Things to Do in Padua, Italy - Padua Attractions
Things to Do in Padua
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- Historical Toursfromper adult (price varies by group size)$144
- fromper adult$100
- fromper adult$122
- Food & Drinkfromper adult$78
- Food & Drinkfromper adult$150
- Full-day Toursfromper adult$143
- Fun & Gamesfromper adult$13
- Historical Toursfrom
$7per adult (price varies by group size)$6 - Historical Toursfromper adult (price varies by group size)$139
- Historical Toursfromper group (up to 2)$801
Other Top Attractions around Padua
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
What travelers are saying
- Ana MaiaHelmond, The Netherlands5 contributionsThe basilica is beautiful both inside and out, entry is free, and inside is the tomb of Saint Anthony, lots of paintings and history.Written March 16, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Deborah ASydney, Australia56 contributionsThis is a gem in a wonderful city with so many important monuments, churches and other sites. The preview video is very helpful to understand the chronology of the frescoes and it is absolutely worth the admission price.Written March 15, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Ana MaiaHelmond, The Netherlands5 contributionsa very comfortable park to have a picnic, spend the afternoon and watch the sunset, from there you also have a view of the back of Saint Anthony's Basilica!Written March 16, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- ANGELO VMilan, Italy2,939 contributionsA medieval market hall, town hall and palace of justice building, Palazzo della Ragione is one of the largest medieval halls still extant. It was begun in 1172 and completed in 1219.
The ground floor has hosted the market hall of the city for over 800 years, and the upper floor was divided into three spaces until 1420, when the current great hall was formed.
All four walls of the great hall are covered with more than three hundred different scenes that were frescoed between 1425 and 1440 by Nicolò Miretto and Stefano da Ferrara.
A wooden horse inside the Great Hall was built in 1466 and modelled on Donatello's Equestrian statue of Gattamelata.
Palazzo della Ragione is part since 2021 of Padua's fourteenth-century fresco cycles, with Scrovegni Chapel, Church of the Eremitani, Chapel of the Carraresi Palace, Cathedral Baptistery, Basilica and Monastery of St. Anthony, Oratory of St. George, Oratory of St.Michael. A cumulative ticket called “Urbis Picta” (painted town) is available to visit all the UNESCO sites in Padova.Written February 28, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Heli KLappeenranta, Finland1,526 contributionsWorld's oldest university's botanical garden and UNESCO World Heritage site. Most precious plants are palm tree from 16th century and Europe's oldest Magnolia-tree. Also the new green houses representing different climates were worth visiting. Nice place to visit in a hot day. I would recommend this place also for families with children.Written July 5, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Hendrik_NLVlaardingen, The Netherlands7,385 contributionsWhen you think of the most famous cities in Italy, the 'usual suspects' pop up almost automatically. Rome, Firenze, Venezia, Milano. But Italy can be proud of an untold number of cities and towns, worth a visit, just like the famous ones. I visited Padova, of course overshadowed by its famous neighbour Venezia, but I can assure you that Padova has it all. A splendid historic center with buildings going back to the 13th Century, magnificent churches, streets and squares with restaurants, Italian bars and speciality shops and everything you may expect from an Italian city on the Unesco World Heritage List. Arriving by car, using the multilevel car park close to the train station is the best option. But it is a 15 minute walk to Padova center. There are parking garages closer by, but those tend to be more expensive.Written November 25, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- ANGELO VMilan, Italy2,939 contributionsThe Baptistery of the Cathedral of Padova is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Preserved inside is one of the most important fresco cycles of the 14th century, a masterpiece by Giusto de' Menabuoi.
Entrance is by small groups, every 30 minutes, from the ticket office managed by Kalata', on the opposite side of the square, at the entrance of the Diocesan Museum. Audioguides are provided, explaining the history of the frescoes and their meaning.
The Baptistery was built starting from the 12th century. In the following century it underwent various reworkings , and was consecrated in 1281. Between 1370 and 1379 it was restored and adapted as a mausoleum for prince Francesco il Vecchio da Carrara and his wife, Fina Buzzaccarini. The latter oversaw the decorative work, entrusting it to Giusto de' Menabuoi.
The cupola shows a Christ Pantocrator, around which turns a wheel with multi-layered spokes made of angels and saints, and the Mother of God. The paintings that cover the walls show scenes from the life of St. John the Baptist (to the left of the entrance), Mary, and Jesus.
The entire fresco cycle is breathtaking, and the Baptistery is part since 2021 of Padua's fourteenth-century fresco cycles UNESCO world heritage site, together with Scrovegni Chapel, Church of the Eremitani, Palazzo della Ragione, Chapel of the Carraresi Palace, Basilica and Monastery of St. Anthony, Oratory of St. George, Oratory of St.Michael. A cumulative ticket called “Urbis Picta” (painted town) is available to visit all the UNESCO sites in Padova.Written March 1, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Dominik KiezikWarsaw, Poland4,729 contributionsIt gives an additional star for the contribution of the University of Padua to the history of the emergence and strengthening of the Polish State in the late Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque. From this and next to the University of Bologna emerged scholars who often wrote down and constituted the laws of Poland in past centuries. The buildings themselves are also beautiful and worth visiting.Written June 11, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Uday TLondon, UK1,975 contributionsWe visited teh square at various times of teh day, when visiting buikldings, looking for lunch, sipping coctails in teh evening. It is always buzzing, interesting and wonderful to contemplate. The buildings are fantastic especially the clock tower. The different times of days gives a different perspective and is worth doingWritten August 30, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Relax608483906944 contributionsModern and very informative exhibition. Most of the information is also in English and we spent about 2+ hours, but we were thoroughly reading the descriptions of each sessions.Written December 22, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- ANGELO VMilan, Italy2,939 contributionsChiesa degli Eremitani (Hermits' Church) is a 13th century Gothic style church, very close to the Cappella Scrovegni with Giotto frescoes and the municipal archeology and art gallery (Musei Civici agli Eremitani). The church was damaged during WW II: the façade, the ceiling and the apse were partly destroyed and the two chapels (Dotto and Ovetari) were completely destroyed.
The frescoes in the Ovetari chapel (by Andrea Mantegna, Ansuino da Forlì and Bono da Ferrara) were almost completely destroyed: only two scenes detached previously and a few fragments were saved. Scattered fragments were recomposed during the restoration completed in 2006.
This church is part since 2021 of Padua's fourteenth-century fresco cycles UNESCO world heritage site, together with Scrovegni Chapel, Palazzo della Ragione, Chapel of the Carraresi Palace, Cathedral Baptistery, Basilica and Monastery of St. Anthony, Oratory of St. George, Oratory of St.Michael. A cumulative ticket called “Urbis Picta” (painted town) is available to visit all the UNESCO sites in Padova.Written March 1, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - ANGELO VMilan, Italy2,939 contributionsThe Basilica di Santa Giustina is a huge church, the ninth biggest in the world, and the seventh biggest in Italy: it is 122 meters long (over 133 yards) and 82 meters wide (269 ft). The original church dates back to the 6th century. It was rebuilt after the 1117 earthquake, and then rebuilt again between 1501 and 1606.
There are several side chapels, with very ornate altars, and several saints are buried in this church, such as St. Justina, St. Luke the Evangelist, St. Julian the Hospitaller, St. Matthias the Apostle, St. Prosdocimus first Bishop of Padova.
Very beautiful frescoes, paintings, altarpieces, statues can be seen in the church.Written March 1, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Padua
- The top attractions to visit in Padua are:
- Scrovegni Chapel
- Basilica of St. Anthony
- Padua Botanical Garden - World Heritage Site
- Centro Storico di Padova
- Prato della Valle
- The best outdoor activities in Padua according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Padua Botanical Garden - World Heritage Site
- Parco Iris
- Canali navigabili di Padova
- Parco Milcovich
- Parco d'Europa
- The best day trips from Padua according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- From Padua: Olive Oil & Wine in the Euganean Hills
- Private Wine and Olive Oil Tour in Padua with Thermal Baths
- From Padua to Arquà Petrarca, the medieval village
- From Padua, Wine Tour in the Euganean Hills
- Day Trip by train from Venice to Padua. Private tour
- The most popular things to do in Padua with kids according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Basilica of St. Anthony
- Centro Storico di Padova
- Scrovegni Chapel
- MUSME - Museum of the History of Medicine of Padova
- Prato della Valle