Welcome to this travel guide that shows you how to get from Venice to Padua.
There’s a saying in Veneto that goes: ‘Venice the beautiful, Padua her sister’. Even though Venice is the city that shines brighter than any other in the region, Padua is a city rich in history, architectural gems and a millenary culture.
I have a special relationship with this city. I studied for 3 years at the University of Padua, which also happens to be one of the oldest universities in the world!
Venice to Padua
Padua makes a perfect day trip from Venice, so keep reading this guide to find out why to visit Padua from Venice, where to stay and how easy it actually is to get here from the Lagoon city whether that’s by public transport, car or a river cruise.
Where is Padua, Italy?
Padua (called Padova in Italian) is located in north-east Italy and belongs to the Veneto region. It’s a Veneto province that has the largest population of all.
Padua is 42 kilometres away from Venice and it takes around 45 minutes to get there by car. It’s also 42 kilometres away from Vicenza, 88 kilometres away from Verona and 62 kilometres away from Treviso.
Not to mention, Padua is one of the most important cities in north-east Italy not only from a cultural and economic point of view, but for the beauty of its city centre which counts on 2 World Heritage Sites and the surrounding of the Euganean Hills.
Then for those that love the idea of wellness and nature, there is the Abano and Montegrotto spa which are two popular Italian spa towns that are very close-by.
Is Padua worth visiting from Venice?
From the Giotto’s frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel, the Basilica of St. Anthony from Padua (called ‘Il Santo’), the squares and palaces, and the ancient university – where Galileo Galilei taught – Padua is a city that fascinates its numerous visitors.
Let’s look at the main reasons why Padua is worth visiting from Venice:
- To admire the outstanding beauty of the frescoed cycles of the 14th century painted by the talented Giotto, added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021.
- To visit one of the largest squares in Europe: Prato della Valle. Its configuration dates back to the 18th century and is characterised by a central island, called Memmia island, surrounded by a canal and with a double ring made up of 78 stone statues, representing the most famous citizens of Padua.
- To visit University of Padua one of the oldest universities in the world: found in the year 1222.
- To visit the Botanical Gardens that are the oldest university gardens in the world.
- To stroll around the charming historic centre and its piazzas, full of historic bars like Pedrocchi, restaurants and palaces like the mediaeval Palazzo della Ragione, old seat of the city court.
Where to stay in Padua?
If you are planning to spend more than one day in Padua take a look at this handpicked selection of 3 of the best hotels based in the historic centre:
- Casa Giotto: this luxury B&B is located in the heart of Padua which will allow you to explore its squares and streets with no rush. Casa Giotto stands out for the design furnishing, the contemporary elegant style of its guest rooms, and the amazing views of the city.
- Padova Suites C20: this elegant residence offers magnificent views of the Basilica of St. Anthony. Padova Suites C20’s rooms are minimalist and bright, the ideal place to relax after walking around Padua for the whole day.
- Massimago Wine Tower: only 13 minutes walk away from Prato della Valle, the Massimago Wine Tower is a very special place in Padua. In fact, this is a former 14th century tower, part of a bastion of Padua’s mediaeval city walls! The highlight of this property is the timeless elegance of the Deluxe Suite with exposed beams on the ceiling and frescoed walls.
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How far is Padua from Venice?
Padua is 42 kilometres away from Venice and it takes around 45 minutes to get there by car, depending on the traffic conditions. The best way to get from Venice to Padua is by train as it only takes 28 minutes only by regional or fast regional train!
You find that renting a car is the second best option to travel to Padua as it will give you complete freedom and flexibility. Be aware that there are many ZTL in Padua (limited traffic zones), so I don’t recommend driving in the city centre.
It’s better to park just outside the city centre to avoid getting a parking fine. You can also get there by bus and it would take as long as travelling by car or you can get to Padua by cruise from Venice navigating the beautiful Riviera del Brenta.
How to get from Venice to Padua
Let’s now get into this transport guide and understand all the options to get from Venice to Padua so you can make an informed decision before your trip.
Train from Venice to Padua
Getting a train from Venice to Padua is the most convenient option; you have to get there in less than half an hour.
Not only this, but you won’t have to think about parking in Padua but simply to walk or get a 10 minutes ride bus from Padua railway station to the city centre. It takes between 28 minutes and 47 minutes based on the type of train you board.
You’ll leave from Venezia Santa Lucia to Padua train station and there are direct trains every 10 minutes. You can either travel by:
- Regional train ( R). Regional trains in Italy are trains that connect important cities to most towns in the region and for this reason, they stop more frequently. The regional train takes 47 minutes to get to Padua from Venice
- Fast regional train (RV). The fast regional trains are much faster trains because they skip some stops along the way. This train only takes 28 minutes to get to Padua station.
- Frecciarossa high-speed train (FR). You can also get the high-speed train called Frecciarossa that takes 28 minutes to get to Padua, but the price is much higher compared to the ticket price of a regional or fast regional train.
Local tip: I recommend getting the fast regional train to Padua because it will not only save you time but it costs the same as the regional train ticket (4,70 euros)!
Once you get to Padua train station, you can either: walk to the historic centre as it would take 20 minutes (this is my preferred option) or get a bus (U03, U09 or U10) which takes around 10 minutes only.
Driving from Venice to Padua
If you’re planning to drive in northern Italy or rent a car one once you get here, then you should know that Padua is very well connected to Venice.
It takes between 40 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to Padua, depending on the traffic. If you get the motorway, it’s usually faster than getting a state road.
There are two main options to be able get to Padua from Venice by car:
- Get the A4 motorway. This is one of the most important motorways in Italy that connects Turin, Milan, Padua, Venice and Trieste. After crossing the Ponte della Libertà connecting Venice to the mainland, continue on Via della Libertà until when you get to Mestre, where you take the Tangenziale di Mestre. Then follow Tangenziale di Mestre and A4/E70 to Via S. Marco in Padua. Take exit Padova Est. Bear in mind that you pay tolls to access motorways in Italy and you can check the cost via the Autostrade.it website.
- Stay on the Tangenziale di Mestre. If you want to avoid getting on the motorway, then after crossing the Ponte della Libertà, continue on Via della Libertà and follow signs for Milano/Bologna/Padova/Ravenna. At the Rotonda Romea, continue on Tangenziale di Mestre slip road to Milano/A13/Bologna. From the Tangenziale, get to Mirano/Dolo. Continue with direction Caselle, from where you’ll have to turn left into Via Noalese. Continue on SR515 until you can take exit 18bis towards Padova Centro.
In the city centre, there’s mostly paid parking. However, you can find free parking, especially not far from the Prato della Valle area.
As mentioned above, there are limited traffic zones (ZTL) active in Padua in the historic centre. This means that you can only reach places on foot or by taxi.
Bus from Venice to Padua
If you prefer to stick to public transport, you can get a bus from Venice Piazzale Roma to Padua Autostazione. You can choose to travel by Busitalia-Sita Nord or by ACTV, the land bus and water bus company of the municipality of Venice.
By Busitalia line number E015-Z: the journey lasts approximately 45 minutes. The bus leaves from Venice Piazzale Roma and arrives at the bus station of Padua called Autostazione (near the train station).
There are buses every 30 minutes from 7.30am to 11pm. Buses leave Padua Autostazione from 5.55am to 9.25pm. The one way ticket cost is 5,10 euros which makes the bus a more expensive option compared to the train. You can use the Busitalia travel planner to check the route and the most up to date timetables.
By ACTV bus line 53E: the journey lasts longer, around 1 hour and 12 minutes. The bus leaves from the stop Libertà Santa Chiara, not far from Piazzale Roma, and arrives at Padova Autostazione. There are 3 or 4 buses every hour from 4.55am to midnight. Buses leave Padua Autostazione from 4.25am to 9.30pm.
You can check the timetable here. This ticket costs 6,90 euros, which means, once again, that the train is a faster and cheaper option.
Venice to Padua Full-Day Brenta Riviera Boat Cruise
Finally, your last option is to get to Padua from Venice by boat! The two cities are connected by an important waterway in the Veneto region: the Brenta river.
By joining this Full-Day Brenta Riviera Cruise you’d leave from Riva degli Schiavoni in Venice, not far from St. Mark’s Square and arrive at the Burchiello’s Stairway in Padua. During this full-day trip, you’ll have the unique chance to admire beautiful villas overlooking the river and stop in some locations for villas guided tours.
Some of the stops are Villa Foscari in Malcontenta, Villa Widmann in Mira and Villa Pisani in Stra. You can have lunch at a discounted price in Oriago at the famous restaurant Il Burchiello.
Get ready to see more than 70 villas of the Brenta Riviera and learn a lot about local history and culture along the way, before arriving in Padua. Bear in mind that you’ll have to arrange your own transportation back to Venice.
Getting from Venice to Padua
Visiting Padua from Venice is simple and for this reason it makes a great day trip from Venice. The best option to get there is by train, because it’s cheap and fast.
If you’re looking to stop along the way or want to be in full control of your time, then getting to Padua by car is definitely the best way to go.
Do you need further inspiration on where else to go from Venice? Make sure you take the time to read my guide on the best day trips by train from Venice for ideas.
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