When most tourists hit Padua, they make a beeline for the Scrovegni Chapel and the Basilica of St. Anthony.
Don’t get me wrong – these attractions are absolutely worth visiting!
But after some trips to this historic university town, I’ve discovered there’s so much more beneath the surface than what makes it into the guidebooks.
Padua is full of surprises—these are the Best Things to Do in Padua if you want to experience the city like a local and uncover its hidden gems.
Boy, was I wrong! It wasn’t until I befriended a local professor who showed me around that I discovered the Padua that locals love.
These hidden gems in Padua aren’t just less crowded (though that’s definitely a plus); they actually tell you more about the city’s soul than some of the major attractions.
So grab your walking shoes and a sense of adventure – I’m about to share seven hidden gems in Padua that most tourists never discover.
The Basilica of St. Anthony: Padua’s Most Famous Landmark
Location: Cappella dell’Arca del Santo, Piazza del Santo, 12, 35123 Padova PD, Italy
I know, I know — the Basilica of St. Anthony (or “Il Santo” as locals affectionately call it) is hardly a hidden gem!
My first visit to the Basilica was the typical tourist experience — join the line, shuffle past St. Anthony’s tomb, snap a few photos of the impressive domes, and check it off the list.
First, let me share my favorite “hidden in plain sight” secret: most tourists completely miss the incredible Donatello bronzes in the high altar area.
While everyone crowds around St. Anthony’s tomb, take a moment to appreciate these Renaissance masterpieces — especially the “Miracle of the Mule” and the “Miracle of the Irascible Son” which showcase Donatello’s genius for capturing human emotion in bronze.
I stood there for nearly 30 minutes on my last visit, completely alone despite hundreds of tourists in other parts of the basilica!
Nearby attractions
1.Then there’s the Treasury Chapel (Cappella del Tesoro), which many visitors walk right past.
This room contains reliquaries of astonishing craftsmanship, including St. Anthony’s preserved tongue and vocal cords .
These relics were discovered when his tomb was opened 30 years after his death — his tongue was still fresh and red, which was interpreted as evidence of his gift of preaching.
2. The cloisters are another overlooked area where you can escape the crowds.
The Magnolia Cloister (named for its beautiful magnolia tree) dates back to the 13th century and offers a peaceful respite from the busy basilica interior.
3.The Piazza del Santo itself deserves more attention than most visitors give it.
Dominated by Donatello’s impressive bronze statue of Gattamelata, the first of its kind since Roman times, the square offers an inviting atmosphere perfect for lingering.
I’ve found that visiting around 7pm, when the day-trippers have left and the evening light bathes the basilica’s domes in golden light, offers a completely different experience of this sacred space.
Best Time of Visit the Basilica
I’ve learned that the best time to visit the basilica to avoid crowds is first thing in the morning (it opens at 6:20am) or during lunch hours when tour groups disappear.
If you happen to visit during a Mass, respect the worship service but know that you can still quietly walk the side chapels.
Sure, the Basilica of St. Anthony is on every Padua itinerary, but by approaching it with insider knowledge, you can discover the wonderful thing about Padua — even its most famous sites have secrets waiting to be discovered!
Palazzo Zuckermann: The Museum Hidden in Plain Sight
Location: Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, 33, 35122 Padova PD, Italy
Palazzo Zuckermann is one of those places that makes me shake my head in disbelief – how can something this good be so overlooked?
It completely changed how I think about the things to do in Padua.
I first visited on a rainy afternoon when my plans for wandering the Prato della Valle got washed out.
Best rainy day decision ever!
This elegant early 20th-century palace houses not one but two museums: the Museum of Applied and Decorative Arts and the Bottacin Museum.
While that might sound a bit dry, what you’ll find inside is a fascinating glimpse into how wealthy Paduans lived throughout the centuries.
Things to see in Palazzo Zuckermann
The decorative arts collection spans everything from ornate furniture to delicate glassware, intricate jewelry, and vintage clothing.
My favorite section features the recreation of aristocratic home interiors from different periods – it’s like stepping into a time machine!
I spent almost an hour just examining the incredible inlaid wooden cabinets from the 17th century. The craftsmanship will blow your mind.
Upstairs, the Bottacin Museum houses an impressive collection of coins, medals, and seals.
Now, I’m not normally a numismatics enthusiast, but some of these pieces tell fascinating stories about Padua’s history and its relationship with Venice and the wider world.
History of Palazzo Zuckermann
The building itself is worth admiring too.
It was built between 1912 and 1914 for a wealthy Jewish industrialist, Enrico Zuckermann, and features this gorgeous blend of Art Nouveau and Neo-Renaissance styles.
Best of all? The entrance fee is super reasonable (around €6 when I last visited), and sometimes it’s included with combination tickets for other museums.
Exploring La Specola: Padua’s Historic Observatory
Location: Vicolo dell’Osservatorio, 5, 35122 Padova PD, Italy
As someone fascinated by both history and science, discovering La Specola was like finding the holy grail of hidden attractions.
This ancient astronomical observatory sits in a converted medieval tower along the Bacchiglione River, and it completely knocked my socks off the first time I visited!
History about La Specola
Built in 1767, La Specola is one of the oldest astronomical observatories in Europe and played a crucial role in the development of modern astronomy.
What many people don’t realize is that Padua’s university was a scientific powerhouse, where Galileo himself taught for 18 years.
La Specola represents the continuation of that scientific legacy decades after Galileo’s death.
Thing to do in La Specola
The tower itself is impressive enough – a massive 35-meter tall structure that dominates the southern skyline of the historic center.
But the real magic happens when you climb the ancient spiral staircase inside.
Each floor reveals different historical instruments used to map the stars, study planets, and contribute to our understanding of the universe.
The original wooden observation chair – designed to allow astronomers to recline while gazing upward for hours – is ingenious in its simplicity.
What I love most about visiting La Specola is imagining the generations of scientists who worked through the night in this very tower, meticulously charting celestial movements by hand.
There’s something deeply humbling about standing in a place where so many discoveries were made without computers or modern technology.
Advantage
The observatory only offers guided tours (in English at specific times), which initially disappointed me as I prefer exploring at my own pace.
However, the guides are typically astronomy students or professors from the university who share fascinating stories you’d never get otherwise.
One guide showed us graffiti carved by students in the 1800s – apparently, some things about college life never change!
For photography enthusiasts, the view from the top floor offers one of the best panoramas of Padua’s red-tiled rooftops, church domes, and distant hills.
Just be aware that the stairs are steep and narrow, so it’s not ideal for those with mobility issues.
To visit, you’ll need to book a tour in advance through the university’s museum network. It’s a bit of extra planning, which is probably why most tourists miss it, but absolutely worth the effort!
The Secret Gardens of Padua You Can Actually Visit
Everyone knows about Padua’s famous Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico), the oldest of its kind in the world and deservedly a UNESCO World Heritage site.
But did you know there are several other enchanting gardens scattered throughout the city that offer equally magical experiences with practically no tourists?
The Garden of Biodiversity.
Location: University of Padua Botanical Garden, Via Orto Botanico
My absolute favorite discovery was the Garden of the Biodiversity inside the original Botanical Garden complex.
While most visitors stick to the historic section, this modern addition showcases ecosystems from around the world in a series of climate-controlled greenhouses.
I spent a rainy afternoon wandering through tropical, sub-humid, and temperate environments, completely alone except for the occasional gardener.
The contrast between the 16th-century original garden and this cutting-edge facility is fascinating!
the gardens of Villa Molin
For those who don’t mind stepping a little beyond the city center, a trip to the gardens of Villa Molin is highly recommended.
This 16th-century Palladian villa sits alongside the Bacchiglione River, and while the villa itself is only occasionally open for special events, the gardens can be visited by appointment.
The geometric perfection of the Italian-style garden layout viewed against the villa’s classical façade is straight out of a Renaissance painting.
Time of visit
The best times to visit these secret gardens are during spring for the blossoms and autumn for the changing colors.
Summer is gorgeous too, though the heat can be intense. I’d recommend bringing a small sketchbook or journal – these peaceful spaces invite contemplation in a way that busy tourist sites never can.
One important tip I learned the hard way: always check opening hours before visiting these smaller gardens, as they often operate on limited schedules or require reservations.
The extra effort is worth it for the chance to experience these tranquil spaces that even many locals don’t know about!
Caffè Pedrocchi’s Hidden Upper Floor
Location: Galleria civica Cavour, 35122 Padova PD, Italy
Caffè Pedrocchi is hardly a secret – this historic café near the university has been a Padua institution since 1831.
Tourists and locals alike flock to its elegant ground floor to sip coffee in rooms color-coded green, white, and red (the colors of the Italian flag). But here’s what most visitors miss: the real treasure of Pedrocchi is hiding upstairs!
The upper floor houses the Museum of the Risorgimento and the Contemporary Age, along with a series of breathtakingly ornate rooms that once served as meeting places for intellectuals, artists, and revolutionaries.
Thing to see
The museum section contains historical documents, paintings, and artifacts relating to Italy’s struggle for independence and unification. It’s small but gives fascinating context to both the café and the city’s role in Italian history.
To access the upper floor, you sometimes need to request permission at the main café, and there might be a small fee depending on what exhibitions are currently running.
I’ve found that going during weekday mornings means you’ll likely have the entire upper section to yourself – a stark contrast to the bustling café below.
If you time your visit right, you might catch one of the classical music performances or literary events that are still held in these rooms, continuing a tradition that’s nearly two centuries old.
Even if there’s nothing scheduled, just wandering through these historic spaces, knowing that great minds like Stendhal and lord Byron once did the same, makes for an unforgettable experience beyond the typical tourist track.
The Ancient Jewish Ghetto of Padua
Location: PaolaPrata, Via Soncin, 4, 35122 Padova PD, Italy
Tucked away between busy shopping streets and grand piazzas lies one of Padua’s most overlooked historic areas – the ancient Jewish Ghetto.
While Venice’s Jewish Quarter draws tourists by the thousands, Padua’s equally significant Jewish heritage remains largely undiscovered by visitors.
It changed my perspective on the Things to Do in Padua.
Thing to see here
I first found myself in this neighborhood entirely by accident, wandering down Via San Martino e Solferino when the distinctive architecture caught my eye.
The buildings here are noticeably different – taller and narrower than typical Paduan structures, with multiple mezzanine levels visible through the windows.
This unique design wasn’t aesthetic; it was practical. When Padua’s Jewish residents were confined to this small area beginning in 1603, they could only build upward, not outward.
What makes exploring the old ghetto so fascinating is how it reveals a completely different chapter of Padua’s history.
While the university was making scientific breakthroughs and artists were creating masterpieces in churches, the Jewish community was developing its own rich cultural and intellectual tradition in these few narrow streets.
Time of visit Jewish Ghetto
For the best experience, I’d recommend taking a quiet morning walk through the area, starting at the synagogue on Via San Martino e Solferino.
Few organized tours come here, which means you can absorb the atmosphere without crowds.
The small kosher bakery nearby (if it’s still operating when you visit) offers delicious treats that connect you to living traditions that have continued for centuries.
Discovering the Underground River: Naviglio Interrato
Location: Ponte delle Torricelle, 35123 Padova PD, Italy
Did you know that Padua was once crisscrossed with canals like a miniature Venice?
Most visitors don’t!
Today’s Padua appears to be a typical landlocked Italian city, but beneath its streets and hidden in plain sight lies evidence of its watery past – particularly the fascinating Naviglio Interrato, or “buried canal.”
Personal experience
I discovered this hidden aspect of the city during a massive downpour when my tour guide mentioned that we were actually walking above an ancient canal system.
Talk about hidden in plain sight! What looks like an ordinary street – Via Riviera dei Ponti Romani – was once the main commercial waterway connecting Padua to Venice and the Adriatic Sea.
Most fascinating to me are the places where you can still see evidence of this aquatic past.
Near Porta Portello, you can find the ornate water gate that once welcomed vessels arriving from Venice.
It’s beautifully preserved and gives you a sense of how important this connection was. The magnificent staircase leading down to where the water once flowed is a photographer’s dream – yet I’ve rarely seen tourists here.
Final Thought about Things to do in Padua
After exploring these seven Things to Do in Padua, I hope you’re feeling inspired to venture beyond the standard tourist trail on your next visit.
While the Scrovegni Chapel and Basilica of St. Anthony deservedly attract attention, these lesser-known spots reveal Padua’s soul in ways the major attractions simply can’t.
What I’ve learned through countless visits to this remarkable city is that Padua rewards the curious traveler.
Those willing to wander down side streets, peek through open doorways, and stray from the crowds will discover a richer, more authentic experience.
That’s the real magic of Padua – layers upon layers of history, art, and culture waiting to be uncovered if you just know where to look.
I’d recommend setting aside at least one full day of your visit specifically for these hidden gems.
Better yet, use them as palate cleansers between the more famous sites – perhaps visit the Botanical Garden in the morning, then discover the secret gardens in the afternoon, or explore the Jewish Ghetto after seeing the Basilica.
So pack your walking shoes, bring your curiosity, and prepare to fall in love with the Padua that most tourists never see.
I promise these hidden gems will become some of your most treasured memories of Italy!