Padova Transportation Tips by suvanki

Hop on Hop Off Padua Tour Bus

I've used this company before in Granada, Marrakesh, Valencia and Madrid

I find it a useful way to learn about the city, get my bearings, and use it to get around.

Forget Your 'I'm not a tourist' ideals, and jump aboard - it's a good way to see the city from the top deck. (or you can sit indoors downstairs)
You get closer to the buildings, and see things that You'd miss from street level.

It's fun sharing the experience/chatting with fellow passengers (tourists/ travellers) from other countries too!

Usually Your ticket entitles You to 24 hours use.

With the Padua card (14 Euros) the Hop On Hop Off ticket can be purchased for 6 euros instead of 12 euros and is valid for 48 hours instead of 24 hours! - please see my Things to do tips for more info on this valuable card

The Padua card can be bought from the Tourist Info office opposite Basilico St Antonio, at the train station or next to Caffe Pedrocchi.

Hop on Hop Off tickets can be bought at the nearby departure point, from the driver en route, Selected hotels and travel agencies

Your ticket price includes a map and headphones for the recorded info in 7 languages.

Line A operates daily March to October.

It leaves opposite Basilica di St Antonio 09.50, 11.00, 12.00, 14.45,1600,1700 and 1800. and its route covers Plazza della Erbe, Pz dei Signori, Pz Garibaldi, Pz I Nievo, Portello, Pz Eremitani, Pz Stazione, Pz Petrarca, Riviera Paleocopa and Prato de Ville.

I used this route quite a bit - initially doing the full circuit, to get my bearings, and learn about the cities history and places of interest, then later to get to places such as the Scroveni chapel and the train station.

Line B covers Montegrotto Terme and Abano Terme the ticket is valid for 6 hours. I didn't use this route

Save your ticket, because You can get 10% discount off other city sightseeing buses world wide.

Milan, Pisa, Florence, Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Messina and Palerma are the other Italian cities offering the tourbus service (2007)

Mode: AROUND

Other Contact: Bus Cell 348 3647034

Phone: 049 8704933 fax 049 7629793

Type: Bus

Website: http://www.city-sightseeing.it

Train from Venice (Mestre)

I caught a train from Mestre ( Venice) to Padua. There are regular trains to and from this fascinating city.

Prices can vary according to the type of train that you're travelling on.

I took pot luck, and just turned up at the ticket office. I was very surprised to find my ticket was just 2.20 Euros! (Yes, Italy has the cheapest train fares in Europe- Unlike the UK, which has the most expensive!)

There are 'saver tickets' if You're intending on using the train for more than one journey.

The journey took just over 20 minutes.

From the outskirts, Padua doesn't reveal much of its treasures, but a few steps from the station You can see some of its interesting buildings.

In front of the station is a taxi rank and bus station for local buses. You can also rent bikes (Padua is a city where bikes are a very popular form of transport!)

Near the train station is a tourist Info office - I didn't visit this one, but found the small TI office opposite St Antonio Basillica to be very helpful (I purchased my Padua card -which I used quite a lot, and my ticket for the Scroveni Chapel from here).

Mode: TO

Type: Train

Train to Peschiera (Lake Garda)

After spending 2 nights in Padua (and still not seeing everything), my next destination was Lake Garda.

Regular trains leave from Padua to Pesciera and Desenzano- the 2 train stations on the Southern end of the Lake.

My ticket cost 11 euros (Tariffa Standard). It took me a while to realise that this was for a numbered seat in a carriage with six seats. (Prices vary for different types of train and seat etc) After much wobbling up and down the moving train with my case, I eventually located my carriage.

The other seats were all occupied, and there wasn't room for my case, which I had to leave in the narrow carriage.

The journey gave me a chance to relax and watch the countryside as we whizzed by (and also to spend my journey with local people - including 2 men who were so busy playing cards, that they nearly missed their stop!).

Outside the train station at Peschiera is a bus stop, where I caught a bus to Brenzone. The bus travels along the lake, stopping at the many towns and villages.

You purchase Your ticket from the bus driver.

After spending 4 nights on Lake Garda, I returned to Peschiera station and caught a train back to Venice St Lucia station which cost 7.60 euros - this time I had a choice of where to sit, on the train - there were plenty of seats to choose from!.

Mode: TO

Type: Train

Taxis -

I travelled by taxi twice during my visit to Padova. Once on arriving- from the train station to my hotel, and once at night from Plazza Garibaldi to my hotel, as I had to be back before midnight - (just call me Cinderella!)

There are taxi ranks around Padova, and there was a poster in Plazza Garibaldi with a telephone number to call a taxi - However, I wasn't sure if my very limited Italian would be understood. I needn't have worried as a taxi drew up within a few minutes.

The taxis are metered. Both times my fare came to just over 11 euros for a 5 minute ride. I thought this was quite expensive, but it was convenient.

I thought that is was expensive the first time because I had a suitcase, but perhaps not - I'm never sure of the 'hidden extras' that are charged by taxi companies, such as extra bags, certain days/times, being called, if there's a Friday in the week!!!

A bus ticket costs 1 euro for 70 minutes, or with the Padova card bus travel is unlimited for 48 hours.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Other

Train from Bergamo to Padova

Following our weekend in Bergamo to 'launch' EurMeet 2012, Gilly and I stopped off in Padova, before heading to Venice for our flights home.

We purchased our ticket from the ticket office (we could have used the ticket machine instead)
and went to the platform to wait for the train to Treviglio, where we would change for the train to Padova.
There was a short wait for our next train, which gave me chance to grab a drink from one of the many vending machines that are located on the platforms of train stations.

I really enjoy travelling by train, and especially in Italy, where the fares are cheap, the trains are on time and are clean and comfortable.

You also get to see some of the countryside, especially from the windows of the 'double decker' trains.

Fares vary depending on the type of train/ journey - Express or ones that stop at every village and lamp post. They can be purchased in advance on line, or in person at the ticket office.

Whichever ticket you purchase, you must validate it prior to boarding. Machines are located in the ticket office and at the entrance to the platforms.
Hefty fines are imposed for non-validated tickets.

On arrival at Padova train station, there is a TI office in the forecourt outside, where you can purchase tickets for the tram, buses etc. There is also a taxi rank, oh, and a bicycle rental office.

Mode: TO

Other Contact: http://www.italianrail.com/index

Type: Train

Website: http://www.trenitalia.com/