What's on in Verona (Lake Garda), Italy through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in Italy, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Busy — Verona in Love, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Verona in Love

  10–18 Feb · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  The city leans hard on its Shakespeare connection for the Valentine's weekend: a lit heart in Piazza dei Signori, markets, and queues at the Juliet balcony that are worse than in August. Source ↗

Quiet — travelers describe it as quiet, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Peak crowds — Vinitaly, Easter holidays in Italy

• Festival

  Vinitaly

  5–20 Apr · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  The largest wine fair in the world takes over the exhibition centre for four days in April and every hotel room within an hour of the city with it. Trade only inside; the whole town drinks outside. Source ↗

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in May.

Busy — Summer holidays in Italy, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Arena opera festival

  10 Jun – 10 Sep · usuallySummer season opensBook early

  Opera in a Roman amphitheatre for three months, starting after nine so the stone has cooled. The unreserved steps cost a fraction of the stalls; take a cushion, because they are stone. Source ↗

Busy — Summer holidays in Italy, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Po valley heat

  1 Jul – 25 AugExtreme heat

  Flat, humid and airless in high summer, which is exactly why the Arena performances start at night. Lake Garda half an hour west is where the city goes to get away from it. Source ↗

Still on: Arena opera festival (10 Jun – 10 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Ferragosto, Summer holidays in Italy

• Holiday

  Ferragosto

  8–22 AugSchool holidaysCrowdedClosures

  The opera season keeps running and the coaches keep arriving while much of the city's own trade shuts for the fortnight. Book anything you want to eat at, or eat where the tour groups eat. Source ↗

Still on: Arena opera festival (10 Jun – 10 Sep (usually)), Po valley heat (1 Jul – 25 Aug)

Busy — Summer holidays in Italy, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Valpolicella harvest and drying

  5 Sep – 30 Nov · usually

  The hills north of the city pick in September, then lay the best grapes out on racks to shrivel until winter for Amarone. The drying lofts are the thing worth asking to see.

Still on: Arena opera festival (10 Jun – 10 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Valpolicella harvest and drying (5 Sep – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — Christmas markets, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Christmas markets

  20 Nov – 26 DecChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Nuremberg-run stalls fill Piazza Bra under the Arena from late November, and a steel comet hangs out of the amphitheatre. Cold, foggy and considerably busier than the shoulder months. Source ↗

Still on: Valpolicella harvest and drying (5 Sep – 30 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Christmas markets, Christmas holidays in Italy

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Christmas markets (20 Nov – 26 Dec)