You have half a day and you're planning a stop at Juliet's balcony. Great — but if you arrive in Verona without a booking, you risk finding the gate shut in your face. From 1 April 2026 the rules have changed, and those who don't know it will miss the moment they had been picturing for months.
Juliet's Balcony Verona 2026: What Has Changed and How to Visit
The Municipality of Verona has introduced a new access system for Casa di Giulietta, a fourteenth-century building at Via Cappello 23 linked to the Shakespearean legend. From this spring, a 5€ ticket has been required to visit the Courtyard — access that until recently was free and open to all.
From 1 April 2026, entry to the Courtyard and Casa di Giulietta takes place exclusively through the Teatro Nuovo in Piazzetta Navona. Inside the theatre, visitors are welcomed by multilingual staff and an exhibition dedicated to the history and legend of the lovers immortalised by Shakespeare. At the end of the visit, following a one-way route, the exit is through the arch onto Via Cappello.
Ticket prices from 1 April 2026 are: Teatro Nuovo + Courtyard at 5€, or Teatro Nuovo + Courtyard + Casa di Giulietta at 12€. Free entry applies to children under 5, people with disabilities holding a Disability Card and their companion, licensed tour guides with a group, and VeronaCard holders.
All tickets must be purchased exclusively online at verona.midaticket.it, and booking is mandatory even for those entitled to free admission. Opening hours are: Monday from 14:00 to 19:00, Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 19:00. Closed on 25 December and 1 January.
The local tip: the last ticket slot goes on sale at 18:30, with entry from Piazzetta Navona by 18:35. If you arrive late in the afternoon, check midaticket first to make sure availability remains for your preferred time slot.
Juliet's Balcony or Juliet's Tomb: Which One to Choose?
Here is the question very few guides ask. The balcony is, historically, a fabrication: it was added in the 1940s at the suggestion of Antonio Avena, then director of Verona's civic museums, to fuel the romantic myth. The bronze statue of Giulietta in the courtyard dates from 1972. All constructed, all intentional — and all remarkably effective on an emotional level.
And yet, if you are looking for atmosphere without the crowds, there is a place the locals know well and passing tourists often skip: the Tomba di Giulietta, at the Museo degli Affreschi "G.B. Cavalcaselle" in Via Luigi dal Porto 5. Inside the Museo degli Affreschi, in the former convent of San Francesco al Corso, lies the so-called Tomba di Giulietta. The monastic complex dates back to the thirteenth century and exudes a quiet that the crowded courtyard on Via Cappello can never offer. The pink marble sarcophagus, in the semi-underground crypt, is sober, almost austere — and yet the couples who descend to it often stand in silence, as if suspended in time.
The practical difference: the Courtyard of Giulietta is visual spectacle, selfies, emotion shared with dozens of people. The Tomb is contemplation, filtered light, ancient stone. If there are two of you and you have time for both, do both. If you have to choose, it depends on what you are looking for.
How to Plan Your Visit: A Practical Guide for Couples
Verona's historic centre is entirely walkable. Casa di Giulietta is at Via Cappello 23, about 8 minutes on foot from Piazza Bra and the Arena. The entrance through the Teatro Nuovo in Piazzetta Navona is just a short walk from Via Mazzini, Verona's main shopping street.
For a well-balanced romantic half-day, here is the sequence I recommend:
- Early morning (9:00–10:30): Courtyard and Casa di Giulietta — book the morning slot on verona.midaticket.it at least a few days in advance, especially in summer. The light in the early hours is softer and the courtyard is less crowded.
- Mid-morning: A stroll along Via Cappello towards Piazza delle Erbe, the historic market full of the colours and scents of the Veneto.
- Late afternoon: Tomba di Giulietta — open Monday from 14:00 to 19:00, Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 19:00. Distance: about 15 minutes on foot from Piazza Bra heading south, along the Adige river.
The courtyard on Via Cappello is considered the second most visited secular pilgrimage site in the world. A fact that says it all: in summer, without a booking, you risk being turned away. Online booking is not optional — it is the visit itself.
VeronaCard holders have free access to both the Theatre-Courtyard route and the full Theatre-Courtyard-Casa route. If you plan to visit several museums and monuments around the city, the VeronaCard is the best value option — and it also includes the Arena di Verona.
Can I Still Enter the Courtyard of Giulietta for Free?
What for years was a public, open and free space is now regulated as a paid attraction. The only remaining free admission applies to children under 5, people with disabilities holding a Disability Card, and VeronaCard holders.
Is Booking Mandatory Even with the VeronaCard?
Yes: online booking is mandatory even for those entitled to free admission, including VeronaCard holders. Without a booked slot on verona.midaticket.it, you will not be allowed in.
What Is the Best Time to Visit Juliet's Balcony?
In summer, the first morning slots (9:00–10:30, Tuesday to Sunday) are the least crowded. Avoid weekends in July and August without booking at least 3–4 days ahead: slots fill up quickly.
For your stay in Verona, the apartments of The Verona Stay are in the historic centre, just a few minutes' walk from both Casa di Giulietta and the Arena. Explore the accommodation options at theveronastay.it and book your ideal base for discovering the city of the Scaligeri.