Campervan Hire Verona — Lake Garda, Valpolicella, Mantua, the Dolomites and Tips for 2027

Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, lies on the Adige river between the Po valley and the Alps. It is an excellent base for a campervan trip: Lake Garda is only about 30 km away, the vineyards of Valpolicella and Soave are on the city's doorstep, the Renaissance towns of Mantua and Vicenza are less than an hour's drive, and the A22 motorway leads north to Trento, Bolzano and the Dolomites. This guide explains where to go, where you can stay overnight and what to know about driving.

Verona itself

The Roman Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, Juliet's house, Castelvecchio and the Ponte Pietra are all within the historic centre, which is a limited traffic zone (ZTL) where only authorised vehicles may enter. Leave the campervan at a camper stop or campsite on the edge of the centre and walk or take the bus. From late June to early September, the Arena hosts its famous summer opera festival.

Lake Garda

• Peschiera del Garda (about 30 km): a fortified town on the southern shore and a convenient first stop. See the page campervans in Peschiera del Garda.
• Sirmione: a narrow peninsula with the Scaliger castle and the Roman ruins of the Grotte di Catullo; the old town is closed to traffic, so park outside it.
• Lazise, Bardolino and Garda: relaxed lakeside towns on the eastern shore with promenades, wineries and many campsites.
• Malcesine and Monte Baldo: a cable car climbs from Malcesine to the ridge of Monte Baldo, at around 1,800 m, with views over the whole lake.
• Riva del Garda and Limone: the northern tip of the lake, between steep mountains, popular for windsurfing and cycling.

The roads along the lake, especially the Gardesana on the western and northern shores, are narrow, with tunnels and heavy traffic in summer; drive calmly and avoid the busiest hours.

Wine country and nearby towns

• Valpolicella: the hills north-west of Verona, home of Amarone and Ripasso, with wineries that welcome visitors.
• Soave: a walled medieval town below its castle, surrounded by vineyards, about 25 km east.
• Valeggio sul Mincio and Borghetto: a medieval village on the river Mincio, known for its handmade tortellini.
• Mantua (about 45 km): the Gonzaga family's palaces on the edge of three lakes.
• Vicenza (about 55 km): the city of Palladio, with the Teatro Olimpico and villas in the surrounding countryside.

North to the Dolomites

The A22 motorway follows the Adige valley north to Trento and Bolzano, from where mountain roads lead into the Dolomites. Mountain passes can be narrow and steep, and some are closed in winter or have restrictions for larger vehicles, so check before you set off.

For more of northern Italy, read our guides to campervan hire in Milan, Bologna and Turin.

Where to stay

• Campsites: around Lake Garda you will find dozens of campsites, mostly open from about Easter to October. In the high season, book ahead.
• Area di sosta: Italian camper stops, often with water and waste disposal, are found in many towns and wine villages; some are free, others charge a small fee.
• Agriturismi: some farm stays and wineries welcome campervans for a night, especially if you buy their wine or produce.
• Wild camping: sleeping in the vehicle is often tolerated in permitted car parks, but camping behaviour (awnings, chairs, levelling blocks) is not, and many lakeside municipalities ban overnight parking for campers.

Driving tips

• ZTL. Verona, Sirmione, Mantua and many other historic centres are limited traffic zones monitored by cameras; driving in without permission brings a fine by post.
• Tolls. The A4 and A22 are toll motorways: take a ticket at the entrance and pay at the exit.
• Speed limits. Campervans up to 3.5 t may drive at 130 km/h on motorways and 110 km/h on dual carriageways; heavier vehicles have lower limits.
• Lake roads. In summer, the roads around Lake Garda are often congested; travel early in the morning and park outside the town centres.
• Fog. In late autumn and winter, thick fog is common in the Po valley; slow down and use fog lights.

When to go

• May, June and September: the best time, warm and with fewer crowds.
• July and August: hot and busy around the lake; book campsites in advance. The opera festival in the Arena runs through the summer.
• October: the grape harvest in Valpolicella and Soave, with mild weather and quieter roads.
• November to March: foggy and cold in the plain, with Christmas markets in the city; many lakeside campsites are closed.

A campervan in Verona with Crystalium Booker

We are still building up our campervan offer in Verona. Send us your dates and number of travellers through the contact page and we will look for a vehicle for you, and keep an eye on the campervans in Verona page for new listings. Do you rent out a campervan in or around Verona? List it with us.