Where to Stay in Padua: Best Areas for First-Time Visitors, Couples & Day Trips to Venice
An ancient city famous for its innovative university, religious art, and stunning cathedrals, Padua (or Padova) should be on your travel radar! Padua is located in Northern Italy, just east of Venice, and is centuries older than Rome (legend says 1183 BC).
Many travel sites overlook little Padua, but it’s a magical city. It’s the burial place of Saint Anthony, lays claim to be one of the oldest universities in Europe and it housed legends like Dante, Galileo Galilei, and Donatello.
If you’ve decided to visit, but you can’t decide where to stay in Padua, you really can’t make a bad choice. This historical city is beautiful throughout and below I’ll show you a few of my favorite areas and top hotels to book in Padua.
Where to Stay in Padua: Area Overview
The popular destinations in Padua are relatively close together. The city is very small, has wonderful public transport, and is walkable. That said, you want to stay in the city center, or slightly south of it so that all the popular landmarks are within walking distance.
These three areas offer both centrality and the best Padua hotels:
Prato della Valle: Slightly south of Padua Center, The Prato is the front lawn of the city. It’s a short walk from the botanical gardens, St. Anthony’s Basilica, and Piazza del Santo. A lively neighborhood with cafes spilling into the streets and elegant, arched collonades, this area offers good-value hotels with convenient locations.
- Piazza del Santo: Located slightly northeast of the former, this square is home to St Anthony Basilica and some of the city’s most popular hotels.
- Piazza della Frutta/Piazza delle Erbe/Piazza dei Signori (Historic Centre): I’ve combined these three squares because they are back to back. From now on, I’ll refer to this area as the “Padua Historic Center.” This is the Medieval civic heart of Padua. Here you’ll find the clock tower, the Anatomical Theatre, and the Padua Cathedral (Santa Maria Assunta). It’s an excellent location with some of the best hotels in the city and numerous restaurants nearby.
Travel Tip: I don’t suggest staying near the main railway station. It’s hectic and loud. Pickpockets and aggressive vendors are out in full force, and it’s a bit overwhelming. While popular Padua hotels like Hotel Grand’Italia and Hotel al Cason are hard to resist, I would take the tram to the Old Town instead, especially if you’re traveling alone.
Best Area to Stay in Padua Based on Your Travel Style
| If you’re visiting Padua for… | Best Area to Stay | Why | Favourite Hotel |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-time visitors & romantic getaways | Around Prato della Valle Park | Walking distance to major sights, cafes, hotels at good value | Palazzo CarpeDiem |
| Day trips to Venice | Near the train station | Easy access to regional trains, however can be loud and hectic | ByPillow Grand Central |
| Food & nightlife | Padua Historic Center (near Piazza delle Erbe) | Lively evenings and restaurants | Le Camp Suite & Spa |
1. Where to Stay Near Prato della Valle (My Personal Choice!)
This is my favorite area of town. Just outside the city center proper, it feels quieter and greener. Evenings here are spent strolling one of the grandest squares in Europe or the 16th-century botanical gardens.
An oval garden, flanked by a canal with elegant bridges and statues of 78 historical figures, The Prato is popular with locals and visitors alike. It also boasts some of the best value hotels in Padua.
Note: Prices below are based on the average price per night for two people during the popular summer months.
Luxury: Pallazo Carpe Diem (US$200-$367) – Rated a 4-star, this lovely accommodation offers several apartments with all the modern amenities, impeccable design, and views of the Prato.
Mid-range: Hotel al Prato (US$130) – Sandwiched between the Prato and the botanical gardens, this hotel offers a large modern lobby and spacious rooms with air conditioning and private bathrooms.
Alternative Option: Hotel Canton dell’Orto is a classic amongst Padua hotels and a secondary mid-range option.
Budget: Hotel al Fagiano (US$100-$120) – Another family-run favorite, this funky boutique hotel offers a sun deck, paid private parking, and bicycle rental.
Things to Do Near Prato della Valle
- Picnic on The Prato.
- Markets and gelaterias under the arched collonades.
- Cheap pizza at Pizzeria Orsucci. Call in your order early. This hole-in-the-wall usually has a 1.5-hour wait!
- University of Padua Botanical Garden, a vast garden dating to 1545 (the oldest academic garden in the world), boasts over 3,500 species.
2. Where to Stay in Piazza del Santo (Close to St Anthony Basilica)
Piazza del Santo or Santo Square in English, is a great location and offers many hotels with good amenities. Its central location and the sheer number of highly rated hotels make it a close second for the best spot to stay.
Luxury: Padova Suites C20 (US$200) – Padova Suites C20 offers nice, clean rooms with incredible views of Basilica St Anthony. The hotel provides luggage storage, modern rooms with a private bathroom, free Wi-Fi, and daily housekeeping. Select rooms offer private balconies.
Mid-range: Hotel Donatello (US$126) – Donatello offers a double room with a good breakfast buffet and friendly staff. The decor is older, but it’s clean and comfortable.
Budget: Hotel Giotto (US$96-$115) – Located just off the square, this older, family-run hotel has wonderful reviews. It boasts an excellent breakfast and a helpful staff.
Alternative Budget Option: Hotel Casa del Pellegrino is another cheap hotel with a good reputation!
Things to Do Near Piazza del Santo
- Basilica of St. Anthony is a 13th-century cathedral and historic site with religious relics.
- Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata, a 1453 bronze statue by Donatello portraying a former ruler of Padua.
- MUSME, the Hands-on museum explores the anatomical and medical history that made the University of Padua famous.
3. Where to Stay in Padua Historic Center
This bustling part of the city is home to the official Padua Cathedral and the historic Anatomical Theatre of the University of Padua (1222). It’s also the closest neighborhood on this list to the must-visit Scrovegni Chapel.
The squares themselves are full of civic structures, so to find hotels, you’ll need to venture a few blocks away from the piazzas.
Luxury: Le Camp Suite and Spa (US$201-$307) – A great 4-star Padua hotel, Le Camp offers traditional elegance, including a fitness center and spa! Le Camp is a six-minute walk from the square, which may be too far for some, but this allows it to offer free parking nearby, which is rare in Padua.
Mid-range: Erïk Langer Pedrocchi Suites (US$155-$276) -A 15-minute walk from the main train station, this set of luxurious apartments offers modern spaces with outdoor terraces, free Wi-Fi, and fully-equipped kitchens.
Budget: Bloom Botanical Rooms (US$148) – A four-minute walk from Piazza della Erbe, this boutique hotel offers large rooms with an elegant and romantic design.
Things to Do in Padua Historic Center
- Santa Maria Assunta is a 13th-century official cathedral of Padua with an ornate altar.
- Torre dell’Orologico, an astronomical clock tower in a Medieval square.
- Ragione Palace is a vast food market in a historic structure.
- Santa Maria Assunta is a 13th-century official cathedral of Padua with the ornate altar.
- Torre dell’Orologico, an astronomical clock tower in a Medieval square.
- Ragione Palace is a vast food market in a historic structure.
- Anatomical Theatre in Palazzo del Bo is the oldest anatomical theater in the world, where 16th-century medical students broke convention by dissecting human remains.
- Pedrocchi Café, which serves cocktails to the city’s elite since 1831.
- Scovegni Chapel is a stunning 14th-century frescoes by Giotto.
- Musei Civici Eremitani, which shelters some of the most important archeology and art in Padua.
- Giardini dell’Arena, a peaceful riverside sculpture park.
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Where to Stay in Padua – Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Padua is a great alternative if you want to visit Venice but avoid the crowds and high hotel prices. Staying in Padua often means you’ll get lower accommodation costs, quieter evenings and easy day trip access to Venice (around 30 minutes by train). This makes it a popular base for travellers who want to explore Northern Italy without staying in a busy tourist hotspot.
If it’s your first time visiting Padua, the Historic Centre (Centro Storico) is the best area to stay. You’ll be within walking distance of the Scrovegni Chapel, Prato della Valle, Basilica of Saint Anthony and most restaurants and cafés. This area is ideal if you want to explore the city on foot.
Couples visiting Padua often prefer staying in Centro Storico or the quieter Prato della Valle area. These neighbourhoods offer cute boutique hotels, charming piazzas and easy access to restaurants and wine bars, making them ideal for a more romantic stay.
Staying near Padua train station is convenient if you’re mainly planning day trips to Venice, Verona or Bologna. However, it is loud and hectic and if I had a choice, I’d rather stay within the atmosphere of the Historic Centre and take the tram instead, especially if you’re traveling alone.
Yes. Most of Padua’s main attractions are located within the Historic Centre and can easily be explored on foot. If you’re staying centrally, you likely won’t need public transport unless you’re travelling to or from the train station.
Where to Stay in Padua – Final Words
Northern Italy has a charm all its own, and Padua may be one of its most adored destinations. With a convenient locale directly between Venice and Verona, Padua is a perfect place to land for a couple of nights, or longer if you use it as a base for day trips.
When deciding where to stay in Padua, it’s hard to make a bad decision. To reiterate, my personal favorite is Prato della Valle. It has a wonderful vibe, is easy to navigate, and has a large selection of accommodations. This neighborhood offers the best value in my opinion. Now, go book your Padua hotel!
Looking to explore more of Northern Italy? Don’t miss the charm of Florence and its top places to stay or take a look at the mesmerizing city of Bologna!
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