Venice to Florence Trains from €11.21

Departure station: Departing from Venice Mestre or Venice Santa Lucia

One of the most common ways to travel from Venice to Florence is by rail. You can do this from two different stations within the city: Venice Mestre or Venice Santa Lucia. Both offer frequent services throughout the day, provided by Italo and Trenitalia. 

The station you use will depend on where in Venice you’re staying. Venice Santa Lucia is located directly on the Grand Canal. If you’re staying in Venice's historic centre, this is the most convenient departure point. There are vaporetto stops - Venice’s public waterbuses - and water taxis outside the main entrance, making it easy to get to. If you’re on the mainland, Venice Mestre is likely to be the better choice. It’s ideal if you’re staying close to Venice Marco Polo Airport or in Mestre itself, as it's a quicker and more practical option than venturing to Venice Santa Lucia. 

Both stations have cafés, shops and waiting areas, so you can grab an espresso and rest your legs whilst you wait for your train. If you're squeezing in some last-minute sightseeing, the stations have Deposito Bagagli, which is a left-luggage office where you can store your bags before boarding.

Arrival station: Firenze Santa Maria Novella

When you get the train from Venice to Florence, you’ll arrive at Firenze Santa Maria Novella, sometimes simply referred to as Firenze SMN. This is Florence’s main train station, and it’s the most convenient place to arrive if you’re visiting the city.

The station is located in the heart of the city, and just a short walk from many of Florence's famous landmarks, including the Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica and the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. Once you leave the station, you'll find taxis, local buses and lots of walking routes into the centre of the city. This means you can often reach your hotel on foot, especially if you’re staying within Florence's city centre. The station has cafés, shops, ticket facilities and a Deposito Bagagli if you need somewhere to leave your bags before it’s time to check in.

You have the choice of two operators when you’re buying train tickets from Venice to Florence: you can choose a Venice to Florence Italo service, or a Venice to Florence Trenitalia service. Both offer similar services, and the Venice to Florence train travel time is similar, but there are a few key differences.

Frecciarossa high-speed trains

• Avg. duration: 2 hours and 13 minutes 

• Departure station: Venice Santa Lucia

• Best for: Wide choice of departure times, easy onward connections and flexible train ticket fares.

• Onboard perks: Various ticket classes available, WiFi, plug sockets and reserved seating throughout the train.

• Frequent departures throughout the day. Only stops at key stops, making the journey quick and easy.

Italo high-speed trains

• Avg. duration: 2 hours and 3 minutes

• Departure station: Venice Mestre or Venice Santa Lucia

• Best for: Budget-friendly train tickets, direct journeys and balancing speed with comfort.

• Onboard perks: Modern carriages, WiFi, spacious luggage storage and spacious seats.

• Competitive fares if you book in advance, with multiple trains departing each hour.

There’s nothing difficult about getting the train from Venice to Florence, but it does help to read a few travel tips before you commit.

• Book high-speed tickets in advance: Frecciarossa and Italo fares are usually cheapest when they’re first released, so it’s a good idea to book in advance. This is especially important if you’re travelling during peak times.

• Leave time to reach your station: Once you’ve chosen your Venice to Florence train station, you need to work out how to get there. Getting around Venice takes longer than many first-time visitors expect. If you're departing from Venice Santa Lucia, factor in time for walking across bridges, taking a vaporetto or arranging a water taxi.

• Keep an eye on live rail updates: Italian rail services are generally reliable, but platform changes can happen at larger stations, so it’s important to keep yourself in the loop. When you book with TrainPal, you can check real-time train information, making it easier to check.

• Book with TrainPal: TrainPal lets you compare Venice to Florence train tickets with Trenitalia and Italo, so it’s easy to find the best fare and departure time without having to go back and forth between multiple booking sites.

With digital tickets and live travel updates, TrainPal is the ideal way to stay organised from your Venice departure to your Florence arrival.