Relais Emilei

Hotel Description

You know, I stumbled upon Relais Emilei almost by accident during a spring trip to Verona – I was wandering from the Arena after catching an opera preview, and there it was, tucked away on Via Francesco Emilei, this quiet little street that feels like a secret passage right in the heart of the historical center. It’s not one of those flashy spots screaming for attention; honestly, it’s more like a cozy townhouse that’s been around forever, with that classic Veronese stone facade that blends right in with the surrounding buildings. I mean, you’re literally steps from the Adige River – I remember crossing Ponte della Vittoria for a sunset stroll my first evening, the water rushing below with that faint, earthy smell of the river mixing with blooming wisteria from nearby balconies. Parking’s a bit of a hassle in this pedestrian-heavy zone (pro tip: use the public garage on Via della Costa if you’re driving in), but once you’re inside, the check-in is a breeze – the staff, mostly locals, chat you up about the best gelato spots on Via Mazzini without making it feel forced.

What really won me over, though, was how the place balances old-world charm with just enough modern comfort to make you forget you’re in a 4-star that’s not trying too hard. My room overlooked a tiny courtyard – nothing grand, but the morning light filtering through those heavy wooden shutters, paired with the distant hum of church bells from Santa Anastasia nearby, made waking up feel special. The beds are plush, with those crisp linen sheets that actually smell like they’ve been line-dried (a nice touch in a city where everything can feel a tad touristy). Breakfast is served in this intimate dining area downstairs – think fresh cornetti, local cheeses, and espresso that’s strong enough to power you through a day of exploring Juliet’s balcony or the market at Piazza delle Erbe, which is just a five-minute walk away. Well, it’s not perfect; the Wi-Fi can be spotty in the evenings when everyone’s streaming, and if you’re sensitive to noise, note that summer weekends bring street performers spilling over from the center – but earplugs sorted that out for me. Oh, and they have these little complimentary bikes you can borrow, which was a game-changer for zipping to Castelvecchio without dealing with bus crowds.

All in all, if you’re after a spot that feels authentically Verona without the chain-hotel vibe, Relais Emilei is a solid choice – especially in shoulder seasons like April or October when the city’s not overrun and rates dip a bit (I paid around €150 a night, which felt fair for the location). It’s got that 8.6 rating for a reason; you leave feeling like you’ve lived a slice of local life, not just passed through. I’d go back in a heartbeat – maybe next time for the full opera season, you know?

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $255. Three-Bedroom Apartment with 3 × 1 large double bed for 1 – 2 guests

Reviews

• Marc from United States – 7 April 2025 (9/10)

  Great location and very clean modern apartment. Great hosts and always available

• Shelley from United Kingdom – 19 February 2025 (9/10)

  Perfect location, close to all amenities.
  Large comfortable apartment with 3 large double bedrooms & 2 great sized bathrooms both with showers and one with a bath.
  Four of us stayed here but be comfortable with upto 6/7 ppl staying here.
  
  What could be improved: The only negative is that it was difficult to find.
  It's once you arrive at the building it's
  not clear about which apartment it is. It needs a sign on the door saying the name of the apartment, that would be really useful.

• Rimantas from Denmark – 30 January 2025 (9/10)

  Great location, enough space, two bathrooms
  
  What could be improved: The bed mattresses were bedridden on both sides at least in two of the rooms, felt like sleeping near a hill. The water heater/boiler in the bathroom was weird because it didn’t switch on after the hot water was gone. The mesaage on the boiler said do not touch anything. We didn’t touch anything and at the end had to skip a shower. Later we took initiative to switch it off and on again and only then it started working. Till the water was gone again 🙂

• Clare from United Kingdom – 21 October 2024 (8/10)

  Great property and fantastic location! Would recommend this place, but communication with the host is terrible. I sent so many messaged and never got a reply.
  
  What could be improved: You have to collect your keys from a local hotel which is a 10 minute walk away from the property. We didn't know this until about 1 hour before (because I whatsapped them). We had to walk back in the pouring rain. Communication was dire. Then we had to try every door in the apartment block to see which one the key worked in.

• Bernadette from Australia – 16 October 2024 (9/10)

  Property was clean and large

• Herman from Netherlands – 28 August 2024 (8/10)

  Clean! 3 great bedrooms and 2 new bathrooms, one with shower and one with bath, excellent.
  Good temperature control.
  Location is perfect, close by parking (Saba Arsenale) and city center.
  We visited the Opera (Arena) and had a nice 2-night stay here, very enjoyable. Fantastic vegan dinner at Ristorante Flora, near the Arena!
  
  What could be improved: Difficult to find, as the central door doesn’t show a house number which gives you confirmation that Google Maps is correct. Yes, one of the many doorbells mentions ‘Emilei’, but that’s not very noticeable.
  There are 3 doors to negotiate before you are in, and you get 3 keys, but it’s not obvious which key to use on which door. A bit more instructions would be very helpful.
  The outer sun-shielding from one of the bedrooms was inoperative.
  The living room is modest, it is more like an enlarged entrance of the apartment.

• Marie from United States – 8 June 2024 (9/10)

  Location, comfortable beds, clean, modern
  
  What could be improved: Needing a key to get out of the apartment

• Marlen from Italy – 28 May 2024 (8/10)

  The property has everything we needed during our stay. Everything was very clean and tidy.

• Evgeny from Hungary – 16 April 2024 (9/10)

  Awesome place – close to the city center but at the same time very quiet; cozy, nice interior, comfortable beds
  
  And important is that the long-term parking (Saba Arsenale) is just in 5 minutes-walking distance, which is very handy when travelling by car

• Shalva from Georgia – 10 October 2023 (9/10)

  Everything about this property was top notch. The house was huge with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We were just 4, but 6+ people
  could easily stay here. Everything was super clean. Beds were spacious and comfy. Location perfect – right in the middle of the city center. Value for money is 10/10 without a doubt. The owner let us leave our backpacks for an extra 2 hours after the checkout time while we were visiting museums hassle-free.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing. We loved literally everything about the place.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities