I first came across the city of Padua when I was researching locations in Northern Italy some time ago. It immediately struck me as a seemingly wonderful little town, that really flew under the radar of its more popular neighbors of Venice and Verona. Whilst passing through the area though, I couldn’t help but be drawn to it, and chose it as my base whilst exploring the surrounding area. As such, in the months I spent there I fell in love with it, and have decided to write this Complete Guide to Padua.
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I found Padua, also known locally by Italians as Padova, as a beautiful and quiet city. It is rather unassuming, yet still oozes with the classic charm that you tend to find in all Italian cities and towns. I loved my morning strolls through the half a dozen Piazza’s in the city center, and constant discoveries of cafe’s, bakeries and quaint little restaurants that just seemed to pop out of nowhere. Exploring the streets of Padua became my obsession. So much so that I intend to find an excuse to stop there again in a few weeks time!
Table of Contents
- Why to visit Padua
- Where is Padua?
- How to get to Padua
- What to do in Padua
- Day Trips from Padua
- Where to stay
- How to get around
- Summary
Why to visit Padua
I can think of many reasons to visit Padua. As I already touched on in my introduction.
If you are searching for a beautiful place that you can stay, ideally located in northern Italy, then this is it. Padua is a university town, with its main campus located right in the very center of town. The vibe around town is therefore young, and the city, as a result, always feels alive. It is vibrant, constantly on the move, and I can guarantee that you would never feel bored.
There are other reasons to visit Padua though, and the main one is because of its location.
I wrote another article not long ago about alternatives to Venice. This is where Padua is perfect! If you are on the search for a place to base yourself, away from Venice yet still close enough to be able to explore it at your leisure, then Padua is the place for you! Venice is only a short train ride (around 40 mins) from Padua, and trains run all day long.
Venice is not the only place you an explore from Padua though. Verona is also only a short trip away, and Milan just beyond that. The classic Italian lake, Lake Garda, is only 20 minutes past Verona, and boasts such incredible places as Sirmione. From Padua, you can do all these things on a single day trip!
TIP – Stay in Padua and organize day trips for several days in a row. You can visit Venice, Verona, Lake Garda, Bologna, Vicenza, and Treviso with only short train trips from Padua.
Where is Padua?
Padua is located in North Eastern Italy, and is only 32 kilometers from Venice. It is approximately 70 kilometers from Verona, and 190 kilometers North of Florence.
The unique location of Padua, or Padova, makes it the ideal location to base yourself to see all the surrounding cities and countryside of Northern Italy.
How to get to Padua
Padua is very easy to get to because of its central location. It is a major hub in northern Italy, and central not only for tourists, but also for the majority of locals and the students that attend its Universities.
Probably the most popular way to get to Padua is by train. Padua is a major stop in the link between Milan and Venice, along with nearby Verona. You can catch a train from almost any of the nearby towns to Padua, and certainly from any of the major cities anywhere in Italy. This also opens up Padua to access by air, if you are flying to Italy and can then easily link up with the rail network from either Venice, Verona or Milan. There are several options for airports near to Padua, with the major ones being Milan and Venice.
For the best airfares, check out THIS LINK.
Another great way to get to Padua is by bus. On my most recent visit, I traveled via Flixbus from Slovenia to Padua. I was surprised to find that it is actually a major route from Eastern Europe, and the bus I was on actually came all the way from Budapest to Padua, doing several stops along the way, including Ljubljana and Venice. You can catch buses from many major towns and cities around Europe that are heading toward Padua, so this is a really good option if you don’t have access to the train. It is usually also cheaper!
Then, at the risk of stating the obvious, you have the road networks, that all link through Padua, making travel by car really easy.
Are you planning on renting a car or driving when you are overseas? Then make sure you are fully covered by having your International Driver’s Permit. Find out more, or pick one up easily at THIS LINK.
What to do in Padua
Padua is a beautiful city that is quite deceptive when it comes to things to do. On first glance, it doesn’t really stand out at all. Yet when you visit, you find that your entire day is taken up with wandering from Piazza to Piazza, soaking up the local culture, stopping in cafes, and simply people watching. It is a city that is always busy, has a wonderful vibe, and is overflowing with those unique aspects of Italian life that make the country a favorite for visitors from all over the world.
Here is a list of my top things to do when visiting.
- Wander through Orto Botanico – These beautiful Botanic Gardens are part of the University, and are located right in the middle of the city. Created in 1545, they are one of the oldest gardens in existence.
- Stop by in Prato Della Valle – Prato Della Valle is an incredible Piazza located at the southern end of the main pedestrian zone of Padua. It is the largest Piazza in Italy, and loved by the locals as a place to meet, sit, and just chill out. The oval design in unique, and in the center there is an oval shaped moat with four bridges connecting to the central grassed area and fountain. The moat is lined with 90 statues of influential figures, and is one of the most recognizable features of the city.
- Visit Basilica di Sant’Antonio – Located not far from Orto Botanico, this incredible cathedral was constructed way back in the 1200’s. It’s main feature is the many domes along the roof, but inside is just as amazing with beautiful artwork, gold trimmings and marble statues.
- Take a stroll through Piazza de Signori – One of the main Piazza’s that I found myself always returning to, the Piazza de Signori is famous for its clock tower at one end, and markets that are seemingly ever present within the square. This square was built in the 14th Century, and is still one of the main squares in Padua.
- Have a look inside Padua Duomo – Located in the Piazza Duomo, this beautiful church was built in the year 1117. The exterior is not too much to look at, but the inside is gorgeous with arches, columns, and a red and blue patterned marble floor.
- Wander around Giardini dell Arena – These beautiful gardens are located on the north of the main CBD area along the river bank. They feature Roman Ruins, and some really nice cafes and bars surrounding fountains and gardens. In the center there is also the Scrovegni Chapel which is strikingly beautiful inside and worth a visit on its own.
- Take a stroll through the other Piazzas and explore – The top Guide to Padua tip of things to do, and one of my favorite past times in Padua, was to just explore. Every day the Piazzas are alive, and it was just nice to sit and watch the world go by. My favorites were Piazza della Ragione and Piazza Cavour that had a very talented busker playing trumpet every morning.
Day Trips from Padua
With Padua being so centrally located in Northern Italy, it stands to reason that there are many day trips to choose from. After all, this is one of the main reasons that people actually choose to visit Padua!
My absolute top tip is to do a day trip to Venice! This is something that is very easy to organize yourself, and I personally have done it on a couple of occasions. Just head to the Central Train station in Padua, and jump on a train to Venice. It’s as simple as that!
UPDATE – If you do a daytrip from Padua to Venice, you now have to register. Venice welcomes people visiting on daytrips, but is limiting numbers due to overcrowding issues. Check out THIS ARTICLE for further information.
If you would rather make a really nice event of it, then you can do an organized day trip if you like. One of the most memorable is to take a cruise down the Brenta Riviera Canal all the way from Padua to Venice. This is actually an extremely popular activity to do, and you can find more details at THIS LINK.
Another really popular organised tour is the 8 hour Prosecco Wine Tasting Tour. I don’t think I have to go into too much detail about what wine tasting is all about! Check it out at THIS LINK.
Tip – If you are looking to get out of Padua for a day, then just head to the train station. Take a look at the board and pick a train. I loved doing this, as trains to places like Verona or Bologna stop at some gorgeous little towns, and you never know what you will find!
Where to stay
Padua has many wonderful places to stay. If you are visiting, you will most likely want to stay around the center of the city, and within walking distance of all the main attractions. It is also helpful to be within a decent distance of the railway station. Luckily, it is not too far down the street from the center anyway.
Here are my top choices of places to stay for all budgets.
Luxury
PALAZZO MANTUA BENAVIDES
Palazzo Mantua Benavides is luxury accommodation located in one of the best locations in the city. It is only a short stroll from the center, as well as the train station and trams. Rooms are massive, with a bed that is huge! Staff are friendly, breakfast delicious, and the gardens that surround it all are absolutely beautiful. What more could you ask for?
Mid Range
BLOOMS BOTANICAL ROOMS
Blooms is a beautifully renovated B&B in the historical center of town. The rooms are large and very nicely furnished. It is impeccably clean, comfortable, and located right in the middle of everything that Padua has to offer.
Budget
CASAMIA
Casamia is a really nice budget place that is clean, has nice rooms and the hosts are known as being very kind and courteous. It is located right near the central transport hub near the train station, and only a short stroll from the central district.
Looking for the best Budget accommodation? Hostelworld have you covered with all of the very best budget friendly accommodation around town. Check them out at THIS LINK.
How to get around
Getting around in Padua is actually really easy. When I first arrived, it was night time, and I was a little confused. This was only because of some bad, out of date information that I was given though. The very next day I realized my error, and it was all easy sailing from there on in!
So one of the points of this section of my Guide to Padua is to help you avoid that mistake too.
So what was the mistake I made? Simple. Buses do not take cash! Up to not very long ago you could pay for your ticket when you board. Now, you can’t. It is all via an app based system now.
So how does a tourist without an app pay for a ticket? Just go to any Tabaccheria. These are just local “tobacconist” stores or corner stores that they have in Italy. Simply buy a bus ticket over the counter for less than 2 Euro. You can buy these tickets and then use them anytime, so I would buy a few at once so that I had them in case I decided to use the bus and I hadn’t planned it.
Guide to Padua Tip – Make sure to validate your ticket when you get on the bus! There are small yellow machines (usually they are yellow) and you slide your ticket in and it will stamp it. This validates it, and if you don’t do it, you can be fined. This system also means you can buy your ticket in advance and it only becomes active when you validate it on the day you use it.
The bus in Padua runs everywhere, so it makes it really easy to get around. There is also the tram, and they run all around the main CBD areas. The central hub is around the central train station, where you can catch train, tram and bus.
Summary
Padua is a wonderful city. It is relaxed, vibrant and entertaining. Being centrally located, Padua is also one of the best places to base yourself to see all of Northern Italy. I personally love it, and keep returning whenever I am in the country.
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