Greetings all,,
Anyone have any info on getting from Milan airport to Padua? Are there any direct shuttles, trains ,
Busses ? We are doing a RS tour and want to get into Padua a couple of days early. Also any suggestions for a good B and B in Padua , before our RS tour starts,
Happy Travels
Nate
Easy. Are you arriving at Malpensa (MXP)? If so, take the Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale (you can buy your ME and Milano-Padova tickets at the same time), then find the train to Venezia Santa Lucia (final destination). Padova is a couple of stops before Venice. No train changes after Milano, travel time is about two hours, trains leave every hour or less.
You can also take a train from Milano to Bologna and change trains there to get to Padova (train direction is still Venezia Santa Lucia), but the Bologna station is multi-level and you need to be alert to signage - plus schlep your luggage off and on an extra time.
Don't have a B&B recommendation but I have stayed at Hotel M14, near Prato delle Valle. Very good hotel, will loan or rent you bikes.
Probably nothing direct.
There's the bus to Milano Centrale (there's another way to do this segment, I think) and then the train to Padua with several stops but no change.
Don't have any B & B suggestions but enroute to Lake Garda our family of 4 stayed one night at Hotel Casa del Pellegrino which is right across the street from the Basilica of St. Anthony. We had a car and they had parking. It was fine and we walked most everywhere from there. Was there again on a daytrip from Venice arriving by train and used the trams to get around. Was very easy. If you have time, be sure to make reservations for the Scrovegni Chapel. The Anatomy Theater was also very interesting.
The train is so easy. Why not stay on a few minutes longer and have 2 extra days in Venice, a most magnificent place, especially if you are there before and after the cruise ships. Nothing like the Grand Canal at dawn, nor at night with all the Palazzos lit up with great Murano chandeliers. Much better than a day trip.
Another option is to stay the first two days in Verona. It's 1.5 hours train from Milan, and about 30 minutes train to Padova. We've been to both, and I wouldn't want to spend 4 days in Padova. Verona is very easy as a transition into Italy with wonderful piazzas, and the people are used to tourists.
