Hello All,

I will be taking a day trip from Rome to Venice and I am not sure which airport to depart from in Rome. I am saying at a hotel about 2 miles from the spanish steps. I fligh in from FCO but was not sure if that would be the best or closest for departure to Venice.

Also with either airport is it easy to get to the airport via public transportation (rail, bus) or should I save the headace (if anyone) and arrange for a transfer from the hotel?

Thanks in advance

Ok. This seems a strange idea to me, but I would begin by checking for flights. See who flys Rome > Venice > Rome, or who has reasonable flights at reasonable times, and that might help you figure out which airport you want.

Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?

It takes 4.5 hours to take the train from Rome city center to Venice city center. By the time you add in getting out of town to the airport, going through security, waiting to board, the flight, getting from airport to city center . . . I wouldn't expect it to take much less than 4.5 hours.

Ciampino Airport is slightly nearer Rome than FCO. Venice's airport is Marco Polo. Some might suggest Treviso Airport but it is a good bit further away.

As tuscan said, check for best flights available by schedule to make it worth the effort.

You can take the train from Termini to FCO. For Venice public transport would be either the Aliliguna water bus or a land bus to Piazalle Roma and then water bus to wherever you want to go in Venice.

The trip from Marco Polo airport to Venice takes about an hour or a bit more so that's 2 hours round trip just in Venice. I think the train to FCO is 1/2 hour.

It's going to be a long day. Can you arrange your plans to fly into Rome and out of Venice?

I don't believe in day trips that take more than four hours round-trip transportation time.

In this case, you are going to have, what, four hours? five? in Venice, and you'll spend twice that or more in transportation. In addition, you'll see Venice mid-day, when it's crowded with tourists, and you won't have time to do much more than make a quick trip down the Grand Canal past the Rialto bridge and take a quick gander at St Mark's.

No doubt you can do it, but I question whether it's worth it if you can't at least stay overnight.

Hello All,

Thank you for the info.

The game plan was to take a flight from Rome to Venice (1hr) via edreams.com and then take the Aliliguna water bus to San Marco where I have a tour booked..tour is 3hrs. Plan to take the 7:30am flight and via the airline arrive at 8:35am..no bags so off to the water bus (1hr or more) to meet for the tour at 11:00am.

There is also a 6am flight.

I know kinda of tight but I really want to see Venice so if its possible I am willing to do so...I work 12hr days so I have the back ground.

I can't depart from Venice (good ideal thought)

Hi NT,

>I will be taking a day trip from Rome to Venice and I am not sure which airport to depart from in Rome.<

A: A daytrip to Venice is not a good idea. The city will be crowded. You will be rushed. You will have little chance to enjoy the city.

If you can;t stay at least one night, I suggest that you save Venice for another visit.

B: Going by air is not a good idea. If you want an inexpensive flight, you fly from Ciamppino to Treviso.

The time it takes to go from Rome to CIA, wait for your plane, fly to TSF, take the bus to Venice is about the same as taking the train from Rome TE to Venice San Lucia.

Ryanair has flights at 06:25 and 17:25.

OTOH, you can get a seat for only 1.10E compared to 45E on the train.

Enjoy Italy.

I agree, get the train. Ciampino is difficult to get to unless you fly with an airline like Ryanair which provides a special bus - but even with a special bus, the whole journey will take longer by air. Once at Venice airport, have you factored in the time it takes to walk to the waterbus stop (10 minutes), wait for the next waterbus then travel in to Venice (up to 90 minutes) ? The train drops you right in Venice. But I wouldn't do it as a day trip either.

IMHO the only way to do a MUST see "day trip" to Venice from Rome is to take a night train. It's possible to do this using either one night train and one day train (either direction) or two night trains (there and back). You will arrive very early and leave very late so it will make for a VERY long day. You can keep your hotel in Rome (let the desk know so they don't wonder what happened to you). We did this on one "must see" Venice occasion and it worked out fine. The night train from Rome used the Tiburtina station. The Marco Polo ICN left at 10:50pm and arrived in Venice at 5:30am. The return was at 11:30pm and arrived in Rome Tiburtina at 6:56am. We had 2 bed cabins and had great nights sleep with only a few overnight supplies. Check with trenitalia for times and rates.

I can completely understand your desire to see Venice if only for a day. It is a magical place. I think everyone wants you to know it won't be easy, but is doable.

I think you should take the 6 am flight or that overnight train sounds cool. If you get to Venice way too early for your tour, then you can spend your time wandering.

Make sure you leave yourself some time to just wander and get lost. The best part of Venice is off the beaten tourist path.

When you arrive FCO you can take train right to Termini. Where is your hotel in Rome?


You can take rail direct to/from FCO to/from Termini or Trastevere.

When going to Venice airport is Ciampi.


Rail to Ciampi is red line subway then shuttle bus to terminal.

Here's a video about riding trains in Italy

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=375

And some video about Venice:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=197

When you arrive in Venice you can take boat to meeting point. Here are some routes for riding the Vaporetto - the "bus" boats in Venice:

http://italyinside.blogspot.com/

Hello All,

Thanks so much...so night train or 6am flight and prepare for a long day.

Should I book the train ticket now or can I wait until I get there?

TravMimi would it be ok if I emailed you directly? I see the train you are speaking of however I am a bit confused on all the choices for selctions (Standard, Flexi ect). I know you have experience with this exact means of travel.

Thank you all...such a great help!

Book tickets now. They do sell out. I'm not sure about that particular train, but why chance it?

Neo - On the trenitalia website just to the right of the box that says "choose your rate" is a blue link that says "tariffs information" click on that and it will explain the fares. Available to you is most likely just Flexi, Standard, Amica and Familia. The others are all for locals and people that carry certain train cards. You can buy tickets ahead of time on the site, but that can be an experience in itself as you can read in other threads about trenitalia website. You can also wait till you get there and buy tickets at the ticket window as soon as you arrive. Night train cabins can book up fast and discounted fares such as "amica" offer a limited number of spots. You can play around on trenitalia website to find exactly what you want, then when you get ready to buy, you must do a number of things to make sure the order goes through. This is where the "other threads on trenitalia website" comes in. You need an account set up. A yahoo email address works best. You must allow cookies and popups. You must clear your computers cache. You must clear the shopping cart on the site or make sure you delete items you don't want before you make your final purchase. Certain credit cards work better than others. Cards with virtual numbers work best. They weren't taking American Express and I don't know if they are taking it again.
I don't know how many people are going or what type of accomodations you want, but if you have any more questions, I'll be happy to answer as best as I can.

I'd buy the ticket in Italia.

enjoy.

Hi All,

TravMimi- Ok went on the site and have a password the works. Only confused on these points.

1.) I am assuming that the 2 bed compartment (drop down menu) is a cabin although no menu to select what type of cabin (Classic or Touris). What type of cabin is the 2 bed compartment?

2.) Site wants me to indicate preference of assigment..choices (Uomo, Donna or Compartimento intero)..I need help.

3.) Site asks me to enter a carrage and seat number beside which I wish to travel. Selection is a blank space with two places

Coach:
Bed:

Is there a map of the train for selceting the coach and bed number?

Train 774 (FYI)

All help welcome.

Neo - You can try amica fare first (112 euro for 2). If it's not available they will tell you it isn't available, then go back and check standard fare, it's 139 euro.
A 2 bed compartment is fine. It's bunk beds and a tiny WC.

Check box for "compartimento intero" thats exclusive use. Used mostly for a single using a 2 berth compartment, but check it anyway.

You don't need to do anything with carriage and seat number section. That is used for people buying tickets that want to be near someone they are traveling with who already has a carriage and seat number. Just make sure it shows the right train number #744. Trenitalia will assign you a carriage and seat number.

Before you finish the purchase check your shopping cart to make sure you are not being charged for items you were just taking a look at.

Make sure you don't get off at station Mestre, but go to the end of the line station S. Lucia.

Sorry, but I don't have a layout map of that train.

TravMimi AKA The Life Saver.

Will book tonight and see how things go...thanks again.

Venice here I come if only for a few hours (some never get to experience)

Neo

Congrats. You will love Venice. A taste will give you all the inspiration to go back and spend some real time there.

Since you are taking the overnight train, I wonder if your hotel in Rome will let you check out for the night or nights you will be gone and just hold onto the majority of your luggage. Letting it go for one night might pay for the train trip.

Make sure you have plenty of memory cards for your camera. I took hundreds of pictures when I was there. They look great blown up and framed in my house!

Neo - I'm so glad I could help. Many people want to do a day trip to Venice from Rome and I think this is really the only way to do it. It gives you those much needed extra hours, and it's fun too!
Just remember that night train leaves from Tiburtina station Rome not Termini, take a cab there.
If you are not taking a night train back to Rome, there are ES trains from S. Lucia station Venice to Termini station in Rome. One at 4:43PM and another at 6:36. The trip is about 4 1/2 hours.

Just a note: When you arrive at S. Lucia station the stops for the waterbus are right out front.

Enjoy your taste of Venice, and you'll know exactly what you want to see and do for your next trip there.