Mantua day trip from Verona or Bologna
A day trip to Mantua from Verona or Bologna: the Pescherie di Giulio Romano, Piazza delle Erbe and the Rotonda di San Lorenzo, the Basilica of Sant'Andrea, Piazza Sordello, the Palazzo Ducale with the Camera degli Sposi, the lakes from Ponte di San Giorgio and Palazzo Te. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Mantua in 1 day
Day 1
Pescherie di Giulio Romano
Arcaded 16th-century fish market by Giulio Romano over the Rio canal, a pretty corner of the old town.
Piazza delle Erbe and Rotonda di San Lorenzo
The lively market square with its clock tower and cafes, beside the round 11th-century Romanesque church of San Lorenzo.
Basilica of Sant'Andrea
Leon Battista Alberti's great Renaissance basilica, with a vast barrel-vaulted nave and the tomb of the painter Mantegna.
Piazza Sordello
The vast cobbled square of the Gonzaga court, flanked by the Palazzo Ducale and the cathedral.
Palazzo Ducale (Camera degli Sposi)
The Gonzaga family's huge palace complex, home to Mantegna's frescoed Camera degli Sposi, the Bridal Chamber.
Lakes view from Ponte di San Giorgio
The causeway across the lakes, with the view back to the domes, towers and Castello di San Giorgio of the city.
Palazzo Te
Giulio Romano's Mannerist pleasure palace for the Gonzaga, with the dramatic Chamber of the Giants painted floor to ceiling.
Watch: Mantua
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
From Verona Porta Nuova, regional trains reach Mantova in about 45-50 minutes, and the station is a short walk from the centre. From Bologna, trains take about 1h30-2h, usually with a change in Modena; by car Mantua is about 45 minutes from Verona.
Staying in Verona or Bologna? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Mantua
Spring and autumn are the best seasons for walking the centre and the lakeshore. Summer is hot and humid, with mosquitoes by the lakes, and winter is often foggy and cold. Festivaletteratura, a large literature festival, fills the city in early September.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Mantua on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Mantua on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Mantua on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Mantua
- The Palazzo Ducale is closed on Mondays; book a timed slot for the Camera degli Sposi, as visitor numbers are limited.
- Palazzo Te is a 20-25 minute walk south of the centre; allow time to get there before it closes.
- Mantua is flat and compact, and bikes are a popular way to get around the centre and along the lakes.
- Try the local food: tortelli di zucca, pumpkin pasta, and the crumbly almond cake sbrisolona are Mantuan specialities.
- Cruises on the lakes around the city leave from the waterfront in season, a good way to see Mantua from the water.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Basilica of Sant'Andrea: Sebi1, Public domain
- Lakes view from Ponte di San Giorgio: Tournasol7, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palazzo Ducale (Camera degli Sposi): Massimo Telò, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palazzo Te: FrDr, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Piazza Sordello: Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Piazza delle Erbe and Rotonda di San Lorenzo: BMK, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
