{"id":3188,"date":"2026-07-12T07:39:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T07:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thisworldtobook.com\/blog\/?p=3188"},"modified":"2026-07-12T07:42:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T07:42:58","slug":"verona-travel-guide-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thisworldtobook.com\/blog\/verona-travel-guide-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Verona 2026: What to See & Sustainable Travel Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Verona doesn’t need Romeo and Juliet to win you over.<\/strong> The world knows its name through Shakespeare. Yet the city has spent two thousand years building something far more solid. It has a Roman amphitheatre still packed every summer, and a historic centre listed as UNESCO World Heritage. That way of life alone was enough to earn it a spot in the European Best Destinations 2026 ranking<\/a>, where it lands in 4th place<\/strong> among Europe’s best destinations.<\/p>\n

Why 2026 is the perfect moment to visit Verona<\/h2>\n

Verona has long lived in the shadow of nearby Venice and Florence. Yet that’s precisely its strongest card. European Best Destinations ranks it among the four most desired cities in Europe this year for offering the same density of history without the crowds of bigger capitals. Ancient Roman heritage, Renaissance splendour and the enduring pull of the Arena di Verona sit alongside a thriving wine scene and boutique hotels housed in historic palazzi. On top of that, a new generation of chefs is reimagining northern Italian cuisine.<\/p>\n

2026 adds an extra reason: Verona is one of the host regions for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics<\/strong>. As a result, the Veneto region has accelerated investment in sustainable mobility and public transport.<\/p>\n

What to see in Verona<\/h2>\n

The Arena di Verona \u2014 the amphitheatre that never stopped being used<\/h3>\n

Built in the 1st century AD, the Arena is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. Unlike the Colosseum, it’s still in active use: every summer it hosts an open-air opera season. It can be freely explored by day. That said, go early to beat the heat and the queues.<\/p>\n

\n\"Ponte
Ponte Pietra, Roman at its base and rebuilt in medieval times \u2014 one of the city’s oldest bridges.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori \u2014 the Roman heart of the city<\/h3>\n

Piazza delle Erbe sits on the site of the old Roman forum. It served as the city’s marketplace for centuries, and the colourful awnings and frescoed fa\u00e7ades are still there today. At its centre, the Fontana Madonna Verona<\/strong> has presided over the square since 1368, built using recycled material from ancient Roman thermal baths. Just steps away, Piazza dei Signori is more austere and elegant. There, the Palazzo della Ragione and a statue of Dante stand watch over the square with an unmistakably unimpressed expression.<\/p>\n

\n\"Fontana
The Fontana Madonna Verona, at the centre of Piazza delle Erbe, built from recycled Roman-era materials.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Castelvecchio and Ponte Pietra \u2014 medieval Verona on the Adige<\/h3>\n

The Scaliger castle of Castelvecchio, now a museum, and its fortified bridge are among the few medieval monuments in Italy rebuilt with original stone. That happened after WWII bombing destroyed much of the original structure. Ponte Pietra, meanwhile, offers one of the best sunset views over the river.<\/p>\n

Veronetta \u2014 the other side of the river<\/h3>\n

Across the Adige, the university district of Veronetta has an entirely different rhythm from the tourist-heavy centre. Student bars, second-hand bookshops and a street life that only wakes up in the afternoon define the area. In fact, it’s the best place to understand how Verona actually lives when the cameras aren’t around.<\/p>\n

Food: sustainable and rooted in the season<\/h2>\n

Veronese cuisine is honest and seasonal: risotto all’Amarone, tortellini in brodo, and the sweet pandoro Christmas cake, which originated right here. On the fine dining side, the city holds two Michelin-starred restaurants<\/strong>. Il Desco<\/em> is a longstanding reference for contemporary Veneto cuisine. Iris Ristorante<\/em>, meanwhile, is housed in Palazzo Soave and puts explicit focus on sustainability and local sourcing.<\/p>\n

For something more everyday, Piazza delle Erbe still functions as a marketplace, with fruit, cheese and cured meat stalls right in the historic centre. As a result, eating seasonally doesn’t require leaving the old town.<\/p>\n

\n\ud83d\udca1 Practical tip:<\/strong> if you’re trying Amarone, do it where it’s made. The Valpolicella<\/strong> region, just 20-30 minutes from Verona, is its birthplace. On top of that, several family-run wineries \u2014 Accordini among them \u2014 work under organic and sustainable practices.\n<\/div>\n

Getting around Verona sustainably<\/h2>\n
\n\"Lake
Lake Garda, a short trip from Verona and a great nature escape without a rental car.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n