yn0t

We're going to be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mestre and are planning on taking a day trip by train to Florence. Which train station is closest to the hotel and which is better to take the train to Florence? (Mestre or Santa Maria) We're thinking of going early in the morning (5am or so) so will there be any public transportation runs that early to take us to the train station from the hotel?

yn0t

I mean Santa Lucia not Maria

ellenem

The one in Mestre is closer to a hotel in Mestre. Mestre is a town on the mainland, the last town before the causeway to the island of Venice.

Santa Lucia is on the island of Venice.

ellenem

By the way, all trains that begin at Santa Lucia pass through and stop in Mestre.

Based on your hotel location, the early departure hour, and the fact that you mentioned "we"(two travelers or more), I would have the hotel call you a taxi to get to Mestre station.

The first train I see that meets your needs is at 5:44 AM

http://www.fsitaliane.it/homepage_en.html

yn0t

Thank you! We decided to go with a later time (7:30am). Do you know if the bus runs by then and how much earlier should we leave to get to the station and which bus to take?

Rastaguytoday

yn0t - honestly, why would you go as far as Venice and not stay on the island?

I use Hilton a lot, but not in an historic place.

Why also would you take a day trip to Florence when you have a beautiful city at your literal doorstep?

If you must go, lord knows why, the hotel will have either a shuttle or give you advice.

ellenem

Your hotel will have the best data about bus service.

mamcalice

Don't listen to our friend rastaguy. Florence is a wonderful city - definitely visit. One day is not nearly enough.

Hope you have plenty of time in Venice, too.

ira

Hi yn,

Mind telling us what your whole itinerary is?

I have a feeling you need some advice that you don't know you need.

Dukey1

Ira, please DO NOT tell these people they should have gone to Paris, OK????

nytraveler

Mestre is NOT in Venice. You are staying in an industrial area on the mainland - not Venice.

You would get the train in Mestre - the city you are in. Why go into Venice to the Venice train station just to turn around and come back out of Venice?

And for a day trip to Florence - which is not close - be sure to get your admission tickets in advance for the David and the Uffizi (allowing for some delay in the train schedule).

Sorry cannot help with buses since I have never been to Mestre - only Venice - but the concierge at your hotel should help with that.

J62

If they have an extra day while in Venice area (Mestre) and wish to take a day trip to Florence I see no problem at all. It's a 2 hr train ride from Mestre to Florence with trains leaving every hr all day long at ##:44. Many people do day trips from Rome to Florence, and that train is 90min.

I like (need) the ability to go back to my hotel mid day to late afternoon to rest & freshen up before dinner, so staying in Mestre while visiting Venice isn't my preference.

For young, able bodied travelers it's not horrible to do once a day round trip. The hotel appears to be right near a bus route to Venice. You won't be able to come and go during the day with ease - it'll take an hour or more each way from the hotel to the central tourist areas of Venice, so plan for long days on your feet.

yn0t

Thanks for the inputs. We're spending two full days in Venice of course but we want to take a day trip to Florence to see David. We were going to stay on Venice, but some of the hotels on the islands that we wanted to stay are either booked or rather expensive. If you have any tips as far as foods or transportation, please feel free to post.

Mimar

You cheat yourself when you stay in Mestre for a visit to Venice. It's a unique experience to live in a city with no traffic, no streets, no cars, no trucks. Instead boats provide all the services, buses, garbage trucks, taxis, delivery trucks. And it's beautiful, a magical, fantastical place. Yes, you pay a little more but it's worth it. You should certainly be able to find something for the price of the Hilton.