The train journey from Milan to Venice is one of my favourites! You can reach Venezia Mestre and Venezia Santa Lucia train stations in about two hours, without having to worry about parking or expensive toll roads.

For this journey, I took the Frecciarossa train 9317 departing from Milan Central Station at 09:15 and arriving in Venezia Santa Lucia at 11:40.

Travelling from Milan Central Station

I got to Milan Central Station 20 minutes early, knowing it would get particularly crowded at 09:00 (you can usually find long queues at the security gate before going to the platform).

I travelled to the train station by tram. The train was going to be at platform 18, so I took the stairs near Bar Motta to speed things up. Trains bound for Venezia Mestre and Venezia Santa Lucia usually leave from platforms 12 to 20, but I suggest you always double check at the station, especially if you’re travelling in the afternoon or the evening – if there’s a delay or a faulty train, the platform number may change at the last minute.

After going through the security gate, it was very easy for me to find both the Frecciarossa 1000 train (number 9317) and carriage number 10. The carriage numbers are indicated on the screens you can find on the platform.

On the Frecciarossa train

I booked my Super Economy train ticket to travel in Frecciarossa Premium Class 5 weeks in advance. I took advantage of the A/R in giornata offer – it allows you to save money if you’re returning by train on the same day.

The Frecciarossa Premium Class offers comfortable and spacious armchairs, at-seat power sockets, free WiFi and (my favourite) a welcome service with a complimentary sweet or savoury snack – usually biscuits or crackers – and a drink of your choice. As I was travelling in the morning, I opted for some chocolate biscuits and a cup of coffee.

I often travel on this route, and I always find great offers when booking in advance. Besides the A/R in giornata offer, you can get great deals if you travel on weekends (A/R weekend and Speciale 2x1 offers) or with a group/family (Insieme and Bimbi Gratis offers). Remember that some of these offers can only be applied if you buy a Base ticket – it’s the most expensive yet most flexible ticket type. However, if you book two or more months in advance, you can get a Super Economy ticket that’s actually cheaper than the offer itself.

The Frecciarossa train stops in Brescia after about 40 minutes, then proceeds towards Desenzano, Verona Porta Nuova, Vicenza, Padova and Venezia Mestre. The famous route between Venezia Mestre and Venezia Santa Lucia is always breathtaking for me – the Frecciarossa whisks through a thin strip of land which connects the mainland with the lagoon and is surrounded by the sea.

Arriving in Venezia Santa Lucia

Venezia Santa Lucia train station is in the lagoon, about 30 minutes away from St Mark’s Square. Once you get off, you can take the ACTV water bus – the stop is right opposite the station – and reach both the city centre and other islands like Murano and Burano.

The train is probably the best travel option to get from Milan to Venice – it’s fast, cheap and pretty comfortable. If you decide to take your car, you’ll get stuck in traffic on the A4 motorway, and that’s without mentioning the expensive toll roads and nightmare parking in Venice. Avoid the stress and take a high-speed train from Milan to Venice instead, you won’t regret it!

About Federica

Federica, a Trainline employee, chose to share their experience of the journey between Milan and Venice.