The Arena is the image of Verona and the place to start. The Romans built it around the middle of the first century AD, outside the city walls so that crowds could come and go easily, and it held around 30,000 spectators for games and spectacles. Most of the outer ring was lost to an earthquake in the Middle Ages, but the inner ring of pink and white limestone arches survives intact, and so do the steep stone tiers inside. In 1913 the Arena staged Verdi’s Aida, and the summer opera festival has made it the largest open-air opera house in the world ever since. Walking in through the dark arcades and coming out onto the tiers above the elliptical floor is one of the great moments of any trip to Italy. Outside the opera season it is a quiet, open monument you can explore at your own pace, and in November there are no stage sets in the way.
How it works: the Arena is a civic monument open from Tuesday to Sunday, with the last admission half an hour before closing, and it is closed on Mondays apart from occasional extra openings, including Monday 7 December 2026. From April to October opening hours change on show and event days, so check before you go in those months. The entrance and ticket office are on Piazza Bra, the big square around the amphitheatre. VeronaCard holders get in free with priority access at gate 5.
The guided option: the ticket we link to is a fast-track entry with a 45-minute guided tour in English or Italian, in groups of no more than 16. You meet the guide, who carries a yellow umbrella, on Piazza Bra next to the Arena ticket office above the steps, and the voucher on your phone is swapped for the official ticket. A guide makes a real difference here, because the Arena has few signs, and the stories of the gladiators, the medieval earthquake and the opera stage bring the stone to life.
Making the most of it: climb to the top tiers for the view across Piazza Bra to the hills, and walk part of the outer arcade, where you can see how the Romans moved thousands of people in and out. In summer, a night at the opera is the ultimate way to see the Arena: bring a cushion for the stone seats in the unreserved tiers. In winter, the Christmas market and the big comet star that is often placed on Piazza Bra add a different kind of atmosphere.
What to expect
The experience
A fast-track entry with a 45-minute guided walk through the arcades and up onto the tiers, then free time to explore the monument on your own.
Best time
A weekday morning outside the summer opera season, when the Arena is quiet and free of stage sets, or late afternoon for warm light on the stone.
How long
About an hour for the guided tour and a look around, or up to an hour and a half if you climb to the top tiers and walk the outer arcade.
Tips
Remember that the Arena is closed on Mondays, wear shoes with grip for the worn stone steps, and bring a layer in winter because the tiers are exposed to the wind.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Every first-time visitor, history lovers and anyone who wants to stand where Romans watched the games and opera fans still gather each summer.
- Families
- Children love the scale of the tiers and the gladiator stories, and the 45-minute guided format is short enough to hold their attention.
- Couples
- Climb to the top tiers together for the view over Piazza Bra, then walk to an aperitivo on the Liston, the café-lined pavement facing the Arena.
- Pair with
- The VeronaCard if you plan to see several monuments, and a stroll down Via Mazzini to Piazza delle Erbe afterwards.
- Time needed
- One to one and a half hours, including the guided tour and some time on your own on the upper tiers.
Good questions
Is the Arena di Verona open on Mondays?+
No, the Arena is normally closed on Mondays, apart from a few extra openings such as Monday 7 December 2026. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, with shorter hours on show days from April to October.
Can you visit the Arena in winter?+
Yes, winter is a good time to visit because there are no opera sets on the floor and far fewer visitors. Dress warmly, as the stone tiers are open to the weather.
How old is the Arena di Verona?+
It was built by the Romans around the middle of the first century AD. It is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres anywhere and is still used for performances.
When is the opera season at the Arena?+
The Arena opera festival runs through the summer, roughly from June to early September. Performances start after dark and the cheapest seats are on the unreserved stone tiers.
Is the guided tour worth it?+
Yes, for most visitors. The Arena has little on-site interpretation, and a 45-minute guided tour with fast-track entry explains the building, the games and the opera history far better than wandering alone.
