Venice to Milan Trains from £18.75

Departure station: Departing from Venice Santa Lucia or Venice Mestre

A lot of trains from Venice to Milan depart from Venice Santa Lucia, which you’ll find at the edge of the Grand Canal. It’s one of the most convenient options for visitors staying in Venice's centre, and where a lot of tourists start their journey from Venice to Milan by rail. As you step outside of the station, you’ll instantly find vaporetto stops - this is where you can catch one of Venice’s public waterbuses, water taxis and many of the city’s main pedestrian routes. If you're staying around San Marco, Rialto or Cannaregio, Santa Lucia is usually the easiest departure point.

You will also find that some Venice to Milan journeys start at Venice Mestre, which is located on the mainland. This is the Venice to Milan train station to choose if you're staying near Venice Marco Polo Airport or in Mestre itself. Both stations have cafés and food outlets for a quick coffee before boarding, as well as a Deposito Bagagli - left-luggage service - if you'd like to spend a few extra hours exploring Venice before starting your journey to Milan.

Arrival station: Arriving at Milan Central or Milano Porta Garibaldi

When you’re booking train tickets from Venice to Milan, you’ll notice that a lot of trains arrive at Milan Central. This is the city’s main railway station and the most common arrival point for visitors. It's a major transport hub within the city, with direct connections to the metro network, local buses and regional trains, making it easy to continue your journey across the city. From Milan Central, you can reach the Duomo, Brera and Porta Nuova by jumping on the metro for a few stops. Official taxi ranks are located outside the station, and many central hotels are within a short journey by public transport.

To keep it simple, Milan Central is usually best for first-time visitors and onward rail connections, whilst Milano Porta Garibaldi puts you closer to some of the city’s shopping, dining and nightlife areas.

The train from Venice to Milan is served by two high-speed operators - Trenitalia's Frecciarossa and Italo. Both offer direct services between the two cities, with Venice to Milan train travel times ranging from 2 hours and 6 minutes to 2 hours and 33 minutes.

Frecciarossa high-speed trains

• Avg. duration: 2 hours and 6 minutes

• Departure station: Venice Santa Lucia or Venice Mestre

• Best for: A wide range of departure times, various carriage class options and regular services running throughout the day.

• Onboard perks: Plug sockets, WiFi, café bar on many trains and quiet areas on selected services.

• Frequent departures throughout the day make it easier to find a train that works with your itinerary. Strong connections with the wider Trenitalia network.

Italo high-speed trains

• Avg. duration: 2 hours and 16 minutes

• Departure station: Venice Santa Lucia or Venice Mestre

• Best for: Affordable train tickets from Venice to Milan, modern carriages and comfortable seats.

• Onboard perks: WiFi, spacious luggage areas and reclining seats on some services.

• Competitive advance fares available, with services departing regularly throughout the day. Popular with travellers booking direct city-to-city journeys

It doesn’t matter if you’re travelling from Venice to Milan Trenitalia or Venice to Milan Italo; there are a few things you can do to make your journey a seamless one.

• Plan ahead to secure cheaper fares: High-speed train tickets from Venice to Milan usually become more expensive the closer you get to departure day. Booking early often gives you access to the lowest fares, particularly on popular morning departures.

• Choose the right Venice station: Before travelling, check whether your ticket departs from Venezia Santa Lucia or Venezia Mestre. They’re not interchangeable, and you don’t want to risk arriving at one station, only to then realise you’re in the wrong place.

• Consider where you'll arrive in Milan: Most visitors to Milan find Milan Central to be the most convenient station, especially if you’re staying near the city centre or continuing to another destination.

• Follow live train updates: Platform numbers can change, particularly at larger stations, so it’s important to stay up to date. When you book with TrainPal, you can access live train information and keep your ticket stored digitally, making it easier to stay on top of any updates.

TrainPal lets you compare Venice to Milan train tickets across both Trenitalia and Italo, helping you find the service that best matches your schedule and budget.