Does the train go straight to Padua from San Lucia station and how far of a walk to the basilica is it from Padua station, or what is the best source of transportation to get to the basilica without walking. We will have a young daughter with us and would like to ride the bus if possible.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
313 posts
Hi, Melinda --
We love Padova and have made this trip many times. Rick Steves' Italy book has detailed directions, if you're interested.
The regular train from Venice is around 30 minutes. When you arrive in Padova, buy a bus ticket from the kiosk in front of the train station. The buses line up in front of the station. You will want #8, #12, or #18, and they should either say "Santo" on the display, or ask the driver "Santo?" That's the local term for the basilica.
The RS guide says to get off at the end of Via Umberto I, but that was always hard for us to figure out. The first few times we would sit/stand toward the front. If we had asked the driver "Santo?" at the start, he would tell us where to get off. This a site lots of people come for, so they're very used to it. Also, the trip can take 15 minutes, depending on whether it's a busy time of day.
We've also walked it, which was pleasant, depending on weather and luggage.