9 Train Experiences in Venice to Plan a Day Around

1.Shared Departure Transfer: Venice Hotels to Venice Train or Bus Station

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 73 reviews · 10 minutes (approx.) · from $46Our pick

Take a one-way shared water taxi from a designated boat stop near your central Venice or Lido hotel to Santa Lucia train station or Piazzale Roma bus terminal. The ride is about 10 minutes, with a maximum of six travelers. Confirm your pickup point and time the day before, and allow room for a possible wait or early departure.

“The views from the boat were amazing! The driver of the boat did an amazing job navigating the canals among the various boats. He was very friendly and helpful suggestions… Great welcome to Venice!!”

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2.Private Arrival Transfer: Venice Train or Bus Stations to Venice Hotels

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 68 reviews · 10 minutes (approx.)

Meet a Bucintoro Viaggi representative at Santa Lucia station or Piazzale Roma, then ride by private water taxi toward your hotel in central Venice or on the Lido. The service runs day and night, with air-conditioning and a one-way transfer. Your final stop may still require a walk, so check your hotel’s access point and luggage needs before booking.

“Superior service! We were met directly coming off the train and escorted to our water taxi…only waited about 10 minutes for taxi to arrive. Taxi delivered us to designated drop off location…travelers need to know there’s lots of walking to hotels and be aware of stairs along the way. Regardless, this service was first class!”

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3.Private Departure Transfer: Venice Hotels to Venice Train or Bus Station

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 49 reviews · 10 minutes (approx.)

Book a private, one-way water taxi from central Venice or the Lido to Santa Lucia Station or Piazzale Roma. The ride takes about 10 minutes, and the service runs around the clock. Your pickup point may be the nearest accessible dock rather than your hotel door. Some departures include helpful attendants such as Claudia or Alice, though staff are not guaranteed.

“Alice was fantastic. Early and we got there on time! She walked all the way through. Our driver was great too.”

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4.Full-day excursion to Murano, Burano and Torcello from Venice Train Station

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 15 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $44

Leave Venice Santa Lucia station at 10:15 for a 7.5-hour boat trip to Murano, Burano and Torcello. A multilingual guide provides commentary, and Murano includes a glass-furnace demonstration. You’ll have time to explore each island independently, but lunch, drinks and Torcello cathedral admission are extra.

“Bellissima esperienza guida si chiama Andrea preparatissimo nelle spiegazioni e disponibile ad ogni esigenza”

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5.Florence Day Trip By Train with Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 8 reviews · from $175

Ride from Venice Santa Lucia to Florence Santa Maria Novella by reserved-seat high-speed train, then follow an English-speaking local guide through Medici streets, the Duomo area, and historic squares. The cathedral interior visit is optional and led by an Opera Santa Maria del Fiore guide. You’ll have free time to explore before the return train.

“Not bad, not great. A bit impersonal. A good introduction to the city at ground level - useful orientation, but not much else. Train logistics from Venice was excellent though.”

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6.Venice Tour by High-Speed train from Florence

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $565Top rated

Travel from Florence to Venice by high-speed train, then explore churches, markets, Rialto Bridge, and St. Mark’s Square with a private guide. Guides including Barbara, Kristina, and Catherine have tailored routes to their groups. Add an optional gondola ride, and plan for plenty of walking and stairs.

“Best way to see Venice in one day! Kristina was amazing and gave my family such a memorable tour. We are like locals, saw special places in Venice and landmarks we would never have visited on our own. She tested us like family and we cannot wait to tour Venice again with her! Grazie Kristina! You handled my family of 6 with ease, my kids are still raving about our time in Venice with you!”

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7.Venice Beginner’s Kayak Tour: train & visit the Medieval Arsenal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $71

Learn basic paddling at the Reale Società Canottieri Querini, then head onto the water in Castello and the lagoon near Venice’s Medieval Arsenal. The one-hour tour includes a kayak, paddle, life jacket, instructor, and photo service. Groups are capped at six; Aleksandra and Nico have led sessions.

“Our family had a fun time. Aleksandra and Nico were great, taking time to teach a bit about the history of the club and teach our son how to properly paddle. Also, great pics!”

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8.Murano, Burano and Venice Boat Tour from Venice Train Station

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 3 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39Best value

Start near Santa Lucia train station at 10:15 am, then travel by boat to Murano for a glassmaking demonstration, Burano for 75 minutes, and St. Mark’s for about two hours. A multilingual guide provides onboard commentary. Food and drinks are not included, and the tour returns to the station.

“This was a terrible experience and we never got to tour. We booked the tour, showed up 30 minutes early, waited and other people booked for the same tour also showed up waiting. The boats came and when we approached them they sent us to another boat, then that boat sent us back to wait for the first boat, this happed for three boats and after 45 minutes of going from one boat to another we called Viator paying $5.99 per minute for an overseas call. I was told we would be refunded and now there is no refund. We ended up not getting the tour and we were not…”

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9.Private Full Day Tour from Milan to Venice with local tour guide and fast train

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $523

Travel from Milan to Venice on a second-class high-speed train, then meet your private local guide at Santa Lucia station. A three-hour walk covers St. Mark’s Square, the Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and Rialto Bridge. Guides Barbara and Cristina have led recent tours. You get the afternoon to explore on your own; lunch and major-site admission fees are extra.

“Our tour guide Barbara was spectacular. Very knowledgeable and very personable. One thing that we absolutely hated, and needs to be changed: we were we had a group of 13 passengers, and we all got put on separate cars of the train. Not what we had in mind. We booked together, so I thought that put us together. That was a big problem for us.”

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