From Milan / Como to Venice
 

Does anyone know how long it takes to get the train from Como to Venice? Can this be done as a day trip?

Also, any low budget suggestions on accomodations in Como for four?

Do you mean the town of Como or Lake Como, which has many towns on its shores?

For schedules, look at
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

I was thinking the town of Como itself, since it seems to be the largest in the region.

This is not a daytrip--at least 4 hours by train in each direction. You would have to take one train to Milan and connect there to the Venice train.

The train from Como (change at Saronno) arrives at Cadorna station and takes 1:15 hours. The train to Venice departs from the Centrale station, and the fastest train takes 2:20 hours. Taxi or metro from one station to the other. Same route in reverse coming back.

If you left Como at 6:15 a.m., you could be in Venice by 10:15 a.m. The last train back to Milano Centrale departs at about 8:00 p.m. and takes 3:00 hours. Cab to Centrale. Catch the last train from Cadorna to Como at 11:45 p.m. and arrive at 1:20 a.m.

9.5 hours in Venice and 9.5 hours getting there and back.

Jean--

Como is served by TWO railway lines:

= Ferrovie Nord Milano, with a station at "Como Lago" which is quite near the ferry docks and goes to Milano Cadorna

= Ferrovie dello Stato, whose Como S. Giovanni station is on the international Milan-Chiasso line and goes to Milano Centrale. It's a 10-minute walk across town from the ferry area.

I stand corrected, but I think the timing is probably not much different overall. What time is the last train to Como S.G. from Centrale?

Either way, a daytrip to Venice from Como is not a good idea.