Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) → Padua transfer
Padua is 51 km from Venice Marco Polo Airport, and the private transfer usually takes 42–53 minutes. A standard car typically costs around €70–90, a minivan around €90–120, and the exact price is shown before you book.
- From
- Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
- To
- Padua
- Distance
- 51 km
- Typical drive
- 42–53 min
Unlike Venice, Padua can be reached by car, so the driver takes you towards your hotel or apartment. The city is popular with travellers who want a calmer base near Venice, visitors to the university and the Basilica of Saint Anthony, and guests heading to the spa hotels of Abano and Montegrotto.
How long is the drive from Venice Airport to Padua?
The route leaves the airport on the mainland and joins the motorway system around Mestre, then heads west across the flat Veneto plain towards Padua. Most of the journey is motorway, which keeps the drive under an hour in normal traffic.
Weekday rush hours around Mestre and the outskirts of Padua can add some minutes. Late-evening arrivals usually have a clear road.
Driving into the historic centre
Central Padua is a limited traffic zone, known in Italy as a ZTL, controlled by cameras at the entry points. Access rules for hire vehicles with a driver differ from those for private cars, and the driver knows the local situation.
If your hotel is on a pedestrian street or deep inside the old town, the driver stops at the nearest point where a car may stop, and the last few metres are on foot. Mention the full address when booking so the right drop-off can be planned.
Where travellers stay in and around Padua
- Old town
- Around Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza dei Signori and the university. Close to the Scrovegni Chapel, with its Giotto frescoes.
- Near the Basilica of Saint Anthony
- Many pilgrims stay close to the basilica and Prato della Valle, one of the largest squares in Italy.
- Railway station area
- Practical for travellers who plan day trips by train to Venice, Verona or Vicenza.
- Abano and Montegrotto Terme
- Thermal spa towns at the foot of the Euganean Hills, south-west of the city. Enter the hotel name when booking.
Getting back to VCE from Padua
Plan your pickup in Padua about three hours before a flight within the Schengen area, and around three and a half hours before a long-haul or non-Schengen flight. That covers the 42–53 minute drive, possible traffic near Mestre and airport check-in.
If you stay in Abano or Montegrotto, add some extra time for the roads out of the spa area.
Frequently asked questions
Can the driver reach my hotel in Padua’s old town?
In most cases the driver can get close, but central Padua is a camera-controlled limited traffic zone and some streets are pedestrian. You are dropped at the nearest accessible point, which is usually very close to the entrance.
Is Padua a good base for visiting Venice?
Many travellers stay in Padua for a quieter stay and visit Venice by train. For the airport transfer, Padua is reached directly by car, so there is no change to a boat.
Do you go to the spa hotels in Abano Terme?
Yes. Abano and Montegrotto Terme lie a short way beyond Padua. Enter your hotel when booking to see the exact price for that address.
How much luggage fits in the car?
A standard car takes up to three passengers with normal suitcases. With more people, bulky bags or a wheelchair, choose a minivan.