Trens para Padova

The city of Padua (Padova in Italian) has for centuries been a way station on the journey to Venice. Tucked away in the Venetian hinterland, and surrounded by boring urban sprawl, it’s no surprise that nowadays many travellers skip Padua. But this ancient university city has a lively buzz and an appealing city centre. If you’ve had your fill of the crowds of visitors in Verona or Venice, then Padua is the obvious place to recuperate from the effects of mass tourism. The city's cathedral may win no marks for beauty, but there's a score of handsome buildings including the Cappella degli Scrovegni and the basilica which is dedicated to the saint most associated with Padua: Saint Anthony.

Padua has excellent rail connections. The main railway station is a short walk north of the city centre. That Padua has fast trains to Rome (little more than three hours away) speaks volumes about the city’s important role as a commercial centre. Rome, Milan, Florence and Bologna are all served hourly or more. Verona, Venice and Vicenza are all just a short hop away. In short, Padua makes an excellent base for exploring Italy by train. The city is served by both state operator Trenitalia and by the latter's great competitor Italo, with both companies offering departures to a range of cities including Milan and Rome.

Padua is also a good first stop in Italy. Travellers from Britain often favour the route via Paris. You can snooze your way on the overnight train from Paris to Padua. The journey takes 13 hours. Padua also has direct overnight links, normally daily, to Munich and Vienna. If you prefer to travel by day, you’ll find useful direct daytime services from Geneva, Lausanne, Munich and Innsbruck to Padua. Since 2018 there has also been a new once-daily direct train from Zurich and Lugano to Padua.