There isn't a high speed railway between Bologna and Venice/Venezia, but high speed Frecce and Italo trains which have travelled from destinations further south, provide the fastest express train services on this route.
Though as is typical, the faster a train, the more expensive it is likely to be; but the difference between journey times isn't particularly extreme on this route.
Two of the daily departures are the Frecciabianca trains, which will have travelled up from Lecce; and if you can book ahead; and the timings suit, these trains can be cheapest option of all.
However, if you will be booking tickets last minute at the station, taking the slowest Regionale Veloce trains will be a money saver.
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
1hr 58 min
Daily
1 x train per hour
(There is a departure at 19:12 and then the final departure of the day leaves at 21:12).
Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:
Final Destination: Venezia S. Lucia
All trains also call at: Ferrara, Rovigo and Padova and Venezia Mestre; take care to remain on the train until it arrives in Venezia S. Lucia, for the historic heart of Venezia.
If you want to make a spontaneous and highly recommended day trip by train from Bologna to Venezia, you will save more than €20 by taking these RV trains each way
And once you have your ticket, you can hop on any Regionale Veloce train in either direction, so they can be the best option on this route.
Rail pass users should target these Regionale Veloce trains for Bologna to Venice journeys.
There is little point in paying the €10 rail pass reservation fees on the Frecce trains, in order to save 25 mins; and rail passes aren't valid on the Italo trains.
This is a journey that saves the best to last stay in your seat as the train approaches Venezia S. Lucia, to make the most of the stunning views across the lagoon!
Book early and save: No
Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the same station immediately before departure (on these trains).
If you will be buying tickets at the station just before departure tickets for these Regionale Veloce (RGV/RV) trains will be around 50% cheaper than the price of the faster Frecce and Italo trains.
Rail pass users should target these trains and avoid the €10 rail pass reservation fee on the Frecce trains.
1hr 30min approx (most departures)
Daily
1 -2 x trains per hour
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Exclusive for New Customers: Receive a 10% discount by using the code 24NOV on any purchase with a maximum total price of £100, until 28 November 2024 (11:59 pm CET). Limit one coupon per qualifying booking. Cannot be combined, transferred or exchanged.
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:
Italiarail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.
Though Italiarail will charge a booking fee, typically of around €3.
The Early Bird service
Italiarail has launched an 'early bird' pre-booking service for journeys by Frecce trains.
Tickets can be booked up to a year ahead of travel at a flat-rate price per route, before the tickets have been released for sale by Trenitalia.
If when they are placed on sale, the price is cheaper than what you have already paid to Italiarail, it will automatically refund the price difference.
Conversely, if the price is more expensive, you won't be charged the price difference.
You can also have the peace of mind of securing your seat(s) on the Frecce train(s) when you are first planning a trip.
If before the tickets are placed on sale, you decide to change your plans, you can request a refund; but once the tickets are released for sale, you will then be bound by the terms and conditions of the ticket(s) you have booked.
Final Destination: Venezia S.Lucia
These trains also call at: Padova and Venezia Mestre
If you're heading to historical Venezia/Venice take care not to leave the train at Venezia Mestre.
Most of these trains NOW depart from the AV high speed station (binari/tracks 16 - 19) at Bologna Centrale station .
The trains which are typically scheduled to depart daily* at 14:18 and 20:18 are slower by around 10 mins because they make more station calls
But when looking up this journey, they can be cheaper than the faster Frecce trains.
*= These trains don't depart from the AV part of the station.
If you're heading to historical Venezia/Venice take care to book tickets to Venezia S.Lucia and NOT Venezia Mestre..
Save by booking in advance: Yes, for more details on how to obtain the cheapest prices for Frecce trains see the guide to Italian rail tickets.
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though the booking period will be typically be shorter when looking up journeys for travel after the second Sunday in December.
The express train service between Bologna and Venezia is provided by;
(1) These Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia
(2) Italo trains]which match the speed of the fastest Frecce trains
There are also slower Regionale Veloce (RGV/RV) trains if you will be booking tickets at the station on the day of travel, you'll save at least €10 if you take the RGV/RV trains.
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale 4 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available 5 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.
If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on Trainline or Omio; though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
1hr 25 min
Daily
10 x trains per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Italo trains compete with the Frecce services, provided by the national rail operator, Trenitalia, on the high speed routes which link major cities in Italy.
The Italo booking site only sells tickets for journeys by its trains.
Final Destination: Venezia S. Lucia
All trains also call at: Padova and **Venezia Mestre**
If you're heading to historical Venezia/Venice take care not to leave the train at Venezia Mestre.
These trains now depart from the AV station (binari/tracks 16 - 19) at Bologna Centrale station.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open:: around 3 months ahead of the travel date
If you're heading to historical Venezia/Venice take care to book tickets to Venezia S.Lucia and NOT Venezia Mestre.
The express train service between Bologna and Venezia is provided by;
(1) These Italo trains
(2) Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia - which match the speed of these Italo trains
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available 3 to 4 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains
If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on Trainline or Omio; though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Rail passes are not valid on the Italo trains.
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