We are looking at our travel options between Venice and Bologna. I see an ES train that departs from the S. Lucia Station and a IC train that departs from the mainland's Ve. Mestre station. I understand the difference between the two, but need some logistical advice. Here are the questions: if we are departing from Ve. Mestre, do we go to Santa Lucia station and catch a connecting train to Mestre? If so, is it included in our ticket price or do we buy a seperate ticket?
How much time do we allow for traveling from Arsenale vaporetto stop to Santa Lucia station and board if we are taking an ES train? Any other insights are welcome. The train schedules and tickets seem pretty straight forward. And, as I have read here, validate, validate, validate.
Posted by
Sheboygan, Wisc., USA
934 posts
Mestre is a 10minute inexpensive train ride from St.Lucia.All trains going to Venice go thru Mestre. If you get a ticket on the IC train the day before travel you could get the amica discount.We used it on the IC and also the ES train and in 2nd class there wasnt much difference.
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
1170 posts
This is how it will go. You will leave from S. Lucia in Venice proper on an ES train. That train will then stop at Ve. Mestre station on the mainland to pick up more passengers and then travel on to Padua, Rovigo, Ferrara, etc...before arriving in Bologna. Put Ve. Mestre out of your mind. The IC train is more of a regional train that will stop in every dinky little town along the way. You don't want to take the IC train. Take the ES train.
The quickest way to the train station down the Grand Canal is on the #2 vaporetto line. It has fewer stops than the #1 which stops at every stop along the way. However, the #2 does not stop at the Arsenale stop. You could take the #1 to the San Marco (Zaccaria) stop and catch the #2, or drag your luggage down the waterfront to the San Marco (Zaccaria) stop instead. Or, you could just bite the bullet and take the #1 the whole way (I wouldn't, it takes too long). What I have done to save time is to walk to the Rialto stop from San Marco and take the #2 from there. It is a very short walk from San Marco and this is advice that I took from a local. This is a link where you can estimate your travel time: http://www.hellovenezia.com/jsp/en/transports/index.jsp
And another link to a detailed vaporetto map: http://www.hellovenezia.com/jspvenezia/htmlincludes/pdf/muoversi.pdf
Remember, if you miss your train, there will be another one along shortly that you can catch instead.
Good luck!
Posted by
Mpls, MN
1005 posts
Rob we took the 11:43 Eurostar train #9395 from Venice to Florence in July and Bologna is one of the train's intermediate stops. Since these trains originate in Venice, get to the station early and find your platform, board the train, stow your bags and get settled. The intermediate stops the train makes aren't long so know what several of the prior stops are before yours so you can get your bags down and get ready to hop off.