To plan a day trip from Milan to Venice?

[ilikeachallenge]

I’m travelling to Milan with a friend this summer.

I’ve seen that you can travel by train to Venice and do it in a day. It’s a long day, but I’ve always wanted to go to Venice. A long trip there isn’t in my future.

My friend would rather spend the day in Milan and do some designer shopping.

AIBU to say we go our separate ways for the day and do what we would like? I can’t see many drawbacks to my plan, she thinks it’s far too long for a day trip.

Of course you aren’t being unreasonable. I see that the fastest train is less than 2 1/2 hours, I was thinking it would be about 3. Surely people travel this far for a day trip in the UK, and people going abroad for day trips (eg Venice from London) is now a thing. I think it’s quite bizarre that people are suggesting it’s too far and you won’t have much time there. You could also visit Verona or one of the lakes. Designer shopping sounds really boring.

It's perfectly feasible so long as you don't mind leaving early in the morning. Train takes 2.5 hours. It gets you right into Venice. From the station to St Marks is about a half hour walk but that's the best way to explore Venice.

I would go for it. I thought I would hate Venice but it was one of the most interesting places I have been. Just avoid the cafes and restaurants around At Marks Square as they will rip you off. There are plenty of normal priced places to eat and drink 5 mins walk from that area.

I loved my day trip to Venice. We took a boat over from Rovinj in Croatia which took just under 3 hours each way.
I'd do it again now question.
Even though Venice waa hot and crowded it was magical. We took a trip in a launch (not a gondola) which was fantastic, had lunch at a cafe slightly away from the main squares and wandered the streets taking in the atmosphere.
Absolutely do it OP - beats designer shopping any day.

We went to Venice from Croatia for the day once @oviraptor21. I think it was some kind of hovercraft. We were staying in Porec at the time.

You can do this and it is worth it.

As you have already figured out you can get there by train.

The only time I have been there DH and I did it in a day. We were staying a few miles South of Florence and had to drive which took at least 3 hours either way.

While we were there ( for a day) we managed:

• St Mark's Square
• Campanile in St Mark's Square
• Basilica San Marco
• Doge's Palace
• A lovely lunch just off St Mark's Square
• A ride in a gondola ( just the two of us)
• A wander around the streets and a bit of souvenir shopping
• Coffee at Florian's

Admittedly this was more than 30 years ago (1993!) so:
a. You could just turn up and do things without pre-booking on the (largely non-existent) internet
b. We were much, much younger. I would be exhausted trying to fit all that in in one day, but I am in my 60s now.

But, yeah, go for it. Plan it out beforehand. You can do it.

I really want to go back now as a retired person with more time and money.

Absolutely don't miss your chance to do this!! Venice is spectacular 😍
Have the ice cream, do the bridges and Absolutely pay the money for the Gondola, it's iconic! We certainly didn't see anyone looking miserable on them lol.
We visited last year as part of an Interrailing Trip, with DS7 and DD4 - we had 2nts there but only one day and literally walked the streets for 10hrs. The trains were gorgeous, cool, calm and comfortable and this was in August.

We frequently go to London for the day which is a 6hr round trip on the train.

With another adult who’s on the same page as you, yes. It’s a long day; sleep on the way if you can, and maybe prebook two things to see or do, and schedule time to relax over coffee and lunch. You’ll be tired after!

Do you have to pay the Venice visitor tax if arriving by train?

If you go, check this website and see if your date is one that requires a Venice access fee to be paid. Big fines if they catch you without one. (It’s for day visitors- overnights can get a free exemption but still need a QR code to prove it)

cda.ve.it/en/

No, an overnight trip isn’t feasible because of our trip to lake como as well

Do it. You have your heart set on it.

I would have been sceptical if the plan was to visit another city like Milan, but there’s honestly nowhere like Venice.

Yes go. We went on a day trip to Venice from Croatia a few years ago and last year went from Rome to Pompei, loads of people on here saying how foolish too far etc. We were back having dinner in Rome at a reasonable time so I’m not sure what all the angst was about.

I did that too when I was about 16 and it was still Yugoslavia!

When I went to Malaga I did a day trip to Granada. 1:45 compared to your 2:15, but similar amount of time to do touristing during the day. Like you it wasn’t somewhere I expect to go to any other time.

Id say it’s down to whether your friend is accepting of doing your own thing on one day (and how much you care if they aren’t)

If you only have a day in Venice you could see a lot of its wonderful architecture simply by taking the #1 Vaporetto from the station to St Mark’s square, where you would have time to visit St Marks and the Doge’s palace. I don’t know about eating gelato on the boat, I haven’t seen anyone doing that, but I don’t suppose it’s forbidden. Personally, I think gondolas are an expensive waste of time, but easily available on the grand canal. So if you only have a day, I’d say go for it!

Well convincing her that it’s okay is the next thing. She’s really offended that I might want to spend a day doing my own thing.

Not sure when you went last to Italy (or even where) but Italian trains in most of the country are very good and all have air conditioning, plus they still run in the heat, unlike trains in the UK where the rails warped when it was too hot and loads were cancelled. Milan to Venice is a much frequented route and served by the high speed trains, which are reliable and good quality.

The best money we spent in Venice was-

1. a tour ofstmarks basilica and the doges palace. The guide was so knowledgable and Tod us so much about venice
2. a glass of Prosecco in a cafe in st Mark’s square. You need to be aware they add a fee for the music, but sitting on the edge of the square soaking up the atmosphere was amazing.

Our gondola ride was nice we did a shared one, but it was made nice by the lovely Canadian couple on their honeymoon who we really got on with. I think who you share with really affects your trip.

Just adding to the glut of responses to say it's absolutely worth it, and to say that the Jewish Ghetto tour is my top tip. It's easily accessed from Santa Lucia station.

I didn't bother with a gondola- the Vaporetto 1 is much cheaper and exactly the same view, especially as it sounds like you'd be in a group with strangers anyway. But it depends what you have your heart set on.

Your friend making her peace with it is a different question. If she loves designer shopping there's really no shortage, and I recommend Castello Sforzesco if she likes history and culture- you can spend ages there.

I’d say it’s worth it if you really want to see Venice. I think the train ride itself will be quite fun, interesting scenery to look at out of the window. Personally I wouldn’t fancy a day of designer shopping as I can’t afford designer prices - I mean, how many Prada, D&G, Gucci, Versace etc items is your friend actually going to be able to buy? Venice spectacularly exceeded my expectations, I thought it was fairly magical. Be prepared that around the Rialto bridge, Piazza San Marco and the Doge’s palace will be heaving, but you only have to go a couple of streets away from them and it’s much much calmer. Totally fine in my book to spend a day doing separate things if you both have different priorities.

You probably won't have time for this but there are, I think, 2 crossing points of Grand Canal for traghettos (which are gondolas as public ferries). It costs about 2 euros - you pay one of the men on the traghetto - and takes about 5 mins. You must buy a good map as soon as you arrive in Venice (the kiosks sell them), as you will really need it. It is so easy to get lost in the maze of streets and alleys. This is where you are most likely to be at risk of pick pockets, who are so slick that you won't notice til too late. Keep your bag/back pack on your front with your arm round it so they have less chance.

Do it!

PP said everyone in a gondola looks miserable. Not my experience. It was a bit of fun and so iconic. St Marks square is lovely but I wouldn't queue for the basilica. We did it first thing in the morning because we stayed 5 min walk away but any later and the queue is terrible. Venice is such a fascinating place and a day is enough to get a taste of it.

Are you with your friend for the whole rest of the trip? If so one day apart is fine. I hope she comes round to seeing that.

Gosh, I’d skip both of those without thinking twice. I’d just take the line 1 vaporetto down the Grand Canal, stay on as far as the Lido, and move to sit in front on the way back for the best view. I think St Mark’s Square, in a city that is beautiful, is overcrowded and charmless.

Do it! Many people have longer commutes to work and back!

Straight out of the station, get a 1 day travel pass, onto the No 1 vaporetto route out to the Lido. Stay on the vaporetto, wait for the other passengers to get off, grab an outside seat and travel back all the way to piazzale Roma in style. Then do it again. And again 😁

While the Rialto Bridge is stunning, the area around it is tourist tat so don't plan on spending too long there.
ETA post with Rosewater!

Dorsoduro is a great neighbourhood, worth spending a bit of time to see a slightly quieter corner….