Three days is the right amount of time to really get to know Mantua: you can see the great museums at a relaxed pace, step into the palaces that passing visitors skip, and have a whole day for the water or an out-of-town trip.
The plan is designed for those arriving by train. On the first and last day, if your hotel can’t give you the room straight away or you have to check out in the morning, take your bags to Mantova Locker, just a short walk from the station, and enjoy the city unencumbered.
At a glance: 3 days · on foot + boat or car · in-depth visit
The stops
1. Day 1 morning · Palazzo Ducale and the Camera degli Sposi
Start with the Gonzaga palace in Piazza Sordello: the Castello di San Giorgio, Mantegna’s Camera degli Sposi, the Pisanello Hall, the Raphael tapestries and the apartments of Isabella d’Este.
2. Day 1 afternoon · The piazzas, the Rotonda and Sant’Andrea
Piazza Broletto with the statue of Virgil, Piazza delle Erbe with the Clock Tower and the Rotonda di San Lorenzo, then Leon Battista Alberti’s Basilica of Sant’Andrea. Aperitivo under the arcades.
3. Day 2 morning · Palazzo Te
Giulio Romano’s villa with the Chamber of the Giants and the Chamber of Cupid and Psyche. On the way, the Casa del Mantegna and the Tempio di San Sebastiano.
4. Day 2 afternoon · Palazzo d’Arco and Teatro Bibiena
Palazzo d’Arco is an aristocratic home still fully furnished, with the Hall of the Zodiac frescoed by Giovanni Maria Falconetto. A few steps away is the Teatro Bibiena, the 18th-century theatre where a thirteen-year-old Mozart played in 1770.
5. Day 2 evening · Sunset on the Ponte di San Giorgio
The best spot to see Mantua’s skyline reflected in the lake, with the dome of Sant’Andrea and the castle towers.
6. Day 3 · The lakes and the Mincio, or Sabbioneta
Two options. If you love nature: a boat trip on the Mincio, the Upper Lake and the village of Grazie with its sanctuary. If you love art: Sabbioneta, Vespasiano Gonzaga’s ideal city, about 35 km away and a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Mantua.
Visit Mantua luggage-free
Leave your suitcases, backpacks and bags at Mantova Locker and travel light: we are at Via Solferino e San Martino 4, just a short walk from the railway station, open 24 hours a day. Find out how it works, our prices and where to find us.
Practical tips
- Book the Camera degli Sposi for the first day: it’s the only timed entry.
- Many state museums close on Mondays: if your stay includes a Monday, use it for Sabbioneta or the lakes, after checking opening times.
- For the third day, check the boat timetables, which are seasonal, or book a car for Sabbioneta.
- On the last day, leave your bags in storage after check-out and collect them before your train.
Frequently asked questions
Is three days in Mantua too much?
No: two days are enough for the main sights, and the third lets you see the lakes, the Mincio Park or Sabbioneta without rushing.
What should I see in Mantua in 3 days?
Palazzo Ducale and the Camera degli Sposi, the piazzas and Sant’Andrea on day one; Palazzo Te, Palazzo d’Arco and the Teatro Bibiena on day two; the lakes by boat or Sabbioneta on day three.
Where can I leave my luggage after check-out in Mantua?
At Mantova Locker, Via Solferino e San Martino 4, just a short walk from the station.
More Mantua itineraries
- Mantua in one day: a walking itinerary through the Gonzaga masterpieces
- A weekend in Mantua: what to see in two days of art, theatre and lakes
- Mantua in half a day: what to see between trains
- Mantua on the water: lakes, boat trips on the Mincio and lotus flowers
- Mantua by bike: the lakes loop and the Mantua–Peschiera cycle path
- Mantua for food lovers: an itinerary of pumpkin tortelli, risotto and sbrisolona
- Palazzo Ducale and the Camera degli Sposi in Mantua: a visitor’s guide
- Palazzo Te in Mantua: what to see in Giulio Romano’s villa
- Sabbioneta from Mantua: a day trip to the Gonzaga ideal city
- Mantua with kids: things to do among castles, boats and nature
- Mantua for free: what to see without spending a penny
- Around Mantua: 6 villages and places for a day trip
- How to get to Mantua: train, car, plane and getting around town
- When to visit Mantua: the best time, season by season
- Mantua by night: sunset over the lakes, aperitivo in the piazza and theatres
- Musical Mantua: Teatro Bibiena, Mozart, Monteverdi and Rigoletto
- Mantua in the rain: museums, palaces and arcades for an indoor day
- What to see in Mantua
