I am getting ready to book our train tickets on line and have a question.

The train I would like from Venice to Florence leaves from Mestra station. How do we get there? Do we need to go to the Santa Lucia Station and take a local train to Mestra??? How much time should we allocate to make sure we make the 8:30am train?

Thanks,

Linda

<Do we need to go to the Santa Lucia Station and take a local train to Mestra???> -yes, sorry I don't remember the exact time for the ride between the two stations but it's not too far.

There are 10-12 departures per hour for this 11 minute train ride.

Best wishes,

Rex

Thanks, Rex

That sounds pretty easy

Linda

Yes - - you're welcome, and yes, you're right it is. Lance Armstrong could cover the distance in half that time.

I assume you realize you can book a train directly from Santa Lucia to Florence - it passes thru Mestra?

Julie:

Julie:
Yes - I think it leaves a few hours later in the am, like 10:30. It may be the way to go. I was just trying to make the most of our time, as we are only in Florence 2 nights

Linda

I think your plan makes sense. It won't be any big deal to go early enough to shuttle over to Mestre and catch that earlier train you mentioned in your first post.

Presumably it's a train originating in Trieste or points further east - - that's why you will catch it at Mestre rather than at Venice Santa Lucia.

Often in order to get the quicker Eurostar you must leave from Mestre. We left our hotel via water taxi at 7:45AM, and easily made the 8:09 to Mestre and the 8:44 to Florence.

Yes, Julie, I'm not sure which train you're talking about. I don't see a train that goes direct to Florence from Santa Lucia until one that leaves at 10:32, arriving at 13:21.
But changing trains at Mestra is no big deal, generally you merely cross the platform. Off hand I can't remember ever having to change platforms for the close connections there.

Thank you all for your assistance.

Suki: giving the timeframe that worked for you was really helpful. Knowing my husband, we'll leave the hotel at 7:30am and wait a bit.

The trenitalia website worked great - got my password immediately. Once I pushed the purchase option, I did have to wait a bit for the confirmation - be patient.

Seven weeks and counting - I promise a trip report from Venice, Florence, Siena, Pienza, and Rome

Linda