped the city. Step back to take it in alongside the square itself, where the Scaligeri Tombs sit quietly against the Palazzo della Ragione, and the statue of Dante seems to watch over centuries of passing visitors.

From there, a turn onto Sottoriva Street. Medieval buildings lean slightly over the cobblestones, their shadows falling across shutters and arches. It’s a quiet, riverside street where the city quietens down, offering contrast to the noisy squares just a block away.

Even smaller, almost secret, spots leave a lasting impression. The Pozzo dell’Amore (Well of Love) hides under an arch, a tiny stone reminder of the romantic legends this city holds.

For something even more beautiful, the Biblioteca Capitolare is one of Europe’s oldest libraries, where centuries of manuscripts are kept.

Lastly, you’re likely to uncover Verona Vecchia, the former remains of an underground city on Via Leoni; the real discovery is the nearby side streets. Absolutely charming.