Padua Side Trip from Venice/Mestre

I'd go by train. Your hotel has a courtesy shuttle van but they may have a charge to run you to Mestre station. You might email them. Its too far to walk, about a mile and a half. The bus by the hotel is not a station, just a stop on the road. The No 5 bus running between the airport and Venice Piazzle Roma stops there, not sure about others. That bus costs 6 euro because its the airport bus.
In Padua, you might want to pick up an inexpensive Padova Card at the tourist office just outside the train station. Then you can ride the tram that runs through the center of town the rest of the day. It will take you to just a few blocks from the Basilica, as well as pass by the central district with the markets, University, etc.
The real draw in Padua is the Scrovegni Chapel with its Giotto frescos. You need an advance reservation.

I visited Padua for a week last April and enjoyed it thoroughly---didn't want to come home to San Diego. it is a safe and walkable city, very flat, with a charming "old city" center close to the train station.

. Saint Anthony's Basilica is very moving. you can easily take an inexpensive taxi ride directly from the train station to the Basilica, according to google maps it is .43 of a mile away on flat streets (with safe city shops along the way)

If you have any interest in art I would definitely make reservations for the very small Scrovegni Chapel (timed reservation s required and you must reserve as early as possible--very popular) --the Chapel is within a few blocks of the train station, even closer than the Basilica.

Piazza dei Signori is also close by and has a number of options for lunch. Search PADUA Attractions on TripAdvisor for detailed info...but I found most of my information on Rick Steves TV programs and/or his guide books which can be found in many public libraries if you don't already own them. PS. very easy train ride --25 minute s from Venice--we did it 2x in the week we were there.

I am loathe to question either Google Maps or a new friend named SuzieeQQ, but I have walked from the Padua RR Station to St. Anthony's Basilica less than a year ago, and I remember it being a lot further than .43 miles, more like two miles or so (maybe 30 minutes of direct walking). It was very nice, although under major restoration work last fall, including substantial scaffolding. I also recommend Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel, which as has been said requires advance timed reservations, bookable over the internet. At your time, you walk a bit to sit in a small auditorium to view a video for about 15 minutes, then go into the chapel for about 15 minutes, then exit. Where you check in and turn your confirmation in for a ticket, there is also a very small bookshop and a few displays. Outside, there is a sculpture garden that you can visit at leisure. I highly recommend the daily (except for Sundays, I think ) market In the center of town, one of the most famous markets in Italy. There is a building with stalls and shops specializing in products like spices, cheeses, salami and sausages, beef, chicken and fowl, fish and seafood, horse and donkey meat, breads, pastas, etc. etc. Very scenic. On one side of the building is the outside fruit and vegetable market, displayed in a more beautiful and organized way than most other markets. On the other side of the building is an outside market of clothing, shoes, etc. which I remember as being pretty ordinary. As I remember, the Scrovegni Chapel is a walk of 5 to 10 minutes from the RR Station. The market is a walk of 5 to 10 minutes beyond that. And then the walk to Saint Anthony's is another 15 minutes or more beyond that, more if you stop for shops, gelato, photos, etc.

My Google maps shows the Basilica of St Anthony to be 6500 feet from the train station as the crow flies. Figure a mile and a half walking. The city tram works great for seeing all the main sights.

My mother and I were in Padua in July 2014. We took the tram from the train station to near the Basilica (to get to our hotel). What we found was it is a lot farther to walk from the Basilica (or Prato della Valle) to the Scrovegni Chapel and the train station than it looks on the map. We walked from the Basilica back to the train station on our way out of town with our bags, and it was a LONG way (and we are walkers). Google maps estimates 36 minutes on foot, and we would say 40-45 minutes with luggage and walking through the market on the way :) If I did it again, I would cough up the money and take the tram back.

We were in Padua for the Scrovegni Chapel but stayed overnight. This was near the end of our 10-day trip, and Padua's charms were too subtle for us. (We preferred Venice and Verona.) If I re-planned our trip, I would cough up the few more euros to see the Scrovegni Chapel early--we did the 7 pm time to avoid paying for the museums--wander around Padua for an hour or two (great gelato on Piazza del Signiori!) and then take the train on to Verona (which was our next stop).

Susan, I allowed myself a full day in Padua; I would've liked to have had another day. In the time I was there, I was able to visit the Basilica and the Scrovegne (sp?) chapel. I would've liked additional time for the town, market, botanical garden, and the university area.

After you visit the basilica, try to allow time for the confraternity building. As you're facing the basilica, it's in a separate building on the right side of the plaza. A lovely chapel and a meeting room upstairs, with beautiful art.

Also while you're waiting to get into the Scrovegne chapel, do explore the associated museum. It has some really beautiful pieces and is a quiet place where you can enjoy the art.

Thank you all for your posts! Great suggestions all around. Looking forward to spending time in Padua-it sounds wonderful!

Regards,
Susan