Padua
Padua is worth a day for Giotto's frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel, the tomb of St. Anthony in the Basilica del Santo, and a walkable old center shaped by a university founded in 1222.
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Padua is a city in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, roughly 30 to 50 minutes from Venice by train. Most visitors come for the Scrovegni Chapel, where Giotto painted a cycle of frescoes around 1305. The Basilica del Santo holds the tomb of St. Anthony, and Prato della Valle, one of the largest squares in Europe, is an oval lined with statues and a canal. The University of Padua, founded in 1222, gives the old center a strong student presence.
Padua works as a day trip from Venice or as a quieter base with lower hotel prices. One full day covers the chapel, the basilica and the old center on foot. Stay two nights if you want more time in the cafes and streets without a train schedule to keep. Spring and autumn suit walking best, since the big squares get hot in the midday summer sun.
Padua in five
- Book the Scrovegni Chapel before you arriveVisits are timed and pre-booked, with no same-day reservations. You spend about 15 minutes inside after a wait in a climate-controlled room, and late arrivals are not admitted.Scrovegni Chapel, official
- Dress modestly for the Basilica of St. AnthonyThe basilica is an active pilgrimage church, so cover shoulders and knees. Check opening hours and any queue rules on the basilica's official site, since they shift on feast days.
- Sleep in Padua only if Venice prices hurtPadua has more rooms at lower rates than Venice and fast trains to it. The cost is a 30–50 minute commute each way, plus Venice's day-visitor access fee on selected days.Venice access fee
- Walk the center and skip the carThe medieval core, the university buildings and the squares are walkable. Much of the center restricts traffic (ZTL), so park outside and take the tram or walk.
Things to do in Padua
See all attractions in Padua
Need to know
- Airport
- Venice Marco Polo (VCE), about 45–60 min by bus and train
- Getting there
- Train from Venice in about 30–50 min; from Bologna about 1 hour
- Getting around
- On foot; a tram line links the station and the center
- Best base
- Near the station or the old center
- Time needed
- 1 day, or 2 as a base for Venice
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh8°Low1°Cold, foggyJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, foggy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°ColdFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Mild, quietMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Spring walksAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring walks
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, long daysMayRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 164 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JuneClear11 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Hot eveningsJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot evenings
- JulyClear11 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Hot, humidJulyClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- AugustClear10 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Hot, humidAugustClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Mild, clearSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Foggy, coldNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Foggy, cold
- DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh9°Low3°Christmas marketsDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas markets
Average daily high and low in Padua, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Padua
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 11°
- Humidity
- 63%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 3%
Padua
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today17°8°3%Monday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Tue15°8°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed14°9°10%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Thu15°6°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 15°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri15°3°9%Friday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sat12°7°10%Saturday: Rain. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun15°7°25%Sunday: Rain. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 25%.
Updated 07:27 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Coming up
Every year
- MayPalio of FerraraFerrara, a day trip
- Jun–SepArena di Verona FestivalVerona, a day trip
- SepFestivaletteraturaMantua, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Veniceabout 30–50 min by trainCanals, St. Mark's and the lagoon islands, with a day-visitor fee on selected dates.Read the guide
- Ferraraabout 1 hour by trainA walled Renaissance city that is easy to cycle.Read the guide
- Euganean Hillsabout 30 min by train and busHill villages and thermal towns such as Abano and Montegrotto.
Before you go to Padua
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Padua, checked
- The Scrovegni Chapel is visited by advance booking only: no same-day tickets, 15-minute visits, and late arrivals are refused.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Plan around Padua
Regions, cities and how to link them
Read the guideVeniceThirty to fifty minutes away by train
Read the guideVenice access feeThe day-visitor charge on selected dates
Read the guideFerraraWalls, castle and bike lanes, an hour south
Read the guideItaly by train off-peakRail routes that avoid the summer crush
Read the guideTourist taxes in EuropeCity stay taxes you pay at the hotel
Read the guidePadua FAQ
Is Padua worth visiting?
Yes, mainly for the Scrovegni Chapel, the Basilica of St. Anthony and Prato della Valle. It has fewer crowds than Venice and good food in its squares. One day covers the highlights and an overnight lets you add the botanical garden and the university.
How do you get tickets for the Scrovegni Chapel?
Book on the chapel's official site. Pre-booking is required, same-day reservations are not possible, and a visit lasts about 15 minutes. Arrive when the ticket says, because late visitors are refused entry.
Is Padua a good base for Venice?
It can be if you want lower prices and are fine with a daily train. Fast and regional trains run all day, and the ride takes about 30–50 minutes. Stay in Venice if you want the lagoon at dawn and dusk.
How many days do you need in Padua?
One full day covers the chapel, the basilica, Prato della Valle and the markets around Piazza delle Erbe. Two days add the botanical garden, a thermal-town trip or Ferrara.
Is Padua or Verona better?
Padua for Giotto and a university-town feel, Verona for the Roman arena and its romantic reputation. They are close, so a trip along the Venice–Milan line can include both with a night in each.