Verona City Hop-on Hop-off Tour

We decided last minute to get tickets for the opera at Verona Arena as we were staying in the city for a couple of nights. We had the seats furthest from the stage but it didn’t matter. The opera was Turandot. The stage was incredible and the quality of the orchestra and singling was top notch. Our 11-year old also enjoyed her first opera experience. A few tips. Take cash as there’s no bar but there are vendors walking around selling drinks in the arena for cash. Take or buy a cushion to sit on. 3 hours on a stone seat is not too comfy. It was a magical night.

It is definitely an overrated Tourist Trap! The spectacle was beautiful with excellent artists and great performance, BUT... 1. There is a dress code, so you dress for an opera venue, then you are invited to sit on somebody's feet and somebody else sit on yours! The Raynair economic class is definitely twice larger. 2. The opera finish after the operating hours of the so called " Night" transport. 3. The recording and the photos are prohibited during the performance - actually people are taking pictures, but the stewards are no taking any action. In a summary: the experience is more likely a football game than an opera. If you love opera - don't go there, or if you go prepare your self for a sport event rather then an opera.

Watching an opera at the Verona Arena is about much more than the performance itself—it's about the unforgettable atmosphere. We saw *La Bohème* and chose seats in Sector 4 on the ancient stone steps instead of chairs because we wanted the full Arena experience. We bought seat cushions in advance, although you can also buy them outside or inside the amphitheater (they're a bit more expensive inside). We arrived early to walk around, take photos, and enjoy the incredible atmosphere as the Arena gradually filled with thousands of people. It was one of the highlights of the evening. Our seats offered an excellent view of the stage. The opera itself was good, but not outstanding. The acoustics weren't perfect, and the sound wasn't always as clear as we expected. However, the subtitles and translations on the large screens were easy to read, so following the story was never a problem. If you're looking for world-class acoustics, you may have higher expectations. But if you want to experience an opera in a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater under the stars, surrounded by history and an incredible atmosphere, it's absolutely worth it. We left with wonderful memories and are very glad we went.

So Aida Simpley stunning The set The lighting The music The sining Amazing

Incredible. Wonderful set, cast and singing. Special evening I will never forget, I have seen a lot of opera and this did not disappoint.

We were fortunate to get tickets to La Traviata even if we did not plan this for many days before. Of course there was not many seats to choose and so we ended up sitting very high up in the arena. It had it’s pros - on a very hot night the air was cirkleing a little better and you could really have the idea of the whole arena. On the down side the music was not so load up there and we could hear noices from the street quite well. Audiance was mostly well-behaving but there were some filming the whole show. All and all, experience was magical and next time we will consider trying to get better seats.

Fantastic and magnificent evening with Aida Great Acoustic and wonderful performance Easy to find seats and access Splurge little extra and get a good seat as it’s worth it Drinks are reasonably priced

We had the most magical evening watching the opera “Turnadot” during the Verona Opera festival. We sat on the stone steps which added to the experience using cushions we purchased just outside the arena. The sound was amazing in the arena. Drinks were quite expensive. 10 euros for a small wine.

A very beautiful piece of history and architecture.

There is no place better to experience Opera than in Italy, and in Arena di Verona for sure. The whole experience was amazingly memorable and just fantastic. The Italians are clearly in love with Opera which is reflected in the smart dress for the occasion and the intensity of their focus on the performance, no one sat on their mobiles here! The venue was packed solid and the show was sold out. We sat on the stone steps to experience this better, we purchased cushions outside. I managed to get in wearing shorts and a shirt, my wife had a nice dress on. For the seats though smart dress code is required. They will check your bag, all drinks are confiscated until the end of the show, this includes your water bottle container. Drinks can be purchased inside along with cushions and programs, like the old usherettes. The show lasts 3 hours and we was completely at awe, we managed to follow the story or Turandot, there is a large screen that’s gives translation of the Opera which is helpful. They sing without the aid of any kind of equipment which is testimonial to their ability to perform and the acoustics of the arena. The weather was perfect for us. I booked my tickets months in advance as I wanted to specifically see this Opera, nothing disappointed us and our first experience in Opera was such a memorable night. As you leave at midnight most places are still open late into the night and serving food and drinks well into early hours. You have to go.

Roman amphitheatre surrounded by giant opera sets (as it's opera week). Impressive ancient structure easy to circumnavigate and surrounded by cafés etc. Apparently older than the Colosseum in Rome.

We were 5 for a modern production of Nabucco opera in the magnificent Arena di Verona, a well-preserved Roman amphitheater from the 1st century AD. Arenas magical atmosphere and grand acoustics is just unbelievable and unique! Bring or rent a cushion. Our hotel provided us with such cushions. Why visit: World-class summer opera, magical night atmosphere under the open sky and right in the historic center of Verona.

We saw Aida here. The most amazing venue we have ever visited. It is like the Colosseum but much better preserved. The acoustics were wonderful. Definitely the most exciting place to see an opera

When you book stone step seating try and get row 2. This will allow you to lean back on the step behind. Otherwise you have to lean forward the whole time. Its worth taking a cushion or hiring one. I sat on the stones which were pretty hot after a week of 40 degree sun. A hand fan is essential. Buy one in the market for 3 to 5 euro and not the 10 in the arena. You have more space on the steps than the seats I think and la treviata was 3 hours. It does cool a little but is like an oven most of the time. Cold drinks are available inside but cost double compared to outside. Small coke is 5 euro. Dress code for stone steps is relaxed. Shorts, sandals and polo shirt fine. Show started at 9pm so we got to the section noted on the ticket at 8.20. There is a bag check then metal detector. They do not allow any metal bottles. Dont even think you can try to get one in. It is pot luck what you can get in. My tip is to have a 500ml plastic bottle or even 750ml. Show them this and they may ignore a small bag on your shoulder. I managed to get in some grapes and little macaroons. Oversize and metal bottles are put in a plastic box to collect at the end if you're luvky. All cold drinks turn tepid after 15 mins of being in the oven anyway. Steps are about 1ft in places and you need to take it slowly. The performance space is amazing. You'll see the props for other operas on piazza bra and as they alternate a crane lifts them into place. No issues with sound or view of the stage. We sat at the side and saw the lot. There are usually 2 intervals and you can buy drinks and fans from vendors who circulate. I did not use the toilets sorry. Try to book early as leaving it to the day before wont get you a deal. The really expensive stalls seating was available for aida today but about 180 euro each. Performance day is busy but I recommend sitting at the vittorio emanuel bar with a cocktail and snacks watching opera goers arrive in their finery. Its great that even when roughing a visit, opera is for all and you'll have a memorable evening

We visited the Viva Vivaldi immersive concert and overall had a decent experience, combining culture and modern technology in a unique, 2,000-year-old historical setting. Arrival: Security check lines had already formed at around 20:15, even though the concert started at 21:30. If you prefer to have enough time to walk around the Arena, buy water, and comfortably find your seat, I would recommend arriving about 1.5 hours early. Tickets: We booked our tickets directly through the official website, where you can choose your seating area according to the ticket price. Interestingly, prices remained the same even on the day of the concert. However, by then, only the most expensive seats and the least popular corner-view seats were still available. Immersive experience: The visuals were limited to a large screen/canvas positioned in front of the musicians. So, if you are expecting a major 3D experience involving the entire building or surrounding architecture, you may find it somewhat underwhelming. Weather: The temperature later in the evening was quite pleasant, and light clothing was sufficient. A suit was definitely not necessary, although some guests did wear them. Overall, it was a pleasant experience that brings together classical music, culture, and modern technology in a remarkable 2,000-year-old historical setting.

This is review for the daytime experience of visiting the arena, not the opera experience. Yes it’s an incredible place. But can’t there be just a little effort into giving the visitor some context of this important piece of Roman history? There were approximately four paragraphs of information, regarding the history of the opera at the Arena, and a little bit about restoration. These placards were all jammed into a small foyer. Hardly a word about how the Roman’s built it, who attended at the time, why people went, etc.

If you have tickets for the ground-level stalls (platea), do NOT wear shorts. They do not clearly warn you, but security will deny you entry at the gate and force you to buy €30 long pants at the Arena Shop just to get in. It feels like a massive cash grab. Additionally, do not bring any water bottles or drinks. Security makes everyone dump their personal bottles into unmonitored baskets at the entrance, and you just have to hope yours is still there when the show ends. Advice for future guests: Wear smart casual/long trousers if you are in the stalls, and don't bring a reusable water bottle.

We visited in June. When my husband looked at how much it was to enter the arena and look around the inside he said it was €25 each. A lot of other reviews are saying €12. I did make him double check but he said it was definitely €25 each. So we just admired it from the outside. Judging by other reviews, entering the arena seems to be a waste of time and money. The most beautiful features are on the outside, and there is information boards detailing its history.

Nabucco was awful! The productions swamped the opera and made it difficult to follow. It was all about the lights and costume. Half the time you couldn’t find the main chart because they were in the middle of crowds with no direct spot on them. It was so disappointing.

Some experiences are utterly magical. This was one. La Boheme at the Arena on a beautiful evening. Performance was superb. Singing, staging, orchestra - everything. We had good seats that were worth every single euro. Staff were really helpful. Bars, toilets and all other ‘essential services’ were excellent, but everything paled in comparison to La Boheme in THAT setting. If you ever wonder if it’s worth going to an opera here, and you love opera, don’t think twice. Do it 🇮🇹😍

Experienced Nabucco during Opera Festival. Sat in the unreserved stone seating. You require stamina to climb, buttocks of Steele to sit and an appreciation of Opera. If you have all theses then it is a must! Very memorable! (Despite the very odd visual arrangement by the director that had the setting more Italian Revolution than 530BC Babylon!)

Well, this was a surprise from my husband as part of my 60th birthday celebrations and a total bucket list tick ! The whole experience from walking into this wonderful building was just amazing. So many people dressed up for the occasion, the arena is so impressive, open air, and just amazing. Prosecco was €24 for 2 but on an occasion like that we had several ! The performance of La Traviata was outstanding and our seats in the stalls just perfect. Defo something we’ll do again now that we’ve been.

Frankly, the seating killed it for us. Paid for seats along the side - in the Palladio section, row 9, seat 114. In 6’4” and my knees were into the shoulders of the person in front of me. The seats also angle down so you’re incredibly uncomfortable (my friends are normal height). They also don’t fold up all the way so it’s impossible for others to squeeze by. Other things that bothered me: the dress code is unclear and uninforced. It sounded like we needed to wear pants, but plenty of people in our section were wearing shorts - and it was incredibly hot. We all decided to leave early because it was so uncomfortable. If you wanna go, sit on the stoned up high and buy or bring a cushion - at least you can spread out and not be stuffed in like sardines.

We saw a performance of La Traviata at the Arena di Verona and we went for a self-guided tour of the building the next day. The colosseum is stunning. The only comfortable seating is at the floor level. I wish we had taken a guided tour to learn more about the history of the arena.

The Arena feels unusually connected to the city around it. You step off Piazza Bra and suddenly there’s a Roman amphitheatre that still has a real purpose rather than feeling like an isolated archaeological site. Inside, the stone seating and open layout make the scale easy to understand without needing a long visit. It fits naturally into a walk through central Verona, so there’s no need to build half a day around it. Even without attending a performance, the building itself gives you a very different side of the city.

Seeing an opera inside the historic Arena was truly a great experience. We sat in the upper-middle section, and the view of the entire venue was incredible. ​One thing to keep in mind is that all the sound comes purely live from the stage with zero amplification—there are no speakers spread around the arena. While that makes the historic atmosphere feel super authentic, the acoustics aren't quite on par with a traditional, enclosed opera house. It’s definitely a bucket-list experience worth having for the setting alone, even if pure audio die-hards might miss that crisp indoor acoustics.