Getting from Venice to Florence
 

We're a little confused about our trip from Venice to Florence via the train. We would like to take an early morning train around 8am. A search on Trenitalia's Web site produces a train departing from Mestre station at 8:44 am. How do we get to the Mestre station from Venice? Why wouldn't we take a train from S. Lucia?

Thanks!

Lisa

Not all trains depart from S. Lucia, probably because that station just isn't large enough to accomodate all the departures.

You can search your trip by putting "Venezia S.L." as your starting point. It will show you that you can take the 8:14 or 8:21 regional train out of S. Lucia, and then switch to the ES* at Mestre.

Lisa, the train fromn Santa Lucia takes just a few minutes to get you to the train station at Mestre (which is the suburb/industrial section of Venice). As rkkwan posted you will then change trains and go directly fron Mestre to Florence. You will find this quite easy to do. Enjoy your time in Italy!!

Ha, I had the exact same question on those times and just want to confirm what the others said - it is a breeze. You book the non-es train from S.L to mestre then transfer in mestre to the es train to florence.

modgila, the difference is this: Venice-Mestre is on the mainland, on a major East-West through-line near the industrial port of Venice, while Santa Lucia is a dead-end station down at the end of the long causeway that reaches down to the Venice we all know, the Venice of the canals.

So if a train doesn't originate from Santa Lucia, it's only a matter of taking the local ten-minute ride up to Mestre (leaving several times an hour) and picking up the trains that come through on the big line from Trieste in the East to Padua and beyond in the West.

Hope this clarifies it for you.

WK

Hi m,

For schedules betwee Venice San lucia and Venice Mestre, go to www.trenitalia.com and enter the two stations.

((I))

Buono sera, Lisa
I'm not sure about all the transferring, but we didn't have any trouble at all. We left the Santa Lucia station on eurostar and went directly to Florence Stazione di Santa Maria Novella. I booked second class, in advance, at the website listed in this thread (trenitalia) and had no problems. It was a straight shot through beautiful countryside. Your seats are reserved,which helps, and the only difference between lst and 2nd class is that there is one more luggage rack above your head and beverages are provided. They come through so that you can purchase beverages, if you like. The seats are comfortable and the train is fast. When you check the website, you can see that some of the trains stop a few more times than others.
And, I'll share something fun with you. If you like chocolate, let me tell you about a wonderful little stop. VizioVirtù Cioccolateria is located at the San Toma vaporetto stop in Venice. Exit the vaporetto at that stop and walk straight ahead down a pedestrian walkway. You will come to the Calle Campaniel (another walkway). You have to turn left or right. Turn left and not far on your right is this heavenly chocolate shop. Right out of the movie, Au Chocolat! Just a little treat!
Buon viaggio!

Thanks for all the suggestions. You are right, I was just putting Venice in as my starting point. I also appreciate the mention that there are several trains an hour from SL to Mestre.

My daughter wants me to bring her lots of chocolate home. I had an e-mail pal from Bologna and she would send us Italian candies. We love them!

Lisa

One more question about the trains. Their Web site says they take VISA and Mastercard for purchasing online, I just wanted to double check on whether or not they take VISA and MASTERCARD at the stations. We are not going to reserver our tickets ahead of time for fear our schedule may change.

YES They Do.

also don't be afraid to try the automated kiosks in all the larger stations. We eliminated a lot of line-time and allowed a little more flexibility by buying our departure tix for Florence at the station (you can reserve seats at the time of purchase) when we arrived in Venice. They take Visa/MC, and print your ticket for you - don't forget to validate before boarding! have fun!

Interestingly I posted a similar question recently elsewhere on this site. I must be missing something becasue no one else seems to have this confusion: If Mestre is listed first or above S. Lucia in the DEPARTURE listing, does that mean the train leaves Mestre, goes on to S. Lucia, then on to Florence? I am afraid to book a trip unless S. Lucia is the first DEPARTURE sight mentioned however the times are not as convenient as another. This is what the DEPARTURE box looks like (two train stations listed under one departure time):

Mestre(sometimes in red or blue)
S. Lucia(the reverse color)

Thanks!
colavecd

The different colors only show up if you search of Venice or Venezia, and doesn't specify the station. On the result page, you'll see the Departure station to be "Venezia (Tutte Le Stazioni)".

If you're leaving from S. Lucia, then just search for your train from "Venice S.L.", or "Venezia S.L.", or "Venezia S. Lucia", etc. and you won't see Mestre being shown.

A train will not start from Mestre, go to S. Lucia and comes back out. Makes no sense.

Thank you so much! It was all so simple, I just needed some explanation since I didn't feel safe 'assuming'! Thanks again!

Gold-sorry to pick, but it's "buona (with an a, not an o) sera" (good evening)

And I second Ronin's comment-DO go to the Venice S.L. station (and others where available) to use those automated machines! So easy-press the English button and go forward.

And a little tip about Venice's train station: it has one of the best hot/cold buffets anywhere-just excellent, particularly when you get there just when they put all the food out-I was amazed how good it was.