Mantua

By plane

The nearest airport to Mantua is Valerio Catullo Airport located near Verona, on the Brennero's Highway, just 25 minutes away from the city.
Other options are Guglielmo Marconi Airport, near Bologna, 1 hour away, and Orio al serio Airport, near Bergamo, reachable in less than 1 hour and half via Highway.
The airport in Verona served by some low-cost airlines such as WizzAir (to Bucharest), EasyJet (to London-Gatwick, Paris-Charles de Gaulle) and VoloTea (to Bari, Palermo). Other big carriers such as Alitalia and Lufthansa serve this airport daily.
Airports in Bologna and Bergamo are served by the low-cost carrier Ryanair.

By train

The Verona-Modena railway line passes through , located in Piazza Don Leoni. It is also the end of the line for trains arriving from Monselice and Cremona. Train service for Milan is available everyday, every two hours and it costs €10.75. For Verona the frequency is every 40 minutes and the price is €3.15.
Via Verona you can easily reach cities like Venice, Brescia, Trento, Bolzano and via Modena you can reach Parma, Reggio Emilia, Bologna up to all southern cities.
If you have to reach Bologna quickly, so you don't want to use the railway line Verona-Modena and change the train, a good idea would be catching the train on the Verona-Bologna line using the Nogara station, 20 minutes away by car from the city center of Mantua.
Regional train services are operated by Trenord, the long distance trains are operated by Trenitalia. The city centre approx. 1 km E from the station.

By bus

Main bus station is just outside the Train station. APAM S.p.a. offers many buses that connect the whole province with the city. Brescia, Sirmione, Peschiera del Garda, Mirandola are also cities served by this company. To know timetables and fares the easiest way is to use Google Maps which, thanks to a collaboration between Apam and Google, it's very accurate in timetables and routes.

By car

Mantua is crossed by the motorway (Autostrada del Brennero), that runs from Modena to Brenner. The best choice to reach the centre is the exit of Mantova Nord, just 5 km (3 miles) north of Piazza Sordello.

By bus

APAM S.p.a. manages the bus urban service in town and in the nearby municipalities and it's a good choice to move around the different areas of the city.

By car

A large section of the old town is a limited traffic zone (ZTL) and a pass is required to drive in this area, so it is better to park your car in one of the parking areas that surrounds it.

Free parking

• . Just south of the stadium, not far from Palazzo Te.
• . Close to Palazzo Te.
• . Large parking area close to Palazzo Te.

Toll parking

• . Close to Teatro Bibiena.
• . Beside the namesake public garden, not far from the Cathedral.
• . Close to Palazzo Te and the House of Mantegna.

On foot

• Palazzo Ducale

  phone: +39 041 241 1897
  address: Piazza Sordello, 40
  This complex is a marvel of medieval and Renaissance architecture and artistry. It was the home of the Gonzaga family from 1328 to 1707, extended through the period, and including more than 500 rooms. NB: The famous Camera degli Sposi (Bridal Chamber) was reopened in 2015 after it was damaged by a quake (max. 1,500 persons per day).

• Castello di San GiorgioThe castle is a part of the Ducal Palace. It hosts the Museum of modern and contemporary arts.

• Palazzo Te

  phone: +39 0376 323266
  address: Viale Te, 13
  The "Palazzo del T", as it used to be called, is a splendid palace in the south end of Mantua, it is an acknowledged masterpiece of the architect Giulio Romano. The palace is a fine example of Renaissance implementation of Villa Suburbana (suburban residence). It is also famous for its grotesque frescos in a mannerist style, which are rare example of secular paintings of that time. The palace also hosts International Centre of Art and Culture

• Basilica Di Sant'Andrea

  address: Piazza Andrea Mantegna
  This world-famous church (dating from 1472 onwards) is the work of the architect Leon Battista Alberti, one of the founders of Renaissance architecture.

• Cattedrale di San Pietro apostolo

  address: Piazza Sordello
  Built in different architectural styles, from Romanesque, to Renaissance and Baroque.

• Rotonda di San LorenzoBuilt in the late 11th century. It is the oldest church in the city; restored to its original forms in the early 20th century.

• Palazzo Bonacolsi

  address: Piazza Sordello
  14th-century building by Pinamonte Bonacolsi, a residence of Mantua rulers from 1274 to 1328.

• Palazzo del Broletto

  address: Piazza Broletto
  13th-century palace, which houses the commune government in Mantua.

• Palazzo della Ragione

  address: Piazza delle Erbe
  14th-century building with portico of the 15th century. It used to be a seat of the Court of Justice and notarial archives.

• Torre dell'OrologioHosts Museo del Tempo (Museum of time).

• Palazzo Valenti Gonzaga

  phone: +39 3484419954
  address: Via Pietro Frattini, 7
  The palace received its Baroque style and decor in 1670.

• Casa della Beata Osanna Andreasi

  phone: +39 0376 322297, +39 347 2399114, +39 339 6624824
  address: Via Pietro Frattini, 9
  A rare example of an almost intacty preserved 15th-century house, which was a home to the Blessed Osanna of Mantua. The building in the hands of the Domenican Fraternity

• Palazzo Canossa

  address: Piazza Canossa

• Palazzo d'Arco

  phone: +39 0376322242
  address: Piazza d'Arco, 4
  Built in 1784 in neoclassical style. There is a nice garden there. It is also a museum. It is possible for those who have motor disabilities to use a stair lift crawler to visit the floor of the palace please call the museum to alert them of arrival time.

• Torre della Gabbia

  address: Via Cavour
  A symbol of the power of families Bonacolsi and Gonzaga, but it was used a prison from the beginning of the 13th century.

• Pescherie di Giulio RomanoFishmonger's loggia built by Giulio Romano.

• Casa di Giulio Romano

  address: via Poma, 18
  House (built in 1544) of Giulio Romano, the architect of Palazzo Te, he also designed the interior of Duomo.

• Casa di Giovan Boniforte da Concorezzo

  address: Piazza Erbe, 26
  The building (built in 1455) features a striking facade with decorations of Venetian style.

• Casa del Cappellaio

  address: Piazza Marconi, 13
  A frescoed (attributed to the school of Andrea Mantegna) Renaissance house built in 1462.

• Casa del MantegnaBuilt in 1476, the building's external walls are square in plan with a circular court. It is used for temporary exhibitions.

• Teatro Scientifico del Bibiena

  phone: +39 0376 327653
  address: Via Accademia 47
  Opened in 1769, it is an interesting example of a theatrical interior design of the 2nd half of the 18th century.

• Go to the museums:

• Palazzo San Sebastiano

  phone: +39 0376-367087
  address: Largo XXIV Maggio, 12

• Museo Tazio NuvolariDedicated to a memory of Tazio Nuvolari, a famous car racer.

• Galleria Arte e Arti

  phone: +39 0376 234232, +39 0376 234286
  address: via Calvi 28

Take a boat trip on the lakes and rivers around Mantua.

• Pizzeria Ristorante Europa

  phone: +39 0376 363238
  address: Via Saverio Bettinelli, 14
  A convenient place to have a pizza while you're waiting for a train. There are some tables at the back court yard.

• Doolin Irish Pub

  phone: +39 0376 362563
  address: Via Giovanni Zambelli, 8
  This pub has become a true institution in town due to the quality of the drinks and the dishes served. Here you will find beer, cocktails and excellent burgers.

• Il Gallone

  phone: +39 333 433 4682
  address: Via Leon D'Oro, 13
  An incredible selection of original cocktails in a small club in the heart of the historic centre.

• Zanzara

  phone: +39 348 738 9659
  address: Giardini Barbato
  Enjoy a stunning view of the sunset over the lake while drinking a good cocktail. This place usually offers evenings of music and small artistic events.

Budget

• ABC Hotel

  phone: +39 0376-322329
  address: Piazza Don Leoni 25/27
  3-star hotel in front of the train station. Clean rooms, nice furniture and surprisingly good breakfast. Bicycle renting is available and there is free WiFi. Expect to pay around €15 for parking.

• Albergo Bianchi Stazione

  phone: +39 0376 326465
  address: Piazza Don Leoni, 24
  3-star hotel just in front of the railway station. Tourist information available.

• Corte Chiara

  phone: +39 0376 390804
  address: Strada Tezze, 1 - 46047 Porto Mantovano (MN)
  This agritourist camp offers both cheap rooms and camping sites to pitch a tent. Super friendly owners/staff, nice food, horse riding available.

Mid-range

• Hotel Italia

  phone: +39 0376 322609
  address: Piazza Cavallotti, 8
  Though it looks a bit ugly from the outside, the rooms are quite ok. An ok breakfast buffet is included in the price. There seems to be a curfew of some kind during the week but the nice nightwatchman might allow exceptions.

Splurge

• Hotel Casa Poli

  phone: +39 0376 288170
  address: Corso Garibaldi, 32
  Elegant atmosphere, minimalist design and quality services.

• Gigillo83

  IAT Mantova

  phone: +39 0376 432432
  address: Piazza Mantegna, 6
• Gigillo83

  InfoPoint Rigoletto

  phone: +39 0376 288208
  address: Piazza Sordello, 23

• Sabbioneta – a Renaissance ideal town. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site on par with Mantua.
• Castel Goffredo – one of the capitals of the states of the Gonzaga.
• Lake Garda – is at an easy reach by a direct bus 46 to Peschiera del Garda (take off at Piazza Bettelloni). From where you can take a ferry to the other destinations around the lake. Adventurous ones could take a bike ride right up to Peschiera along the Mincio Cycleway.