How to Get from Venice to Florence

Venice and Florence are just 167 miles (269 km) apart, which makes it easy to visit both iconic cities on the same trip. High-speed trains make the journey in just over two hours, with many departures available each day. Traveling by bus is a low-cost option, especially good if you buy your tickets far in advance.

If you prefer to drive, toll highways connect Venice and Florence via Padua and Bologna. Air travel is possible, too, although it is more expensive and less efficient than using ground transportation.

If you have several days to spend, consider this six-day itinerary, which includes private guided tours in both Venice and Florence.

By Train

Duration: 2-5 hours

The easiest way to get from Venice to Florence is by high-speed train. Two rail companies, Trenitalia and Italo, operate trains that run from Venice's Santa Lucia station to Santa Maria Novella station in the heart of Florence. Additional trains depart from Mestre, Venice's mainland train station.

Your high-speed train trip between Venice and Florence will take about two hours and 15 minutes. Costs vary, depending on when you buy your ticket and which type of seat you choose. You can save money if you buy your ticket and reserve your seat (for a separate charge) in advance. The last train each day departs Santa Lucia at 7:25 pm.

Regional trains operated by Trenitalia also run between Santa Lucia and Santa Maria Novella. They take longer but cost less. If possible, pay extra for a reserved seat; otherwise, you might find yourself standing in the aisle during the journey.

By Bus

Duration: 4-4.5 hours

Italy’s low-cost bus company, Flixbus, offers service from Mestre and Tronchetto to Florence's Villa Costanza tram stop on the T1 line. From Villa Costanza, you can take the T1 tram into central Florence. A limited number of buses travel from Mestre to Piazzale Montelungo in Florence.

Flixbus is a good alternative if you want to save money or if you need to leave Venice past 7 pm. The last Flixbus bus leaves Mestre at approximately 9:20 pm.

By Car

Duration: 3.5 hours (more with traffic and additional stops)

In theory, the drive from Venice to Florence takes about 3 hours, 20 minutes. The reality can be very different, depending on traffic. The fastest, most expensive way to drive from Venice to Florence is via the A57, A4/E70, A13, A1/E35, and A11/E76 autostrade (toll highways).

Driving from Venice to Florence gives you the option of stopping at Padua or Bologna or visiting the Barberino Designer Outlet, which is 23 miles away from Florence off the A1/E35.

There are speed cameras along this route, so you should obey all speed limits. In addition, the Tutor system photographs and tickets speeders on toll highways. The A57 and A1/E35 toll highways are famous for their congestion. There are often accidents on the A1/E35, which winds through the mountains between Bologna and Florence.

Note that overnight parking in Florence is very expensive. Also, the Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL) in Florence is quite large. Unless your license plate is registered with the city, you will be fined if you drive in the ZTL between the hours of 7:30 am and 8:00 pm on weekdays (and until 4:30 pm on Saturdays). During the summer, ZTL hours are extended. If you are driving a rental car, your rental car company will receive the ticket, forward it to you, and add a processing charge to your bill.

By Plane

Duration: 3 hours or more

There are no direct flights between Venice Marco Polo Airport or Treviso Canova Airport and Florence's Amerigo Vespucci (Peretola) Airport, making this an impractical option. To fly from Venice to Florence, you must connect to a large European city. The shortest flights connect at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) Airport.