Anyone done Train from Florence to Venice

[PuttingouttheFirewithGasoline]

Has anyone done this the 🚉 from Florence to Venice?

If so was it the fast one and easy? Easy in Venice?

Im thinking of a night in Venice from a week's stay in Florence.

Yes I have. It was very fast and easy. All sign posted no issues. Was a few years ago though

Yes. Was very easy. Had hoped for fabulous views, but not such, but as travel goes, quiet, cheap, and quick. I booked tickets before I went, envisaging horrendously over crowded trains - needn't have bothered, we were the only ones in our carriage.

I have - although it was quite a few years ago (10 years, maybe).

It was an absolute doddle. Train is the absolute best way to arrive in Venice (if you haven't got a private yacht).

In Venice you're straight out of the station and into a vaporetto.

We did it in return, but via a few nights in Bologna. It was all supremely easy. Everything was on time, and travelling with DH and watching the countryside wizz by was a delight, thoroughly recommend. But you need far longer in Venice, you'll regret one night only!

Its very easy but the fastest trains stop at the station a couple of miles out the town centre. Lots of trains go from the town centre station to the other one.

We went Easter 18 and used quite a few trains in Italy. Did a long day trip Florence to Rome too. There are various train companies to compare prices on. If traveling with DC it's worth comparing 1st class travel with second. With three DC the price worked out about the same/ only a tiny bit more and some of the trains with big leather reclining seats were lovely. I like a nice coffee served at seat too.

Very easy when we did it a few years back. Note there are two Venice train stations, one on the mainland and one in 'proper Venice'. I didn't realise this and only bought tickets to the mainland. DP and I panicked upon realising we weren't at the right place and just stayed on the train, hoping we wouldn't get a fine (we didn't) ☺️

Coming out from the station to see Venice for the first time will stay in my memory forever. Amazing.

Yes. 30 years ago, when working in Italy, I got the train from Firenze to Venice, spent 5 hours there, and got the train back. It was really easy. And as someone said, it’s fantastic walking out of the station onto the canal.

That's the sort of of detail I was hoping for, two train stations

I've been to Venice before but wanted to show dc.
Was unsure of day trip to Rome or Venice. But thought we could arrive in Venice for lunch, wander around, I've found a hotel room near St Marks, dinner, next day perhaps doges Palace for older dc and I, maybe gondola then back to Florence...

Is there not one train operator then? Is journey from fast trains Venice destination to actual Venice train station?

Sounds wondeful!

A memory for older dc!

Trenitalia are a good starting point. If you sign up to their email they send lots of offers for money off. Searching randomly at 10am on 16th April, cheapest adult fair with one change is £16 2hrs 38mins to Venice St Lucia (the main land train station as opposed to the smaller on the Island one) from central Florence (Firenze S M Novella) to Venice St Lucia 2hr 14min £28

Thanks ripple.

Silly question but how do we get our tickets?

We selected the print at home option. I thought collect at station might throw up a few language barriers. All the guards we met spoke enough English for us to muddle through. I have a smattering of languages but not Italian.

Trainline.com do European train tickets too and compare the prices for different operators. You need to type the station name in the language of the country you're travelling in so Firenze and Venezia will bring up both Florence stations and both Venice stations.

Thank you ripple!

So it's not like UK where one train company sells tickets... There's one train and lots of people selling tickets for it

There are some companies that sell lots, some just their own, then you can buy at the station etc. Too many choices. Then several train companies on the same routes particularly main lines like Florence Venice.

I'm making it sound more complex than it is.

Thanks, I'm thinking about 2 nights in Venice now and ok really excited about the train.

My only slight worry was at some itlalian stations I've found extremely aggressive beggars. It's not an issue if its just me as I can just walk quickly by, but with one of my dc it concerns me. Once on a train two ladies were all over my dd, and it was over bearing but I just thought.. This is the itlalian way. But it was concerning they then brought her a biscuit from a machine all the while we are smiling and saying no... Then they became very aggressive wanting payment we gave them a few euros above what it cost but they really turned...

I do have a stressful time with one dc so I didn't want any additional stress when we could drive to Venice... But it sounds all OK.

I honestly can't remember seeing a single beggar at either Florrence station or in the Venice station. The only ones I remember were in Rome outside McDonald's and in St Marks Square in Venice not the begging signs but the ones who try to sell you tat and a single flower for the lady (I love McDonald's for a pit stop as well as the Dc loving their cheap icecreams they do cheap bottled water that you can order on the touch screen so no awkward communication issue, have free wifi so we can plan the rest of our day and have toilets to freshen up).

We took the DC to New York not long ago and begging was quite prevalent. I had a chat with them and we agreed to donate to a homeless charity that would make best use of our donation. Having said it in advance they appeared more comfortable that we weren't ignoring the issue.

Thanks for again ripple.

Macdonalds abroad are a different beast!

I remember the sellers in Florence, I don't mind them, it's the aggression and targeting the dc I was wondering about.

We might change and do 3 nights in Venice now!
Maybe try and do day trip to verona as well!

@NicelyStarched was just coming on to post that about coming out of the train station at Venice. I will never forget it.
One thing worth doing was getting the riverboat bus .. whatever one we got was a circular route and we had about 45 mins on the grand canal for v little money, magical!

As someone mentioned upthread use the trenitalia website (www.trenitalia.com/en.html?). It will give you the various options - slow regional trains or the faster Frecciarossa service. Just buy online with PayPal and put in your email address. You can either print your tickets or just show the QR code when on board. It's pretty easy and Italian trains are generally pretty reliable.

I'm so exited for the dds too.. It will be so unusual and novel for them. I hope its a nice day when older dd steps out and sees it .

I'm very excited now.
It's such a special place! I hope they like it.