Venice to Padua

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

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Padua sits so close to Venice that it barely counts as a day trip — a regional train gets you there in under half an hour, leaving a full day to see Giotto's frescoed Scrovegni Chapel, the basilica of St Anthony and one of Italy's oldest university towns without ever feeling rushed. Here is how to get there and back.

The fastest way: the regionale train

Trains from Venezia Santa Lucia (or Venezia Mestre, on the mainland) to Padova run several times an hour throughout the day, operated by Trenitalia's regional services. The quickest of these, the faster regionale veloce trains, cover the distance in as little as 25 minutes, while slower regionale services take closer to 45–50 minutes with more stops along the way. Either way this is one of the shortest and easiest rail hops in Italy, and Padova's main station is a short walk or tram ride from the historic centre.

The cheaper way: is there one?

Unlike longer Italian routes, there isn't much of a budget alternative worth chasing here — the regional train is already inexpensive, and a coach journey on the same corridor would take longer for little or no saving once you account for traffic on the A4 motorway into Padua. A handful of intercity bus operators do run this corridor as part of longer routes, but they're rarely worth booking specifically for a Venice–Padua hop when the train is this quick and this cheap.

Driving

Padua is about 40 km from Venice, a drive of roughly 40–50 minutes along the A4 motorway, traffic permitting. Driving makes sense mainly if you're combining Padua with other stops in the Veneto, such as Vicenza or the Euganean Hills, since central Padua itself is largely pedestrianised and best explored on foot, and parking near the old town can be fiddly and relatively expensive. For a day trip from Venice alone, the train is simpler and avoids the hassle of navigating an unfamiliar Italian city centre. See our guide to driving in Italy for ZTL restricted zones and motorway tolls before you set off.

Organised day tours

Guided day tours from Venice to Padua exist, usually built around timed entry to the Scrovegni Chapel (which requires advance booking regardless of how you travel) combined with a walking tour of the basilica and old town. These suit visitors who'd rather have the chapel booking and route planning handled for them, though independent travellers will find the regional train makes a tour largely unnecessary for such a short, well-connected hop.

What to see once you're there

The Scrovegni Chapel, home to Giotto's early-14th-century fresco cycle depicting the life of Christ, is Padua's headline sight and one of the most important cycles of pre-Renaissance painting anywhere — entry is by timed slot and must be booked online in advance, often several days ahead in busy periods, since visitor numbers per slot are strictly limited to protect the frescoes. The Basilica of St Anthony, a vast pilgrimage church holding the saint's tomb, and the university quarter around Palazzo Bo, one of Europe's oldest universities, round out a satisfying half-day or full day of sightseeing. Padua's produce markets in Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta are also worth a wander if you're there in the morning.

Booking the Scrovegni Chapel

Because visits to the Scrovegni Chapel are capped and timed to protect the frescoes, it's the one part of this trip that genuinely needs advance planning — book your slot online before you travel, particularly at weekends or in peak season, since same-day availability can be limited or unavailable. Once you have a confirmed slot, working backwards to a train that gets you there in good time is straightforward given how frequently trains run.

Combining with other Veneto towns

Padua's position on the main line between Venice and Verona or Vicenza makes it easy to extend into a longer day if you want to see more of the Veneto — Vicenza's Palladian villas and Verona's Roman arena are both a further short hop by regional or intercity train beyond Padua. Travellers doing a broader loop through the region may also want to look at our guide to Venice to Rome for the high-speed line that Padua sits on, since it's a useful reference point for how the Veneto connects to the rest of Italy by rail. If you're arriving into Venice from the airport before heading onward, see our guide to Venice airport to the city for getting into town first.

Which should you choose?

The regional train is the obvious choice for almost everyone: it's fast, frequent, inexpensive and drops you within easy reach of the old town. Driving only makes sense if you're touring the wider Veneto by car and folding Padua into a bigger loop rather than treating it as a standalone trip from Venice. If you're staying in Venice and want more day-trip ideas in the same direction, see our guide to Italy by train for how the regional and high-speed networks fit together, or our guide to Venice to Croatia ferries if you're continuing across the Adriatic afterwards.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the train from Venice to Padua?

The fastest regional trains take around 25 minutes, while slower regionale services take closer to 45–50 minutes; either way it's one of the shortest rail hops in Italy.

Do I need to reserve a seat on the Venice–Padua train?

No — these are regional trains with unreserved seating, so you simply buy a ticket and board any suitable departure, which run several times an hour.

Do I need to book the Scrovegni Chapel in advance?

Yes, entry is by timed slot with limited numbers, so booking online ahead of your visit — ideally several days before in busy periods — is strongly recommended.

Can Padua be combined with Verona or Vicenza in one day?

It's possible since all three sit on the same rail corridor, though seeing all three properly in a single day is a stretch — many visitors treat Padua as its own half-day trip and save the others for another visit.