How to Get from Venice to Tuscany

The distance between Venice and Tuscany is 108 miles (137 km), and it's best done via high-speed train to Florence. Italy's two main rail companies travel from Venice to Florence nonstop, clocking in at a little over two hours. From there, you can rent a car or continue to take trains whenever you please throughout Tuscany—Pisa, Siena, and Lucca, to name a few.

While it's not as quick, renting a car or hiring a private transfer allows you to see more of the countryside. You can make stops in places like Bologna and Ferrara, and then once you arrive in Tuscany, waste no time at all by continuing your road trip.

Venice airport doesn't have any direct flights going to Tuscany, but you can fly to Rome (a noteworthy city in its own right, of course), then take your time and fly to Florence when you're ready. You can also jump on this 7-day tour that allows you to see Venice, Florence, and Rome all in one swoop.

By Train

Duration: 2 hours and 10 minutes. 

Traveling by high-speed train is the most efficient way to get from Venice to the Tuscany region. The two main train companies in Italy—Trenitalia, the national rail service, and Italo, a privately owned company—leave from Venice Santa Lucia station (seen as Venice S. Lucia on maps). The most convenient station to travel to in Tuscany is Firenze Santa Maria Novella station (also known as Firenze S.Maria Novella), the capital city of the region. You can explore Florence and easily get to other destinations in Tuscany like Pisa, Siena, and Arezzo, whether it's by taking another train or renting a car and driving.

Direct trains (Trenitalia refers to these as frecce on the schedule) depart from Venice starting at 6 a.m. and run every hour, taking approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes to get to Florence. There are also regional trains but they involve transferring multiple times, adding hours to the trip duration. 

A friendly reminder that you need to make seat reservations in advance for high-speed trains, which can be booked online or at the station. Regional trains do not require seat reservations. 

By Car or Private Transfer

Duration: 2.5 hours (more with traffic)

While driving isn't the quickest way to get to Tuscany from Venice, it allows for more sightseeing along the way. It's good to note that driving into a major city like Florence can be stressful, but if your focus is on scenic drives and touring smaller towns, this option works.

Choose from one of the many rental car agencies based in Piazzale Roma square, which is right near the entrance of Venice. Take A13 and A1 autostradas, or toll roads, toward Tuscany. This route takes you through the Veneto and Emilia-Romagna regions, which allows for stops at the likes of Ferrara and Bologna. If you are looking for places to eat in Bologna, the pizza at Mozzabella is not to be missed. Pigro is another good spot in Bologna for a quick bite.

Take the Prato Est exit from A11 to see the city of Prato, the closest city once you enter Tuscany. Florence is only about 40 minutes south of Prato, but again, it's a high traffic area and not easy to drive through. Keep following A11 for about an hour to get to the exit for Lucca (Lucca Est) and a little further for Pisa (Pisa/Nord Est). If you want to get to the likes of Siena and Arezzo, continue south on A1 autostrada.

Booking a private transfer is a great option to sit back and take in the Tuscany countryside, if your budget allows. Since your driver will be familiar with driving in the more congested parts of Italy, you can make a comfortable trip into Florence. 

By Plane

Duration: 3-3.5 hours

There are no direct flights from Venice to Tuscany, but it could be worth flying if you want to see Rome. To get from Venice to Rome, you can fly from Venice Marco Polo (VCE) to Rome–Fiumicino International Airport, then when you've seen the city, fly to Florence Regional Airport and explore Tuscany. However, the time it takes plus the cost makes it the least practical option.