Driving to Verona for a Gig
Discussion
I am planning a driving trip to Verona in mid July to see a concert in Verona.
I have driven in Europe many times; France, Switzerland, Germany last year but not to Italy.
I am wondering if it is better to stay further out of the city and get public transport in to the Amphitheater, because I think that it will be easier than trying to get a hotel in the city.... ie parking / Emission Zones etc
I understand from a similar thread on here that the Italian trains are very good and cheap, so I am considering a village/town on a train line near Verona?
If anyone is wondering...I am going to see Simple Minds ....having seen them many times...they are a brilliant live band and seem to be playing much bigger venues than even 5 years ago....obviously not as large as in their halcyon days...!
And I want to visit a few other places as well...Lake Garda is on the list, and I have learned a lot from a PH thread about that area.
I have driven in Europe many times; France, Switzerland, Germany last year but not to Italy.
I am wondering if it is better to stay further out of the city and get public transport in to the Amphitheater, because I think that it will be easier than trying to get a hotel in the city.... ie parking / Emission Zones etc
I understand from a similar thread on here that the Italian trains are very good and cheap, so I am considering a village/town on a train line near Verona?
If anyone is wondering...I am going to see Simple Minds ....having seen them many times...they are a brilliant live band and seem to be playing much bigger venues than even 5 years ago....obviously not as large as in their halcyon days...!
And I want to visit a few other places as well...Lake Garda is on the list, and I have learned a lot from a PH thread about that area.
Wife and I have been to Verona many times. It's our favorite town in Italy. We have stayed in maybe 20 or so Italian towns in the past.
Have a look at Hotel San Luca where we always stay because of it's ideal location, services, nice staff etc.:
https://www.sanlucahotel.com/
It does not look much because of the nearby buildings etc but it is located just outside the Centro Storico which is fully pedestrianised, and maybe a 2 minute walk to the amphitheatre. I have not driven in Verona but I am pretty sure the hotel offers valet car parking, maybe using the underground car park perhaps 150m away.
I strongly suggest that you book a restaurant for the night of the Simple Minds gig. Verona has loads of restaurants but they are rammed when there's something going on at the amphitheatre. If you wish, I can recommend lots of restaurants for you to book.
If you need any other info, just ask.
BTW, Simple Minds, great group.
Oh, and one of my biggest regrets is that I could not get tickets to see Bruce Springteen in the ampitheatre many years ago!
R.
Have a look at Hotel San Luca where we always stay because of it's ideal location, services, nice staff etc.:
https://www.sanlucahotel.com/
It does not look much because of the nearby buildings etc but it is located just outside the Centro Storico which is fully pedestrianised, and maybe a 2 minute walk to the amphitheatre. I have not driven in Verona but I am pretty sure the hotel offers valet car parking, maybe using the underground car park perhaps 150m away.
I strongly suggest that you book a restaurant for the night of the Simple Minds gig. Verona has loads of restaurants but they are rammed when there's something going on at the amphitheatre. If you wish, I can recommend lots of restaurants for you to book.
If you need any other info, just ask.
BTW, Simple Minds, great group.
Oh, and one of my biggest regrets is that I could not get tickets to see Bruce Springteen in the ampitheatre many years ago!
R.
We do a road trip to the south of Italy to see the wife’s family each summer. Verona is normally our first stop on the way home. As above. We have stayed in a fair few towns and cities in Italy. But Verona is one of our favorites.
As we are driving I like to have somewhere with half decent parking. So we have always stayed at Hotel Verona. This is just on the opposite side of the road to the hotel mentioned above. Literally just off the main road. But 2 minutes walk from the historic area and arena etc.
This hotel has secure parking out back. However last year there wasn’t any room so we had to use the underground parking which is a couple of minutes away. I was a bit concerned with a public car park. But seemed quite safe.
Cheers
Pablo
As we are driving I like to have somewhere with half decent parking. So we have always stayed at Hotel Verona. This is just on the opposite side of the road to the hotel mentioned above. Literally just off the main road. But 2 minutes walk from the historic area and arena etc.
This hotel has secure parking out back. However last year there wasn’t any room so we had to use the underground parking which is a couple of minutes away. I was a bit concerned with a public car park. But seemed quite safe.
Cheers
Pablo
Hi
I have booked my hotel in Verona for the night of the gig, but the hotel parking is full, as is the other car park suggested by the hotel.
I guess it is bound to be when there is a concert on.
I shall find somewhere to leave the car and get an Uber or public transport in to the Centre. My car is an E46 BMW...so not a high value vehicle to leave.....!
I have booked my hotel in Verona for the night of the gig, but the hotel parking is full, as is the other car park suggested by the hotel.
I guess it is bound to be when there is a concert on.
I shall find somewhere to leave the car and get an Uber or public transport in to the Centre. My car is an E46 BMW...so not a high value vehicle to leave.....!
mid july, consider stopping off in montreux if any of this takes your fancy
https://www.montreuxjazzfestival.com/en/programme/
https://www.montreuxjazzfestival.com/en/programme/
Mr Magooagain said:
It s some years back now but when we holidayed in Garda we took the train to Verona and also on another day to Venice. It might work out that you could stay in Garda and catch a train there and back.
When we were they last year it was the same train, the stops were Lake Garda, Verona, Venice, we were tempted to stay on the train but we had a plane booked. 
There was what looked like a large car park at the train station, and Verona isn't a large place, we stayed at the St Luca and walked from the station with our luggage.
Paul S4 said:
"There was what looked like a large car park at the train station"
Thanks : that may be an option for me
Correct: it's an underground car park to the right as you look at the station main entrance. Never used it myself so no idea of fees, limitations etc. No point in driving in Verona, the Centro Storico is fully pedestrianised.Thanks : that may be an option for me
R.
We’re currently staying in Garda and got the bus to Verona today which terminated at the railway station.
If you can get parked at or near the station it’ll be ideal as it’s an easy walk into the city and not far to the majority of the main places to see.
Probably about 15 minutes to the Amphitheater.
As others have mentioned, it’s a beautiful city so well worth the time to have a good look around while you’re there.
If you can get parked at or near the station it’ll be ideal as it’s an easy walk into the city and not far to the majority of the main places to see.
Probably about 15 minutes to the Amphitheater.
As others have mentioned, it’s a beautiful city so well worth the time to have a good look around while you’re there.
Thanks to all those who have replied to my post.
I am wondering which way to go from my first stay in Besancon to Garda; I would like to do the Stelvio Pass ( but I have been told that cyclists are an 'issue' in the summer (!)
I have done the Mont Blanc tunnel before, but I'm told that the toll is very expensive, so have discounted that route.
I have the Swiss Vignette motorway pass, so I can maybe travel to Garda from the North
Any tips welcome !
I am wondering which way to go from my first stay in Besancon to Garda; I would like to do the Stelvio Pass ( but I have been told that cyclists are an 'issue' in the summer (!)
I have done the Mont Blanc tunnel before, but I'm told that the toll is very expensive, so have discounted that route.
I have the Swiss Vignette motorway pass, so I can maybe travel to Garda from the North
Any tips welcome !
We spent one of the weeks of our European trip last year in Bergamo and visited the lakes. Headed first to Como / Bellagio and it was rammed this time of year but Iseo on the other hand was way less crowded and just a lovely.
As for the route, I'd be looking to use the Gotthard, pass or tunnel. No cost for the tunnel if you've got the Vignette.
As for the route, I'd be looking to use the Gotthard, pass or tunnel. No cost for the tunnel if you've got the Vignette.
mont blanc tunnel is the dullest route
depends how quickly you want to get there. either way you cut it, it's a long drive. if you want to shorten it, then maximise your time on the autostrada as you can cruise at 100 and still be inconspicuous with it.
staying in besancon you will cross at pontarlier. from there i would say either:
follow route 9 to the GSB. there's not much point selecting 'no highways' on google maps as it'll take you almost exactly the same way just will take much longer. then go over the pass to aosta. stop at trattoria le bourg in fenis for lunch, then from there it's fairly uneventful scenery but you do hook up to the autostrada quickly.
as above but your destination is bulle. if you have an early start then leave the motorway at orbe and stick to b roads to bulle. the moudon valley is my usual area for bimble biking, very lush farmland nice rolling hills with glimpses of the alps.
from bulle, take the jaunpass over to spiez. a little known and underrated pass which has a properly jaw:floor moment when you come round a corner and are faced with stunning views.
from there you skirt the thunersee and brienzersee, passing interlaken if you are hungry and giving you the option of detouring to grindelwald if you wish.
you then take the grimsel pass, furka pass, and gotthard pass, and after that you come back here and say thankyou
from there you route via lugano and como so ideal for dinner options. from there there is again no real scenic benefit to avoiding the autostrada. you can do como to verona in under 90mins easily.
option 2 is a full day in the car but worthwhile. .
depends how quickly you want to get there. either way you cut it, it's a long drive. if you want to shorten it, then maximise your time on the autostrada as you can cruise at 100 and still be inconspicuous with it.
staying in besancon you will cross at pontarlier. from there i would say either:
follow route 9 to the GSB. there's not much point selecting 'no highways' on google maps as it'll take you almost exactly the same way just will take much longer. then go over the pass to aosta. stop at trattoria le bourg in fenis for lunch, then from there it's fairly uneventful scenery but you do hook up to the autostrada quickly.
as above but your destination is bulle. if you have an early start then leave the motorway at orbe and stick to b roads to bulle. the moudon valley is my usual area for bimble biking, very lush farmland nice rolling hills with glimpses of the alps.
from bulle, take the jaunpass over to spiez. a little known and underrated pass which has a properly jaw:floor moment when you come round a corner and are faced with stunning views.
from there you skirt the thunersee and brienzersee, passing interlaken if you are hungry and giving you the option of detouring to grindelwald if you wish.
you then take the grimsel pass, furka pass, and gotthard pass, and after that you come back here and say thankyou
from there you route via lugano and como so ideal for dinner options. from there there is again no real scenic benefit to avoiding the autostrada. you can do como to verona in under 90mins easily.
option 2 is a full day in the car but worthwhile. .
Have been to Verona on a couple of occasions recently, one a couple of months back.
If you were to decide to drive, we found parking wasn't particularly an issue - and could be found fairly easily without troubling ZTL.
Have parked in Parcheggio Saba Arena, and have walked past where Parcheggio Interrato CITTADELLA | APCOA is which looked fairly trouble free...and also managed to find free onstreet parking around side streets not far from there .
From there your talking 5 minute walk to the Arena.
If you want a pre-show glass of wine can recommend "Vino - Liqouri" which is a very "italian" wine bar which spills out onto the streets and was very reasonable. Google says its not sure if it is open anymore - would be suprised if it has closed and was trading still in April!
If you were to decide to drive, we found parking wasn't particularly an issue - and could be found fairly easily without troubling ZTL.
Have parked in Parcheggio Saba Arena, and have walked past where Parcheggio Interrato CITTADELLA | APCOA is which looked fairly trouble free...and also managed to find free onstreet parking around side streets not far from there .
From there your talking 5 minute walk to the Arena.
If you want a pre-show glass of wine can recommend "Vino - Liqouri" which is a very "italian" wine bar which spills out onto the streets and was very reasonable. Google says its not sure if it is open anymore - would be suprised if it has closed and was trading still in April!
Again, many thanks for your suggestions, particularly from Shirt: that has given me a lot to ponder between now and when I leave in 10 days time.
I have used the Mont Blanc tunnel in 2007 & 2008... when travelling to Courmayeur, and it was relatively expensive then so I suppose the price quoted above is actually less than I was expecting !
As ever, PH is an amazing resource for trips like this, so thanks to all who have replied.
I have used the Mont Blanc tunnel in 2007 & 2008... when travelling to Courmayeur, and it was relatively expensive then so I suppose the price quoted above is actually less than I was expecting !
As ever, PH is an amazing resource for trips like this, so thanks to all who have replied.
Paul S4 said:
Thanks to all those who have replied to my post.
I am wondering which way to go from my first stay in Besancon to Garda; I would like to do the Stelvio Pass ( but I have been told that cyclists are an 'issue' in the summer (!)
I have done the Mont Blanc tunnel before, but I'm told that the toll is very expensive, so have discounted that route.
I have the Swiss Vignette motorway pass, so I can maybe travel to Garda from the North
Any tips welcome !
The problem with Stelvio is that it's great to look, not much fun to drive!I am wondering which way to go from my first stay in Besancon to Garda; I would like to do the Stelvio Pass ( but I have been told that cyclists are an 'issue' in the summer (!)
I have done the Mont Blanc tunnel before, but I'm told that the toll is very expensive, so have discounted that route.
I have the Swiss Vignette motorway pass, so I can maybe travel to Garda from the North
Any tips welcome !
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