What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Padua

Relocating to Padua

About the City

The city of Padua is located in northern Italy’s Veneto region, and had a population of approximately 210,000 in 2014. It is located on the Bacchiglione River, and with Venice 25 miles away, it is often classed as being part of the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area.

In terms of the city’s ethnic groups, figures show that, in 2013, 85% of Padua’s population was Italian, while Romanians, Moldovans and Nigerians being the most populous minority groups.

Roman Catholic is the dominant religion, although Hindus, Muslims and Orthodox Christians now also reside in the city as a result of immigration. Italian is the main language, and taking a few lessons before arriving in the city can never hurt.

Padua is an enchanting place, with many bridges cutting across the river, and impressive, ancient walls surrounding the center.

Transportation in Padua

Those new to Padua will have no problems getting around the city, and one of the best ways to do this is by train, with Stazione di Padova, one of the largest stations in Italy, acting as the city’s central hub. Visitors can catch any one of the 450 trains which run through Padua every day.

The city also offers new residents a comprehensive bus service, while for those travelling between Albignasego, in the south, and Fornace in the north, the Translator tramway is a great option.

When it comes to the city center, those new to Padua should bear in mind that cars are not permitted in certain areas, unless they belong to residents or permit holders. In these cases, a bicycle represents a relaxing, cheap and green alternative when it comes to exploring the city.

The Climate in Padua

With the Adriatic Sea fairly close by, those new to Padua will experience a subtropical and humid climate. The record high is 38.2°C, while the lowest ever recorded temperature is -19.2°C. However, thanks to the subtropical climate, temperatures rarely fall below 8°C for most of the year.

In terms of average temperatures, the summer usually brings highs of 28.4°C while in winter temperatures can drop as low as -1.4°C. Another point of interest when it comes to winter in Padua is the fact that the city sees only three hours of sunshine per day, and while humidity is certainly present during the summer months, there is also humidity throughout the winter, which often results in fog. As with many subtropical areas, Padua experiences a lot of rain, with as much as 80mm falling each month between June and November.

Visas for Italy

Of course, before you can get settled in Padua, you need to make sure that your papers are in order. Depending on your nationality and the reason for your stay, getting a visa for Italy might be a piece of cake, not even necessary, or involve quite a bit of paperwork. So best take a look at our dedicated guide on Moving to Italy and make sure you know the Italian visa requirements.