Trying to plan the perfect Italy trip? Need help in figuring out how to get from Florence to Venice during your vacation? Debating if getting from Florence to Venice by train is your best option? But what about a car, or even a tour? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.

Below we have provided detailed information about how to get from Florence to Venice. This should make planning your Italy trip a bit easier, and we hope that all of the information below can help you decide what form of travel best fits you and your needs.

Whether you decide to take a train from Florence to Venice, drive yourself, or jump on a tour, both cities are something you are going to want to explore, and thus, we have provided all we can below to help you accurately plan your trip. When going from Florence to Venice, there is so much to do and see, and we know you will have a blast no matter how you decide to travel!

If you are finishing up a Tuscany road trip and you want to quickly hop over to Venice, this is the perfect way to do it!

Exactly How to Get From Florence to Venice

Distance Between Florence to Venice

Florence is the capital city in the Tuscany region, and is located centrally in Italy. Venice, on the other hand, is a northeastern city in Italy. Venice is the capital of the Veneto region and is situated on a group of 118 small islands that are separated, yet linked, by canals. Before you begin traveling, you must become aware of how far the two cities are separated.

On average, a trip from Florence to Venice will take about 3 hours, especially if you are traveling by car. This is because there is 257.7 km (which translates to about 160 miles)  between the two cities. While Florence is much more central in location, Venice is to the north east of Italy, and thus, you will have a lot of ground to cover. But don’t worry! This trip is TOTALLY worth it. So sit back and enjoy the ride, because these two cities are a must see when visiting Italy.

Getting From Florence to Venice by Train

If you are considering traveling from Florence to Venice by train, you should know that it is probably the fastest option! The average travel time between Florence to Venice on one of Italy’s high-speed trains is about 2 hours and 3 minutes, with the quickest route clocking in at 1 hour and 51 minutes. On average, there are about 17 trains a day that leave from Florence to Venice, and they leave about 1 hour and 16 minutes apart.

Taking a train can seem like your best travel option, but you must be aware that there are a lot of options within this option! Florence to Venice trains are quite popular and many of these trips are direct, meaning you won’t have to change trains! And if you do have to change, it is typically only once!

Traveling from Florence to Venice by train allows for you to travel in comfort. Often, these trains run 7 days a week and can leave anywhere from 8 o’clock a.m. to 9:30 p.m. A Florence to Venice train is feasible in price and fairly easy to access. When leaving from Florence, you will typically leave from the Firenze Rifredi railway station, as this station is third most important railway station of Florence and helps form the traditional Bologna-Florence railway. You can also look for other railway stations in Florence, and we recommend checking to Firenze Santa Maria Novella as well as Firenze Campo di Marte.

If you travel by train, you will typically end up stopping at the Venezia Santa Lucia railway station in Venice, which is the central station of Venice. It is located in the northern edge of Venice, and if you think this is a bit too far out of reach, you can always ensure that your train drops you off at Venezia Mestre, which is a mainline junction station on Venice’s mainland district.

There are a variety of different websites where you can book your tickets, such as Rail Europe, Treni Italia, and Italia Rail, which is the website we highly recommend! Booking a train from Florence to Venice can be easy with these websites, as you simply select your destinations, number of people traveling, and departure dates, as well as your return times (if you are doing a round trip!). After selecting these, you will receive options with different times, as well as different connections, trains stations, and prices. Remember that prices are broken down by how you travel: standard, comfort, and premier! And make sure to watch for those travel times when selecting your train from Florence to Venice.

Book Here: Rail Europe: Inspiring Connections

Book Here: Italia Rail 

Book Here: Treni Italia

Getting From Florence to Venice by Car

If you are considering driving from Florence to Venice, there are a few things you need to know before hitting the road! First, if you drive the most direct route, this route includes a toll road, but will put you in Venice in under 3 hours. If you drive along the coast, however, you can avoid most tolls, but it will take close to 5 hours. Either way, no matter what route you take, make sure to drive safely and slowly, as there are A LOT of speed cameras on Italian roads. Follow the law and really ensure that you are driving in a safe manner when traveling.

When driving from Florence to Venice, you must understand some ground rules. First, parking! When in Florence, it can be very difficult to find parking lots. The closest parking to the city center is Piazzale Micelangelo, but this is often used for events so it can’t always accommodate your car. The best way to park is near downtown hotels that will authorize you to park and drive in the city center. Parking in Venice, however, is the complete opposite! There are TONS of parking lots in the entrance of Venice, and they roughly cost 30-35$ USD per day. Once you park your car, you can take a boat or any other public transport to your hotel or accommodation.

Now, onto the really important information! When you are renting a car to travel from Florence to Venice, don’t assume that it is going to be too expensive! You can get a lot of great deals. However, do not forgo insurance on your rental car. The streets in Italy are narrow and can be winding, so be safe and stay compact! Also, make sure you know how to drive a manual transmission– most rentals in Italy are manuals, not automatics!

We highly suggest checking to AutoEurope.com to find the best and most affordable rate when renting a car for traveling from Florence to Venice. This is what we personally use and it allows for you to compare rates across popular car rental websites! And if you’re still unsure about renting, you can always check out our article on renting cars in Italy or look at our Italian road trip itinerary for more information!

Getting From Florence to Venice by Tour

If you’re worried about going from Florence to Venice in one day by yourself, you can always take a tour! Many tours are day trips, so they could be a great option if you want to visit Venice in a short period of time, or if you are short on time in general! If you are also worried about navigating systems on your own (such as taking a train from Florence to Venice, or renting a car), tours can help ensure that you are safe, and you can learn so much with the help of a guide!

If you decide to take a tour, there are some things you may want to consider. For example, it can be a bit expensive, you can be short on time in the city, and it does take a bit more planning. However, tours a bit safer if you are traveling alone and you can learn so much during each tour. Whether you decide to journey by a high speed train from Florence to Venice , or simply take a one day guided tour and even save time with skip-the-line tours, your options are endless and will not disappoint!

Book Here: Florence: Journey by High Speed Train from Venice 

Book Here: Venice in One Day: Guided Tour From Florence

Book Here: From Florence: Venice by Train and Skip-the-line to St.Marks

How To Take A Florence to Venice Day Trip

It is entirely possible to take a day trip from Florence to Venice, however, you must take a high speed train to ensure you aren’t wasting time traveling! This can get you to Venice is just about 2 hours. You should also try to get up very early so you have more time to explore the cities while also having a “cushion” for travel times. We suggest budgeting for at LEAST 5 hours of train travel if you are trying to do all of this in one day!

Also, if you’re looking conquering Venice in a single day, we highly recommend booking advanced tickets ahead of time– and not just with your train from Florence to Venice! We highly suggest booking skip-the-line tickets on all the major landmarks (such as St. Mark’s Bell Tower) so you don’t waste time waiting. You want to take advantage of every minute you’ll have in Venice. Trust us when we way taking a day trip to Venice from Florence is totally possibly and feasible, but you’ll need to plan ahead of time and be prepared to quickly move around the city. And make sure you don’t miss your train back!!

Book Here: Skip the Line for St. Mark’s Bell Tower 

Book Here: Skip The Line for St. Mark’s Basilica

5 Things To Do On Your Florence to Venice Day Trip

Once you arrive in Venice, there are so many things to do and see! If you’re trying to make the most of a day trip in Venice, we highly recommend these five things to do! Whether you decide to add all of  these things to your day trip, or save them for a rainy day, Venice has loads to offer, so don’t stress if you can’t see them all! Your trip from Florence to Venice is well worth the trip itself! And if you’re looking for a specific itinerary, make sure to check out our article on Venice! And if you’re worried about time in Florence, you can also check to our article on How to Make the Most of one Day in Florence!

Make sure to check out our list of the Best Places to Stay In Florence!

1. Explore the Famous Piazza San Marco

Saint Mark’s Square is one of Venice’s most famous landmarks, so you must go visit during your trip from Florence to Venice! This is a renowned public area that was once used as a center for political and religious power. Despite it now being surrounded by shops, restaurants and other sights, there is so much to do and see, such as climbing Saint Mark’s Clock tower and seeing Saint Mark’s Basilica. You must check it out!

Book Here: Skip The Line For St. Mark’s Bell Tower

Book Here: Skip The Line for St. Mark’s Basilica

2. Marvel at Doge’s Palace

Doge’s Palace is a beautiful 1,000 year old mansion and is situated right next to St. Mark’s Square, so you must check it out! It was formerly used as a residence for the Doge of Venice, but today is serves as a museum and its repurposed attraction brings in tourists and citizens alike as it gives everyone a glimpse into the life of Venice’s past leadership.

3. Visit the Bridge of Sighs

Prisoners crossed the Bridge of Sighs years ago, getting their last glimpses of freedom out the windows of this gorgeous bridge. After they had been convicted in Doge’s place, these criminals were escorted across the bridge and sighed as they left their freedom behind– hence the name! You can visit this bridge on a gondola tour and admire it from below, or you can take a secret itineraries tour to walk through it, as it is prohibited except through means of a particular tour group!

Book Here: Secret Itineraries Tour

4. Go on a Gondola Ride

A day trip from Florence to Venice won’t be complete without a Gondola ride! Gondola’s are the most widely known and famous symbol of Venice, and therefore you must take a trip while visiting the city! For centuries, gondola’s have maneuvered through Venice’s tight canals and served as modes of transportation as well as being a romantic, sight-seeing adventure for tourists. Just be warned, these tours can get a bit pricey!

Book Here: 2o Minute Gondola Ride

5. Visit the Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge is one of the best things to do in Venice when visiting from Florence because it is so well connected to a variety of different places. Surrounding the bridge includes the Grand Canal, the Rialto Markets, the Palazzo Contarini de Bovolo, the Santa Maria Dei Miracle, and Ca Rezzonico. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore here!

Best Tours For Florence to Venice Day Trips

There are some fantastic tours out there for day trips from Florence to Venice, ones that can make your travels a lot easier! Relying on these tours often helps you not stress about planning or time, and they can be extremely informative! Below we have provided links to some of the best tours from Florence to Venice day trips!

Book Here: Venice: Journey by High Speed Train from Florence 

Book Here: Florence: Journey by High Speed Train from Venice

Book Here: Venice in One Day: Guided Tour From Florence 

Book Here: From Florence: Venice by Train and Skip-the-Line to St. Marks 

No matter how you decide to get from Florence to Venice, or what type of schedule you are on, this trip is a MUST! Florence is well known for its art, history and culture, and Venice is a breathtaking city with its own unique stops. When traveling between the two, make sure you do your research and enjoy each city, as well as the time it takes to get from point A to point B! We promise you won’t be disappointed, no matter what you decide! And feel free to check out our Ultimate 10 days in Italy Itinerary or even or 2 Weeks in Italy Itinerary if you are exploring this country for even longer!