Car Hire Verona

As in many Italian cities, Verona has a limited traffic zone (ZTL) in place. This mainly covers the historic parts of the centre at certain times, so check when and where these are before planning your routes. Elsewhere, be prepared to navigate narrow roads and tight turns, with scooters nipping by and cars parked along side streets.

If you’re flying into Verona, you’ll find the city centre is just a 20-minute drive away from the airport. There’s a choice of routes, with the SS12 often the fastest. This passes a few notable points, such as the 16^th-century stone gateway Porta Nuova and the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi. Change onto the SP1 and you can drive up through Verona with the Adige river on your left side.

To head north, use the A22 or SS12 to reach Monte Baldo and the mountainous regions, or take the A4 west towards Lake Garda. When you hire a car in Verona, you’re also well placed to go straight down the A22 and reach the picturesque city of Modena, too.

Along these motorways – called autostrade – the speed limit is around 130km/h. On the main highways (SS roads, the Strade Statali) it’s usually 110 km/h. The limit rarely rises above 50km/h within Verona, so take care when you’re navigating its ancient streets.

There are lots of parking meters across Verona accepting cash or card. You can also use an app to pay for on street parking and car parks. One of the biggest free car parks is at the Piazzale Olimpia next to the stadium, just outside the centre – but check ahead to make sure there isn’t a football match on.

The heritage city of Verona is full of historical wonders, detailed architecture from different eras and bustling squares giving a true taste of daily life. Whether you’re after a romantic weekend or a few culture-filled days, both are possible in this northern Italian city.

Follow the famous love trail

Verona draws in thousands of visitors each year with a passion for Shakespeare’s most famous play. While nobody knows if England’s celebrated bard ever visited the city, or if the two main characters existed, here you can follow the love trail of Romeo and Juliet. Thanks to many 16^th-century buildings remaining in good condition, Verona retains a timeless charm that transports you back to its period setting.

Start at Juliet’s House at 23 Via Cappello, which has the Capulet emblem on its external façade. Through the gate you can see the walls where couples have written messages of love to one another. Continue into the courtyard and a bronze statue of Juliet stands in the centre, but it’s the famous balcony supposedly of her bedroom that garners the most attention. It was restored in the 1930s to recreate the original medieval appearance described in the play.

Not far away is Romeo’s house. It looks somewhat castle-like from the outside with a medieval brick wall surrounding the courtyard and rooms inside. There’s an impressive balcony here too, but as a private building you can only view it from the outside. 

The trail turns tragic as it concludes at Juliet’s tomb. This isn’t the original burial site as it was relocated in the 1930s. Today pay your respects at the Museum of the Frescos of Giovanni Battista Cavalcaselle.

Ancient wonders

Founded in the 1^st century BC, Verona has so many ancient buildings, structures and landmarks it’s impossible to know where to begin. The Arena of Verona is the city’s answer to Rome’s Colosseum. Around 2,000 years old, it still stands tall today and hosts regular opera performances in the summer.

You’ll stumble upon grand religious buildings from centuries past around every corner. Standing out for its white front and tiered porch, Verona Cathedral is the go-to for many visitors. The Basilica of San Zeno should also be on your itinerary, with a Romanesque style dating back to the 9^th century. It was supposedly where Romeo and Juliet got married.

Castelvecchio was an important military location in the Middle Ages, located next to the Adige river. Its relatively simple, red brick design features seven towers and unique ‘M’ shaped merlons along its walls. What’s most striking is the bridge, which maintains the same style and joins onto the castle as it crosses the river. The castle is now home to a museum, where you can learn more about the fortress and city’s history.

Lake Garda

Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and pretty much unmissable if you’re staying in Verona for a day trip or longer. In a hire car it will take you around 1 hour and 20 minutes to get there, located around 65km away from the city centre.

Take a trip across the lake by boat to experience its vastness or simply stroll along part of its shoreline, breathing in the fresh Alpine air. Scalinger castle is one of the most iconic sights to the south, as it looks out over the lake. Those seeking thrills and excitement can cool off at Caneva Aquapark, which borders the lake as well. 

Experience the best of this north Italian heritage city and everything the wider region has to offer when you hire a car in Verona.