Transportation in Italy
 

Fellow Foderites,

I have read so much I am confused...What is the best way to get from the Marco Polo airport in Venice to the city center? Do I need to take a bus to get to the water taxi?

Getting from Venice to Florence via train. What is the best line for travel and is there a reason why we would travel 1st class as opposed to 2nd class?

After we leave Florence we are going to Tuscany for 4 days. Where is the most convenient place to rent a car? Can I pick up a car in Florence such as at the train station. As always I appreciate your help

1. Airport to city center. It depends on where you are staying. Please give more detail on your location. If you can afford (100 Euro or so) a water taxi great as it'll usually be able take you closer than any water bus.

2. Venice to Florence by train - there is only one line. You can check times on www.trenitalia.com. ES trains are the fastest, most require no change, and take about 3hrs to Florence. In my opinion the only must do reason to travel 1st class is if you are seriously oversized. 2nd class is clean, room, and comfortable. It also arrives at the same time as 1st class. 10 or 11am departure works well as you don't need to rush on the day of departure yet arrive in Florence plenty early.

3. There are several auto rental locations along Borgo Ognissanti in Florence. It's about 10min walk from train station. AutoEurope, a US based agency contracts with several rental car co's and offers the best rates, customer service, and insurance options. www.autoeurope.com

Take the bus for a few euros from the airport to the regular main stand for the water taxi. Then jump on the next boat to your destination. Don't waste your money on a private water taxi.

Hi P,

Did you mean the Alilaguna from the airport?

((I))

Happy Holidays!!!

1. 100 Euros is a lot of money out of my Venice budget...but thanks for your prompt input.
We are staying at the Al Campaniel Bed and breakfast.

Is there a trick to purchasing tickets on the http://www.trenitalia.com/ line? Maybe the site was down when I was trying.
Before we leave Florence we are picking up a car and staying next just outside Siena for 4 days. So I am wondering is it doable to drive from Siena to Rome for the next leg of the trip?

We are staying at a hotel in Rome in the area of the Roman Forum, what would be the easiest place to drop off the car? The airport, the train station or in the city?

Thanks
chb

chb,

You can take either the ATVO blue bus or the ACTV no. 5 bus to Piazzale Roma, and then Vaporetto (water bus) number 1 (slower, all day) or 82 (faster, but runs past Rialto only on at certain times) to the San Toma stop.

Your hotel in Venice provides directions from San Toma on its web site, http://alcampaniel.tripod.com/id6.html.

Mark

And as mentioned on other threads, if you purchase an ACTV pass in the Venice airport, this will cover both the vaporettos and the #5 ACTV bus. It would also cover other land buses in the area, should you so desire, but most tourists don't take those.

It will be easy and reasonable for you to wait to purchase your train tickets until you get to Venice. The Venice-Florence route has frequent departures. You can take advantage of the discount Amica fares if you purchase 24 hours ahead of your departure time.

Also, it's not possible to purchase a ticket at the Trenitalia site for a date more than 60 days away.

You can use the site to check schedules and prices for a faraway date by inserting a date within 60 days--just be sure to use a date that is the same day of the week.

Hi ch,

I would pick up the car in Venice at Piazzale Roma, drive to Siena for your Tuscany motor trip.

Drop the car in Siena and take the SITA bus to Florence.

Take the train from Florence to Rome.

If you can't change your accomodations, there is bus service between Siena and Rome.

http://www.senabus.it/

You could also drop the car in Orvieto or Chiusi and take the train into Rome.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))