Traveling by train or tour bus is one of the most relaxing ways to get to Venice. You’ll avoid the hassle of finding parking and arrive right in the heart of the city. To ensure your arrival goes smoothly, we’ve put together the most important information for you here.
An important note before we begin: When booking your train trip, make sure that your destination station Venice Santa Lucia is. Many trains stop first at the mainland station Venice Mestre. Please stay seated on the train for now; the ride across the bridge directly into the lagoon city takes only about ten minutes longer, but it saves you from having to transfer to a bus or taxi.
If you're traveling by long-distance bus, your trip usually ends at the Piazzale Roma. From there—just like from the train station—you have direct access to the water buses (vaporetti), which will take you to your accommodations.
Terminal Station
Arrival at the Venezia Santa Lucia train station
All trains entering the lagoon city via the Freedom Bridge terminate directly at the station Venice Santa Lucia. Since this is what is known as a Terminal Station If you follow these instructions, there's no way you can miss the destination.
Your route from the platform to the water:
- Exit: Get off the train and simply walk forward in the direction of travel until you reach the station building.
- Through the train station concourse: Continue straight through the hall and exit the building through the main entrance.
- The Grand Canal: As soon as you step out of the train station, you'll find yourself right on the famous Grand Canal.
Right in front of the train station are the docks of the Water Bus Routes (Vaporetto) of public transit (ACTV). From here, you can easily reach almost any part of Venice by water.
Infrastructure at the train station
The Venezia Santa Lucia train station offers the familiar amenities of a modern terminal station. This makes it easy to find your way around after arrival or to pass the time comfortably while waiting for your departure:
Service & Comfort: Clean restrooms, lockers for your luggage, and a variety of restaurants and cafes are available for your use.
Waiting area with a view: For travelers waiting for their train, there is a small, covered patio. Here you can take a seat in a sheltered area before your return trip begins.
Accessible Exit
When you walk out of the train station building, there is a ramp on the right-hand side, which you can see here in the picture.
You've arrived at Santa Lucia Station—what's next?
You now have 3 options for reaching your destination in Venice.
- You can walk. However, this is only an option if your lodging is also near the train station.
- They take a private water taxi.
- They take public transportation.
Private Water Taxi
Walk straight out of the train station building. Keep to the left. Continue straight ahead to the Grand Canal until you reach a hexagonal wooden building with a yellow sign. Taxi. Take a taxi from there to any destination in Venice or the lagoon.
Public Transportation – Vaporetto
Walk straight out of the train station building. Right in front of the station, you’ll find several ACTV public transportation stops. We’ve described public transportation here in Venice in detail on over 40 web pages. So we won’t repeat ourselves here.
If you're interested, be sure to check out our detailed page about the Santa Lucia train station: