The city of Verona is located in the North of Italy between Milan and Venice. It might not be extremely well known, but it was in Verona where Shakespeare decided to set his famous tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet.
The city was built by the Romans, who have left many traces of their past. Living in Verona is a great experience and one you certainly won’t forget. Read on to explore living in Verona and discover all the useful information you must know before moving here.
Verona’s highlights
Verona is a charming small city in the middle of Northern Italy with a great quality of life.
The food is scrumptious, and nature is right at your doorstep as picturesque vineyards surround the city, and the Lago di Garda is nearby.
It’s well-connected, and there are plenty of activities, events, and attractions that will keep you busy all year round.
Verona as a retirement destination
Retiring in an Italian city is a dream for many people, and Verona is a perfect city to do so.
It has heaps of museums, expositions, archaeological sites, old buildings, etc. If you are a culture vulture, you will not get bored.
You will be able to explore so many time periods as it has everything from old Roman arenas to Medieval churches to Shakespearean sites.
The city is also very walkable, and public transportation is efficient, making owning a car not a must.
The Lago di Garda, which is the biggest lake in Italy, is also only a 20-minute train ride away, making it perfect for day or afternoon trips. The lake offers plenty of relaxing and dynamic outdoor activities. You could go for walks, have a picnic, enjoy the view, or even go parasailing.
The cost of living in Verona
The city of Verona is slightly less known than some of Italy’s other major cities, something that does make the overall cost of living a bit lower.
One person is expected to spend around €850 per month to live comfortably. This is excluding rent, of course.
Around €160 goes to utilities such as water, electricity, garbage, etc.
Other everyday expenses are usually not too pricey. An average one-course meal at a local restaurant normally comes up to about €20 per person, for example.
When it comes to groceries, €25 can also get you quite far at the supermarket if you don’t buy anything too over the top.
Entertainment in Verona is great and also quite inexpensive; a cinema ticket is around €10, and the entry fee at museums is more or less €4.50 per adult.
Public transportation is also quite affordable as it costs €45 for an unlimited impersonal monthly pass or €430 if you decide to get a yearly one.
Renting a three-bedroom apartment in the center is normally around €1200, and one in the periphery costs approximately €800 per month.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Verona?
The average monthly income after tax here is €1575, and if you budget a bit, that can allow you to live quite comfortably, especially if you decide to live on the outskirts of the city.
Having around two thousand euros per month at your disposal would allow you to live even more comfortably and enjoy the city to its fullest.
For couples, it is recommended to have around €2500-3000 per month if you would like to live in the center whilst still maintaining a high standard of living.
Safety
When it comes to overall safety, Verona ranks pretty high.
The city is located in the North of the country, which is considered to be the safest part of Italy. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about any major and frequent crimes when living in Verona.
There are, of course, the occasional burglaries and other inevitable city crimes, but nothing too worrying.
The center of town is illuminated and busy, making it generally safe to walk around in it even after dark.
However, you should be alert about things such as pickpocketing, especially in busy tourist attractions and when you are in big crowds.
Another thing that you should be aware of is scams, especially the typical ‘Friendship bracelet scam’ which exists all over Italy.
Tourist crowds
The history and cultural experiences that the city has to offer is the main thing that attracts tourists. There are quite a few of them, especially during the summer months, that go to the city to explore several attractions such as the famous Roman Arena or even Juliet’s balcony.
Despite having around 3,2 million tourist arrivals in Verona per year, the city does not feel overthrown by them.
This number is also relatively low when you compare it to other famous Italian cities such as Milan, which has 11 million, or Florence, which has a whopping 16 million tourist arrivals per year.
This means that the city has stayed authentic in a lot of aspects, and living in Verona allows you to experience the true Italian city vibe.
The best areas to live in Verona
The city of Verona was built around the river ‘Adige’, which winds right through it.
The oldest part of the city dates back to the Roman Empire and is known today as the ‘Città Antica’ (which translates to old city).
This part is one of the best places to live if you enjoy city life and the luxury of living in a centralized location. The famous balcony from Romeo and Juliet is also in that part of town.
The areas of Citadella and San Zeno are also two very nice areas to live in; they are like the Città Antica in the center of the city and are home to many famous attractions and events.
San Zeno is known as the most authentic part of the city as it is home to the ‘Verona Antiquaria’, a typical antique market, and even entertaining shows
Just North of the Città Antica, there is the ‘Borgo Trento’ district. It is mainly a residential area with a couple of lovely green spaces and, most importantly, nice accommodations. It is also still located in the city center, making it a very practical place to live in.
Living in the heart of the city can be great, but if it is just not your cup of tea, then I would recommend areas like Borgo Venezia or Borgo Roma. They are both really nice neighborhoods pretty close to the center with good public transport options that make it easy to travel back and forth.
Borgo Venezia has quite a few parks and green spaces and an overall calm and serene atmosphere. Borgo Roma has seen a lot of modernization in the last few years, which makes it a very dynamic urban area.
Healthcare
Healthcare in general in Italy is very good; it is affordable and really efficient. Verona is no exception to this.
The city has around 30 hospitals and specialized clinics, which are scattered all over it and the surrounding areas.
I do recommend informing yourself about how and when to sign up for National Health Insurance as soon as you get there, as having health insurance is mandatory.
Or you can always opt for private or international health insurance.
International health insurance can be quite expensive. To make sure you get the best value for money, compare international health insurance options from various providers to find the best deal.
After getting the insurance, you will be assigned a doctor based on where in the city you live, and they will act as your main/general doctor and give you referrals when needed.
Travel connections
Verona is in the center of the Northern part of Italy, making most other cities in the North of Italy only a short commute away.
If you travel West by train, for example, you will reach Milan in just under two hours, and if you decide to travel East, you can reach Venice in one hour and forty-five minutes.
Other cities such as Bologna and Florence are only about one to one and a half hours away.
Furthermore, Italy’s largest lake is only a twenty-minute train ride away. The lake in question is the beautiful Lago di Garda, and it is worth visiting as it has so much to offer. Water temperatures even rise to almost 30 Celsius around August.
You could even say that Verona is well-connected for skiing and other mountain activities, as the Dolomites are just over a two-hour drive away.
Overall, I would say that Verona is extremely well-connected for traveling, and short drives or train rides let you reach many dream destinations.
The pros and cons of living in Verona
Verona has a lot of advantages to it, and a majority have been listed above. Here is a short recap of the main pointers:
- Tourists don’t overcrowd the city, which allows Verona to preserve that authentic Italian city vibe.
- Verona is a safe place to live as crime rates are on the low end.
- The city has a very good hospital network, and the healthcare system put in place is efficient.
- Almost everyone speaks at least a bit of English which is very useful when getting around.
- The locals are friendly towards foreigners and always try to help when asked.
- It is in a very central location as many cities, a lake, and the sea are not more than a two-hour train ride away.
This charming city does have some negatives to it, but hopefully, they won’t be too much of an obstacle for you.
1. Cold winters
It can get quite cold in the winter, so remember to bring some heavy jackets and bundle up. However, it can also get very hot during the summer, but the nearby lake is always a great way to cool off.
2. Parking problems
The parking is pretty expensive as there are not so many spots to park your car in the center of the city, it can cost €17 per day to park your car
3. Non-existent nightlife
There is not such a big nightlife and party culture in Verona, which could make the city less attractive for young people.
However, this could also be a relief for people who aren’t in their early twenties as you won’t have to deal with getting woken up at 3 am due to noise.
4. Pollution
The region in which the city is located is quite a polluted area of Italy; however, the nearby lake and nature around the city provide breaths of fresh air.
Final thoughts on living in Verona
If you are thinking about moving to Italy and are looking for a unique city, then Verona is the place for you. It will be a great experience and an unforgettable one for sure.
The city has so much to offer and tons of things to explore. It is perfect for culture-vultures. Its centralized location is also definitely a big plus. If you decide now, you might just make the next show at the Arena and be blown away by the amazing performance.
You might find useful:
- Living In Italy – The Expats’ Essential Guide
- The Best Places To Live In Italy For Expats
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