Venice and Florence are two of Italy’s most visited cities, and the train between them is faster and more convenient than any alternative. High-speed Frecciarossa services cover the route in under 2 hours, connecting Venice Santa Lucia station directly to Florence Santa Maria Novella. This page covers timetables, ticket prices, and how to make the most of the journey.
Route overview: Santa Lucia to Santa Maria Novella
High-speed trains depart from Venezia Santa Lucia (VCE), the main station at the western end of Venice’s Grand Canal, accessible by vaporetto from most of the city. They arrive at Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN), Florence’s central station, a few minutes’ walk from the Duomo and the Uffizi.
Most high-speed services on this route stop at Bologna Centrale midway. Bologna is worth considering as a stop in its own right — see the detour section below.
| Route | Journey time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Venezia SL → Firenze SMN (Frecciarossa) | ~1h 55min | Roughly hourly |
| Venezia SL → Firenze SMN (Italo) | ~2h 00min | Several per day |
| Venezia SL → Firenze SMN (Regional/IC) | ~2h 45-3h 30min | Multiple per day |
Frecciarossa vs Italo on this route
Frecciarossa (Trenitalia) runs the most frequent direct services on the Venice-Florence route, with roughly hourly departures from early morning to late evening. Standard class is comfortable with wide seats, power sockets, and fold-down tables. Book at trenitalia.com or via an aggregator.
Italo (NTV) runs fewer services on this route compared to Rome-Florence but is worth checking for competitive advance fares. Book at italotreno.it.
For side-by-side comparison of both operators, search Venice to Florence train times on Omio — it shows Trenitalia and Italo fares together with the cheapest departure times highlighted.
Ticket prices for 2026
Prices vary significantly with booking window and departure time. As a general guide:
| Fare type | Price range |
|---|---|
| Frecciarossa Standard (advance 3+ weeks) | from ~€15 |
| Frecciarossa Standard (1 week ahead) | €25-40 |
| Frecciarossa Standard (day of travel) | €45-65 |
| Italo Smart (advance) | from ~€14 |
| Regional/Intercity (any time) | ~€15-25 |
Regional and Intercity trains offer fixed fares without the dynamic pricing of high-speed services — useful if you can only book last-minute, though the journey takes roughly an hour longer and typically requires a change.
Getting to Venezia Santa Lucia
Venice Santa Lucia station sits at the western entrance to the city on the Grand Canal. From Piazza San Marco, take vaporetto line 1 (approximately 35 minutes) or line 2 (approximately 20 minutes) along the Grand Canal to Ferrovia (the station stop). From Venice Marco Polo Airport, the Alilaguna water bus to Ferrovia takes approximately 70-80 minutes; an express bus to Piazzale Roma then a short walk takes 30-40 minutes.
Arrive at the station with 15-20 minutes to spare — platforms are announced on large departure boards, and seats are reserved on all high-speed services.
Getting from Florence SMN
Florence Santa Maria Novella is central by design. The Duomo is a 10-minute walk east along Via de’ Cerretani. The Uffizi is 15-20 minutes on foot via the historic centre. ATAF city buses serve routes south to the Oltrarno and Pitti Palace area. Taxis queue outside the main entrance, costing approximately €8-12 to most city centre destinations.
Making a stop in Bologna
Almost all Venice-Florence high-speed services stop at Bologna Centrale, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes from Venice. Bologna makes an excellent half-day stop: the medieval arcaded streets, Piazza Maggiore, and some of Italy’s best food (ragù bolognese originated here) are all within easy reach of the station. If your schedule allows, consider booking Venice-Bologna and Bologna-Florence as separate legs — the combined fare is sometimes cheaper than a through ticket, and you gain time in a city most visitors skip.
Alternative: day trip by train
The Venice-Florence route works well as a day trip in either direction, though the cities deserve more time. A departure from Venice at around 08:00-09:00 gives you 6-7 hours in Florence before a late afternoon return. Note that the Uffizi and Accademia sell out days in advance in peak season — pre-book tickets separately.
Where to stay
For Venice accommodation before your journey: hotels in Venice. For Florence on arrival: hotels in Florence. Both cities are compact with most hotels walkable from the central station.
What to do in Florence
Florence is one of the world’s great art cities. Arriving from Venice, you’re within walking distance of the Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia, the Duomo, and the Ponte Vecchio. Book tours and experiences in Florence.