San Marco to Santa Lucia Train

Ron's suggestion is a good one if you want easier walking, no big bridges, and easy route-finding. It is quite a bit longer, however. Is there any particular reason you want to walk the whole way? You could easily walk as far as Rialto and catch the vaporetto running up the Grand Canal the rest of the way to the train station.

Won't you have to walk FROM the train stn TO your hotel? Just time that ;-)............(and you're probably using 'double-dashes' to create that '[INVALID]' response; single dashes are probably fine for you to use. The site's going through some pains at the moment...)

Fredrica, I agree with Ron, why not just use a Vaporetto? There are stations conveniently close to Piazza San Marco. Happy travels!

I think you helped me decide[INVALID]-we'll probably take the vaporetto from Rialto or SM. We're flying into venice[INVALID][INVALID]going from airport to SM via vaporetto[INVALID]that's why I was wondering about walking. I want to get my tickets from SL to Florence the day before but don't want to go up to SL just to get them[INVALID]-any ideas about a close by travel agent near San MArco area? RS suggests Amex agent but we don't have that card. Thank for helping me decide

If you want lots of company on your walk, you could follow the busy shopping street, past Campo San Salvador, and over the Rialto Bridge. Then through Campo San Polo and Campo del Friari. A more direct and less populated route, possibly more interesting as well, would be to head for the traghetto stop at San Toma, going past La Fenice area and through Campo San Angelo. If you arent' in a hurry, you can visit Campo San Stefano, one of our favorites, along the way to the traghetto. Will you be making this walk with your luggage?

yes[INVALID]we would be going early morning with luggage....how long would it take approximately[INVALID]-we're not SLOW walkers Thanks for your input

yes[INVALID]we would be going early morning with luggage....how long would it take approximately[INVALID]-we're not SLOW walkers Thanks for your input

I hope someone else can answer that question as I cannot. We are always in "wander" mode when walking in Venice, not trying to be efficient, so I've no sense of how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B. Even early in the morning you will find lots of people around the Rialto market, so threading your way through there with luggage will slow you down a bit. You could detour around the market area instead of through it. You'll also have to go up and down the bridge steps, so wheeled luggage has to be carried at that point.

Lola has pointed out the big drawback of making this walk with your luggage. There are lots and lots of small bridges over the canals. These bridges do not have smooth surfaces. They have raised pieces of wood or stone so that you don't slip. You will end up lifting and carrying your luggage over these bridges or its bumtpy bump up, over and down. Lola has provided a really nice walk in her post above. If you take the major shopping street from St. Mark's square to the Rialto bridge, I don't recall going over any canal bridges. The walk begins as you walk under the clock in St. Mark's square.

Yes, as far as I recall that street doesn't cross any canals and is "bridge free" as far as Rialto. It is named Mercerie orologico in honor of the click, and while it's usually pretty crowded it shouldn' tbe early in the morning. I think even with the steps on Rialto Bridge I'd choose that over getting on and off a traghetto with luggage!

I'd suggest taking the vaporetto. If you don't want to then my route would be to head for the rialto bridge from where you are. Once there I would not cross but continue though the small campo where you turn to get the bridge. If you look at a map there is a route that sort of parralels the Grand Canal. You would go San Marco side of the Rialto Bridge to Strada Nova which turns into Rio Tera de la Madalena which turns into Rio Tera San Leonardo which turns into Fondamenta Santa Lucia. That way keeps you off the two big bridges ( the Rialto and the one at the train station), although there are several 4-5 step ones over small canals. I personally find San Polo to be a bit of a maze and this way would also avoid entering it. I have been this way before without luggage and in wander mode so I couldn't really put a realistic time frame on it. But I'd guess at least an hour, maybe.

"we're not SLOW walkers" * * * You will be this time, hauling your luggage over bridges and uneven pavement.

Thirty to sixty minutes, depending.......Just follow the signs. After you have been in Venice for any length of time, you will understand the city map and know how to get places by walking. Travel light and the luggage will be less taxing. It works best in Venice if you have backpacks because of all the bridges and cobblestones.

Fredrica - Just to be clear for you and any one reading this thread. You won't be taking a vaporetto from Marco Polo Airport to Venice when you arrive, because the vaporetto don't go to the airport. If you are taking a boat from the airport to Venice, then you will be riding on the Alilaguna shuttle boat which runs from the airport docks to stops in the lagoon and Venice proper. www.alilaguna.it

Fredrica, "any ideas about a close by travel agent near San MArco area?" You might try the ^Oltrex^ Travel Agent, one bridge past the Bridge of Sighs at Riva degli Schiavoni 4192 (there's a €3 service fee, but it saves a trip to Venezia S.L.). I believe this is the one I used on my last trip to Venice. Cheers!

Getting your train tickets to Florence the day before is a good idea, especilly since you'll be taking an ES train and will need seat reservations. Ken has made a good suggetion for a travel agent. And the American Express should be fine too[INVALID]-I don't believe you are required to have an AmEx card to use their travel agent services. I used the one in Florence long before I ever had an AmEx card.