CHECKLIST: 10 things you can’t miss in Padova 

  1. Sit on the stairs of Piazza dei Signori

  2. Have an aperitivo in the city centre 

  3. Discover the Specola and the Torre Astronomica of Galilei 

  4. Visit the Botanical Garden (it is free with the Unipd badge :))

  5. Taste the Caffè Pedrocchi

  6. Discover the street art 

  7. Meet with your friends in Prato Della Valle

  8. Buy a bicycle 

  9. Visit Cappella degli Scrovegni

  10.  Attend as many ESN events as possible :)

 

Parks

  • If you want to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon, there are many parks in which you can organize a picnic, or simply gather with your friends!
  • Parco Iris (Forcellini district)
  • Parco Europa (Via Venezia, Portello/Stanga district)
  • Parco Milcovich (Arcella district)
  • Parco degli Alpini (Via Due Palazzi, Montà district)

 

Sports

The CUS centre (Centro Universitario Sportivo) is one of the most ancient and famous institutions in Padova, with two big facilities close to the city centre. It offers university students the opportunity to get access for free to running, football, basketball and tennis fields, and also to participate in various tournaments or to get access to a lot of sports activities at a very low price.

In order to reserve a sports field, you first need to require the membership by bringing the registration certificate of the University.

Instead, if you prefer to go jogging in the fresh air, you can run along the river banks! Especially in the evening, they are always packed with sport-enthusiasts or amateurs, and you can also find some equipment for working out.

 

Where to eat

For pizza - you can find pizzerias basically everywhere, where you can taste a delicious pizza without spending too much; right in the city centre, the most famous are Da Pino, PagoPago, Rosso Pomodoro and MareChiaro.

Typical dishes - you cannot leave Padova without tasting the typical fish dishes of Veneto (baccalà, fried fish and folpetto), in a tiny street-food stand right in Piazza Delle Erbe (Folperia di Max e Barbara). It is served hot, and usually it is eaten during aperitivo along with a glass of prosecco or a spritz.

Also, remember to try the delicious Caffè Pedrocchi, served with cream and mint. 

Quick lunch -  if you want to have a cheap lunch while staying close to the university, you can benefit from RistorESU, the University food service, in one of its 3 University canteens and 11 affiliated canteens.

Alternatively, if you are in the centre and you want to have something typical, you can’t miss Dalla Zita, a very small and old place next to Pedrocchi, with more than 100 sandwiches to choose from!

 

Culture

Cinemas - for a movie in English, MPX (Via Bonporti 22) and Porto Astra (Via Santa Maria Assunta) are small central cinemas which often offer movies in their original language.

Theatre - the most famous theatre in Padova is the historical Teatro Verdi (Via dei Livello 32): all University students have discounts on the tickets (only €3), but unfortunately most of the plays and operas are in Italian. 

 

Nightlife 

Padova is famous for the “University Wednesday”: it is a common practice for university students to go out every Wednesday and meet up in the main squares to have a drink or to party!

 

SOME USEFUL INFORMATION

Banking  - If you need to open a bank account in Italy, Intesa San Paolo is the most suitable option for students, since it offers checking accounts for young people at an affordable cost, and it is also partnered with the University of Padova.

Health Insurance - For EU citizens, the TEAM/EHIC (Tessera Sanitaria) will give you access to the Italian public health service (SSN, Servizio Sanitario Nazionale), and it grants you the access to hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic exams via the payment of a “ticket”. 

If you already have private insurance, be aware that it may not be fully valid abroad, therefore you should check the condition with your insurance company.

Mobile phones  -  Tim and Vodafone are the main carriers in Italy: they have the best network coverage but they are also the most expensive ones, A good compromise might be WindTre or Iliad. 

Public transport 

Tram & Urban Buses - a single-ride ticket costs €1.30 and it is valid up to 75 minutes. It can be purchased at the vending machines near the bus stops, at tabacchi shops or on board (at a higher cost of €2; pay attention because this is not possible for trams!). Remember to validate the ticket as soon as you get on, in order not to incur in fines.

If instead you plan to often use public transports, you can purchase a student monthly pass at a cost of €26: visit the FsBusItalia Veneto website for more information http://www.fsbusitaliaveneto.it/index.php. They can be bought at the ticket office in front of the train station.

From 12 a.m. onwards, you can use the Night Bus service for €1.50: the ride is booked in advance through the dedicated app, and you can choose the departure and arrival bus stops that best suit you.

Train - if you want to visit the rest of Veneto and of Italy, train is the best option. Check the Trenitalia site https://www.trenitalia.com/ for more information about travels, tariffs and student discounts. 

Bike - for sure the cheapest and most popular means of transportation among students here! You can choose to buy yours at a bike shop, or through the many Facebook groups: pay attention not to buy stolen bikes and also to purchase a strong lock, since bikes could get easily stolen! Alternatively, you can subscribe to the Mobike bike-sharing system, which has platforms all over the city.

Taxi - you can call for a taxi by using RadioTaxi, available 24/7, through the app AppTaxi, by sending a text message to 3388442000 or by contacting the number 049651333. 

 

Where to Study - If you need to find the concentration or the right atmosphere to study, there are plenty of study rooms and libraries all around the city! Their access is completely free, and many of them have available Wifi, sockets, air conditioning and they are open until late at night.

In the city center:

Tito Livio (Galleria Tito Livio 7, 180 seats)

Marsala (Via Marsala 15, 120 seats)

Galilei (Via Galilei 42, 280 seats - with a room for group study)

Centro Universitario Padovano (via Zabarella 82)

Centro Culturale Altinate, San Gaetano (Via Altinate 71, into the library on the 2nd floor)

Piovego district:

Ex-Fiat (Via Venezia 13, 240 seats)

Jappelli (Via Jappelli 9, 184 seats)

Pollaio (Via Belzoni 7, 100 seats)

 

*please note that due to Covid pandemic, the amount of seats may be reduced.

 

Day Trips around Veneto 

Venezia - only 40 minutes by fast regional train, Venezia is one of the most famous and unique cities in the world, and it does not need any presentation! 

Verona - the romantic city of Romeo and Juliet, just one hour from Padova. Can be also discovered with one of our ESN guided tours!

Lago di Garda - this lake is so large that spans three regions! You can explore the many small villages along its shores, or go for a swim, or even spend a day in Gardaland, Italy’s biggest theme park! 

Dolomiti - not only the perfect place for skiing during winter, but even in summertime these mountains offer a wide range of activities like hiking, mountain biking, climbing or rafting. If instead you are not a sport enthusiast, you can go visit one of the many beautiful lakes that surround the area!

Chioggia - if you want to spend a day at the beach, Chioggia and Sottomarina are about 50 minutes from Padova by bus. 

Colli Euganei - 40 minutes from Padova, where you can find a lot of trails where you can go trekking or biking.

Abano Terme - worldwide famous for its hot thermal baths with beneficial properties, perfect if you want to spend a day in complete relaxation.

Attachment Files: 
MapsUnipdIta.pdf
MapsUnipdEng.pdf