Venice arrival question
 

we will be going to venice from florence for the day(we know its a long ride) we are wondering if we will need a motor boat after taking the eurostar. Where exactly does the eurostar leave you. I see motor boat promotions going on for venice if traveling by eurostar. This makes us wonder if we need a motor boat to continue on to venice.

Take the train to Venice's Santa Lucia station. You'll be right at the Grand Canal. If your train terminates at Mestre station, there are several trains each hour from that station to Santa Lucia station--it only takes a few minutes. If your train terminates at Santa Lucia station, then you are already right there. No need for a motor boat to get to historic Venice either way.

However, Venice is one of the worst destinations in the world for a day trip.

No you don't. eurostar will deposit you at Venice's Santa Lucia train station, the end of the line right on a major canal - out front you'll find water taxis, vaporettos (the large public transportation boats - cheap) and private motor boats (expensive), or if your hotel is close you could walk. Most people go by vaporetto though water taxis are a good idea with luggage - should take you right to your hotel. If the motor boat promotions are cheap enough they could be a good deal.

We just returned from there yesterday. Try to get a first class ticket on Eruostar if you are able, but don't worry if you have to use another train or class of ticket. Definately to to Venice's Santa Lucia Station ( not the little station before). You will have to take water transportation to the drop off point nearest to your hotel. We asked at the ticket counter for information, etc. They told us what our stop was. We paid for a multiple day pass to use the water system at that time....although no one seemed to check it later. It was difficult on that large tranpsortation water taxi with our luggage...but do-able. The private water taxi's were also available, but were significantly more expensive. We found Venice to be pricey in general...but beautiful.

On the train tickets to Venice: We just got back. We bought tickets - even though we didn't know to stamp them before boarding. The second day
all tickets were checked as you boarded and by then we knew to stamp them. Boy were we lucky. Several people got heavy fines - it's a gamble! I think the tickets were about E3.
Papermoon

Arriving Santa Lucia you have a choice out front of various water transportation options, just go out the front of the station and down the steps. The vaporetto are the cheapest (like a public boat bus). You get a ticket, stamp it in the machine, and board. You'll need to know what number (i.e., 1, 52, etc.) route you want to take and what stop (i.e., Zatterre) you want to get off at.

The motor boat you refer to most likely are the private taxis which are quite expensive but possibly are being promoted by the eurostar?

Since you don't have luggage I would probably figure out which vaporetto gets you to where you want to start touring.

I'm not certain, but couldn't you also walk from the train station into central Venice? How long would that take? Anyone else?

AAF and papermoon, we must have all been there at the same time! We were there July 1-5.

Hi M,

If you can possibly arrange, do an overnight in Venice.

During the day, in season, the city is mobbed. After the daytrippers go home, Venice is transformed.

((I))

Santa Lucia station is in the old city. If you have no luggage, you can walk - the paths are signposted to the Rialto then San Marco, or just follow all the other tourists. If you have luggage, you can put it in the left luggage ("Deposito Bagagli") at the station, then explore on foot.