10 Best Barge Cruises of Italy for 2025-2026 by Adventure Life

Take in the beauty, splendor, and history of the Mediterranean from Renaissance Italy all from aboard your barge cruise. Experience life at a slower pace aboard the luxurious and intimate barge cruises that give you the time to appreciate the scenic landscapes, small towns, and big cities of Italy. Contact us when you're ready to start planning your barge cruise!

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Best Italian Barge Cruises for 2025-2026

Venice and Mantua Cruise

7 Days from $5,490

Departing from Venice aboard the intimate ship La Bella Vita, enjoy a 7-day cruise of Italy, stopping in Pellestrina, Chioggia, the Renaissance city of Ferrara, Adria, Governolo, and ending in Mantua. Along the way, savor the wine at Bagnoli Estate and Villa Widmann Borletti, visit famous monuments, and explore the Naval Museum.

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Private Charter - Venice and Mantua Cruise Aboard La Bella Vita

7 Days from $101,000

Enjoy a 7-day private cruise around Italy on the hotel barge La Bella Vita, which departs from Venice and stops at Pellestrina, Chioggia, Ferrara, Adria, and Governolo before arriving in Mantua. Along the route, sample wines at Bagnoli Estate and Villa Widmann Borletti and visit iconic monuments and bird-filled nature reserves.

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Italian Barge Cruise Travel Guide

When to take a Barge Cruise in Europe

The best time to take a barge cruise through Europe is probably the autumn season, between September and October. Summer can also be an enjoyable barge cruising season if you don’t mind hotter temperatures and bigger crowds, and the start of the river cruising season in late spring (April-May) can be a good time to see Europe coming back to life after winter.

All you need to know about Barge Cruising

Barge cruises are one of the most unique ways to explore France, Central Europe, and the United Kingdom. Intimate accommodations, great food, and focused experiences are part of the excitement of a barge cruise.

Italy beckons - will you answer with a barge cruise?
Step back in time to Renaissance Italy as you explore this cultural gem at the leisurely pace of a luxury barge cruise.

Aboard an intimate barge, you will have the chance to zoom in on Venetian culture and lifestyle as you depart from Venice towards the charming towns of Pellestrina, San Pietro in Volta, Chioggia, Taglio di Po, Adria, Bagnoli Estate, Zelo, Governolo, and Mantua.

Along the way, visit Canal of the Orphans, the Naval Museum and the Pavilion of Gondolas, and the 17th Century home, Villa Ca’Zen.

Check out all the best destinations for barge cruising in Europe: