There's a ritual I follow every time I take someone to Verona for the first time. I walk with them late at night, after dinner, from the centre toward Veronetta; the next day I put them on a bus to Lake Garda; and finally I stop them in front of a white stone façade on Corso Porta Borsari and ask: "Do you have any idea how many centuries you've just walked through?". Three places, three timescales, three essential encounters.
Veronetta: the university nightlife district under closer watch in 2026
The short answer: Veronetta is Verona's university quarter, on the eastern bank of the Adige, easily reached on foot by crossing Ponte Navi or Ponte Nuovo. It is the young soul of the city: several university buildings are based here, alongside numerous bars and venues that draw students from across Italy, all wrapped in a lively, artistic atmosphere. It is, without question, the heartbeat of Verona's nightlife: after an aperitivo in Piazza delle Erbe or dinner in one of the old-town osterie, the evening carries on here well into the night.
By 2026 the situation has become more regulated — and that is something every visitor should bear in mind. In recent months the issues have spread beyond the historic centre, reaching areas such as Veronetta and Borgo Trento, with around ten proceedings opened: not an isolated problem but a structural one. Enforcement operations have focused in particular on what locals call the "noise quadrilateral", the area between Corso Porta Borsari and via Pellicciai, long a source of complaints from residents.
Between 23 January and 1 April 2026, five formal warnings were issued for disturbing public order, with bans on performances where the required licences were absent. During 2025, three venues had already lost their music licence, while others had been required to cut their opening hours.
As someone from Verona, I don't experience this as repression: it is the natural equilibrium between a living city and its inhabitants. In May 2026 Veronetta also showed its most generous face, with a "Neighbourhood Weekend" in which via XX Settembre gave way to outdoor seating, live concerts, craft markets and children's workshops. This is the district's double nature: energetic by night, communal by day.
Practical tip: the real youthful nightlife is in Veronetta, but if you are looking for a quieter evening, the lungadige or Sottoriva are five minutes away on foot. The middle ground exists — you just have to know where to look.
Malcesine–Monte Baldo Cable Car: the lake-and-mountain day trip 40 minutes from Verona
From the centre of Verona to 1,760 metres above sea level: less than two hours combining car or bus and cable car. The Funivia Malcesine–Monte Baldo, officially reopened on 4 April 2026, remains the most sought-after attraction for anyone visiting Lake Garda. Its unique feature — unique in the world — is the 360° rotating cabins on the upper section, which turn slowly during the ascent so that every passenger enjoys an unobstructed view of the lake, the Alps and the Po Valley.
In roughly 20 minutes you climb almost 1,600 metres to reach Tratto Spino at an altitude of 1,760 m. From the valley station in Malcesine you travel to the intermediate stop of San Michele, where a compulsory cabin change is required before continuing to the summit.
2026 prices: a return ticket Malcesine/Monte Baldo costs €27.00 per adult. The cable car operates year-round, except in March and November when it closes for maintenance, and until mid-December before the Christmas holidays. Departures are guaranteed at least every 30 minutes from 8:30, with increased frequency during peak demand.
Local tip: the secret is to dress in layers. Even if the climate in Malcesine is mild, at the summit at 1,760 m the temperature can be 10–15°C lower than on the lakeshore. The ticket is valid within a 30-minute time slot: this system, updated for 2026, keeps visitor flow steady and noticeably reduces waiting times at the stations. Book online — in high season the physical queues are unforgiving.
Porta Borsari: the Roman monument you walk through without stopping (and should)
Porta Borsari is a majestic Roman gateway dating from the 1st century AD which, in the imperial age, was the city's main entrance: through it passed the Via Postumia, the major consular road linking the Tyrrhenian Sea with the Adriatic.
In Roman times it was known as Porta Iovia, after a small temple dedicated to Jupiter that stood nearby. Its current name dates from the Middle Ages, when the bursarii collected tolls from those entering the city. A story about taxes — and Verona hasn't really changed all that much.
During the reign of Emperor Claudius, the gateway was decorated with two new façades in local limestone. Today only the western façade survives; the brick structure and the inner façade were destroyed over time. On the buildings to the left of the gateway, traces of the Roman wall used as foundations for 17th-century palaces are still visible. Porta Borsari was an important source of inspiration for Renaissance artists and architects: the nearby Palazzo Bevilacqua, designed by Michele Sanmicheli, echoes the gateway's elegant columns almost like an urban rhyme.
Practical info: Porta Borsari is an open-air monument, freely accessible to the public 24 hours a day, with no admission fee. It occupies a strategic position in Verona's historic centre, linking the promenade between Piazza Bra, the shopping streets and the oldest core of the city near Piazza delle Erbe. Walking distance from our Arena property: about 8 minutes.
How long should I spend at Porta Borsari?
It is not a museum: it is a threshold. Ten minutes are enough to observe it, read the inscription on the architrave and take the right photograph. But if you want to truly understand Roman Verona, combine it with Porta Leoni and the Teatro Romano: in a single afternoon you will have a complete picture of the ancient Scaligera city.
Is Veronetta worth visiting even if you're not a student?
Absolutely. For a livelier night out there is Veronetta, the university quarter, while for a quieter evening Sottoriva — with its small restaurants — is the right choice. By day the neighbourhood has a particular quality of light: murals, hidden courtyards, local markets. It is worth the visit whatever the hour.
How do I get to Malcesine from Verona without a car?
There are regular bus services connecting Malcesine with Verona and Riva del Garda. The most convenient option is to leave from Verona Porta Nuova by ATV or Flixbus toward the lake; once in Malcesine, the cable car station at via Navene Vecchia 12 is reachable on foot from the village centre in under 10 minutes.
For your stay in Verona, the apartments at The Verona Stay, close to the Arena and the Teatro Ristori, place you just a short walk from Porta Borsari and in a perfect position to organise a day at the lake or an evening in Veronetta — with no logistics to worry about.