After leaving Lake Garda, the Mincio river widens around Mantua into three lakes: the Upper Lake, the Lago di Mezzo (Middle Lake) and the Lower Lake. For centuries they protected the city like a moat; today they are its most peaceful side: a world of waterside walks, reed beds and herons.
It’s the right itinerary for those who have already seen the museums, for families with children, or for days when you feel like some fresh air.
At a glance: half a day – 1 day · on foot + boat · nature and families
The stops
1. Lungolago dei Gonzaga
The promenade along the Lower Lake, with lawns, benches and views of the Castello di San Giorgio. It’s the departure point for many boat trips.
2. Ponte di San Giorgio
The bridge between the Lago di Mezzo and the Lower Lake: the most photographed view of the city, stunning at sunset.
3. Boat trip on the Mincio
The boats leave from the centre and sail up the river into the Mincio Park, among reed beds, water lilies and waterbirds. Some routes head downstream towards the Po. The service is seasonal and timetables change every year: check them before you go.
4. The lotus flowers of the Upper Lake
Between July and August part of the Upper Lake is covered in pink lotus flowers: an expanse that grew from just a few rhizomes planted in the 1920s. You can see them well from the shore and even better from the boat.
5. Grazie di Curtatone
The village on the Mincio with the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie, famous for the stuffed crocodile hanging from its vault. On Ferragosto (15 August) it hosts the gathering of the madonnari (pavement chalk artists).
6. Rivalta sul Mincio
Gateway to the Mincio Valleys, with the Ethnographic Museum of River Trades and boat excursions through the reed beds.
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
- Bring a hat and water in summer: there is little shade on the lakes.
- There are lots of mosquitoes in the valleys at sunset: insect repellent is a good idea.
- For Grazie and Rivalta you need a car or a bike: by bike, you can get there along the cycle paths beside the river.
Frequently asked questions
How many lakes are there in Mantua?
Three: the Upper Lake, the Lago di Mezzo and the Lower Lake, all formed by the Mincio. A fourth, Lago Paiolo, was drained in the 18th century.
When do the lotus flowers bloom in Mantua?
Usually between July and August, on the Upper Lake.
Can you take a boat trip from Mantua?
Yes: boat trips on the lakes and along the Mincio leave from the centre, usually from spring to autumn.
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 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
- Mantua in 3 days: a complete itinerary of the city, the lakes and Sabbioneta
- 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
