If you’re planning a trip to the stunning city of Verona, Italy, especially if it’s your first time, you’re in for a treat. But where to stay in Verona (especially if you have a dog) needs some good planning and thought. We learned that the hard way.
The main search points for us when we’re researching a place to stay are: 1) dog-friendly 2) near the city center which is usually where all the attractions/restaurants/cafes/museums are centered 3) air conditioning (not a given) and 4) on-site parking. These may or may not be your search criteria but that’s how we start our search.
We’ll tell you where we stayed, why we loved it, why we can’t stay there again, and where we’d recommend to you depending on your budget, and priorities.
This city will outright steal your heart during the day, but here are our picks of where to lay your head at night.
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Verona
⭐⭐⭐ Hotel Milano & Spa – Click here for rates and availability
⭐⭐ Relais Empire – Click here for rates and availability
⭐⭐ Hotel Giulietta e Romeo – Click here for rates and availability
⭐ Best Western Hotel Fiera Verona – Click here for rates and availability
Where We Stayed: Hotel Giulietta e Romeo
We booked our stay at Hotel Giulietta e Romeo for the location alone (okay, and the name), and it delivered. You’re steps from the Roman Arena and the main square, Piazza Bra. It’s just a few blocks from the main shopping street, a short walk to Verona’s most beautiful piazza – Piazza delle Erbe – and less than a block from Tre Marchetti Trattoria, our favorite restaurant of the entire trip.
The hotel embraces its Romeo and Juliet theme to the max with hearts and flowers and Juliet imagery throughout. Attached to the hotel are not one but two perfect copies of Juliet’s balcony (the famous tourist attraction) right out front, plus a third Juliet statue in the lobby. If you don’t want to pay 12 euros or book tickets for the “real” balcony across town, this shows you exactly what it looks like and gives a similar photo op.
Breakfast is 15 euros and worth every cent. We didn’t have it until our last morning and it was an instant regret. There’s an espresso machine, an excellent spread of Italian baked goods, small focaccia with ham and tomato, a yogurt station with all the toppings, and a really good cured ham. The eggs were forgettable, but nothing else was. And dogs are allowed in the breakfast room.
Rooms have enough space, and come with a refrigerator and coffee maker, which isn’t always a given in Italy. The air conditioning was reliable too, which is definitely not a given in Italy either. The bathroom was nice and clean, but the shower was a bit small.
Parking is 25 euros a day in a garage, valet-style. They take your car at the door, and it takes about five minutes to get it back when you request it. And there’s an elevator that can accommodate you, and your luggage.
If you are traveling with a dog, this information is critical: Dogs are not allowed to stay in the room without you. This was not something we knew going in, since it was not mentioned when we confirmed her reservation. And on hot days, with planned visits to churches and museums where dogs are not allowed, it definitely altered the trajectory of our visit. So, unless you want your dog with you every moment, it’s worth reconsidering this choice. The pet fee was reasonable – only 9 euros a day – but we won’t be able to stay again.
No dog? No problem! We’d highly recommend this hotel for a human-only experience.
A final thing worth mentioning is that the staff is friendly, hospitable, and seems genuinely invested in guests being comfortable and having what they need.
🩷 Book the Centrally Located and Beautiful Hotel Giulietta e Romeo 🩷
Where to Stay in Verona: Our Top Picks by Category
🐾 Best Dog-friendly Hotel: Relais Empire
After our experience at Giulietta e Romeo, and knowing that we have plans to return to Verona in the future and will need somewhere to stay, we reached out directly to Relais Empire to confirm their policy before recommending it. They’ve confirmed dogs can be left alone in the room. They do request that you leave your phone number so they can call in case something comes up while you are gone. And dogs are not allowed in the breakfast room.
That makes this our pick if you want the flexibility to duck into a church, a museum, or enjoy a long lunch without your dog in tow. It’s centrally located in Verona right where we want to be, highly rated by past guests, and welcomes dogs of any size with no additional fee.
The rooms are absolutely stunning too – draped in gold and deep red fabrics with tall windows, and very romantic. And that’s what you want from the City of Romeo and Juliet, right?
The breakfast and staff get rave reviews from guest write-ups, and we really can’t wait to try this one out next time!
⭐️ Check Availability and Prices at Beautiful Relais Empire
✨ Best Splurge: Hotel Milano & Spa
Our walking tour guide, someone who knows this city like the back of his hand, sent us straight to Hotel Milano & Spa’s rooftop bar, the Terrazza Arena Sky Lounge, for a view directly into the Roman Arena. It sits on the 5th floor of the hotel on Vicolo Tre Marchetti, about a minute’s walk from Piazza Bra and two minutes from the Arena itself.
We had every intention of hitting this spot for a final night cocktail and farewell (for now) to Verona, and… we fell asleep! But this was put right on top of our list of things to do next time we come. And the photos check out. It looks absolutely incredible!
The rooftop terrace has a hot tub with panoramic views over Verona’s rooftops and the Roman Arena. The hotel also includes a small spa with a sauna and steam room, though we’d likely skip that ourselves since we’re usually too busy out exploring to sit still. Rooms are modern with a contemporary design. The hotel includes a private parking garage too, a real convenience in a city center where parking is otherwise a hassle.
If you want to treat yourself while you’re in Verona, this place is it! And it’s steps from Tre Marchetti Trattoria, our absolute favorite restaurant in Verona.
🏛️ Reserve your stay at the Hotel Milano & Spa with the Best View in the City
✅ Best Budget Option: Best Western Hotel Fiera Verona
If keeping costs down matters more than being in the historic center, Best Western Hotel Fiera Verona is worth a look. Rooms run in the $60-100 range, well below anything in the old town. The hotel includes free parking too, which is useful if you’re renting a car for the trip. And parking at 20-30 euros a day makes that bill go up more than you think.
Here’s the tradeoff: it’s listed as about 2 kilometers from the historic center, but real guest reviews report actual walking times closer to 25 to 40 minutes, likely because there’s no direct pedestrian route from there into town. A bus stop sits right outside the hotel with a roughly seven-minute ride into the center, so this is a viable option. Budget for that rather than planning to walk it regularly unless you’re in good shape and are looking to amass some steps.
Being close to the Old Town center is one of our own must-haves when we choose a hotel, so this isn’t where we’d stay ourselves. But if you’re traveling on a tighter budget and don’t mind the bus or a longer walk, it’s a legitimate way to see Verona for a fraction of what a central hotel costs. I really felt like this was a find!
✅ Check prices and availability at the Best Western Hotel Fiera Verona
FAQs About Where to Stay in Verona
Where to Stay in Verona If It’s Your First Visit
If budget allows, stay close to the Arena or the Piazza delle Erbe. These are the two main iconic hubs and will put you in walking distance of many of the city’s big attractions, museums, and stunning architecture.
Can I Bring My Dog to Verona?
First, Italians love dogs. Helga has never failed to get a warm reception and acceptance by local people. You’ll find dogs everywhere except certain restaurants, some museums, and all churches.
As far as the practicality of staying in a hotel, it depends entirely on the hotel, and it’s worth confirming directly before you book rather than assuming. We learned this ourselves at Hotel Giulietta e Romeo, where the hotel says dogs are allowed, but come to find out dogs can’t be left alone in the room. On the other hand, Relais Empire has confirmed they do allow it.
It’s worth noting that the only two times (out of almost a hundred) we’ve run into a hotel that does not allow a dog to stay in the room without their human were both in Italy. Keep this in mind for the rest of your stay in the country and always confirm ahead.
Is Parking Difficult in Verona’s City Center?
There is no parking in the very center around the arena, but Verona has many accessible parking lots and garages just outside the pedestrian center. If you are staying in a hotel in the pedestrian area like Hotel Giulietta e Romeo, valet parking will solve your problem. But honestly it’s no more than a 10 minute walk from the parking lots at the edge of the pedestrian area to its center.
Are There City Taxes in Verona?
Worth knowing before you book: Verona charges a small city tourist tax on top of your room rate, 1.50 to 5 euros per person per night depending on the property’s star rating, capped after four nights. It’s collected directly by the hotel at check-in or check-out, and is not included in the price you see when you book.
Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Verona
If you want the classic Verona experience and don’t mind having your dog with you everywhere you go (or if you don’t have a dog) Hotel Giulietta e Romeo is a great pick, and the location can’t be beat. If flexibility with your dog matters more, book Relais Empire instead. And if you’re celebrating something or just want one unforgettable night, the rooftop at Hotel Milano & Spa is worth the splurge. If you’re in Verona on a budget, the Best Western Hotel Fiera Verona is kind of a steal and gets great reviews.
You will be doing a lot of walking in Verona, so our best tip is to stay as centrally located in the old city as your budget will allow. If you stay outside the center, plan on a bus or a car to get you into the center because you won’t want to use up all your steps on just getting to the place where it all begins.
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Juliet’s Balcony in Verona: Worth it?
