Where to Stay in Verona (6 Best Places & Areas)

👉 Jump to: Best Places to Stay | Areas & Neighborhoods | Tips | FAQs

Having visited Verona as both a digital nomad and traveler, I have come to know it well, and it has become one of my favorite cities in Italy. So, whether you’re looking for ancient history or romance, I am here to help you decide where to stay.

If it’s your first time in Verona, then I recommend staying in the Città Antica, Verona’s Old Town. NH Collection Palazzo Verona is my top pick. Located around the corner from the Porta Borsari, it is close to most of the city’s major sights. 

If you’re staying longer, then the apartment I rented is ideal. Borgo Trento Residence in Borgo Trento has all the necessary amenities and is only a fifteen-minute walk away from the Old Town. 

Besides these two options, Verona has many more worthwhile places to stay. From the best hotels for couples to budget-friendly accommodations, I’ve listed them all below.

Best Places to Stay in Verona

If you’re short on time, these are my top picks: 

• 🏆 Best Overall Hotel – NH Collection Palazzo Verona
• 📍 Best Location – Relais Balcone di Giulietta
• ✨ Best Luxury Hotel – Relais Villa dei Gelsi & Spa or Vista Verona
• 👪 Best for Families – Hotel Italia
• 🛎️ Best Boutique – Relais Colle San Pietro or Agriturismo Il Pianetto
• 👩‍❤️‍👨 Best for Couples – Il Relais dell’Abbazia
• 📚 Best for Students – Limehome Verona La Vigna in Città
• 📆 Best for Long-Term Stays – Borgo Trento Residence (I loved staying here)
• 💵 Best Budget – StraVagante Hostel & Rooms or La Nuova Corte Rooms

Ok, now scroll down for a deep dive into the pros (and cons) of each area of Verona: 

6 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Verona

Verona spreads out from two steep bends in the Adige River, with the Città Antica forming the center. While the Old Town contains most of the main sights, its surrounding areas have lots of history and a buzzing culinary scene as well. 

A good rule of thumb is to stick to the areas listed in this guide, as the other neighborhoods in Verona are mainly residential. Unless you like exploring suburbs, they don’t have much to offer aside from a couple of restaurants and cafés.

Città Antica

👉 Best Area For First-Timers & History Buffs | ✨ Best Città Antica Hotels: Notti sull’Adige • NH Collection Palazzo Verona • Relais Balcone di Giulietta • VISTA Verona 

The Città Antica is a history buff’s dream with its Roman ruins, ancient frescoes, and red-tiled roofs. Verona’s old town and center contain most of the city’s main sights and attractions. And being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are innumerable historic sites to take in. 

Because there is so much to discover, first-time visitors will find that this is the best place to stay as well. Not only will you be able to see everything within a 10-minute walk from your hotel, but each street will immerse you in its ancient atmosphere. 

Needless to say, there are hotels aplenty. The overall best would be the NH Collection Palazzo Verona. Just around the corner from Porta Borsari, it offers trendy, yet comfortable rooms and a complimentary breakfast.

If you like to get breakfast at a local bakery or restaurant, then stay at Relais Balcone di Giulietta instead, which looks out over Juliette’s Balcony.

Pros of Staying in Città Antica:

• Most of Verona’s main sights will be on your doorstep
• Lots of great restaurants and bars
• Has both larger retail stores and smaller boutiques

Cons of Staying in Città Antica:

• Hotels can be pricey and sell out quickly
• During both peak and low seasons, this area gets crowded with tourists
• Hotel rooms tend to be smaller

Borgo Trento

👉 Best Area For Families & Long-Term Stays | ✨ Best Borgo Trento Hotels: Borgo Trento Residence • Hotel Italia • Residenza Ca’ degli Enzi

Being largely residential, Borgo Trento might not be on your radar. But with Art Nouveau palaces and greenery lining the streets, this area offers much of Verona’s romantic charm without the overflow of tourists. 

Besides its quieter streets, its proximity to the Città Antica makes Borgo Trento the best area to stay for families and long-term visitors. Apartments and rental properties abound here, and many hotels, like the Hotel Italia, offer family rooms. 

If you need more space and a kitchen, then the Borgo Trento Residence is the best option. It offers one-bedroom apartments that sleep up to four people, with cribs on request. I stayed here during my last visit and found their spacious rooms and the 15-minute walk to the Città Antica ideal. 

Pros of Staying in Borgo Trento:

• Quiet streets with limited traffic
• Lots of apartment options
• Easy to walk to downtown

Cons of Staying in Borgo Trento:

• Not many bars and restaurants around
• Fewer sights and museums than other neighborhoods

Veronetta

👉 Best Area For Students & Nightlife | ✨ Best Veronetta Hotels: Limehome Verona La Vigna in Città • B&B Verona Centro • Relais Colle San Pietro • The Hostello

Veronetta is Verona’s hippest and youngest area, known for being a university district. Trendy cafés and bars packed with students and locals fill its streets, and you will find some cool vintage stores scattered around on the eastern bank of the Adige River.

Unsurprisingly, Veronetta is the best place to stay for nightlife and traveling students. The Hostello is a great option if you’re looking to make new friends and save money. Need more privacy? Then book a spacious yet affordable apartment at Limehome.

Besides its lively bar scene, Veronetta is steeped in history and art. This makes it an art lover’s paradise. During sunset, friends gather on Castel San Pietro’s hill for a picnic-style aperitivo, and both locals and tourists can be found listening to jazz at the Teatro Romano or wandering the Giardini Giusti. 

If you want to be close to the castle and Città Antica, then stay at Relais Colle San Pietro. This luxury boutique hotel offers stunning rooms that include a free-standing bathtub with city views.

Pros of Staying in Veronetta Neighborhood:

• Bordering the Città Antica, it’s easy to walk to downtown
• Lots of great restaurants and bars
• Full of historical heritage, art, and museums
• Easier to experience local life here

Cons of Staying in Veronetta Neighborhood:

• Some areas can be noisier due to bars that are open until late

San Zeno

👉 Best Area For Couples & Local Life | ✨ Best San Zeno Hotels: Il Relais dell’Abbazia • Arena Suite • La Nuova Corte Verona

While Verona itself is the city of love, couples wanting ultimate romance should stay in San Zeno. The area has the same medieval and Renaissance architecture as the historical center. But compared to Città Antica, it is residential instead of touristy. 

In my opinion, nothing beats feeling like you’re the only two people in the world while taking a midnight stroll after a local dinner.

San Zeno is also the place for those wishing to explore local life, which revolves around its namesake sights: the Basilica and Piazza of San Zeno. The square is filled with restaurants and hosts a monthly flea market.

For both local life and romance, Il Relais dell’Abbazia is a must-stay. Around the corner from San Zeno Piazza, this bed & breakfast has been built into the old barn of the Basilica. Its rooms are both modern and traditional, and its garden is the perfect place for a homemade breakfast.

Pros of Staying in San Zeno:

• Mainly residential, meaning streets are quieter at night
• Full of historical architecture and sights
• Fewer tourists around

Cons of Staying in San Zeno:

• Fewer hotels than in other neighborhoods
• Further away from the center than most of the other areas in this guide

Valdonega

👉 Best Area For Rural Luxury | ✨ Best Valdonega Hotels: Agriturismo Il Pianetto • Collina di Verona Borgo San Mattia • Relais Villa dei Gelsi & Spa • Relais Fra’ Lorenzo

Look no further than Valdonega if your priority is relaxation. This residential area flanks the eastern side of Borgo Trento and stretches out far into the hills. While you won’t find any major sights or restaurants here, the area drips in rural luxury. 

Many bed and breakfasts and agriturismos can be found within its hills. Agriturismo Il Pianetto has affordable rooms and a pool with city and hill views. Relais Villa dei Gelsi & Spa, on the other hand, is a more luxurious option.

Valdonega is thus ideal if you prefer to stay in the countryside and plan on visiting Verona for a day. Bear in mind, though, that the distance between most hotels here and the city is not walkable. 

If you don’t want to rent a car, then stay at Relais Fra’ Lorenzo. This luxury hotel rents out bicycles and is a 10-minute walk from the center.

Pros of Staying in Valdonega:

• Quiet and residential
• Many luxury boutique hotels and B&B’s with outdoor pools
• Spectacular views of Verona and its surrounding hills
• Close to nature

Cons of Staying in Valdonega:

• For most hotels, you’ll need a rental car to get around
• Hotels can be pricey
• Very few bars and restaurants

Cittadella

👉 Best Area For Budget Travelers & Backpackers | ✨ Best Citadella Hotels: StraVagante Hostel & Rooms • La Nuova Corte Rooms • Relais Empire

You will find Cittadella wedged between the Città Antica and the main train station. Taking its name from its Medieval military defenses, remnants of the city walls and gates are still scattered throughout the area. 

While this neighborhood has an incredible history, most of its character lies elsewhere. Cittadella has a multi-cultural heart, marked mainly by the Corso Porto Nuova. The main street is lined with international restaurants and bars, which are always bustling with locals.

With multiple budget hotels and hostels around as well, Cittadella is the best place to stay for budget travelers. Especially for backpackers exploring Europe by rail. Stay at StraVagante Hostel & Rooms if you want to meet other travelers on a budget. If you prefer to be closer to the Old Town, pick La Nuova Corte Rooms instead.

Pros of Staying in Citadella:

• Easy to walk to downtown
• Lots of affordable restaurants and bars
• Budget-friendly hotels
• The train station is close by

Cons of Staying in Citadella:

• A little more traffic than the rest of the city
• Fewer sights and museums within the area itself

Tips for Staying in Verona

Pack Comfortable Shoes

Most of the sights in Verona are concentrated in the areas listed above, making the use of public transport often superfluous. As most of your exploring will be done on foot, packing a pair of comfortable sneakers is imperative. See our complete Italy packing list for more ideas on what to bring.

Buy a Verona Card

There are so many things to do in Verona, that paying to visit every single sight will cost you a fortune. I recommend buying the Verona Card instead. This card offers free access to public transport and over fifteen attractions, and discounts on many more museums and sights.

You could buy the card online, but to avoid a scam, I recommend buying it at the Tourist Information Office.

Don’t Forget to Explore Verona’s Surroundings

If you are staying in Verona for a week or more, then make sure to explore its stunning surroundings. Lake Garda is just a 15-minute train ride away, and the high-speed train will take you to Venice in just over an hour. Renting a car? Then visit one of the wineries in the Valpolicella region or go hiking in the Dolomites. There are plenty of worthwhile stops to add to your Northern Italy itinerary.

Don’t Rush Your Itinerary

In theory, you can see most of Verona in two or three days. However, part of what makes the city so great is everything that happens in between sights. So join the locals, and take your time savoring long lunches, reading a book by the river, or enjoying a lengthy aperitivo.

Beware of Limited Traffic Zones

Many major Italian cities have car-free zones that apply to tourists and non-residents. These zones are called Zona Trafico Limitato (ZTL) and are often guarded by security cameras. Driving into these areas without a permit will result in hefty fines, which aren’t a great souvenir.

Verona’s ZTL mainly covers the Città Antica, but you can find a more precise map here. If you’re roadtripping around Italy and staying in the historic center, make sure to ask your hotel about parking options.

Bring Fancy Clothes

Italians love to dress up, and not only for operas in the Arena. While you are not expected to wear elaborate gowns or heavy suits whenever you go out to dinner, dressier clothes are appreciated. For men, a pantalon with a linen blouse will do. Women can get away with any dressy top or dress with a pair of sandals.

FAQs

What are the best areas to stay in Verona for first-timers?

Città Antica and Cittadella are the best areas to stay in for first-timers. Città Antica places you right in the middle of all the main sights, which is ideal for exploration. However, accommodation in the historical center tends to be pricey. Cittadella, which borders the Città Antica, is the more affordable option of the two. 

What areas of Verona should I avoid staying in? 

All areas listed in this guide are amazing places to stay, as they are close to most of the main sights. However, I would discourage staying in suburban and residential areas like Borgo Roma, Borgo Milano, and Borgo Venezia. These neighborhoods have fewer restaurants, bars, and sights. 

While they can be great if you’re planning on staying for a couple of weeks, I recommend sticking to the areas in this guide for a holiday.

What are the best parts of Verona for a long stay?

Borgo Trento is the ideal area for a longer stay. I booked an apartment here for a week, and loved how quiet it was. San Zeno, also a residential area, is another great option. Both areas have plenty of apartments, which are a 15-minute walk from the center.

What are the best parts of Verona to stay on a budget?

Verona is one of the most popular cities to visit in Italy, making most hotels quite pricey. Budget options can still be found in some places, like Cittadella and Veronetta. These areas offer a couple of hostels and affordable studio apartments, but I recommend booking early and in the off-season to get the best prices.

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With all the best neighborhoods covered, that’s a wrap on my guide on where to stay in Verona. For more inspiration, see our list of the top 30+ destinations to visit in Italy.