It is four in the afternoon. The sun bears down on the stones of Verona, the Scaligero city radiates heat from the arcades of Via Roma. But three hundred metres from Ponte Navi, across the Adige, there is a place where the air changes within ten steps. Walk into Giardino Giusti and you feel the difference at once: the resin of the cypresses, the coolness of the boxwood hedges trimmed into precise geometry, the suspended silence of a Renaissance garden that has never modernised itself and — precisely for that reason — has no rivals.
What to see at Giardino Giusti in Verona: the quick guide
Giardino Giusti, at Via Giardino Giusti 2 in the Veronetta neighbourhood, is one of the most intact Italian-style gardens in Europe. The structure you see today dates back to 1570, when Agostino Giusti — a knight of the Venetian Republic and gentleman of the Grand Duke of Tuscany — shaped it as a stage set for his palazzo. Since then, little has changed.
The route divides into two distinct sections. Below: the formal garden with symmetrical boxwood hedges, fountains, mythological statues by Lorenzo Muttoni, and a labyrinth redesigned in 1786 by Luigi Trezza — among the oldest in Europe still open to visitors. Above, reached by climbing the cypress-lined avenue, the belvedere opens up with one of the finest panoramas over Verona: the red rooftops, the Arena, the bell tower of San Zeno in the distance. It is worth the entrance fee on its own.
A detail most guides omit: the famous Goethe Cypress — the tree of over six hundred years that the German poet admired in 1786 during his journey through Italy — is no longer there. It was brought down by a violent storm in August 2020. In its place, an eloquent absence among the regular rows of cypresses lining the avenue. It is not a disappointment: it is one more story to tell.
The visit takes on average 45–60 minutes, or twice as long if you climb slowly and linger at the belvedere. Comfortable shoes are recommended: the ground is uneven in the upper section.
Opening hours, prices and how to get there (2026 data)
In summer — from June to August — the garden is open every day from 9:00 to 20:00 (last entry at 19:00). In May and September the hours are 9:00–19:00 with last entry at 18:00. Always check the official website giardinogiusti.com for any early closures: in 2026 there have already been days with reduced hours due to private events.
Updated entrance prices:
- Full price: € 11.00
- Reduced (students, Verona Card, groups of min. 15 people, FAI, Touring Club): € 8.00
- Family (2 adults + 1 child aged 6–18): € 20.00
- Family (2 adults + 2 or more children aged 6–18): € 30.00
- Children aged 0–5 and visitors with disabilities accompanied by a carer: free
How to arrive on foot from the historic centre: from Ponte Navi (Arena side, 8 minutes on foot) or from Ponte Nuovo (Teatro Ristori side, 6 minutes). Do not drive: the Veronetta neighbourhood is a ZTL restricted traffic zone. From the Arena car park, it is approximately 15 minutes on foot along the Adige — a beautiful walk in the evening. Download the official Giardino Giusti app (iOS and Android) for the audio guide in Italian and English, included in the ticket price.
An afternoon snack at Giusti: Veronese wine and cheese under the mulberry tree
Here is the part no guide tells you. In the late afternoon — from around 17:00 onwards — the light shifts, the school groups have gone, and the garden becomes almost silent. It is the right moment to sit on the steps of the upper garden or beneath the shade trees in the lower section, pull out what you bought in the morning at the market or at one of the shops in the centre, and do the most Veronese thing in the world: a slow afternoon snack with local wine and cheese.
What to bring? Monte Veronese DOP — produced in Lessinia, half an hour from Verona — pairs magnificently with a well-chilled Bardolino Chiaretto if you prefer something fresh, or with a Valpolicella Classico if you lean towards red. For white wine lovers: a Soave Superiore, harmonious and mineral, holds up beautifully in the summer heat and pairs well with a semi-aged pecorino. Amarone, on the other hand, save it for the evening — it is too demanding for a warm afternoon.
Wine is not sold inside the garden, but you can buy it in the morning at one of the wine shops on Via Mazzini or Corso Porta Borsari (in the historic centre, ten minutes on foot) and keep it in a cool bag. Picnics are not prohibited in the green areas, but always check the up-to-date rules at the entrance. What matters is the pace: slow, quiet, with the view over the rooftops and a glass in hand.
Can you bring food and wine into Giardino Giusti?
There is no explicit ban on consuming food and drinks in the garden's green areas, but it is good practice to check the rules at the entrance and to treat the space with respect. Avoid glass cups and take everything with you when you leave.
Is Giardino Giusti suitable for families with children?
Yes, the labyrinth is very popular with children over 6. Children under 5 enter free. Please note: the uphill path to the belvedere has irregular steps and is not recommended with a pushchair.
How far is Giardino Giusti from Piazza Bra?
Approximately 15–20 minutes on foot, crossing Ponte Navi over the Adige. It is one of the most beautiful walks in central Verona, following the banks of the river.
If you want the garden within walking distance — no car, no taxi, with the comfort of an apartment in the heart of the Scaligero city — The Verona Stay has two properties in the historic centre: one near the Arena (Via Roma 21) and one near Teatro Ristori. From both, the Adige and Giardino Giusti are reachable on foot.