Best way to get from florence to venice

Should you be traveling through Italy, Florence and Venice are two remarkable cities that can’t be missed. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites boasting stunning architecture, rich histories, and unbeatable cuisines. From strolling the winding cobblestone streets of Florence to floating through the canals in Venice, these two cities bring Italy’s rich culture to life.

If you decide to take a car transfer from Florence to Venice, you can also enjoy some other impressive cities and sights including the historical town of Prato, rolling hills in Monte Sole Historical Park, the colorful Renaissance city of Ferrara, Petrarca’s House, or the castle complex Castello di Monselice.  

How to get from Florence to Venice

You have several options if you’re traveling from Florence to Venice. For travelers on a budget, the cheapest way to travel from Florence to Venice is by bus. The fastest way to travel from Florence to Venice is by train or car. Of course, our car is the best way to travel from Florence to Venice since it’s so convenient. You can certainly take a flight from Florence to Venice, though this is the most expensive option of them all and there are no direct flights.

Florence to Venice by train

To travel from Florence to Venice by train, make your way from Firenze Santa Maria Novella – Florence’s main train station in the historic city center – to Venice’s Santa Lucia station. Trains from Firenze SMN operate from 4:30 AM to 7:30 PM with an average of 25 trains departing daily on this route. 

You can purchase tickets in advance or at the station through Trenitalia Frecce and Italo Trento train operating companies. Tickets cost an average of €40 for the 2-hour trip. The distance from Florence to Venice is about 260 km. 

The high-speed trains are equipped with air conditioning, bathrooms and most have dining cars or snacks for purchase.

Train intervals40 per dayFirst/Last Departure4:30 AM/ 7:30 PMAvg. Price€40Distance~260 kmDuration~2 hr 05 minOperating CompaniesTrenitalia, Italo Trento train

 

Florence to Venice by bus

While traveling from Florence to Venice by bus is the most economical option, it is not the most convenient. There are few direct buses from Florence city center to Venice. The buses are operated by Flixbus and BusCenter and depart from Florence Villa Constanza Bus Station outside of the city center. You can purchase tickets from Busitalia SITA Autostazione outside of Florence’s main train station (Firenze Santa Maria Novella) and take a short journey to Villa Constanza Bus Station to transfer to the bus to Venice. 

The journey to Venice’s two bus stations, Venice-Mestre and Venezia Tronchetto, takes approximately 5 hours and 10 minutes with costs ranging between €9-€22 for the ~250 km journey.

Time intervals12 per dayFirst/Last Departure6:30 AM/ 9:30 PMAvg. Price€9-€22Distance~250 kmDuration~5 hrOperating CompaniesFlixbus, BusCenter

 

Florence to Venice Private Car Transfer

For speed and convenience, a private car transfer with Daytrip is the best way to travel from Florence to Venice. You will be picked up at your accommodation in Florence and the driver will take care of your luggage. You’ll then be able to enjoy door-to-door service to your accommodation in Venice and can even add sightseeing stops on the way! Your driver will drop you off at Piazzale Roma if your accommodation is on the main island and not accessible by car. To get there, you can catch a water taxi which your hotel will be happy to arrange.

Best way to get from florence to venice

How to Get from Florence to Venice

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Best way to get from florence to venice

Venice and Florence are two of the most-visited cities in Italy, making transportation between the two quite simple.

It’s important to understand that 'Venice' refers to two sub-cities which are often differentiated by their main railway station. On Italy’s mainland, Venice Mestre is the more affordable, less picturesque, industrial part where many choose to book affordable accommodation. Venice Santa Lucia is the Floating City of Art & Culture composed of over 100 islets divided by canals and is the postcard Venice you likely have in mind.

The most convenient option to get from Florence to Venice is by high-speed train, which is direct with frequent options with both Venice Mestre and Venice Santa Lucia as destinations. A more affordable option is a private bus carrier which would have to be supplemented with a second waterbus transfer to arrive to Venice Santa Lucia's pedestrian-only center.

Those with more time to spend may choose to opt for a drive between the two. However, the car cannot be used while in Venice Santa Lucia potentially making it an inconvenient hassle to park and an unnecessary cost.

Before heading to busy Venice, make sure to read these essential Tips for Beating the Crowds. If you're intrigued by the idea of a Bacaro & Private Squero Tour in Venice you may want to explore this 6-day itinerary between Venice and Florence.

By Train

Duration: 2 hours

This is the most convenient and most relaxing mode of transportation to get from Florence to both Venice Mestre and Venice Santa Lucia. Considering both cities are major hubs, there are very frequent high-speed train options between the two serviced by Italy’s main train operators, Trenitalia and Italo. The earlier the train tickets are purchased, the less pricey they are likely to be.

The main advantage of train travel is both Florence’s center train station, Santa Maria Novella, and Venice’s, Santa Lucia, are positioned directly in the center so that you can leave from one major landmark to the next with minimal travel. Once you arrive to Venice Santa Lucia via train travel you’re already at The Grand Canal.

Regional Trenitalia trains also run between Florence Santa Maria Novella and Venice Santa Lucia (4.5-5 hours) at a lower ticket price, but require at least one change in Bologna. 

By Bus and Waterbus or Train

Duration: 4.5 hours

The bus route between Florence and Venice is only run by private operators such as Europe’s low-cost bus company, Flixbus. 

It’s an affordable option as the ticket price is likely to be half of the train’s. The downside of bus travel is that there is no direct option to Venice Santa Lucia’s center; Tronchetto, an artificial island in Venice’s Lagoon, is the nearest destination. 

Depending on the bus ticket you purchase, buses will pick you up at either Florence’s Piazzale Montelungo or Villa Costanza and then drop you off at either the Venice Mestre train station or at Tronchetto.

For the route that gets you to Tronchetto, you can take the vaporetto—the Venetian waterbus—to go to Venice Santa Lucia (15 minutes) or to any other destination on its route. 

For the route to Venice Mestre, you can take any of the high speed trains to the Venice Santa Lucia train station (10 minutes).

By Car and Waterbus

Duration: 3-3.5 hours (more with traffic and additional stops)

This is the least convenient option as the car will have to be parked during your entire stay in Venice. Considering that Venice Santa Lucia is primarily a city on water, no cars are allowed entry. Additionally, the rental may have accrued hefty fines from Florence’s strict driving laws in its city center so it is neither convenient during the departure nor the destination. 

Taking the A13 or the A4/E70, the drive from Florence to Venice cuts straight through Bologna, one of Italy’s most famed food cities for its pork-heavy food culture; a suggested shopping detour for tortellini and mortadella (more food ideas in the Ultimate Guide to Bologna).

For parking, you can choose to leave the car right outside the city center. Piazzale Roma is the nearest—and the most expensive—parking area in Venice S. Lucia for which you can book a spot online in advance. You can also park in the more affordable Tronchetto, an experience in itself considering that it is an artificial island dedicated almost entirely to parking. You will then have to take the vaporetto to go Venezia Santa Lucia (15 minutes).

Map

Best way to get from florence to venice
Map of How to Get from Florence to Venice

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Written by Bana B, updated Jun 27, 2019

How much does it cost to take the train from Florence to Venice?

Cheap train tickets from Florence to Venice The price of train tickets from Florence to Venice starts at $11.13 one-way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance. Booking on the day is usually more expensive and costs can vary depending on the time of day, route or class.

Is the train ride from Florence to Venice Scenic?

Venice to Florence Slow is by far the best way to go between these two cities, taking in scenic spots along the way like Bologna, Prato and Ravenna, as well as sprawling natural landscapes as the train climbs up through Emilia-Romagna and dips back down towards the iconic cypress topped hills of Tuscany.

Can you catch a train from Florence to Venice?

There are 23 direct trains from Florence to Venice each day.

How long is the high

There's no better way to make the journey between Italy's two most beautiful cities. The distance from Florence to Venice is 160 miles; some high-speed trains make this journey in just 2 hours and 5 minutes, while slower, regional trains can take up to 6 hours.