I'm planning a trip for a 10 days that will be based out of renting a apartment in florence. Friends who are joining us would like to see venice, can a trip via train from florence work? does anyone know the commuting time? thank you all!
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
The trip will take at least 2 hours each way. You can do Venice as a day trip just leave Florence early and leave Venice late. Donna
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Yes. It can work. You can leave early, arrive back late and get a good 8 hours in Venice. You might be sharing Venice with all of the daily cruise people and tourists but that's the daily Venice.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32220 posts
Ryan, YES, the trip is certainly possible as the travel times are relatively short. As the others have mentioned, leave Florence as early as possible and return from Venice as late as possible. When you plan your trip, note that you'll be using Firenze S.M. Novella and Venezia S. Lucia stations (there are several stations in each city). AFAIK, it will mostly be Freccia (fast) trains on that route so reservations will be compulsory. Happy travels!
Posted by
Carbondale, IL, USA
1201 posts
It's possible, but you need to plan properly and possibly lower your expectations a bit. The inconvenience is that it is not really possible to arrive in Venice until 10:30 and the last train back to Florence deaprts at 19:30. that gives you 9 hours in Venice. Not too shabby. the problem is that the train you arrive on will be full of more folks heading for the main sites. Plus the passengers from the cruise ships will also be descending about the same time. As you exit the train station bask in the glory that is your first sight of the Grand Canal. Then instead of heading to the vaporetto going down the Grand Canal towards San Marco like everyone else. Hop on the one going the opposite way. You'll go around the islands and down the Guidecca canal and get to San Marco. If you get on the boat that stops at San Giorgio Maggiore then get off and tour the church designed by Palladio, but more importantly take the elevator up the bell tower for the most amazing views of Venice and the lagoon. Hop back on the vaporetto and get to San Marco. Have some lunch. we are fond of Al Mascaron just off Campo Santa Maria Formosa. But there are other spots as well. After luch stroll back through piazza san Marco and check out the line to the basilica. If it seems to be moving then hop in . If not then pop across the canal to Santa Maria della Salute. The key to an enjoyable visit is I think going against the crowds and just wandering a bit. You might want to consider a 12 hour vaporetto pass. The regular price is 18 euro, with rides now 7 euro each you'll get value from the pass.