Padua, Italy Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, Where to Stay, and Why Padova Is One of Italy’s Most Underrated Cities
If you are looking for the best places to visit in northern Italy but want to avoid the heaviest crowds in Venice, Florence, and Rome, let me introduce you to one of my favorite Italian surprises: Padua, Italy, or Padova, as the locals call it.
This elegant city in the Veneto region is one of the most underrated cities in Italy. It has remarkable art, grand piazzas, major religious landmarks, one of Europe’s oldest universities, excellent food, and easier prices than many of Italy’s most famous destinations. Best of all, Padua is perfectly positioned for travelers who want an authentic Italian city with outstanding rail connections and easy day trips.
In my view, Padua may be Italy’s best-kept secret.
So if you are wondering is Padua worth visiting, the answer is a very easy yes.
Why Visit Padua, Italy?
There are plenty of reasons to visit Padua, but here is the simple one: it gives travelers much of what they love about Italy without some of what they do not.
In Padua, you will find:
For travelers searching for the real Italy, Padua is the kind of place that still feels lived in, relaxed, and authentically local. It is a city where you can spend the morning admiring Giotto frescoes, the afternoon exploring medieval squares, and the evening enjoying a wonderful dinner without needing to elbow your way through a crowd of tour groups.
That alone gives Padua an edge.
Where Is Padua, Italy?
Padua is in northern Italy, in the Veneto region, about 25 miles from Venice and roughly 40 miles from Venice Marco Polo Airport depending on your route. It sits on a major train line, making it easy to reach from Venice, Florence, Milan, and Rome.
For many travelers, Padua is actually easier and more comfortable as a base than Venice. You can fly into Venice, transfer to Padua, and stay in a city that is calmer, more affordable, and far less crowded.
Once there, Padua is easy to get around thanks to its walkable center and local tram system.
Best Things to Do in Padua, Italy
If you are searching for the best things to do in Padua, start with these highlights.
1. Visit the Scrovegni Chapel
The Scrovegni Chapel in Padua is one of the most important art sites in Italy. Inside, you will find Giotto’s extraordinary frescoes, which helped change the course of Western art. Many art lovers consider this chapel one of the great masterpieces in Europe.
That is high praise, but once you step inside, it makes perfect sense.
For travelers interested in Italian art, this is one of the top reasons to visit Padua. It is not just a good attraction. It is a major cultural treasure.
2. Tour the University of Padua
The University of Padua is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe. It is also closely linked to Galileo, who taught here and reportedly spent some of the happiest years of his life in Padua.
This is a wonderful stop for travelers interested in science, history, and the story of how modern ideas took shape in Europe. A visit here adds intellectual depth to your time in Padua and reminds you that this city has influenced the world in more ways than one.
3. See the Basilica of St. Anthony
The Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua is one of the city’s most famous landmarks and one of the most important pilgrimage churches in Italy. Pilgrims come from around the world to visit the tomb of St. Anthony, but even travelers without a religious connection will find this basilica impressive, peaceful, and unforgettable.
It is one of the essential stops on any Padua itinerary.
4. Enjoy Coffee at Caffè Pedrocchi
A visit to Caffè Pedrocchi is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Padua. This elegant neoclassical café was once a gathering place for political thinkers, students, and intellectuals. Today, it remains one of the city’s most beautiful and historic places to sit down for coffee.
Italy has no shortage of cafés, but this one has real character.
5. Explore the Palazzo della Ragione
The Palazzo della Ragione is a striking medieval building that once served as a market hall, town hall, and palace of justice. It is one of Padua’s most important civic landmarks and a wonderful place to appreciate the city’s long history and architectural beauty.
6. Wander Padua’s Famous Piazzas
One of the real pleasures of Padua is simply walking through its historic center. The city’s major piazzas are lined with markets, cafés, and restaurants, and they give Padua much of its personality.
This is where the city feels most alive.
If your favorite travel moments involve wandering, sitting, watching, snacking, and feeling the rhythm of local life, Padua delivers.
Is Padua Cheaper Than Venice?
Yes, and for many travelers that is one of Padua’s biggest advantages.
Compared with Venice, Padua is often less expensive for hotels and dining. That makes it a smart choice for travelers who want to explore the Veneto region without paying Venice prices for every night of their trip.
You still get excellent food, beautiful architecture, and easy access to Venice, but with a more relaxed atmosphere and better overall value.
For practical travelers, that is a winning combination.
Where to Eat in Padua
If you are wondering where to eat in Padua, one of our favorite spots is Osteria Al Peronio. The food is very good, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the prices are more than fair.
That combination is part of Padua’s appeal. You can dine well here without feeling like you have just financed a minor Renaissance fresco restoration.
Where to Stay in Padua
For travelers looking for a well-located hotel, we like the Majestic Toscanelli Hotel. It is close to the main sights and gives you an excellent base for exploring the historic center on foot.
If you are building a Padua city break or using Padua as a base for northern Italy, location matters. This is a comfortable and convenient choice.
Is Padua a Good Base for Northern Italy?
Very much so.
One of the best reasons to stay in Padua is that it works beautifully as a base for exploring the region. Thanks to its rail connections, Padua makes it easy to plan day trips from Padua to several outstanding cities.
Popular day trips include:
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Venice
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Verona
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Vicenza
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Treviso
This means you can sleep in a calmer, more affordable city while still enjoying some of the most famous destinations in northern Italy.
That is smart travel.
Padua to Venice: Easy Train Ride or Scenic River Cruise
One of the most popular excursions is Padua to Venice. The train ride is quick and convenient, making Venice an easy day trip.
But travelers interested in architecture should consider something more memorable: the Il Burchiello cruise on the Brenta River. This scenic route takes you past magnificent Venetian villas, including buildings linked to Andrea Palladio, one of Italy’s greatest architects.
It is a wonderful alternative to simply hopping on a train, and it adds another layer of beauty to your northern Italy itinerary.
Is Padua Worth Visiting?
Without question.
If you are searching for an underrated Italy destination, a city with major art and history, a strong local identity, and practical advantages for travelers, Padua deserves serious consideration. It has some of the finest frescoes in Italy, an important university, one of the country’s great basilicas, elegant cafés, lively piazzas, and excellent access to the rest of the Veneto.
Most importantly, Padua still feels like a discovery.
You leave asking yourself why more travelers do not talk about it. Then you realize that perhaps this is exactly the charm. Padua is not trying to perform for tourists every second of the day. It is simply being itself: handsome, historic, cultured, and quietly confident.
That is exactly why I like it so much.
At TravelPDQ, we are always looking for places that deliver the most enjoyment with the least nonsense. Padua does that beautifully. So the next time you are planning northern Italy, do not just ask whether you should visit Venice or Florence.
Ask whether Padua might be the better choice.
You may arrive curious. You will leave wondering why you did not come sooner.