Top 10 Padua Tours

1.Padua to Venice Boat Cruise of the Brenta Riviera

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 418 reviews · from $157Our pick

Follow the old Burchiello route from Padua to Venice, passing more than 50 riverside villas and navigating five locks and nine swing bridges. An onboard guide explains the waterway and its history; you’ll also tour Villa Pisani, Villa Widmann and Palladio’s Villa Foscari. Lunch and the return to Padua are not included.

“I enjoyed the cruise of the Brenta Riviera. The scenery was lovely and varied as we passed through towns and countryside. Our tour guide was wonderful with a wealth of information about the areas, locks, bridges, and of course the villas. The scheduling of this whole day is delightful...cruising, touring, eating (the restaurant meal was delicious!), entering the Venice Lagoon. If you like history, you'll enjoy this day but it is the pace of the day and a highly knowledgeable tour guide that makes it special!”

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2.Tasting Prosecco with appetizers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 217 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $36Best value

At PDC Cartizze, a sommelier guides you through four Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG sparkling wines, from Brut to Dry, with appetizers. The tasting lasts about 45 minutes and is limited to 10 people. The meeting point is in Valdobbiadene, not Padua, so check your route before booking.

“Fabulous experience. Elegant, modern, and beautiful winery. Tasting was informative and delicious. Staff went above and beyond for a pleasurable experience. Would recommend to anyone in the area who loves bubbly!”

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3.Full-Day Padua to Venice Burchiello Brenta Riviera Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 198 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $177

Start in Padua at 7:50 am and travel by Burchiello boat toward Venice, stopping for guided visits at Villa Pisani, Villa Widmann Rezzonico Foscari, and La Malcontenta. Expect a full day, commentary in four languages, and a memorable approach to Venice by lagoon. Lunch and your return to Padua are not included.

“This was a great tour--the river was lovely and the stops at the three villas were terrific. We passed on the multiple-course lunch and just ordered pasta which was incredible!! More lovely scenery, interesting narrative, and then we docked in Venice. A bonus was the fact that they had arranged for another boat to take us back to the train station at no extra cost! A wonderful way to spend a day in northern Italy.”

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4.Prosecco tasting, appetizers and tour of the cellar and vineyards

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 178 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $48

At PDC Cartizze, a guide introduces the Valdobbiadene area and its Cartizze cru before leading a tasting of four Prosecco DOCG wines. You’ll also see the cellar and an organic vineyard, hear about winemaking and vine care, and finish at a panoramic photo point. The visit lasts about 90 minutes and includes snacks.

“Splendida esperienza, ben organizzata, prezzo nella norma, personale cortese e molto preparato! Consiglio il tagliere extra e la visita della vigna”

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5.Private City Walking Tour & Scrovegni’s Chapel Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 124 reviews · from $62

In two hours, a private or small-group guide leads you through Padua’s central squares, Palazzo della Ragione and the Cathedral, with admission to Scrovegni Chapel included. Guides have included Caterina, Cinzia, Laura, Rosanna and Tiziana. The order can vary, so check how your chapel visit fits into the walk.

“The tour was wonderful! Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable and adapted the tour for exactly what we wanted. Private tours are worth every penny. This was our 2nd tour - Padua and The Last Supper - Sforza Castle.”

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6.Padua Walking Tour with the Scrovegni Chapel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 96 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $175

Explore Padua’s central squares and the Scrovegni Chapel on a private, English-language walking tour. Your guide explains Giotto’s fresco cycle and the city’s past, with routes that may include the market, Café Pedrocchi, the Ghetto and Palazzo Bo. Chapel access is included, but time inside is limited to about 15 minutes.

“Valérie was clearly knowledgeable and passionate about the art. She also brought her knowledge to her discussion of the history of Padua, which was new to me. I’d recommend two improvements: Make it clear we only have 15 minutes in the space, meaning only 15 minutes to take photos. And if you don’t understand what I’m asking, ask me to repeat. Don’t be shy! I’m pretty sure Jesus wasn’t. Don’t hide your light under a bushel.”

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7.Scrovegni Chapel Ticket and Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 61 reviews · 30 min · from $36

Enter Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel for a 30-minute visit to Giotto’s 14th-century fresco cycle, a UNESCO-listed work known for its intense color. Admission and a seven-track audio guide are included; the tracks cover the chapel, the University of Padua, and Erbe Square. The group is limited to 10, and advance booking is required.

“la cappella degli Scrovegni si commenta da sola, bisogna ammirarla per capire la sua maestosità. Il costo del biglietto con audioguida è sproporzionato considerando che prima dell'ingresso c'è un video che spiega tutto, l'audioguida è praticamente inutile. Consiglio di prenotare direttamente nei canali ufficiali! Oltretutto abbiamo avuto difficoltà a farci riconoscere i biglietti.”

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8.Best of Padova: Private Walking Tour with a Local

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 56 reviews · 1 - 6 hours · from $49

Meet your private guide at Prato della Valle and set a pace that suits you. The walk can take one to six hours, with stops such as Saint Anthony’s Basilica, the old town squares, and the university botanical garden. Leonardo is one guide named in positive accounts, but guides are not guaranteed to be the same for every booking.

“Leonardo ci ha fatto conoscere degli angoli di Padova bellissimi e la storia di Sant'Antonio. Un valore aggiunto alla nostra gita a Padova.”

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9.small group city tour with the Scrovegni Chapel

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 19 reviews · from $53

Meet your certified guide in Eremitani Square for a two-hour walk through Padua’s landmarks, including the Scrovegni Chapel, where Giotto’s celebrated fresco cycle fills the visit with colour and detail. The group is limited to 10, the chapel ticket is included, and tours run in English, Italian or Spanish.

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10.Highlights Private Walking Tour & Scrovegni Chapel

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 5 reviews · from $148

Spend 3.5 hours with a private English- or Italian-speaking guide in Padua, a half-hour from Venice. The walk links Prato della Valle, St. Anthony’s Basilica, the old market and Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel, with chapel admission and skip-the-line access included. Guides have included Monica and Caterina, praised for clear English, local insight and flexibility.

“Monica was an awesome guide... knew a lot about the area and we really enjoyed the tour!”

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