Italy Bike & Boat: Venice to Mantua
Explore two fabulous UNESCO World Heritage cities by bike and boat, traveling from Venice to the nature reserves outside Mantua.
Guided Bike & Boat
- Daily Mileage: 6 - 29|
- Biking: 0.75 - 3 hr|
- Group Size: 28
Starting From
11-day Air Package
$5,895
8-day Bike Tour Only
$4,995
Per person, double occupancy

Italy Bike & Boat: Venice to Mantua
A unique combination of history and nature await you on this unforgettable Venice biking tour. By day, you’ll cycle on lightly traveled roads and bike paths from pastel-colored fishermen’s homes to Belle Epoch architecture and nature reserves. By night, you’ll relax on your floating home, a refurbished eco-friendly barge, as you glide past natural and cultural landmarks. The trip includes guided tours of medieval districts and Renaissance battlements, as well as visits to a carousel museum, a glass-blowing studio, and a cheese factory for a vacation that stimulates all the senses.What to Expect
This tour offers easy terrain on bike paths and roads through rural areas and on two Venice islands with little car traffic. Our VBT support shuttle is available every day at designated waypoints for those who need assistance.
- Daily Mileage: 6 - 29|
- Biking: 0.75 - 3 hr|
- Group Size: 28
Cycling
Cyclists
Support
Tour Highlights
- Enjoy stress-free cycling along quiet canals, a peaceful river, and through a tranquil nature reserve.
- Experience the captivating grandeur of Venice as you cruise the city’s famous canals and lagoon.
- Delight in the contrast between Belle Epoch architecture and colorful fishermen’s houses on a spin through two Venetian islands.
- Watch a demonstration of the ancient art of glass-blowing on Murano Island.
- Absorb the history of Ferrara and Mantua, both UNESCO-designated Renaissance cities, on a tour with local guides.
- Sample delicious Grana Padano cheese, originally developed by monks in the 12th century at a local cheese factory.
- Revel in the Carousel and Popular Entertainment Museum in the Strozzi Palace which is dedicated to itinerant folk shows.
- Reward your cycling workouts with sumptuous dinners prepared by your chef aboard the Ava Maria Barge.
Average High /
Low Temperature (°F):
May73º/55º
Jun80º/62º
Jul84º/65º
Aug84º/65º
Sep75º/59º
Oct63º/50º
Average
Precipitation:
May3.5 in
Jun3.3 in
Jul3.6 in
Aug2.9 in
Sep2.9 in
Oct3.9 in
Air Package | Tour Only |
|
---|---|---|
Roundtrip international airfare | ||
Transfers to and from international airport | ||
2 nights in Venice and 2 nights in Verona in conveniently located hotels with breakfasts included | ||
7 nights aboard a European canal boat | ||
15 meals: 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners |

Step-Through (Mixte Hybrid) Comfort Bicycle
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Step-Over (Diamond) Comfort Bicycle
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Road Bicycle (Aluminum alloy frame)
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Electric-Assisted Bicycle (E-bike)
See More >Biking Packages Include:
Custom VBT Bike and Helmet
Two Local, Bilingual Trip Leaders
Vehicle Support
Luggage Transfers
Ride with GPS and Daily Route Notes
Welcome Reception
Facilitated Cultural Experiences
Your Choice of VBT Branded Gear for Your Adventure
Accommodations
Enjoy Your Vacation Longer With Low-Cost Trip Extensions
Air Package Only
2021 Pre-Trip Extension - Venice
2 Nights From $495 per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $395
- With its labyrinth of narrow alleyways and canals, Venice is the perfect city for meandering and soaking up the local culture.
- World-renown buildings including St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace are all within walking distance in this pedestrian-friendly city.
- From old masters to modern art, the galleries and museums have something for all artistic tastes.
- Take advantage of VBT’s local guide who will help you make the most of your stay.
Depart home for Italy. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary.
Once in the arrival terminal at the airport in Venice, Italy, please claim your luggage and proceed through customs. You’ll exit the sliding doors where you will be greeted by a VBT representative holding a sign who will take you to Venezia Taxi at the airport pier. A 35-minute ride on this private water taxi will bring you to your centrally located hotel in Venice. Your hotel room may not be available until 2:00 p.m., but the reception desk will gladly store your luggage if you are early.
At the hotel, our local expert will be available from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. to answer your questions and give a short orientation walk. The rest of the day is free to discover Venice and dine at any of the wonderful restaurants the town has to offer with the VBT City Information as your guide.
If you are delayed for more than 15 minutes at the Lost & Found desk due to luggage problems, please call our transfer company at +39 328 23 89 661. You may also contact Allianz Global Assistance to advise of your delay, and they will contact our transfer service.
Please note: VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you fly in earlier than the scheduled dates, transportation from the airport will be at your own expense.
Accommodation: Ruzzini Palace Hotel, Venice
Explore Venice to your heart’s delight. The city is actually a collection of 118 islands in a shallow lagoon so a great way to explore is by water. A picturesque gondola, often with a singing gondolier, is a relaxing way to see the sites but you can also take a vaporetto, or water taxi to travel further and faster. The Grand Canal is the most famous waterway and the Rialto Bridge, the most famous crossing, but Venice has over 150 canals and 400 bridges to explore by boat, as well as on foot. We recommend that you purchase a multi-day transportation ticket (Venezia Unica City Pass) to travel by vaporetto which will take you to locations as varied as the islands of Burano and Torcello,
Please note: Italian museums are closed on Mondays.
Accommodation: Ruzzini Palace Hotel, Venice
Included Meals: Breakfast
Set out early in the morning to take in the picturesque atmosphere of St. Mark’s Square before the crowds arrive. Napoleon called this scenic spot “the drawing room of Europe.” Early morning is also a great time to visit St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the best examples of Byzantine architecture in Europe, and the Doge’s Palace where you can learn about the lives of Venetian Republic nobility. A contrast to the opulent setting is the Bridge of Sighs which leads to the former prison house. The bridge was named for the sighs uttered by the prisoners as they caught their last glimpse of freedom. While galleries such as Gallerie dell’Accademia carry the works of Italian old masters, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection on the Grand Canal hosts an exquisite collection of modern art in Ms. Guggenheim’s former home. Venice is a pedestrian-friendly city and your centrally located hotel will make it easy to access it all.
Accommodation:Ruzzini Palace Hotel, Venice
Included Meals: Breakfast
Air Package Only
2021 Post-Trip Extension - Verona
2 Nights From $245 per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $145
- Visit the Roman amphitheater in Piazza Bra, the third largest arena in Italy.
- Stand beneath Juliet’s Balcony at a 13th century home in the city.
- Marvel at the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, Sant’Anastasia, Santa Maria Antica, and other Romanesque style churches.
- VBT’s local guide will lead an orientation tour and provide tips to help you make the most of your stay.
Spend another day discovering Verona. Explore the remarkable Old Town, where “Juliet’s balcony” commemorates Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, which was set in this romantic town. Visit the art galleries at the Palazzo della Ragione and the Castelvecchio fortress. You may also take a 40-minute train ride to Padua, a city renowned for its art and one of Italy’s undiscovered gems. The centerpiece of Padua is the Scrovegni Chapel, a 14th-century masterpiece reminiscent of the Sistine Chapel for its fresco-covered walls painted by the famed painter Giotto. The city center is a pleasure to stroll with its inviting arcaded streets and large and generous piazzas.
Accommodation: Hotel Giberti, Verona
Included Meals: Breakfast
Continue your exploration of Verona and its surrounding areas. If you enjoy soaking in natural hot springs, you might plan a spa day in the nearby villages of Montegrotto or Abano. A 30-minute journey will bring you to Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake and a scenic and cultural treasure. Another option is the hour-long train ride to Bologna, Europe’s second largest Old Town and home of medieval, Renaissance, and baroque monuments. Indulge your appetite by exploring the flavors and aromas of the new FICO Eataly World, the largest agri-food park in the world.
Accommodation: Hotel Giberti, Verona
Included Meals: Breakfast
Early this morning*, transfer to the Verona Airport for your departing flight**. Please ensure you are ready in the hotel reception area at the designated transfer time.
*Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the front desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.
**Please note: VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder.” VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.
Included Meals: Breakfast

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