Is the Arena di Verona Worth Visiting?
Last Updated on December 15, 2025 by Charlotte
If you’re planning a trip to Verona, you’ve probably seen photos of the Arena di Verona, an ancient Roman amphitheater that rivals the Colosseum of Rome. And if you’re anything like me, you might be wondering: Is it worth actually going inside, or is this one of those landmarks that leaves you disappointed? My short answer: go inside. It’s absolutely worth it.
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A Brief History of the Arena di Verona
If you’re wondering what the Romans were doing all the way up here in the north of Italy, Verona was actually a strategically important city for a Roman colony. Sitting on the flanks of the river Adige, Verona was at the crossroads of major trade and military routes. And just like every major city today has a football stadium, every important Roman city had an amphitheater. The Arena di Verona was built around 30 AD (that’s 40 years before the Colosseum of Rome), just outside the city walls, so that crowds as large as 30,000 wouldn’t clog the streets.
A massive earthquake in 1117 took out the outer ring (which is why it looks a bit more “open” than the Colosseum today), but the rest of the Arena has survived remarkably intact. In 1913, someone had the genius idea to stage Verdi’s Aida here, and it’s been Verona’s legendary open-air opera venue ever since.
What Makes the Arena di Verona So Special
The Arena di Verona is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. Unlike the Colosseum in Rome, where you’re funneled through designated walkways and roped-off sections, here at the Arena di Verona, you can actually wander freely through most of the space. You can climb the same steep stone steps that gladiators and spectators once did, all the way to the very top.
And the steps are steep. Like, grab-the-seat-in-front-of-you steep. It gives you a real appreciation for how athletic ancient Romans must have been just to find a place to sit.
On our visit, the arena floor was covered with concert equipment—speakers, lighting rigs, staging—because there was a performance scheduled later that week. At first, I thought it might detract from the experience, but honestly? It was a good reminder that this isn’t just another ruin guarded behind velvet ropes.
The Arena di Verona has been hosting performances for nearly 2,000 years, and it’s still ongoing. That continuity is pretty incredible. If we’d known about these concerts before our visit, we would have tried to catch one! If opera is your jam, you can see the full concert schedule online.
Is the Arena di Verona Better Than the Roman Colosseum?
I’m not going to say the Arena is “better” than the Colosseum because they’re different experiences, but I will say that the Arena felt more immersive. It was less crowded, and I loved that we could explore at our own pace. To me, sitting on those ancient seats at the Arena di Verona felt more personal than being herded through Rome’s most famous tourist attraction. If you’ve done the Colosseum and felt a bit underwhelmed by the experience, the Arena might pleasantly surprise you.
Visiting Information
The Arena di Verona is located in Piazza Bra, right in the heart of Verona’s historic center. It is pretty large so you can’t miss it!
Hours
- Tuesday–Sunday, 9:00 AM–7:00 PM (last entry 6:30 PM).
- Closed on Mondays, December 25, and January 1.
Hours may vary during opera season or when events are scheduled, so check the official website before your visit.
Tickets
Personally, I think the best value way to visit is with the Verona Card. If you have the Verona Card, your entry is included, and you can skip the ticket line and walk right in at Gate 5. However, if you don’t want to visit other attractions in Verona, there is always the option of booking a general admission ticket.
- General admission: €12
- Young people 18-25 years: € 3
- Free admission:
- Children under 18 years (children younger than 14 must be accompanied by adults)
- Persons with disabilities and their accompanying person
- Verona card holders
- €1 entrance: on the first Sunday of every month from November to March
You can learn more about ticketing and how to purchase a ticket online in advance at https://www.museiverona.com/.
Facilities and Accessibility
Thankfully, the Arena has toilets for visitors.
While some areas of the Arena are not accessible, the venue has made a commitment to help those with disabilities.
Time Needed
We spent about 30 minutes exploring, which felt like plenty of time to climb to the top, take photos, soak it in, and head out. If you’re an ancient history buff, you might want longer.
Planning Your Verona Trip?
The Arena was part of our three-day exploration of Verona. For a complete itinerary including the Torre dei Lamberti, Giardino Giusti, and that carbonara spot we loved so much that we went back twice, check out my full 3-Day Verona Itinerary. For a deeper look at how to plan your time in the city, including what to see, when to go, and where to stay, check out my complete Verona Travel Guide.
