Mantua-Venice with the MS Ave Maria

From Mantua to Venice – along the banks of the river Po and numerous canals, the fascinating Po Delta and the famous lagoon. There are countless UNESCO world cultural heritage sites: the Renaissance city of Mantua, the medieval town Ferrara and the Doge city Venice. Enjoy cycling on excellent flat paths. This tour is also suitable for inexperienced cyclists. The tour starts in Mantua.
Here you can find further information on the MS Ave Maria.

Day 1 Arrival in Mantua
Embarkation from 6.00 pm. Explore the city, which is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site.

Day 2 Round trip Manuta, approx. 35 km/25 mi
The first bike tour will take you through the surroundings of Mantua. In the afternoon there is a guided tour of Manuta’s countless Renaissance monuments.

Day 3 Mantua - Zelo, approx. 50 km/31 mi + boat trip
You’ll cycle on easy paths along the river Po and the Canal Biano to Zelo. Visit a museum and a cheese factory.

Day 4 Zelo - Adria, approx. 50 km/31 mi + bus transfer
Enjoy a beautiful bike tour to Ferrara, a town dating from the 14th century, which is also a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. Overnight stay in the former harbour town Adria.

Day 5 Adria - Pellestrina Island, approx. 40 km/25 mi + boat trip
Today you will cycle from Porto Viro through the nature park in the Po Delta. Constantly changing streams create a number of different eco systems with countless plant and animal species.

Day 6 Pellestrina Island – Venice, approx. 25 km/19 mi, boat trip
Be sure not to miss the fish market at sunrise. Then you will make your way to Venice between the Adriatic and the lagoon with bike and boat.

Day 7 Explore Venice
In the morning you’ll take part in a guided tour of the ‘Serenissima’, then you can explore the city or the islands of the lagoon by yourself.

Day 8 Departure
After breakfast your tour from Mantua to Venice with the MS Ave Maria ends.

Here are the details on MS Ave Maria.

Included in "Mantua - Venice with MS Ave Maria":

• 7 nights aboard
• full board (7 x breakfast, 6 packed lunches, 6 x dinner, only 1x dinner in Venice)
• afternoon coffee and cake served daily
• 1x cabin cleaning
• bed linen and towels supplied
• welcome drink
• guided city tour in Mantua
• several short guided city tours
• visit tour and tasting of grappa and spirits in a typical distillery
• visit to a Grana Padano cheese dairy
• visit "Museum of the Carousel + Folk Theater"
• visit glass blowing factory, Murano
• transfers by bus Ferrarra-Adria
• optional guided cycle tours according to tour agenda
• detailed travel documents in english
• GPS tracks
• rental bike included!
   

Accomodation:

• outside cabins, approx. 7-8 sqm (75-86 sq ft), with ensuite WC and shower
• upper deck cabins with openable bull eyes
• level-access beds which can be moved
• lower deck cabins for 3 guests too
• upper deck cabins for 3+4 guests too

Rental bicyles:

• We offer comfortable unisex-bikes with 21-speed gearboxes, equipped with a bike bag and a bike lock. We also offer e-bikes if desired.
• If you choose to wear a helmet, we recommend using your own due to the variety of head sizes and shapes and for hygienic reasons.

Bookable dates 2026:

• Arrival on saturdays
  21.03. + 04.04.* + 18.04. + 02.05. + 16.05. + 30.05.
  13.06. + 27.06. + 11.07. + 25.07.
  08.08. + 22.08. + 05.09. + 19.09.
  03.10. + 17.10.
  *300 € discount p.p.

Prices:

All prices are per person.

• Booking code "Mantua - Venice with MS Ave Maria":
  RS-IMA-7M
• how you can save some money
• costs of cancellation

Additional costs:

• eventually Venice city entrance fee: approx. 5-10 €/person, payable on site

The booking process

Arrival to "Mantua-Venice with the MS Ave Maria":

• The MS Ave Maria is berthed in Porto Catena, close to the town centre.

• Arrival by car:
  A number of guarded and unguarded car parks can be found between 500 - 1500 metres from the jetty. Costs range from free parking to 80 €/week.

• Arrival by train:
  Mantua train station, approx. 1,5 km to the hythe, taxi approx. 15 €.

• Arrival by plane:
  Airport Verona:
  shuttle bus to Verona train station, every 20 min
  train to Mantua, every hour, duration approx. 70 min, standard fare approx. 12 €
  Airport Venice Marco Polo:
  bus to Mestre train station, for more information see return transfer

• Embarkation at 5 pm, luggage can be left from 1 pm.

Return transfer:

• under your own steam by train, from Venezia S. Lucia to Mantua, every hour, duration approx. 2 hours, 1 x change, standard fare approx. 35 €
  trenitalia.com is a helpful on-line resource (DE/EN/FR)

Personal bikes:
As space is limited, it will not be possible for you to bring your own bike on this tour.

Perfectly looked after:
During your tour, we are available between 8 am and 8 pm, 7 days a week. We are happy to help with any kind of problems you might be having. You will find this emergency number in your travel documents.

Please note:

• As is the case with all boat trips, changes in travel itineraries due to the weather, the rivers’ water levels or technical issues can be undertaken at any time.