Hello,
Traveling to Italy for the first time in October and Venice is one of our stops. We will likely be coming from Milan airport, and wondering how to get to Venice as I can't seem to find a train. What are our options and route?
Any guidance on where to stay near the St. Mark's Square or the Doge's Palace?
Thank you! - Amanda
Look at http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
Airport is Malpensa Aeroporto
Intermediate destination is Milano Centrale
Destination is Venezia S. Lucia
You have to use the Italian city names. Airport train goes every 30 minutes, and trains to Venice, er Venezia go every hour.
Hi moonbeam,
There are 1 or 2 trains per hour from Milan to Venice, taking about 2.5 hours. A full-fare, 2nd class ticket is €44 per person. These trains are reservation required trains, so you will have a reserved seat when you buy your ticket. You shouldn't have any problem buying these at the airport train station in Malpensa upon arrival.
From Malpensa Airport, take the Malpensa Express Train to the Milano Centrale train station. There are 2 trains per hour, taking 52 min. costing €12. You can buy tickets at the airport train station upon arrival. Be sure to validate the Malpensa Express train ticket in a green box in the station before boarding the train or you could get a fine. You can use the Italian rail website, Trenitalia for finding train schedules and ticket prices anywhere in Italy: www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
The station you want in Venice is the Venezia Santa Lucia station, on the island itself. All trains will stop at the Venezia Mestre station first, on the mainland, but don't get off here.
When you get off the train at the Santa Lucia station, you will be right on the Grand Canal. You can take a Vaporetti (water bus) to St. Marks Square and your hotel. Just buy a ticket at the stand near the stop. Vaporetto #1 takes about an hour.
Two of my favorite hotels near St. Marks are the Hotel Campiello - www.hcampiello.it , just East of St. Marks Square and the Hotel al Piave - www.hotelalpiave.com, just North of the square. Rick's Italy or Venice guidebooks have many more options.
Not sure there is a "bad" area to stay in Venice, but many people (including us) prefer to not stay in the St. Mark's Square or Doge's Palace area due to the crowds. There are many hotels in much, much less touristy areas that some prefer. Just food for thought.
Thank you! If there are other areas that people prefer to stay I am totally open to hearing them, especially if there is a great place to stay with a view! 😄 Thank you!
As is often mentioned - budget - what do you want to spend drives many suggestions for location and type of accommodation.
Also in Venice your mobility can be an issue - do you need to be on a canal ? can you drag luggage over steps and bridges? can you easily get into and out of water taxis?
How long are you visiting and what are your interests? When in October are you traveling? - popular spots could be booked up by now.
Many contributors can give you excellent suggestions if you give them more info.
Personally of the 6 sestieri (districts) of the historical center, I wouldn't choose San Marco. It's the most overrun by tourists and therefore more expensive. Any sestiere, except for Giudecca, will be walking distance from the the Grand Canal, or San Marco square (the Doge's palace is next to the square too).
I like Dorsoduro, but Cannaregio or Santa Croce are equally good.
I have never stayed in accommodations in Castello, but that is also a nice area, and probably the least frequented by crowds. Most are Venetian residents there.
I suppose I agree that staying in San Marco is a bit of a touristy thing, but, even so I like it. Sure lots of people and crowds but you don't have to stay around that area, you can walk or vap anywhere. The advantage that I see is early morning and very late evenings in the square. It is something special to watch the city come to life and the sun rise on the square. Of course you can stay elsewhere and walk in the early morning, but I sure enjoy the nearness of it.
And when you buy your train ticket to Venice buy it all the way to Venice Island which is Venezia San Lucia. Venezia Mestre is a whole different area on the mainland...not on Venice Island. When you exit the train station you'll need to travel down the Grand Canal toward St Mark's (San Marco) if you're going to choose a hotel in that area. You can either travel by vaporetto (public water bus) or private water taxi.
If you don't feel the need to stay around San Marco there are myriads of hotels all over the island...even near the train station so that you won't have to drag your luggage too far.
"We will likely be coming from Milan airport"
People have given you directions coming from Milan Malpensa airport, and that is where nonstop flights from the US arrive. But if you're changing planes in Europe to get to Milan, you may arrive at Milan Linate, in which case the directions are somewhat different, as there's no train station at Linate. You take a taxi or airport bus from Linate to Milan Stazione Centrale, then a train to Venice.
Venice is tiny. As long as you stay on the islands you are within walking distance of everything. Getting lost is all part of the fun but if you are horrible at directions I suggest you find a place near a tourist landmark (not St Marks/Palace as other have already pointed out).
I stayed at Hotel Certosa and really loved it. You do however need the vaparetto pass as it is on a separate island (near Murano) there is a special dock you use to get to the hotel and you have to tell the captain "Certosa" so he knows to stop. Really beautiful and quiet away from the tourist with a nature park nearby. I felt sort of like a celebrity walking out past the yachts to push the button to call boat (think Payton place).
A first time Venice visitor should stay on Venice Island and not be constantly riding vaporettos back and forth which is itself is a time waster and eater of Euros.
Like Roberto, I prefer the Dorsoduro area. Best to find somewhere that is close to a vaporetto stop.
