Padua is a city in the Veneto that suits travelers who like frescoes, big squares and a working market. Prato della Valle is the largest square of the city, and the Salone of Palazzo della Ragione measures 269 feet (82 meters) by 89 feet (27 meters).
Padua is connected to all the Veneto airports and to Bologna airport by shuttle buses, taxis and public transport by road and rail. From Venice, Verona, Treviso or Bologna, a bus or train covers the last stretch. U.S. citizens can stay up to 90 days without a tourist visa.
At a glance
- Airport bus to Padua bus station: every half hour on weekdays, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Airport by bus and train via Mestre: about 40 minutes by train
- Prato della Valle
- Spring highs: 66°F (19°C) in April, 75°F (24°C) in May
- Visa-free stay for U.S. citizens: 90 days
Where is Padua and what is it like?
Padua is connected to all the Veneto airports and to Bologna airport by shuttle buses, taxis and public transport by road and rail. A taxi from there takes about 40 to 60 minutes.
The city works on foot between a few big public spaces. Prato della Valle is the largest square. Piazza delle Erbe holds the Palazzo della Ragione, whose Salone is 269 feet (82 meters) long. The Basilica di S. Antonio sits at piazza del Santo 1, and the Piovego canal runs through town with boat trips leaving from Porte Contarine.
History shows in two places. The Sottosalone market, between Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta, has been active for eight centuries. The Baptistery of the Duomo keeps a 14th-century fresco cycle by Giusto De’ Menabuoi.
What is there to do in Padua?
Scrovegni Chapel and the Eremitani museums
The Scrovegni Chapel is at piazza Eremitani 8, and the entrance is from the Museo Eremitani. Plan to reach it through that museum rather than from the street.
The Musei Civici complex in piazza Eremitani groups the Museo Archeologico and the Museo d’Arte Medioevale e Moderna. The chapel and both museums share one square, so they fit into a single morning.
Check hours and admission with the museums before you go.
Palazzo della Ragione and the Sottosalone market
Palazzo della Ragione stands at piazza delle Erbe. Its Salone is 269 feet (82 meters) long and 89 feet (27 meters) wide, so the hall is worth entering for the size alone.
It sells cheeses, cured meats, hams, meat, fish, wine, fruit and vegetables. Shops are mixed in with the stalls.
Come on a market day to browse before lunch, then step up into the hall.
Basilica of Saint Anthony and Prato della Valle
The Basilica di S. Antonio is at piazza del Santo 1. An IAT tourist kiosk at the basilica is 2 minutes on foot from Prato della Valle.
From the main squares of the historic center the kiosk is 10 minutes on foot. The railway station is 20 minutes away, so walkers can link the basilica and the big square in one outing.
Prato della Valle is the largest square in the city. Pair it with the basilica for an easy half day on foot.
Baptistery and Museo Diocesano
These are quiet, indoor sights. They suit a gray day well, such as a January afternoon when the sun shines only 2.2 hours a day on average.
Visit the baptistery and the museum back to back, and leave the open squares for a clearer day.
Canal boat ride, Orto Botanico and MUSME
Boat trips on the Piovego canal in traditional Venetian rowing boats leave from Porte Contarine. A trip lasts about 15 minutes and carries a maximum of 10 people. The trip asks a free offering.
The Orto Botanico is at via Orto Botanico 15. The MUSME is an interactive, interdisciplinary museum centered on the human body.
If you want art and architecture, start with the Scrovegni Chapel and the Salone. Travelers who prefer to sit still may find the many walking stops tiring, so choose two or three.
How do you get to Padua and get around?
A regular bus runs to the Padua bus station every half hour on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and FSBusitalia operates it. Taxis take about 40 to 60 minutes.
By train, take ACTV bus line 15 or the ATVO express shuttle from the airport to Venezia Mestre station, then a train to Padua. Travel time on that route is about 40 minutes.
Other airports work too. From Verona Valerio Catullo, a shuttle bus to Verona-Porta Nuova station leaves every 20 minutes and takes 15 minutes. From there Padua is about 1 hour by train.
From Treviso Antonio Canova airport, MOM-Busitalia extra-urban line 101 and line E-60 both reach Padua. From Bologna Guglielmo Marconi, an Aerobus shuttle runs to Bologna main station, where trains go to Padua.
The IAT tourist office at the railway station is at the exit of track 1, in the station hall. The IAT Centro office at Piazza delle Erbe 52 is less than 20 minutes on foot from the station and 10 minutes from Prato della Valle and the Basilica of Saint Anthony.
A bus reaches the IAT Centro office at the Ponti Romani stop, then 2 minutes on foot. Use the bus for the stretch from the station if you would rather save your legs for the squares.
When should you go to Padua?
Late April and May are the mild months. April highs reach 66°F (19°C) and May highs 75°F (24°C), which suits long walks between the squares, the canal and the parks. Both months bring about nine rainy days, so keep a light rain layer handy.
January is the cold end. Highs stay near 45°F (7°C), the sun shines 2.2 hours a day on average and six days bring rain. Winter visitors do best with the indoor sights, such as the chapel, the baptistery and the museums.
March and February fall in between, with highs near 58°F (15°C) and 49°F (10°C). Festivals run on their own calendars.
What to know before visiting Padua
According to the U.S. State Department, U.S. citizens can stay in Italy for 90 days without a tourist or business visa.
- Passports must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area. A 6-month validity is recommended, and passports must have 2 blank pages for the entry stamp.
- You will need proof of sufficient funds and a return plane ticket.
- Italy sets a currency limit of 10,000 euros, or equivalent, on entry and on exit.
- There are no vaccination requirements to enter Italy.
- Travelers visiting for tourism up to 90 days must fill out a “dichiarazione di presenza”.
Sources
- turismopadova.it (https://www.turismopadova.it/de/anreise/anreise-mit-dem-flugzeug/), checked 2026-10-30
- musei.unipd.it (https://www.musei.unipd.it/sites/musei.unipd.it/files/Sermig_MAPPA-web.pdf), checked 2026-10-30
- travel.state.gov (https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/italy.html), checked 2026-10-30
- comune.padova.it (https://www.comune.padova.it/novita/comunicati/comunicato-stampa-padova-si-racconta-tavola-torna-il-salone-dei-sapori-otto), checked 2026-10-30
- ambwashingtondc.esteri.it (https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/en/chi-siamo/gli-uffici/), checked 2026-10-25
- open-meteo.com (https://open-meteo.com/en/docs/historical-weather-api), checked 2026-10-30
- turismopadova.it (https://www.turismopadova.it/en/welcome-in-padua/tourist-information-offices-iat/), checked 2026-10-30
- conssanfrancisco.esteri.it (https://conssanfrancisco.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/visti/instructions-for-visas/), checked 2026-10-25