Hi fellow travelers,<BR>We will be on our first trip to Italy Oct 1 and would like to leave our tour in Florence and go to Venice for the day on our own. Is this feasible? What recommendations do you have for transportation? And once we get there, how do we get to St. Mark's square? We would hate to miss it while we are so close. Help!

Mary: It is certainly feasible, but you need to get an early start. The ride on Eurostar is about 2 hours and 46 minutes each way. (I do that round trip in car very often to the beach in a day, and riding a train would be much easier than driving yourself!) When you exit the train station, a water bus stop is right there, and you can take that to San Marco Square and get a beautiful view of the city from the Grand Canal as you go. Spend your day walking and walking.

I agree totally with Marty. If you do that, you will get a taste of going alone and seeing how easy it is. Next time you want to return to Italy (or any other country) you won't want the tour and you'll go it alone.

We spent two days in Venice and drove our rental car to Florence. It is an easy drive on the autostrade, but it got pretty congested just outside of Florence. I wouldn't rent a car just to go to Venice (we drove from Paris through the Alps and all over Italy, ending up in Rome), and the previous posters are correct in recommending the train. The train station in Florence is in an accessible location and will deposit you near the water bus stop. Just be sure to take the water bus and NOT the water taxi (much more expensive and not worth it).<BR> Yes, you can get a snippet of Venice in one day, but you will be disappointed that you don't have more time. Part of the fun of Venice is staying there. But believe me, I know what it's like to try to cram as much sightseeing as possible into a trip, so by all means, if it's the only way to see Venice, go for it. After St. Mark's, take the elevator tour up to the top of the Campanile - the views are breathtaking. The Bridge of Sighs is just around the corner from St. Mark's Square and also is not to be missed.<BR>Pam B.<BR>

Hi Mary,<BR><BR>Enjoy your day trip to Venice. <BR>Make sure to check the train schedules (www.trenitalia.com)<BR>I think the last fast train back is about 6:30 PM.<BR>

PS the latest issue of Conde' Nast Traveler features a one-day toour of Venice (p42)

It is feasible by train. I would not pend the day going to any museums or inside any churches. I would spend it walking around and seeing Venice, having a long leisurely lunch outside somewhere and taking in the charm of Venice. You could actually walk to St. Marks if you desire from the train, or take the water bus to St. Marks and make your walk back to the train.

Marty,<BR>Trying to get an idea of teh train fare- how much did the eurostar cost you between Venice and Florence ?

Thanks to all who responded. I am encouraged and excited! We had to choose between Tuscany and the Cinque Terre or Venice, so we chose Tuscany in hope that we could get to Venice at least for a day. I'm looking for my Conde Nast Traveler now and I've already checked out the train schedule.<BR>Thanks again!

Definitely go. One day in Venice is better than no Venice.<BR><BR>Just plan on an early start out and a late return. The train from Sta. Maria Novella station in Florence to Sta. Lucia Station in Venice is very convenient. When you emerge from the station in Venice you will be right on the Grand Canal and it is a sight to behold!<BR><BR>You can just step onto a small water taxi to Piazza San Marco (for about $45 - 50) or the inexpensive/slower Vaparetto (like a water bus).. Be sure to go inside the Basilca San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale as well as to the top of the Campanile. When it's time to return to the train station you might like to meander through the streets to the Rialto Bridge and hop a water taxi or Vaparetto from there.

Mary,<BR><BR>Do be aware that the earliest train out of Florence to Venice (departing @ 6:45 am) leaves from the Firenze Campo Di Marte station --- most others leave from the Santa Maria station in Florence. Actually I'm not even sure exactly where the 'campo di marte' stop is. I'm a advocate of taking the Eurostar train --- there's an ES leaving around 7-something (have to change trains in Bologna) or a later direct route leaving at 8:38 am (no train change). Take second class on the ES --- round trip will cost 53 euros.<BR><BR>As you'll be in Italy during October, you can obtain tix on your day of travel. In your circumstance of doing a one day trip, I'd strongly suggest you obtain the tix a few days ahead (also, it'll cost a couple euros more for your seat reservation on the ES). Tickets can be bought at any train station (if you're starting in Rome or as soon as you get to Florence) or most travel agencies in Italy can assist with train tix. Ask at your hotel and they can direct you to an agency.<BR><BR>Once you get to Venice, oh, and make sure you get off at the correct stop --- NOT Venice Mestre, the one afterwards, Venice Santa Lucia --- step outside the train station and buy your ticket for the bus boat (vaparetto) --- vaparettos travel up/down the Grand Canal and are nice way to see "main street" of Venice while getting to St. Mark's Square. Unless they've changed the routing numbers there is vaparetto no. 1 and no. 82 that stop at train station and head down towards San Marco (make sure you're going in right direction). No. 1 is slower and makes all the stops. No. 82 is quicker. <BR><BR>

Mary: I think around $50 per person is right. Do go 2nd class; there is almost no difference whatsoever. That was good a advice about not getting off in Mestre; you are not quit there when you get to that station, and I can see how that could confuse. There is a McDonald's right off San Marco Square. Find it, so you will have easy access to a bathroom during your day! Don't worry about feeling lost all day, that is the nature of Venice, but do start relocating yourself early enough to get back for your train!

We got an early train from Florence to Venice a Year and a half ago and returned to Florence on the last train out of Venice (about 6:30). I'm glad we had the opportunity, but I would stay a night if possible to enjoy the "romance" of the city. I wouldn't use the water taxi, as the water buses are cheap. We grabbed one from the train station, going the wrong way, but ended up getting a great tour of the city and ending up at St. Marks Square. The view from the bell tower is unreal, except you can't see any canals!? We just "got lost" in the city fro a few hours and loved it! Go for it! Ps Make sure you have dinner reservations in Florence on your return! We were starving!! La Giostra was fun.

We spent a week in Florence and did Venice in a day. The trip was very easy and well worth it. We got to the train station in Florence at about 7:30 am and bought 1st class tickets on the Eurostar (117.75 Euro roundtrip). Our train left at around 8:30 and arrived in Venice at about 11:15 or 11:30. Water taxies are available right in front of the train station in Venice. (Make sure you get on one that takes you down the Grand Canal - we took one that went the opposite direction so it took us longer to get to St Mark's.) We had a quick lunch and walked around until about 5pm and then took another water taxi back to the S. Lucia train station. Our train left at around 6:30 pm and we arrived back in Florence at about 9:15 or 9:30. We are so glad we made the trip - it was extremely easy and so much fun!