Padua day trip from Venice or Verona
A day trip to Padua from Venice or Verona: Giotto's frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel, the university's Palazzo Bo, Caffè Pedrocchi, the Palazzo della Ragione with Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori, then the old ghetto, the Basilica of Saint Anthony, the Botanical Garden and Prato della Valle. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Padua in 1 day
Day 1
Scrovegni Chapel
Small chapel covered by Giotto's fresco cycle of the lives of Mary and Christ, painted around 1305 and a turning point in Western art.
Palazzo Bo
The historic seat of the University of Padua, with the world's oldest permanent anatomical theatre and Galileo's lectern, seen on guided tours.
Caffè Pedrocchi
Neoclassical cafe of 1831 once open day and night, known as the cafe without doors, famous for its mint coffee.
Palazzo della Ragione and Piazza delle Erbe
Medieval law court with a huge frescoed hall upstairs, standing between two market squares busy with stalls and aperitivo bars.
Piazza dei Signori
Elegant square with the astronomical clock tower and outdoor cafe tables, a favourite place for an evening spritz.
Ghetto di Padova
The small medieval Jewish quarter of narrow lanes behind the main squares, now full of wine bars, small restaurants and shops.
Basilica of Saint Anthony
Huge domed pilgrimage church holding the tomb of St Anthony, with Donatello's bronze altar and his equestrian statue outside.
Botanical Garden of Padua (Orto Botanico)
The world's oldest university botanical garden, founded in 1545 and a UNESCO site, with a modern biodiversity greenhouse.
Prato della Valle
One of Europe's largest squares, an oval garden ringed by a canal and 78 statues, used by locals for strolling and markets.
Watch: Padua
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
From Venice, regional and fast trains from Santa Lucia or Mestre reach Padova station in about 25-50 minutes. From Verona, trains take about 45 minutes to an hour and a quarter. The Scrovegni Chapel is a short walk from the station, and the tram runs south through the centre to the Basilica and Prato della Valle.
Staying in Venice or Verona? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Padua
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, mild and with fewer visitors than Venice. Summer is hot and humid, and winter is cold and often foggy. The Feast of St Anthony on 13 June brings large crowds of pilgrims and a procession through the city.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Padua on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Padua on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Padua on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Padua
- The Scrovegni Chapel admits small groups at fixed times for a short visit after a wait in a climate room; book your slot well ahead.
- Palazzo Bo, with its anatomical theatre, can only be seen on guided tours; book them in advance.
- The Basilica of Saint Anthony is a major pilgrimage church: cover shoulders and knees, and photography inside is limited.
- Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta hold food markets on weekday mornings and fill up for spritz at aperitivo time.
- At the historic Caffè Pedrocchi, try its namesake coffee: espresso with mint cream and a dusting of cocoa.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Basilica of Saint Anthony: G41rn8 (edited by MenkinAlRire), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Botanical Garden of Padua (Orto Botanico): unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.5
- Palazzo Bo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palazzo della Ragione and Piazza delle Erbe: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Piazza dei Signori: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Prato della Valle: AnatolyPm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Scrovegni Chapel: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
