There are a number of places to visit, attractions to see, and various things to do in Padua, Italy. If you’re visiting soon, read on to find out the very best things to do in this intriguing Venetian city.
Situated in Northern Italy’s Veneto region, Padua (Italian: Padova) has existed for over three millenia. Established in 1183 BC by the Trojan prince Antenor, this Venetian city is older than Rome by 430 years.
Padua is considered one of the main Italian art cities, or città d’arte. It is known for its extraordinary religious heritage, most particularly the early 14th-century frescoes by Giotto in its Scrovegni Chapel and the massive Basilica of St. Anthony from the 13th-century.
Padua has a couple of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the famous Renaissance frescoes found in different buildings in the city center such as the Scrovegni Chapel; and the Orto Botanico, which is the world’s most ancient botanical garden.
As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, Padua offers a wide range of attractions – from said frescoes to Roman ruins and medieval walls, as well as Liberty-style architecture.
Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew is set in Padua, which makes the city even more appealing to many. The greatest Italian poet Dante lived in this intriguing city. The tomb of St. Anthony of Padua is also in Padua.
Just over 30 minutes from Venice, Padua makes for a fun and easy day trip. It’s easily explored in one day.
10 Best Things To Do in Padua, Italy
Whether you’re visiting this intriguing Northern Italian city for a day trip or are there for a longer stay, here are the best things to do in Padua, Italy.
1. Walk or bicycle around Padua’s historic center
The city’s old center is small enough to walk around easily on foot or while riding a bicycle. You can spend over 3 hours and not run out of things to do in Padua’s Centro Storico.
If you need a break from all the walking or biking around, you can stop by anytime at one of Padua’s lovely restaurants and coffee shops along the cobbled streets. Here you can rest while people-watching as you sip your mint coffee and munch on pizza or bruschetta.
2. Admire the frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel
Definitely among the must-see attractions in Padua, the 14th-century frescoes by Giotto in the Scrovegni Chapel were completed in 1305. The chapel, which is also called the Arena Chapel, is located in Giardini dell’Arena.
The frescoes on the long walls show the life stories of Jesus Christ and Mary, starting with Anna and Joachim (Mary’s parents). Giotto painted the Annunciation by the altar and the Last Judgment on the entrance wall.
Completed in 1305, these frescoes are deemed an important masterpiece of Western art. The Scrovegni Chapel was given a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation in 2021 as part of the 14th-century fresco cycles in 8 historical buildings in the city center of Padua.
3. Check out the many varieties of plants at Orto Botanico di Padova
Located in the University of Padua, the Orto Botanico is first ever academic botanical garden in the world. Created in Padua in 1545, the garden’s layout has been preserved in its original circular central plot, which was shaped this way to symbolize the world.
The Orto Botanico has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. It houses a plethora of plants and trees – with over 6,000 species. It has a nursery garden and a series of modern greenhouses containing different plant types and varieties.
Whether or not you’re a plant enthusiast, the Orto Botanico is a must-see and definitely one of the best places to visit in Padua.
4. Spend time at Prato della Valle
Prato della Valle is a vast elliptical square, the largest square in Italy at 90,000 square meters. It is also among the largest in the continent.
Prato della Valle is a large space with a green center island surrounded by a small canal. Around the water, there are 90 beautiful statues of various important figures in the city’s history. There are also four bridges and a central water fountain.
The square is a perfect spot for walking, sitting on the grass, or simply relaxing under the trees and people-watching.
5. Visit the Basilica of Saint Anthony
The Basilica of Saint Anthony, with its Byzantine-style domes and notable artworks, is one of the international shrines recognized by the Holy See.
The basilica was first constructed in 1232, a year after St. Anthony’s death. It contains the largest bronze works of Donatello among other artworks and treasures.
Known among locals as “il Santo,” or “the Saint,” the basilica contains the tomb of Saint Anthony of Padua and is a popular pilgrimage site visited by people from all over the world.
The Basilica of Saint Anthony is no doubt the city’s highlight, erected at the center of the historic old town where it’s visible to everyone. Paying a visit is one of the must-do activities in Padua.
6. Hang out at the Piazza dei Signori
A truly stunning piazza in the historic center of Padua, Piazza dei Signori is dominated by the Palazzo del Capitano and its famous 15th-century clock tower.
In the piazza, you can find the Church of San Clemente, one of the city’s oldest churches; and the Marciana Column, a monument with a winged lion on top – an emblem of the Venetian Republic.
There are several bars and cafés in the square, making it a great place for hanging out with a spritz or a meal. You can also buy a thing or two at the shops selling stuff from clothing to antiques and jewelry.
The Piazza dei Signori is well worth a couple of hours or so of your time when you’re in Padua.
7. Visit the Palazzo della Ragione
A medieval market hall, town hall, and palace of justice building in Padua, the iconic Palazzo della Ragione (Ragione Palace) is positioned between the Piazza della Frutta and Piazza delle Erbe.
The palace’s upper floor used to be Padua’s town and justice halls. The ground floor, however, still serves as the city market. This historical covered market is the oldest in Europe at more than 800 years.
Popularly known to locals as “il Salone” or “the Big Hall,” the palazzo houses 330 frescoes, which are part of the 14th-century fresco cycles that have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021.
The Ragione Palace is a real treasure and one of the most important attractions in Padua that anyone visiting shouldn’t miss.
8. Explore the Musei Civici
Photo by José Luiz Bernardes Ribiera via Wikimedia Commons
Accessible via the cloister of the Church of the Eremitani (Church of the Hermits), a 13th-century Gothic-style church right next to the Scrovegni Chapel, the Musei Civici is an archaeological museum and art gallery – one you shouldn’t miss when in Padua.
The Musei Civici displays numerous exhibits from the city’s Roman period and other notable collections. It houses about 3,000 modern and medieval art works by Giotto, Tiepolo, Giorgione, Veronese, Tintoretto, and Bellini. The museum also showcases important artifacts from pre-Roman, ancient Greek, Etruscan, and other eras.
Whether you’re a history buff or not, a visit to this museum is truly well worth it.
- Read also: 11 Best Free Museums in Italy
9. Enjoy Padua’s street art
This Venetian city is littered with fantastic street art!
There are several street artists who paint graffiti on the walls of many Padovan streets. These murals will make you smile – or even stop to think – as you stroll through town.
You can find some of Padua’s marvelous street paintings at the Piazza Castello, via San Pietro, via Roma, via Manin, and many others. Don’t forget to bring your camera with you!
10. Cruise the Brenta Canal to Venice
The Brenta Canal, although man-made, is more of a river than a canal. It is a scenic waterway inland that flows through Padua and into the Adriatic Sea in Venice.
The 174-kilometer-long Brenta Canal was constructed in the 16th-century to divert the waterflow that was causing too much silting of the famous Venetian lagoon, which could result in damaging transport links.
Taking a cruise on the canal to the Venetian capital is one of the most popular things to do in Padua, especially in the summer.
Lining the canal is a slew of ornate and magnificent villas from the olden times. Over a hundred of these grandiose dwellings were built during the centuries that followed the canal’s construction.
These villas attract many tourists visiting both Padua and Venice. Some of the most popular ones are the Villa Foscari in Mira with its 16th-century frescoes, the mostly Baroque-style Villa Contarini at Piazzola sul Brenta, and the neo-classical Villa Pisani at Strà, which now operates as a national museum.