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Want to spend some time navigating canals and bridges and need more information on how to travel by train from Florence to Venice? Look no further!
On average, the train journey from Florence to Venice takes 2 hours and 27 minutes, however it can take just 2 hours and 1 minute on the fastest Frecciarossa and Italo services. As there are around 23 direct services available between Florence and Venice, you don’t need to worry about changing along the journey.
When traveling on this route, you’ll board a train at Firenze Santa Maria Novella station, cruise through the Italian countryside and arrive at Venezia Mestre station. If you like to travel in style, why not upgrade to First Class? On Italo Prima, you’ll enjoy various amenities including power sockets, a table, leather armchairs, reading lights and a glove compartment. Frecciarossa Executive, you’ll enjoy wider reclining seats and a dedicated at-seat catering service.
Built on a collection of 118 small islands, separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges, Venice is one of the most unique, romantic and historic cities in the world. Once you’ve exited Venezia Mestre Station, you can start visiting the city’s most famous landmarks. For inspiration, check out our comprehensive guide to the 11 best things to do in Venice, including the Bridge of Sighs and St Mark’s Square.
It's also worth knowing about Venice's new tourist fee, whether you're planning on taking a day trip or staying a little longer.
Feeling inspired? Start your search for cheap train tickets from Florence to Venice today. Head to our Journey Planner at the top of the page to begin your search. Keep reading if you’d like more information first, including train times, ticket prices, FAQs and more.
First train | 2:03 am | |
---|---|---|
Last train | 9:20 pm | |
Departure station | Florence | |
Arrival station | Venice | |
Journey time | From 2h 3m | |
Distance | 127 miles (204 km) | |
Frequency | 29 trains per day | |
Changes | Direct trains available | |
Price | From $10.81 | |
Train and bus operators | Itabus, Trenitalia, Italo, Flixbus |
Frecciarossa trains are Trenitalia's flagship high-speed trains capable of reaching speeds of up to 186 mph (300 km/h). The "red arrow" trains are distinguished by their comfort, their ultra-modern design and their reduced impact on the environment. All Frecciarossa trains are equipped with a food carriage, a free WiFi connection and four levels of service – Standard, Premium (with drinks and welcome snacks served on arrival, as well as a morning newspaper), Business (with drinks and snacks, morning newspaper and larger seats) and Executive (with Fast Track, access to FrecciaClub lounges in train selected stations, and gourmet meals served to your seat). From December 2021, you can also travel with Frecciarossa from Milan to Paris via Turin, Modane and Chambéry. The trains are operated by Trenitalia France and have 4 levels of service - Standard, Business, Executive and Meeting Room - and two types of carriages: Silence Area, for those who want to travel in total tranquillity, and Allegro Area, for those who want to chat with their fellow passengers.
Italo is a high-speed train operator that runs services between many of the major cities across Italy. All Italo trains are modern, air conditioned, and have free WiFi available for all travellers. There are four comfort classes, or "ambiances", as Italo like to call them – Smart (the cheapest price), Comfort (with wider seats and extra legroom), Prima (with a welcome selection of food and drink, fast track boarding and extra space), and Executive Club (with all Prima services, extra-wide seats, access to Italo Club lounges and personal entertainment screens at your seat).
Trenitalia is the national railway company of Italy, with a fleet including high-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca), Intercity and Intercity night trains and regional trains. Trenitalia offers discounts and special promotions on selected routes, two types of discounted tickets for young people under 30 and people over 60.
Trenitalia's Intercity trains run on standard lines outside the high-speed network, offering more than 90 trains a day that guarantee long and medium distance connections, ensuring wide coverage of the rail network. All Intercity trains are modern and comfortable with plenty of seats, retractable tables, power sockets, air conditioning, courtesy lights and plenty of luggage space. Intercity Night trains allow you to travel overnight in cabins with beds, berths or seating.
With Frecciarossa Standard, you’ll enjoy high-quality services including eco-leather reclining seats, folding tables and free WiFi at a reasonable price.
Providing all the perks of First Class for the price of Second Class, Frecciarossa Premium offers more legroom and baggage space, as well as a welcome service supplying a complimentary sweet or salty snack and a drink. You can also order your meal via the EasyBistrò paid service available on board.
If you’re travelling for work, Frecciarossa Business is the ideal option for you – it offers more legroom, glass dividers for more privacy, EasyBistrò meal service and a private 4-seat compartment called Salottino. A free snack box is also served to your seat.
Frecciarossa Executive can accommodate up to 10 single armchairs and offers plenty of legroom, wider reclining leather seats, free entry to FRECCIALounge at the main train stations, an exclusive open bar and Michelin-starred menu by the renowned Italian TV chef Carlo Cracco.
Although Smart is Italo’s standard and cheapest class, you won’t miss out on the fantastic service! This class provides you with the following amenities:
In addition to all the perks of Italo Smart, Italo Prima also provides a little extra, such as a dedicated Fast Track service and a welcome service.
If you want to travel in style, upgrade to Italo Club Executive and enjoy dedicated catering service, personal screens, and free access to Italo Club Lounge.
Travel in Second Class Easy and enjoy seats with folding tables, power outlets and a bar carriage in the middle of the train.
In addition to all the amenities in Second Class Easy, you'll get to enjoy more spacious seats and legroom in First Class Plus.
If you're traveling on a budget, buy a ticket for a basic seat – you'll find a spacious and comfortable seat with a fold-down table, as well as a minibar service.
This couchette can host up to 4 people and offers plenty of amenities, including complimentary beauty and grooming products, bedding, and breakfast served in the morning.
In this cabin, you'll enjoy a whole breakfast menu, a wake-up service and a more comfortable bed. Single, double or 3-berth compartments are available.
The Excelsior cabin Superior can host up to 2 people. Enjoy the perks of the Deluxe cabin Relax, as well as a welcome drink and a private bathroom with washbasin, shower and mirror.
If you need to request special assistance, you can call the toll-free number 800 90 60 60, which can be reached from a landline in Italy, or the national number +3902323232, which can be reached from a landline or mobile, even from abroad (international calling charges may apply).
Air-conditioning is available on board. You can also charge your devices thanks to the power outlets you can find at your seat.
While there’s no bar or restaurant car on Italo trains, you can use the vending machines on board to get snacks and drinks during your journey.
Priority seats for passengers with reduced mobility are available on Italo trains. They’re usually located next to an accessible toilet. All accessible toilets also have tactile and Braille signs.
Air-conditioning is available on all Italo trains, as well as power outlets at every seat.
You can get snacks and drinks from the vending machines available in car 3. Gluten-free and lactose-free options are available too.
At the moment, Intercity trains do not offer an entertainment portal on board. However, you can make use of your internet data, as well as charge your devices thanks to the power outlets that are available at your seat.
If you need to request special assistance, you can call the toll-free number 800 90 60 60 which can be reached from a landline in Italy, or the national number +3902323232, which can be reached from a landline or mobile, even from abroad (international calling charges may apply).
Air-conditioning is available on all Intercity trains.
A minibar trolley service is available on all Intercity Notte trains – you can choose from a wide range of snacks and drinks. Vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free options are available too.
Unfortunately, free WiFi is not available on Intercity Notte trains.
Intercity Notte trains have a car with designated spaces for 2 passengers with a wheelchair and 2 companions. You’ll find a wheelchair symbol outside the car.
Depending on the class you’ll be traveling in, you’ll get to enjoy additional perks, including a wake-up service, breakfast, bedding and more.
Most of the train companies across Europe release their tickets around three to six months in advance, many of which can be cheaper the earlier you book. If you know the dates you want to travel, you may be able to find some cheaper train tickets from Florence to Venice by booking early.§
Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.
On some of the busier routes, you might also have the option to take a slower or connecting train. It may take a little longer than some high-speed or direct services, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might find a cheaper fare. Plus, you'll have more time to enjoy the view of the countryside!
Take a look at our handy guides to find out when train operators release their special deals and offers to see if you can find cheap European train tickets for your journey.
For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.
If you’re arriving in Florence from abroad, you’ll probably land at Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport. If you want to know how to get to the city center from the airport, keep reading for more details.
Trams from Florence Airport
The cheapest and easiest way to get from Florence Airport to the city center is the tram – you’ll get there in just 15 minutes. When you leave the airport, head out of the front door and turn left. Follow the signs to the T1 tram stop where you’ll find several ticket machines where you can buy your tickets.
Please remember that you need to get on the tram and validate your ticket, which means you need to put it in the small yellow machines near the doors and have the machine stamp the date/time on it to make it valid. If you fail to do that, a penalty fare will be issued.
Buses from Florence Airport
The bus is one of the fastest ways to get from the airport to the city center. Take the “Vola in Bus” shuttle service from outside the terminal and you’ll arrive at Firenze Santa Maria Novella station in about 20 minutes.
This bus service departs from the airport every 30 minutes between 05:30 am and 08:30 pm, then every hour until 11:45 pm.
Before your journey to Venice, you need to travel to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. Not sure how to get there? We’ve got you covered!
You can reach Firenze Santa Maria Novella station by train or bus, depending on where you’re traveling from. If you’re already near the city center, you can also walk to the station.
Both Italo and Frecciarossa welcome you in dedicated First Class Lounges with everything you need to sit back and relax before you travel. Waiting for your train has never been so relaxing!
Italo Club Lounges are for Club Executive passengers, as well as Italo Più Privilege and Platinum holders and Italo Più Corporate Privilege and Corporate Platinum holders. At the lounge in Firenze Santa Maria Novella station, you’ll find the following amenities:
If you’re traveling with Frecciarossa, you can access the FRECCIALounge at Firenze Santa Maria Novella station if you have:
At FRECCIALounge, you’ll get to enjoy a working area with power outlets and free WiFi, as well as a Bistrot Area offering a wide range of snacks and drinks.
Before you know it, your train will arrive in the heart of Venice.
Trains departing from Florence arrive at Venezia Santa Lucia station, which is a 20-minute walk from the renowned Rialto Bridge, in the city center.
Even though Venice is a small city and can be navigated on foot, you can still make use of the public transport available. Keep reading for more details.
Taking the bus in Venice
Although tourists and locals don’t usually need to take a bus to get around Venice, it is sometimes necessary to get to other destinations. If you’re traveling to Venice Airport, you can take bus line 5 from Piazzale Roma, which is only a few minutes away from Venezia Santa Lucia station.
As most of the public transport on the island of Venice is waterborne, urban buses are the least used means of transport.
Taking the water bus (or vaporetto) in Venice
Water buses, also known as vaporetti in Italian, replace the normal urban buses and are used to get around the heart of the city via its canals. The most useful water bus lines for tourists are the following:
Boasting picturesque canals and bridges, medieval churches and palaces, there’s so much to discover in beautiful Venice! To help you narrow it down, here are some ideas for things to see and do in Venice:
After visiting Venice, why not continue exploring Europe by train? With a Eurail Pass, you can travel across 33 European countries as much as you want on participating European train networks for a set amount of travel days.
You can use a Eurail Pass if you’re not a European citizen or resident. If you're a European citizen or a non-European who is an official legal resident of a European country, you can use an Interrail Pass instead.