trains from Venice

Janie, I'm not so sure I'd take that kind of a day trip, totally dependant on train schedules, and in the middle of an escorted tour. If by chance there's a train strike (not unusual in Italy), and you're two hours away from your tour bus, it's a long walk from Venice to Verona and Lake Garda.

We were caught in a 1/2 day strike last May doing Venice to Rome. Aside from our previously purchased reservations/tickets being worthless, and having to buy new tickets for a train departing 4 hours late, we wound up standing for most of the trip; no big deal. It's happened often enough that so long as we go with the flow and the train's going in the right direction, c'est la vie. We arrived in Rome about 6 hours late.

Can you afford such a situation when you've got a tour bus to catch? There's gotta be other spots around Garda/Verona to see on an off day where in an emergency, you can grab a taxi.

I have been to Venice before but my sister hasn't and doesn't want to miss it. I did find out that you probably have to catch the train from the Mestre station. they do have a later train. If total catastrophe did happen we could rent a car and catch up the following night. I guess when I get my detailed itenarary i can really look at it and decide.

And your sister will never want to leave Venice; the first view of the grand canal from the steps in front of the train station will sweep her away. Watch those gondoliers though; they're expensive and very high maintenance. I'm told...... Have fun!

Janie - There are plenty of trains from Venice to Verona well into the evening. Don't worry about it. Check the schedule when you arrive in Venice.

thanks. I guess I am of the belief that things are always going to work out one way or the other. In travels I never get lost, I just take the scenic way!

Hi Janie, we used that service last November and there were lots of trains available in the afternoon/evening.

Good luck, and go for it!

The last Eurostar to Verona departs Venice Santa Lucia at 6:50pm and arrives at 8:00pm. There's a later regional train departing at 7:34pm, but it doesn't arrive until 9:42pm. Lots of earlier options and possibly some later trains from Mestre. I used www.trenitalia.com to check schedules.

Do you think it is necessary to make a reservation or just buy tickets at the station ?

Just buy tickets at the station. Easiest to do when you arrive in Venice.

When I check the train schedule ... no afternoon or evening trains returning to Verona

What train schedule are you checking? I looked at Italian Rail (www.trenitalia.com) and found 10 trains from Venice S.L. to Verona between 4 and 8 PM.

I realized what the problem was. I was searching the Eurail schedule on the net. I had plugged in Venice to Veona and it only listed 4 morning departures. I had to scroll way back up (to the top of the physical page) to view the othes.