Getting from Florence to Venice and back

I haven't tried driving the Venice to Florence route - but the train is very easy and stress free. I would think the train would be much quicker and you wouldn't have to pay to park your car while in Venice. When we drove in the Siena area, we picked up the car in Siena rather than Florence. We heard many cautions against driving in Florence and driving out of Siena is very easy.

The rental car is great for Siena and surrounding areas. Just be catious about driving in Florence. Most of the entire historical area of the city is a ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitado). $100+ tickets and you are caught by camera. As for going to and from Venice, I would strongly suggest the train. If you book early, you can get some nice fares. The train is fast, very comfortable and you get off the train just feet from the Grand Canal.

I would also do trains - so much more relaxing, especially for the driver. :-)

I agree with Larry. A car is great to get around Tuscany. But you can't beat the train to go from Florence to Venice and back. If you go to Google Maps and check the distance and time, you will see it takes you about an hour and a half more vs. the express train. Plus don't forget you're going to pay for parking in Venice (who knows how much they're gonna get you for that) and a extra day's parking in in Florence. The great thing about the train is: there are so many trains going back and forth from those two cities, it's not worth driving. I say leave the driving to others whenever possible. And if you're just going on a day trip, with no luggage, you need all the time possible. And if you're going for multiple days it's still worth it. Check the TrenItalia site for schedules and rates. Buy the tickets when you get to the terminal at one of those ATM looking machines (they only work with MC, Visa or cash). The only thing to buy from the USA is the Vaporreto and museum passes at Venice-Connected (VC) and redeem them at the (VC) kiosk in the train station. You can now also buy parking tickets at (VC). And besides you step out of the station, walk into the Vaporreto and off to San Marco either on the slow Vaporreto #1 or the speedier #2. http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ad1ce14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD http://www.veniceconnected.com/

Hands down... Train. A car is just a burden to deal with.
Get tickets to Milan, check it out for a few hours and then continue on to Venice with Point to Point fares.

I don't understand why somebody would go from Florence to Venice via Milan. It is hours out of the way. If taking a train it is a direct shot from Firenze SMN to Venezia SL. Driving between Florence and Venice is not as difficult as it sometimes appears here. I have done it several times, in my personal car. There is a motorway (A1 and A13) which goes right there. It is tunnel filled and twisty over the mountains between Firenze and Bologna, than across the flatlands of the Po via Ferrara and Padova. Figure two and a half to three hours. Granted, you then have to dispose of the car.

I vote for the train as well. Unless you are going somewhere that trains are not frequent, a car is a hassle - spoken as one who had driven in small town Italy. Trains from Florence to Siena are frequent, and also from Florence to Venice.

We've done the drive from Florence to Venice, we'd take a train next time unless you wanted to stop somewhere specific on the way. We hit heavy traffic near Bologna and then dropping the rental car in Venice was a pain, but we also arrived on May 1 so traffic in to Venice and to the parking garages was really heavy. The train would have been faster and less of a hassle.

Choo choo for you!!

I have done the drive numerous times, but because I like to wander along the way. I also stayed out of the city when I had the car, so it was a tradeoff. Definitely the train would be easier to get there directly. As far as having a car in Tuscany... I think it is a must for me. I want to explore every little village that I see. Renting in Florence is really easy...just get your car at the airport and head out. I don't know why anyone would try and drive in the city....not only the zones but the small streets Florence. I also tend to stay in smaller villages and found driving and parking in Siena to be a pain. If you only want to see Siena don't get a car, but if you want to explore on your own, just stay out of the cities with your car. Freedom to drive and watch the sunset or sunrise for that matter in Tuscany is priceless to me.

Thank you all for the helpful information. We've decided to take the train to Venice, then rent a car in Florence to explore the small towns around Siena. We're staying at an agriturismo outside of Siena (can't remember the name of the town). Thanks everyone!
Anne-Marie

Don't forget to ask the hotel in Florence to register the car with the ZTL (limited traffic zone). The fines could be stiff if you drive in. Better to use the bus in Florence or walk.

Don't forget to ask the hotel in Florence to register the car with the ZTL (limited traffic zone). The fines could be stiff if you drive in. Better to use the bus in Florence or walk.