Rome to Venice
 

Is it realistic to do a day trip by train from Rome to Venice?

Realistic? Not really.

What is it that you are hoping to see and do in Venice?

Sure. Take the 6:50a train from Rome Termini to Venice, getting in at 10:35a.

Take the return train at 19:25, get back to Rome at 23:10.

You'd have almost nine hours in Venice, and you'd spend almost the same amount of time on the trains.

If you think that's worth doing - and taking a whole day away from Rome - go for it. Personally, I think Venice is best in the morning and the evening, and you'd be missing that with a day trip. You can get away from the crowds in Venice in the daytime, but if you've never been before, you'd need some time just to get oriented, and you really don't have much time.

If you dig night trains (I've never wanted to try one), there is night train between cities, in both directions. You could store your bags for the day at the Venice train station. If you don't mind sleeping on the train two nights (would save two nights hotel), you would have much more time in Venice. But two night trains in a row sounds exhausting to me - I'd never do it. Technically it's possible, though.

See http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en to check train times.

I wouldn't do it.

Most people who tell you that they HATED Venice were there for only a day.

One day in Venice can lead to a bad impression because of the crowds and the cruise ships.


Thin, loves Venice

If the travel time overheads exceed the hours of the day, it is not possible. This is an objective evaluation. In case of Rome to Venice, it is "possible."

The concept of "realistic" is more subjective. It asks whether what remains in a day after subtracting out travel overhead can fit your desired activities within that time window.

How can anyone answer your question rationally when the scope is not stated?

If for example, your scope is to ride gondola and have a meal, it is realistic. On the other hand, if your scope also includes visiting Doge's palace secrete itineraries, visit the Basilica, visit Murano and Burano islands, visit San Giorgio Maggiore, visit Rialto market, visit Gugenheim museum, visit Gallerie dell'Accademia, visit Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari church, etc., and be back in Rome for dinner, then it is not realistic.

If you have your heart set on Venice, an alternative is for you to fly BOS to VCE, stay however nights are needed then head to Rome.

If you decide to take that BOS-VCE Alitalia flight in your other thread, you still have time left on your arrival day to travel straight to Venice before dinner time in Venice by putting Rome last.

Flying into Venice and taking water taxi into the city is one of the world's magical experience (especially if you arrive near sunset on a cool clear December day as we did). Expedia will show you who flies there

Alternatively, as others say, save Venice for another time. It is a very special city and I agree with all who say few hours and not being familiar with the city risks a pretty awful experience.

Thanks for the sound advice.so very helpful.

Book discounted tickets if you book early enough to get them as they are limited in numbers- www.trenitalia.com or www.italotreno.com - 2 competing companies running trains over same tracks. Much cheaper than full fare but booked into a specific train and time coming and going -check www.seat61.com for great tips on that -for general info www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Those night trains are fine if you can sleep with some noise from inside and outside the train -one from Rome leaves 10:30pm and gets to Venice at about 5:30am!

Can you do it? Yes, easily, 3h45 each way, from €29 each way booked at either www.trenitalia.com or www.italotreno.it

Would I do it? Yes, if I was in Rome, had never been to Venice, only had one day spare, wasn't likely to return to Italy in the foreseeable future, and this was the only option.

I'd strive to make it an overnighter if I possibly could, much more comfortable, even if you come back early next day.

Venice is unique, it's not just yet another historic city and if this was the only possible way I could fit it in, and you were prepared to make the effort, then yes.

I once stopped off in Venice for lunch. It was a first visit and in July and I knew I didn't want to visit Venice properly then because of the crowds, but I did want to take a look and see if I should plan a trip at a quieter time of year. I had to change trains between Ferrara and Ljubljana in any case.

I rode the vaporetto down the Grand Canal and back, found a quiet place by the canal for lunch (really!), and fell in love with Venice. (I've been back twice, but both times in November.) However, I would not go for a day trip if I would be fighting crowds on the main drag and trying to fit in the main sites. Well, not in the summer, at least.

Yup go for it if it is the only chance you'll have to see Venice -to me the world's most surrealistic city in spite of horrible crowding in just the few areas most tourists stick like velcro to.

It's a short and inexpensive flight.

It's also an hour from Rome to the airport, and you need to arrive at least an hour early for a domestic flight? Maybe 30 minutes for the actual flight...and an hour from Marco Polo to Venice? How much time does a flight really save you? A train seems a lot simpler and more pleasant.

I've taken visiting relatives to Venice for a day trip, from my home in Le Marche, which is a similar distance. No one has ever said it was too much and that they should have saved it for a future occasion. My sister had a very unfortunate accident after that trip, and there probably won't be a next time for her.

no flying makes little sense- saves little or no time and Venice's airport yes an hour each way - even by boat - fairly long march to docks my friends just returned say - buses via Mestre take long too.

Plus you see the Italy in between from trains - 3.75 hours right to the heart of Venice - so easy and flying is a real hassle. 29 euros each way - hard for planes to beat figuring in cost of getting to and from airports.