Milan to Venice Trains from £19.31

Departure Station: Departing from Milano Centrale

What if your ticket says Milano Porta Garibaldi?

Porta Garibaldi is around 2 km north of Centrale, in the Isola and Brera area, and is connected by Metro Lines 2 and 5. It can be a viable option if your accommodation is in the northern part of the city centre, close to the station, but check the departure time first.

Milano Centrale is one of Italy's grandest stations with plenty of cafés, bars, and a food court inside. For a good espresso without the tourist markup, skip the cafes in the main hall and head to the smaller bar counters closer to the platforms on the lower level.

If you need to leave your luggage, KiPoint luggage storage is located on the ground floor on the side of Piazza Luigi di Savoia, open daily 06:00–23:00.

Arrival Station: Arriving at Venezia Santa Lucia

Double-check it says Santa Lucia, not Mestre

Given the Frecciarossa services from Milan run through Mestre on the way into Venice, it's worth confirming your actual ticket carefully. Venezia Santa Lucia is located directly on the main island in the historic city centre, right on the Grand Canal, while Venezia Mestre is on the mainland, several kilometres out. Booking engines often group both under a single "Venice" search result, so check the station name printed on your ticket before you board in Milan, not after you've arrived.

If you do find yourself at Mestre, easy to do by mistake, a regional train departs every few minutes for a quick 10-minute ride across the lagoon to Santa Lucia.

Getting from Santa Lucia into the city

Frecciarossa

• Avg. duration: as fast as 1 hour 51 minutes
• Departure station: Milano Centrale; Porta Garibaldi
• Best for: Travellers who need flexible departure times, CartaFRECCIA members, and anyone looking for the widest range of seating classes
• Onboard perks: Four classes—Standard, Premium, Business, Executive—with free Wi‑Fi, power outlets, and reclining seats across all classes; Executive adds wider reclining seats and dedicated at‑seat catering.

Italo

• Avg. duration: around 2 hours 20 minutes
• Departure station: Milano Centrale
• Best for: Travellers who prioritise comfort and a boutique private‑operator experience; price‑conscious travellers who book early
• Onboard perks: English‑speaking customer support, no pre‑boarding check‑in, free Wi‑Fi, and comfortable seating throughout. Italo Prima (First Class) adds power sockets, a table, leather armchairs, reading lights, and a glove compartment.

• Consider Italo if Frecciarossa is sold out: Italo runs a comparable schedule on this route at similar speeds, so it's worth comparing both operators and check both fares before booking.
• Pack light if you're walking from the station: Venezia Santa Lucia sits right on the Grand Canal with no metro or car access beyond the station. You'll be on foot or hopping a vaporetto (water bus) to reach your hotel, so bulky luggage can be difficult to carry around narrow streets and bridges.
• Double-check your return trip station too: If you are returning to Milan, make sure you know whether your return train departs from Santa Lucia or Mestre, as many services on this route use different stations.
• Venice's entry fee: The Municipality of Venice charges day-trippers a fee to access the historic centre on certain dates throughout 2026. Before you travel, confirm whether your visit falls on one of these dates and whether you might be exempt.