What to See in Padua: The 13 Best Attractions and Things to Do

An important Venetian city known for its university and commerce, Padua has always given special attention to art, culture, and science. A popular saying goes, "Beautiful Venice, Padua is her sister", and it's true: this location also has much to offer those who decide to spend a few days here.

Let's take a look at the attractions that you cannot miss and what to absolutely do during your visit to the city. Here's what to see in Padua!

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The creativity, ingenuity, and aesthetic sense that made Giotto so famous are beautifully encapsulated in the extraordinary fresco cycle that has made the Scrovegni Chapel one of Padua's wonders. The artist was commissioned to embellish this building dedicated to Reginaldo Scrovegni by his son Enrico in 1303. The work was completed in just two years and signified a turning point in Giotto's artistic style, laying the foundations for more modern painting.

Walking by, you would never believe what hides inside this building, but you cannot visit Padua without entering this magical place. We suggest that you admire the starry sky, following the walls as if they were the pages of a book to flip through, from left to right and top to bottom, starting with the episodes of Joachim and Anna, moving to the life of Mary, and culminating with the Last Judgment.

Enrico had this chapel built in memory of his father, a banker and usurer who committed several sins during his life, earning a place in Dante's Inferno in the Divine Comedy.

Visit by reservation only: the Scrovegni Chapel can be visited only by reservation (at least one day in advance) and by purchasing tickets on the official website, as entries are limited and sell out quickly. Furthermore, the ticket also includes access to the Eremitani Museum and Palazzo Zuckermann, but only if visited on the same day.

Among the must-see spots in Padua are the Civic Museums, also known as Eremitani Museums, which include the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Medieval and Modern Art. The complex is located within the cloisters of the former convent of the Eremitani friars and in recent years it has also included the Museum of Applied Arts and the Bottacin Museum.

Inside the Archaeological Museum, you can admire artifacts from the Paleovenetian, pre-Roman, and Roman eras, along with the Egyptian section featuring various items discovered by the Padovan archaeologist Giovan Battista Belzoni. At the Art Museum, numerous works by the most important Italian painting masters from 1300 to 1800 are on display. The most significant piece is undoubtedly the Croce di Giotto, which was originally inside the Scrovegni Chapel and is now exhibited here. Notable works by Tintoretto, Veronese, Boccaccio Boccaccini, and Tiepolo are also worth seeing.

At the civic museums, you can also find a multimedia room dedicated to Giotto, featuring 7 stations that introduce visitors to the knowledge of the frescoes present in the Scrovegni Chapel.

Plan your visit: Given the physical proximity, as well as the themes illustrated, we recommend visiting the Civic Museums alongside the Scrovegni Chapel so you can have a comprehensive view of the art and painting of Giotto.

In the elegant Piazza dei Signori, you can admire the Clock Tower, which is not just a simple clock face that indicates the hour but a true monument. This attraction stands out as an astronomical clock that indicates the month, day, lunar phases, and astrological location. Its blue color contrasts with the white of the tower separating Palazzo Capitanio from Palazzo dei Camerlenghi and dates back to the period when the Serenissima Republic of Venice conquered Padua in 1405.

The medieval tower served as the fortified eastern entrance to the Carrarese Palace, but its current appearance is due to work that began in 1426 and concluded with the clock's inauguration during the feast of St. Anthony in 1437. The tower can be visited by reservation only through organized tours with 4 people at a time, even inside where you can admire the ancient mechanism of the clock.

Find the missing zodiac sign: the clock face lacks the sign of Libra. According to legend, the builder wanted to denounce the lack of justice from the patronage, which paid less than agreed upon. In reality, the clock follows the pre-Roman zodiac system, where Libra and Scorpio are considered one sign.

Originally used as the city's tribunal, this imposing building, just steps from Piazza delle Erbe, is one of Padua's symbols. This splendid palace is referred to by locals as "il salone" due to the presence of a large hall located on the first floor that was the largest in the world for centuries and is accessed through the Scala delle Erbe. The interior features a single space 27 m wide and 80 m long, whose walls are completely frescoed with elegant and captivating paintings. Unfortunately, a fire in 1420 destroyed much of these frescoes, particularly those by Giotto.

Today, you can admire paintings featuring zodiacal, astrological, religious motifs, animals, and much more. Additionally, the hall houses the Black Porphyry Stone of Vituperation, where insolvent debtors were obliged to strip and hit their "backsides" three times before leaving the city. This practice gave rise to the Venetian saying "restar in braghe de tea".

Admire Piazza delle Erbe from above: don't miss the view from the elevated portico of the Palace looking over Piazza Erbe and Frutta.

Less famous than the Basilica of St. Anthony, the Cathedral and Baptistery of Padua nevertheless deserve an in-depth visit. Both located in the square of the same name, the Cathedral is dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and was begun in 1522 based on a design by Michelangelo Buonarroti, but it was completed only in 1754 by the Venetian architect Girolamo Frigimelica. It is characterized by an incomplete facade, with three portals.

More noteworthy, however, is the adjacent Baptistery, adorned with harmonious and bright interiors featuring truly suggestive frescoes that grace the walls and dome of the building, all created by Giusto de' Menabuoi. Look up to the sky and you'll feel watched by hundreds of eyes of angels and saints, as well as the stern gaze of Christ Pantocrator.

A large part of Padua's social life takes place in Piazza delle Erbe and the adjacent Piazza della Frutta, bustling commercial areas. Their names are due to their ancient commercial functions, as these squares were the venues for the vegetable and fruit markets, respectively.

This square is connected to the nearby Piazza della Frutta by a covered passage known as "Volto della Corda", named so because liars, bankrupt individuals, cheats, and debtors were whipped with a rope that was always left hanging on five rings fixed to the wall. The corner below this passage is named "Canton delle busie", and it was where merchants conducted their bargaining. The white stones with ancient Padovan measurements, which served as a reference to prevent sellers from cheating their clients, are still visible.

The square is just a 2-minute walk from the historic center. Alternatively, take buses 5, 6, or 10, stopping at "Corso Milano". Nearby are Palazzo Bo and the University of Padua (150 m, 2 min) and Prato della Valle (1.1 km, 14 min) - Get directions

Visit duration: 30 min

Order a Spritz: Piazza delle Erbe is a bustling spot in city life, filled with places to drink. The locals especially gather during aperitif time to order a Spritz, a long drink that originated in the city.

Palazzo del Bo, nicknamed after the ox (bo in Venetian dialect), is the historic headquarters of the University of Padua and has hosted important figures from the scientific community such as Niccolò Copernicus and Galileo Galilei.

Among the many areas worth visiting, the most famous are the Anatomical Theatre and the Chair of Galileo Galilei. The first, commissioned by Girolamo Fabrici d'Acquapendente in 1594, is a theatre made of walnut that served for medical students to follow lessons and perform autopsies on bodies. At the entrance, you will notice the inscription "Hic est locus ubi mors gaudet succurrere vitae", which means "This is the place where death delights to assist life". The other attraction inside Palazzo Bo is the wooden chair where Galileo taught mathematics and physics from 1592 to 1610 and is located in the Sala dei Quaranta, where you will find portraits of 40 foreign students.

If you happen to be in Padua during graduation sessions, you may witness playful scenes where freshly graduated students are subjected to pranks right outside the palace.

Visit by guided tour only: the Palazzo can only be visited through guided tours that must be booked on the official website, during which you will explore the ancient courtyard, the anatomical theatre, Galileo's chair, and several other points of interest.

Opened in 2015, the MUSME, Museum of the History of Medicine of Padua, is a unique place located within the ancient hospital of San Francesco, adjacent to the eponymous church. The museum tells the story of the medical profession from antiquity to the present, utilizing the most advanced technologies.

Comprising 3 floors, it mixes interactive sections with more traditional collections, and in each room, visitors can knock on large virtual doors where life-size videos of historical figures, such as Galileo Galilei, introduce themselves and the museum. A visit to this place allows you, through interactive games, to learn about human body anatomy, the connection between diseases and pathogens, and in the large Vesalian anatomical theatre you can interrogate an 8-meter-long human body that speaks.

Discover the history of the Great Hospital of San Francesco: built in 1414 by spouses Sibilia de Cetto and Baldo Bonafari, it was operational until 1798 and was the first university clinic in the world, where medical students could study the patients admitted.

This religious site is considered by the Padovans as the "home of the Saint", and it is how the citizens affectionately refer to Saint Anthony, Patron and Protector of the city of Padua. The Basilica is a triumph of different architectural styles, from Romanesque to Gothic, which coexist harmoniously. The interior holds the relics of Saint Anthony (in special displays visible to the public) and features seven chapels and a ambulatory, realized in Gothic style. The fabulous frescoes inside and the equestrian monument to Gattamelata by Donatello outside complete the masterpiece.

One of the most visited chapels is the relics chapel, where the tongue, chin, and vocal apparatus of the Saint are preserved perfectly even after many years of burial. Another significant chapel is the "Madonna Mora", belonging to the ancient church of Santa Maria Mater Domini, where the saint celebrated Mass, preached, confessed, and engaged in prayer.

Visit during special celebrations: on June 13, the famous patronal feast occurs, with Mass and a related procession. On February 15, the Translation of Saint Anthony is celebrated, also known as "feast of the tongue".

A true record-breaking attraction, the Botanical Garden of Padua, founded in 1545, is the oldest in the world and the only garden that remains in its original location today. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, the Botanical Garden, currently affiliated with the University of Padua, hosts around 7,000 plant species and also features a Biodiversity Garden, inaugurated in 2014.

Originally established to cultivate 'simple' plants, which were used to make medicinal solutions, over the years it has enriched itself with species from all over the world. Inside, there are five reconstructed environments: Mediterranean maquis, alpine rockery, freshwater environment with tanks fed by a thermal spring, succulent plants, and a tropical orchid greenhouse. The Botanical Garden also has a library, established in 1835, and a botanical museum, created in the same year as a herbarium: both are open to the public during the most important events. For any information on hours and events, visit the official website

Don't miss the oldest plant in the Garden: the oldest plant in this place dates back to 1585 and is the Saint Peter's palm, known as Goethe's Palm because it inspired the German writer's theory on plant metamorphosis in 1786.

Although the name suggests a garden, Prato della Valle in Padua is a large square, with an area of over 80,000 square meters.

It is characterized by a 1.5 km circumference canal surrounded by 78 statues depicting famous historical figures and a central green area called Isola Memmia, connected by four bridges.

The Square has always been the heart of city life as there once stood a large Roman theater and a circle for horse racing. This spot was also where Saint Justina and Saint Daniel were martyred. In the Middle Ages, fairs and public celebrations took place here. Today it serves as a gathering space for locals and tourists who can stroll, bike, sunbathe, and in summer enjoy concerts and events.

It is located south of the historic center, 450 m from the Botanical Garden and 500 m from the Basilica of the Saint. It can be reached on foot in 15 minutes from Palazzo della Ragione, alternatively several bus lines arrive at the "Prato della Valle" stop. Tram SIR1 stops at "Prato" - Get directions

Visit duration: 30 min

Of notable historical and cultural significance, La Specola is a unique place initially designed to house a prison but in the 1300s the Signoria dei Carraresi transformed it into a watchtower incorporated into the city's Castelvecchio. It later faced a slow decline until 1767 when it became an excellent astronomical observatory later becoming an autonomous legal entity in 1923 and since 2002, a research center of the National Institute of Astrophysics. In 1994 it was transformed into a museum of astronomy, allowing visitors to admire exhibits of ancient instruments.

The path winds through the ancient tower, through the Inscription Room, the Column Room, the Sundial Room, and the Figures Room, where you can see the spaces frequented by great astronomers of the past. Note that to access it, you need to climb 200 steps, so the museum is inaccessible to people with disabilities and not recommended for those with heart problems or who suffer from vertigo.

Be mindful of the dates: in the collective imagination, La Specola was the site of various astronomical discoveries by Galileo Galilei. In reality, this was not quite the case as the observatory was only operational starting in 1767, after Galileo left Padua to move to Florence.

Ideal for a day trip during the beautiful season, the Euganean Hills at the gates of Padua are a Regional Natural Park established in 1989, characterized by 18,000 hectares of land that includes 15 municipalities.

Formed after violent underwater volcanic eruptions, they are a unique territory with olive groves, vineyards, chestnut and oak forests, ancient villas, medieval fortifications, and historic gardens. Many poets, such as Petrarch, Foscolo, Shelley, and Byron, found inspiration for their works here. From every locality, you can explore wonderful hiking trails with moderate elevation gains, leading to enchanting places such as the Abbey of Praglia or the village of Arquà Petrarca.

The hills are accessible by train, but the best way to visit them is by car. Take the A4 Padova Ovest exit, heading towards Abano Terme, Montegrotto Terme, Teolo - Get directions

Visit duration: 4 hours

Organize your visit: to best organize your trip to this area, we suggest you check the official website of the Regional Park of the Euganean Hills where you will find maps of the trails and attractions in this area.

Padua is a city rich in historical and cultural attractions, not to mention its artistic beauties. A destination often visited in just a day, we recommend planning at least a weekend to see everything at ease.

Among the parks, we also recommend Parks Treves, a 19th-century park in the romantic-English style located between the Basilica of the Saint and the Padua hospital.

In addition to those already mentioned, among the museums to visit, we recommend: the Zabardella Museum (€15.00), a museum of local art and popular culture housed within a medieval palace; the Palazzo Zuckermann (ticket included in the civic museums ticket), a historical museum that hosts collections of medals, coins, fabrics, ceramics, and classic furnishings, with its Teatro Giardino at the back that hosts numerous events; and the Precinema Museum (€6.00), located inside the Palazzo Angeli. If you're a fan of religious art, in addition to the churches already mentioned, we recommend visiting also the Church of Santa Maria Dei Servi (free), the Basilica of Santa Giustina (free), and the Oratory of San Giorgio (free).

Lastly, the stunning Venetian Villas that characterize the surroundings deserve a mention, among which Villa Barbarigo and Villa Contarini stand out.

Padua is the ideal city for a weekend getaway, especially in spring and autumn. It is well connected to major Italian cities by Freccia Rossa and Italo trains. The nearest airport is in Venice (compare flights).

In the city, you can get around on foot as all attractions are nearby, alternatively the tourist bus is recommended. For accommodations, it's best to look for a room in the historic center (compare accommodation options on booking). For those seeking nightlife, it is primarily concentrated in the Portello area, in Piazza Erbe, and Piazza Capitaniato.

If you are traveling with children, in addition to the attractions previously mentioned, such as MUSME, the Botanical Garden, and Prato della Valle, which are also suitable for younger ones, we recommend the Butterfly House and Fairy Wood, Padovaland, Esapolis (the living insect museum), and the Planetarium. Lastly, if you're traveling on a budget, Padua has a cost of living comparable to many Italian cities: you'll find great deals on accommodations, save by eating in less touristy places, and enjoy passes and combined tickets for attractions.