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How to get from Milan to Venice
Also known as “The Floating City,” Venice is built on over 100 islands interconnected by more than 400 bridges. Its landscape alone is already a masterpiece, and it’s made even more beautiful by its architectural grandeur. No wonder it is one of the most romantic cities on Earth.
Venice is best explored on foot or on a gondola. Among its highlights are St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, but you’ll find tons of lovely surprises while walking around town. Its many alleys (and canals) are at their most serene in the early morning or in the evening when there are fewer daytrippers on the island.
3 ways to get from Milan to Venice
There are 3 ways to travel the 280 km distance from Milan to Venice: a 2.5 to 3.5-hour train, a 3 to 5.5-hour bus, and a 14-hour day trip. Rates range from €13.00 ($14) for the bus to €129.00 ($140) for a private day trip.
The train is a convenient way to travel from Milan to Venice. Trains depart and arrive at the city centres, and there are plenty of departures throughout the day. Fares start from €22.00 ($23.50). Travel time can take 2.5 to 3.5 hours, depending on the train you choose.
The bus is the cheapest option with rates from €13.00 ($14). Unlike the train, buses depart outside Milan city centre and take a bit longer, around 3.5 to 5.5 hours. However, if you’re looking to save on transport costs, then the bus is the way to go.
Planning to visit Venice only for a day? You can also join a day trip from Milan to Venice. Rates per person start from €129.00 ($140) for a 14-hour day tour.
Milan to Venice by Train
What we like most about taking the train from Milan to Venice is that they depart and arrive at the city centre. That means you can simply walk or take a short taxi ride to and from the train stations.
Moreover, you can be flexible with your schedule because trains are available from 05:10 in the morning to 20:25 in the evening
You can choose from three different types of trains depending on your budget.
- Regionale is the slowest and cheapest. Fares start from €21.00 ($22.50) for the almost 3.5-hour journey. Note that none of the Regionale trains from Milan to Venice are direct. You’ll have to make one train transfer at Verona Porta Nuova, a major transit station in Verona.
- Frecciarossa offers direct and high-speed trains that arrive in Venice in 2.5 hours. Ticket prices start from €40.00 ($43), almost twice the cost of a Regionale train. They also have indirect trips with a stop in Bologna Centrale that are more expensive at €70.00 ($76).
- Italo is also high-speed but privately-owned, unlike the other two options. Rates start from €35.00 ($38).
Departure and arrival station
You can board the train at Milan Centrale, which you can find 4 km north of Milan Cathedral.
Meanwhile, there are two different arrival points in Venice. The central station on the island is Santa Lucia Station, 2 km west of Piazza San Marco.
If your hotel is on the mainland Venice, you can also get off at Mestre Station.
Train schedule from Milan to Venice
We highly recommend booking your tickets online to get the cheapest rates possible. Omio is our preferred train booking website in Italy for its very easy-to-use interface and lowest prices.
Milan to Venice by Bus
Are you on a budget? The bus is a cheap way to get from Milan to Venice.
FlixBus offers several daily trips with fares from €16.00 ($17). Itabus also has 1-4 daily trips with fares from €13.00 ($14) that can still get cheaper on some days.
The buses are not as convenient as the train when you consider the departure and arrival points. However, if your goal is to save on transportation costs, then the bus is a really good option.
Departure and arrival station
The buses depart from Lampugnano Bus Station, located 10 km northwest of Milan city centre. You can get there by taking the Metro. The train ride would take around 20 minutes, depending on where you’re coming from in the city.
Same as the train option, there are two arrival points in Venice.
- The more convenient arrival station is in Tronchetto, which is on the island itself. However, there are fewer buses bound for Trochetto daily.
- The other drop-off point is at Mestre Station on mainland Venice. There are several bus trips throughout the day to Mestre. From here, you’ll still have to take a 15-minute train to the historic centre.
Bus schedules from Milan to Venice
PRO TIP: FlixBus sometimes offers fares as low as €6.00 ($6.50). For a chance to get the cheapest rates possible, book online beforehand at least a few days prior to your trip.
For the full schedule, you can visit the FlixBus website or BookAway for Itabus.
Milan to Venice by Day Trip
If you only have one day to spend in Venice, there is also the option to join an organised day trip.
GetYourGuide offers a few tour options from Milan to Venice. Our favourite is a 14-hour day trip that includes a guided walking tour and a boat trip along the Venetian Lagoon, as well as transfers to and from Venice.
Rates start from €129.00 ($140) per person.
Routes from Venice
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
