Getting around

By air

Padua has no major airport of its own. The nearest is Venice Marco Polo (VCE), a full international airport with wide European and some long-haul routes; Verona’s airport is another option to the west. For most intercontinental trips you’ll route through Venice or a European hub.

From the airport into town — the airport bus

Busitalia runs a direct coach between Venice Marco Polo Airport and Padua in about 45 minutes, every 40 minutes, for around €13.

By train

Padua sits on the main Milan–Venice high-speed line, so Venice is about 25 minutes and much of the north is a direct ride (times below).

On foot, under the arcades

The historic centre is flat and famously arcaded, like Bologna, you can cross much of the old town under cover. Padua is compact, and most central daily life happens on foot.

The tram (SIR1)

Padua has a single tram line, the SIR1, running through the heart of the city on a guided rubber-tyred system: a quick, pleasant spine for north–south trips across town, run by Busitalia Veneto.

Buses (Busitalia Veneto)

The bus network fills in the rest of the city. A single ride is €1.70, valid 90 minutes, and it covers the tram too (Busitalia Veneto, 2026).

Intercity buses (FlixBus and Itabus)

A budget option for other cities. On Padua’s rail corridor the train is usually faster and more central, so most people take it, but the coach can win on price or for awkward routes. Check routes and fares on FlixBus ›

A note on driving

Padua's historic centre has a ZTL (limited-traffic zone) and tight parking, so a car is a burden in the core. It earns its keep mainly for trips into the Euganean Hills or the wider Veneto countryside.