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Train Travel - Milan Venice Modena Milan

Posted by (Cape Cod) on

We are traveling in a loop within 7 days. It's a lot but it's our dream to visit 4 areas: Flying into Milan, staying, going to Venice, staying, then train to Modena with a half day in Bologna then last night in Varese with friends near MXP.

For first time travelers in this area, any tips or recommendations? We will pre purchase our hi speed from Milan to Venice but believe we may buy the other tickets at each station, the day before. Any class of service ok or is one better than the other? What time do you get to the track? We have traveled via train in Spain and two in our party have used trains in Italy but it's been a few years.

Thanks in advance.

Posted by
2403 posts

There will be others who will ask, why not open-jaw - fly into Venice, fly out of Milan?

You'll be going to Bologna first, for your half day, and then on to Modena, correct?

Posted by
76 posts

Alas, we already booked our air. it was substantially cheaper to fly in and out of MXP. Also, we are dining with our friends, the arrival night and then staying with them at their home in Varese, the last night. Part of the trip intended on seeing friends. Good point, though.

Correct, leaving Venice via train, stop in Bologna so partner can go to Ducati and the girls will have a leisurely lunch, then on to Modena before dinner for dinner and a sleep. AM shopping for Balsamic and then up to Milan/Varese.

Posted by
7314 posts

Hi, you can purchase your train tickets with the Trenitalia app, so you don’t need to waste time going to the actual train station the days before. I ride the trains a lot when I’m on vacation, and I just purchase the cheapest class/service. I am an early bird - like to get to the train station with plenty of time to be familiar with everything, (When I was in France, I would even play a couple of classical songs on the pianos in the station.). 15 minutes ahead is plenty, although Bologna’s station has multiple levels, so you should add more time there.

Posted by
3812 posts

I'd get tickets via app, too. If you prefer to deal with a real person, do not waste vacation time and get tickets at the station on the day of travel.

Regional Trains can't sell out and have no reserved seats, so there is no benefit in getting tickets one (or 10) day before travel. You'll have the same chances of having a seat of those who purchased their tickets 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

I think you can take an high speed train from Venice to Bologna and from Reggio AV To Milan.

Posted by
16338 posts

From Venice to Bologna, Italo is an option in addition to Trenitalia.

https://www.italotreno.it/en

Their website is very easy to use and their prices competitive.

For either train company, make sure you use Venezia Santa Lucia (Venezia S.L.) as your origination point, not Venezia Mestre.

Posted by
16338 posts

With Italo, you can get the Senior discount without joining a program or getting a special card.

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