Have you ever wanted to explore Verona, the city of love? Verona probably sounds familiar to you as it’s the home of Romeo & Juliet. In fact, one of the main attractions of Verona is actually visiting the Romeo & Juliet balcony.
First off, if you are not familiar with Italy, let me recount just how charming this country is. The narrow roads, the ancient buildings, the smell of delicious food following you around, street musicians, and more greet you around every turn. Whether you are coming to Verona with interest in visiting the famous Romeo & Juliet balcony or because you love Italy, you will leave happy!
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Visit the Famous Romeo & Juliet Balcony
Of course when visiting Verona, your first thought is to head directly to the Capulet house to get a glimpse of this famous site. However, that is a mistake. In the morning and even mid-day the most famous Romeo and Juliet sights are swarmed by tour groups, and even worse, school groups.
You will not want to fight the crowds while trying to crop small children groping the statue of Juliet out of your photos. Deny the urge to go there first. You can come back later in the day after the groups have gone and enjoy the solitude. Trust me, I made this mistake and ended up wasting a lot of time in the morning.
This does of course mean that you’ll have time to see the other main attractions of Verona before heading to visit Romeo and Juliet!
Pro tip: If you really can’t help yourself – sign up for a Romeo and Juliet tour. This will give you the best chances of fighting the crown and making the most of your time in Verona.
Explore the Best Things to Do in Verona
Fortunately, Verona offers quite a bit of interest beyond just Romeo and Juliet. You’ll find busy piazzas, numerous churches, (obviously my favorite, mostly kidding…), and an ancient Roman arena and amphitheater.
To make the most of your morning, you’ll want to take in these key sights. The best way to do this is to sign up for a walking tour with a local guide. This way you’ll know what you’re looking at along the way. Here are the best things to see in Verona besides the famed Romeo and Juliet sights.
- Verona Arena: An ancient Roman amphitheater that hosts opera (Pro tip: Buy your skip-the-line ticket for the arena before you go!)
- Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore: A stunning Romanesque church
- Piazza Bra: The largest square in Verona and a central gathering place
- Torre dei Lamberti: A medieval bell tower which offers an excellent viewpoint
- Piazza dei Signori: A historic square with a statue of Dante
- Castelvecchio and Castelvecchio Bridge: The local castle and bridge which feature amazing architecture
- Piazza delle Erbe: A historic square offering some great restaurants
While these places are all worth a visit, my favorite part of Verona is climbing up St. Peter’s Hill to Ponte Pietra. It offers great views over the city. I highly recommend spending some time up there just enjoying the view. We certainly don’t have anything like it in the states!!
Discovering All of the Romeo & Juliet Sites in Verona
If you are a fan of Shakespeare, you may have visited a few other of his sights around Europe (Hello Hamlet’s Castle). Verona offers so much more than just visiting the famous Romeo & Juliet balcony. You can also visit:
Romeo’s House, or Casa di Romeo
Although Romeo Montecchi’s house is not open to the public, you can visit it from the outside. There is a small plaque identifying it with a quote from Romeo & Juliet. You can also sample local cuisine in the Veronese osteria located on the ground floor here. Overall, this stop is not super exciting, but it does get you wandering through the beautiful alleys of Verona!
Juliet’s Tomb or Tomba di Giulietta
Located inside the San Francesco al Corso Monastery, Juliet’s tomb is mostly just an old sarcophagus. The main highlight in visiting the tomb is actually the beautiful frescos on the walls of the monastery. Note that there is an entrance fee to see the tomb of Juliet. I don’t know that it’s actually worth the price, but decide for yourself!
Other Locations around Verona Related to Romeo & Juliet
While wandering around Verona, you’ll find additional sculptures and plaques related to Shakespeare and his famous play. Here are 3 more for you to track down:
- Volto Barbaro: Where Tybalt and Mercurtio dueled
- Palazzo Carlotti: Where Romeo avenged Mercutio’s death
- Portoni della Bra: Where Romeo left Verona before escaping to Mantua
Visit Juliet’s House in the Early Evening
After exploring much of what Verona has to offer, it’s time to return to Juliet’s House or Casa di Giulietta in the early evening. Fortunately, the Capulet house clears out in the early after all of the group tours are done. You can then enjoy the peaceful courtyard with just a small selection of other tourists.
This beautiful courtyard features the famous Romeo & Juliet balcony, a bronze statue of Juliet, the love letter wall, a love lock wall, and a graffiti wall. All of these walls have been “preserved”, so now they have a drop box for your “Letters to Juliet”. It is a very charming and peaceful site when it is not busy.
What You Need to Know for Visiting Juliet in Verona
Just to be clear, Romeo & Juliet are fictional characters. That being said, the balcony in Verona belongs to La Casa di Giulietta, or House of Juliet. This house was the former home of the Cappello family who were Shakespeare’s inspiration for the Capulets. To get to the house, you can probably just follow the tourists, but here is the address: Via Cappello, 23 in Verona, 37121, Italy
Things to Do at La Casa di Giulietta
Although La Casa di Giulietta is just one site within Verona, it is the most famous. Here you’ll find people participating in a few typical activities.
- One of the more unusual activities is that you’ll find dozens of tourists “copping a feel” on the bronze statue of Juliet, specifically her right breast. This is considered to be good luck.
- Like in the movie, Letters to Juliet, you can also send a letter to Juliet. Most of these letters tend to be from visitors around the world who are seeking romantic advice. There is then a local volunteer group who responds to thousands of letters each year, as seen in the movie.
- You’ll also find people “leave their mark” with graffiti and chewing gum on yet another wall. It does appear that in Nov. 2019 they did remove all of this, and kick off a campaign to #EnjoyRespectVerona.
- Explore the Museum in La Casa di Giulietta. Open from 9 – 6pm for the price of 6 euros, this museum offers a hub of history, as well as paintings, and a few Juliet related mementos.
Pro Tip: Avoid mid-day visits to Juliet’s house. I recommend staying overnight in Verona and visiting after all of the day trippers have gone.
How to Spend the Evening in Verona
Having seen what you came for, it’s time to unwind and relax! There are a few great options for this. Choose to join a Verona Moonlight Walking Tour to explore the city after dark. Learn to make pasta from a real Italian in the heart of Verona. Sit down for a relaxing dinner on one of the quaint side streets.
Where to Stay Overnight in Verona
There are countless options of where to stay in Verona. As you plan out your trip and get to this piece of the puzzle, I urge you to find someplace close to the historic center of town. This way you can walk to everything you could possibly need. The main tourist sites, the delicious local restaurants, any nightlife you may want to explore, etc.
Here are some highly recommended options within the city center, for any budget.
- Best Hostel in Verona: The Hostello
- Best Budget Private Room in Verona: Hotel San Luca
- Best Mid-range Hotel in Verona: Hotel Giulietta e Romeo
- Best Luxury Hotel in Verona: Due Torri Hotel
How Many Days to Spend in Verona
If you’re only interested in the Romeo and Juliet history of Verona, one day and one night in Verona will give you time to see all of the sights listed above. However, if you have more time, there is plenty to keep you entertained for a few days. After all, the city is oozing with Italian charm. It’s not all about visiting the famous Romeo & Juliet balcony.
One of the best things to do in Verona, which takes a large part of a day or potentially a full day, is going wine tasting from Verona. You’ll also want to take a look at the different food classes that are available as it is Italy after all! Here are some really awesome options:
Other Cities to Explore in Italy
Additionally, if you have more time, you can also check out other nearby Italian cities. There are dozens to choose from. Here are some posts to get you started:
- Planning a Trip to Cinque Terre: The Complete Guide
- Where to Stay in Cinque Terre, Italy: Selecting the Right Town for Your Trip
- 10 Secrets of Bologna to Know Before You Go
- 10 Best Things to Do in Bologna, Italy: The City of Porticos
- How to Day Trip to Siena from Florence + One Day Itinerary for Siena
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The founder of The Cure for Curiosity, Julia is a North Carolina based, travel addict who has followed her curiosity to 90+ countries. Whether it’s crawling through the Pyramids of Egypt, climbing to Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal, or diving the Blue Hole in Belize, she’s always on the go, and she wants to help you travel more and travel better by sharing what she’s learned along the way, from travel tips and packing lists to destination specific details.