Things to Do in Mantua

Explore Mantova like never before with a self-guided treasure hunt and walking tour. Uncover hidden secrets and curiosities using our Web App. Start your adventure now!

Boat trip from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM (with guide on board) + typical lunch on the boat + guided tour of the historic old town (duration 1 hour 30 minutes)

Guided walking tour in Mantua with a friendly, English-speaking local guide. Food, art, nature and a welcoming atmosphere; that’s what makes Mantua one of the best cities to visit in Italy. Discover the Gonzaga family's incredible legacy, where Shakespeare’s Romeo was banished, Verdi’s Rigoletto was set and Opera was born. Discover an amazing Unesco World Heritage Site and the reason why the greatest Italian Renaissance writer, Torquato Tasso, wrote “...Mantua is a magnificent town, worth a thousand mile travel to see it...”

The Doge's Palace, Basilica di Sant'Andrea, the Te Palace... Tour the city and discover the important role of the Gonzaga's lineage with a Mantua Private Tour.

Experience the essence of Italian cuisine and learn how to make homemade fresh pasta in a cooking class.

A fascinating boat trip through the enchanting Mincio Valleys, where lotus flowers create a dreamlike landscape. Immerse yourself in nature and let yourself be enveloped by a magical atmosphere.

Mantua is surrounded by lakes, ruled by the Gonzaga dynasty for three centuries, and staged Verdi's Rigoletto — a small city carrying an outsized cultural weight. This app-led scavenger hunt takes you through Mantua on foot, using phone-based riddles to guide you from one landmark to the next. No guide, no fixed start time. • Follow riddles to the Castello di San Giorgio, the Casa di Rigoletto, and the Pescherie di Giulio Romano — ducal power, opera legend, and Renaissance architecture • Move through the old city at your own pace, guided by the app from the first clue • Suits history fans, opera lovers, families, and curious travellers Around 2 hours, any group size, available in Italian and English. Small city, enormous reputation — the riddles prove it.

Stay effortlessly connected during your Italy stay with our eSIM card, ensuring seamless internet access that keeps you linked to your home network hassle-free!

Discover the Ducal Palace of Mantua, Italy's biggest architectural museum complex. Admire splendid frescoes by Pisanello and Andrea Mantegna.

Explore the nature reserve: herons, swans, hawks and other species. Experience the thrill of the water elevator: the principle of communicating vessels. Depart and return comfortably from the city center. Guide included.

Your English-speaking driver will pick you up at your hotel in Verona and in about 30 minutes you will arrive to Valpolicella. First stop to Vogadori one of the best winery of the area. The tasting of Valpolicella and Amarone della Valpolicella wines will make you the flavors and aromas of this area, our cellar is the perfect setting: surrounded by vineyards, you will be accompanied to appreciate and discover Valpolicella with its wines. Then from Valpolicella your driver will take you to the discovery of Lake Garda, the largest of the Italian lakes. The intense color of the water, with a strong blue color and transparency which are hard to find, make Garda Lake a unique destination capable of hosting visitors and lovers for relaxing holidays, sport, entertainment and the joy in discover its many sites. Before returning to Verona, your driver will stop in Sirmione where you can taste a good Italian ice cream.

With our travel insurance, you can travel with peace of mind and focus solely on unwinding and enjoying your holiday. Don't let anything spoil your trip!

Experience a thrilling canoe descent on the Mincio River, choosing between an independent experience or one accompanied by an expert river guide.

During this private tour the guide will accompany you to discover the splendid city of Mantua, one of the capitals of the Italian Renaissance. The tour will take place through the historic center, between the gardens of the Ducal residence of the Gonzaga lords, the magnificent Palazzo Ducale and the cathedral that overlook the cobblestones of Piazza Sordello, up to the fabulous lake.

Horseback ride in the Mincio Park with an introduction to horse handling and a guided nature hike near Mantua.

Visit the vibrant local market and the traditional food shops with the Cesarina and immerse yourself in a private cooking class at the Cesarina's home, learn the secrets of the most famous dishes of cuisine from Mantua and taste the fruit of your labour accompanied by a glass of local wine. During the lesson the Cesarina will reveal the tricks of the trade of 3 authentic regional recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test. Each participant will have a workstation equipped with utensils and all the ingredients to make the dishes. Then, taste everything you have prepared accompanied by a selection of red and white local wines. Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of 1000+ home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Discover the Morainic Hills and the Mincio Park by e-bike on a guided tour through vineyards, with evocative views and a tasting of IGP wines at a renowned local winery.

Immerse yourself in a private pasta-making class at a local's home, learn the secrets of the region's most famous pasta dishes and taste the fruit of your labour accompanied by a selection of local wine. During the lesson, the local home cook will reveal the tricks of the trade of 3 authentic regional pasta recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test. Each participant will have a workstation equipped with utensils and all the ingredients to make the dishes. Then, taste everything you have prepared accompanied by a selection of red and white local wines. This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of 1000+ home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Round-trip transportation from central Mantua. Ideal for discovering the city from the water and exploring its protected nature reserve. Water lilies, herons, and reed beds. Onboard commentary is included.

Gonzaga's Residences tour. Mantua owes its beautiful Renaissance monuments to the Gonzaga Lords, who ruled the Mantuan Duchy for almost four centuries, and during their reign they made the city into a Court of grand splendor. The Gonzaga loved both luxury and power, and they lived in somptuous residences such as the huge Palazzo Ducale, their royal residence and the amazing Palazzo Te, intended as place of leisure and pleasure. The Ducal Palace with the gorgeous “Bridal Chamber” by Mantegna and the Te Palace by Giulio Romano’s genius, are some magnificent residences built by the Gonzagas, and an absolute must-see.

You will sail on the Inferiore and Mezzo lakes, admiring the skyline of the Gonzaga city reflected in the water. You will continue through the Vallazza, among flora and fauna protected by the Mincio Natural Park.

Mantua, 'the City on Water of the Gonzagas'. This tour's highlights: Piazza Sordello with Duomo, Bishop’s Palace, Palazzo Ducale with its courtyards and gardens, Piazza Broletto and Piazza Erbe with Palazzo Comunale and Palazzo della Ragione, Clock Tower, Rotonda of S. Lorenzo and Basilica of S. Andrea, Via Orefici with the Canal “Rio”. On request visit to the Academy Theatre (Teatro Bibiena) entrance ticket €. 2,00

Discover Lake Superiore with a cruise among the lotus flowers: a unique experience among canals and floral carpets, immersed in a silent and unspoiled landscape.

Artistic hub in Mantua, that deserves to be suitably explained is Palazzo Te, a suburban villa devoted to the pleasures of leisure. Architect Giulio Romano, as the heir of his great master Raphael, is called from Rome to build and decorate this Renaissance villa between 1525 and 1535, inspired by ancient Roman villas. Palazzo Te is an exemplary model of the Mannerist style as about architecture and an outstanding example of 16th century Italian painting. The name of the building derives from that of the place where it was built: the “island of Tejeto”, abbreviated as “Te”, where mantuan Lords held the ducal stables for the breeding of famous Gonzaga thoroughbred trained for battlefields and tournaments.

Discover Mantua on a circuit route! Sail the lakes, explore the Vallazza and the locks, an invention of Leonardo da Vinci, immersed in art, nature, and the magic of water: a unique experience.

Discover Mantua, Unesco World Heritage Site since 2008 and 2016 Italian capital of culture. Join this engaging 3-hours tour and explore Mantua city centre and the Ducal Palace, one of Italy's greatest treasures, with a professional private local guide. Mantua surprises its visitors by her exceptional character: Small but spectacular, from every corner the city of Mantua offers an encounter with history and beauty. Visit Mantua, where artistic wonders, great food and sheer beauty conspire to make life sweeter.

An unprecedented tour to discover one of the masterpieces of Italian Renaissance art

If you're looking for a fun and curious way to visit Mantova, you've come to the right place! With this digital guide created with the support of a local, you will be able to visit all the most important monuments at your own pace. You'll get to know the stories and curiosities of Mantova! But also you will discover everything about local foods, Italian Aperitivo in authentic local restaurants, and much more! What are you waiting for?

A journey to discover the history of the city and its most iconic monuments

Passeggiata per le vie e le piazze di Mantova, scoprendo la sua storia e non solo monumenti importanti. Questo tour prevede la visita SOLO IN ESTERNO (strade e piazze), NON PREVEDE INGRESSI IN MUSEI O CHIESE ad eccezione della Basilica di S. Andrea ( se non ci sono funzioni in svolgimento e , ovviamente, se aperta). Walk through the streets and squares of Mantova, discovering its history and the most important monuments. This tour covers only the exteriors (streets and squares).

Discover the romance of Venice and Florence on a 2-day tour from Rome. Explore St. Mark’s Square, the Basilica, and the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, and see Michelangelo’s David in Florence.

The city in the city, a symbol of the power and wealth of the Gonzagasch dynasty, hides within it small treasures, surprises, games and wonders that will amaze and fascinate you.

Just steps from the Lamberti Tower, Piazza Erbe, and the Pozzo dell'Amore, in the historic old town of Verona, a wine tasting with local products combines flavors, stories, and tradition.

Discover Mantua your way with Ciceru’s self-guided walking tour—audio and text in 7 languages, right on your phone. No app, no hassle—just press play and explore! Starting at the majestic Castello di San Giorgio, let your smartphone guide you through the city's landmarks and hidden corners. Explore the grandeur of the Palazzo Ducale, wander through the charming Piazza Broletto, and uncover the secrets of Piazza delle Erbe and the Rotonda di San Lorenzo. Continue to the enchanting Piazza Mantegna, marvel at the beauty of the Basilica di Sant’Andrea, and follow the riddles to uncover Mantua’s rich history. With 9 intriguing stops, this self-guided tour lets you explore at your own pace, combining discovery with fun. Perfect for history buffs, curious travelers, and families, this experience blends interactive challenges with the timeless allure of Mantua. Discover Mantua like never before—one riddle at a time!

Come and explore the wonders of the Gonzaga Royal Palace. Embark on a "timeless" journey through the halls of the Palace.

Are you looking for a way to see Mantua without joining a tour group? Explore at your own pace with this affordable walking tour. • See a wide range of architectural styles from the opulent residences of the ruling elite to the former Jewish ghetto on this stroll through the UNESCO recognised city centre • Hear from tour producer Mike Conradi, the creator of the "A History of Italy" podcast • Do it all in an hour or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

E-bike tour through the Morainic Hills and the most beautiful villages of Parco del Mincio, surrounded by nature, vineyards and unique landscapes

Journey to discover the "Villa degli Ozi", wanted by Federico II as a place of relaxation, quiet, fun and ... much more!

Discover Mantua, a UNESCO city of the Gonzaga family: squares, palaces, facades, and the Basilica of Saint Andrew, with a live guide, even in bad weather.

Want to capture your amazing honeymoon? Family vacation while the kids are still little? Your perfect couples retreat from everyday busy life? A solo trip without asking strangers to take pictures of you? Stop searching, we got you here! We are the largest network of local vacation photographers in the world! Besides Mantova, we operate in over 700 destinations worldwide! We always make sure that every special moment of each client is captured well. We believe in our service and quality of our photos so much that we even offer a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee for your photo shoot. Which means, if you don’t like the result of your photo shoot, you can contact us within 7 days and claim your money back! So what are you waiting for? Become one of our hundreds of happy customers by treating yourself to this special experience! Your family and friends will love the result too!

Explore with me the magnificent Te Palace, the villa of leisure and entertainment of Duke Federico II Gonzaga

Immerse yourself in a private pasta and tiramisu-making class in a welcoming home, learn the secrets of the region's most famous pasta dishes and tiramisu and taste the fruit of your labour for lunch or dinner accompanied by local wines. During this private lesson, you will learn how to prepare 2 pasta recipes and the tiramisu dessert from scratch. Your Cesarina will reveal the tricks of the trade of these iconic recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test and amaze your friends and family once home with an Italian meal! This experience is suitable for families with children of all ages. Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 120 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

The Doge's Palace is much more than just a residence; it is almost a small city where hanging gardens, squares, and apartments intertwine, all gathered around the beating heart of the palace...

Immerse yourself in a private cooking class at the Cesarina's home,  learn the secrets of the most famous dishes of Mantua cuisine and taste the fruit of your labour accompanied by a glass of local wine. During the lesson the Cesarina will reveal the tricks of the trade of 3 authentic regional recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test. Each participant will have a workstation equipped with utensils and all the ingredients to make the dishes. Then, taste everything you have prepared accompanied by a selection of red and white local wines. Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of 1000+ home cooks all over the country in more than 120 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Step into the most theatrical renaissance villa in Italy! This guided tour explores the Gonzaga's private palace, where architecture, frescoes and myths reveal a world of power, love and spectacle

Don't lose the opportunity to become a "pizzaiolo" (pizza-maker) and a great tiramisu maker! Enter a local home, connect with an expert home cook and discover how Italian mamma and nonnas used to prepare awesome pizza at home. With this private hands-on cooking class, you will learn how to make pizza and tiramisù from scratch from a real Italian family. To complete your feast, enjoy what you have prepared for lunch or dinner with a selection of local wine included. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test and amaze your friends and family with a pizza party once you come back home! This experience is suitable for families with children of all ages. Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 120 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

At Palazzo Te, nothing is as it seems. Among illusionistic frescoes and spectacular rooms, the genius of Giulio Romano transforms every space into a marvel. A journey through art and deception.

Immerse yourself in a private dining experience at a local's home, enjoy an exclusive show cooking and taste authentic recipes from Mantua treasured in family cookbooks passed down by real Italian Mammas. Feel the warmth of Italian hospitality as you connect with local people. Enjoy a 4-course menu including starter, pasta, main course with side dish, dessert with drinks included (water, selection of red and white wines from regional cellars and coffee). This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of 1000+ home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

In the heart of Mantua, among historic squares, palaces and Renaissance masterpieces, a journey through intrigue and beauty to the Basilica of Sant'Andrea. And to top it all, a free sample of Sbrisolona.

Dive into Mantua like a local foodie. Explore your Cesarina's most trusted artisanal food shops, tasting as you go. Visit a selection of small local shops, learn about the typical products of the city while tasting them. A delicious way to discover Mantua and its gastronomy! • Street food tasting tour • Explore your Cesarina's most trusted artisanal food shops • Sample some of Mantua typical street food staples • Do some sightseeing in Mantua as you walk from tasting to tasting • Small-group tour with a maximum of 12 people for an authentic food experience Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 120 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.