Florence to Venice Train - Purchase in Advance?
 

Hello,

We are flying into Florence from London City on a Friday in late November. We are going straight to Venice and then will go back to Florence for a week stay four days later.

Should we buy our tickets in advance? If our flight is late, it seems we would be out those tickets. On the other hand, is there a chance of the train being sold out or the tickets being a lot more expensive if we wait and buy the same day?

Thank you! This is our first trip to Italy.

I've always got on fine by just buying tickets for the next not-too-slow train using a self-service machine on arrival at the station - saves any anxiety about catching a particular train. I believe you can save a bit sometimes by booking in advance, but Italian train tickets are very cheap anyway by British standards. The self service machine are very easy to use, have an English option and give you a choice of the next few trains. I have never experienced a train being full.

Thanks, Caroline!

Not enough saving to risk it

sea61.com/italy fast trin for me in May

""FrecciaArgento" less than 2 hours 38 euro bought at station

Piece of cake regional trains longer more stops lots cheaper

2-3 eur per hour if budget.. trenitalia.com buy from

small machines locals use at station.

Trains leave at least hourly all day some times even more

Never have seen one booked in over 40 years of travel there

most recently in May.

Qwovadis, thanks. This is even more confirmation to not sweat it and buy the tickets when we arrive.

The fast trains are 'reservation obligatory' meaning they can in theory 'sell out'. But in practice they hardly ever do.

The issue is 'mini price in advance, full price on the day'. But it's still afffordable to buy a full price ticket, which keeps you flexible.

>>>Not enough saving to risk it<<<

Advance purchase savings can be as much as 60%, but I don't usually book in advance on my flight day.

>>>2-3 eur per hour if budget.. trenitalia.com buy from<<<

There are no trains with an hourly rate.

>>Never have seen one booked in over 40 years of travel there<<<

I have seen sold out trains, but depends on when you are traveling (more likely high season/holidays, Friday afternoon/night and Sunday).

>>>""FrecciaArgento" less than 2 hours 38 euro bought at station<<<

You will not get that price unless you advance purchase. The walkup price 2nd cl is currently 43€ for the fast train. If you want to search all but the very slow R trains, use this Trenitalia link.
http://www.fsitaliane.it/cms/v/index...003f16f90aRCRD

The optimal solution would be to spend the first night in Florence, then use the low-cost train ticket to Venice that you bought in advance.
If that fails, I would still pick mini-fare tickets, if they offer maximum discount (i.e. 60%). Chances are that the price will be low enough, that it won't be much of a shock to miss the train, should it happen. On the other hand, if you catch the train, you'll have saved quite a bit.

In the end, it depends if you have a gambling soul :)