How to take a train journey from Paris to Venezia / Venice

The Frecce train, which is typically scheduled to depart from Paris at 06:35 has an easily timed 55min min connection in Milano Centrale station into another Frecce train on to Venezia /Venice.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date

Frecciarossa 1000 trains on the domestic routes within Italy convey 4 classes of accommodation, but the Standard Premier service is not available on this international route.
Also 'Allegro' has been introduced as the branding for the Standard and Business Class, SMTJ isn't certain as to the reason for this, other than to make a distinction with the tickets on the domestic routes.

If you set off from Paris on the train, typically scheduled to depart at around 12:47 you will connect into the train on to Venezia / Venice in Torino Porta Susa station (and not in Milano).
The train on to Veneziawill likely depart from the same binario (platform/track) that the train from Paris will arrive at, so it's a very straightforward transfer.
The connecting time between trains is scheduled to be 35mins, which allows for some contingency in the event of the train from Paris being delayed; though you will be connecting into the final direct train of the day from Torino to Venezia

Note that the train will depart from the Gare De Lyon in Paris.

On Mondays to Saturdays the 08:01 Eurostar from London typically provides a good connection into this departure, as it is usually due to arrive into the Gare Du Nord at 11:23.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date

When looking up this journey on the ticket agents you may see other journey options which involve travelling via Switzerland and making two connections; (1) in either Basel, Geneve or Zurich, and (2) a connection at Milano Centrale.
Though such options are only worth considering if they are considerably cheaper than this routing via Torino.

This journey option, which typically involves departing from Paris at 07:22, has been singled out because it involves making only two changes of train - in Basel and Milano.
So look out for the journey options with only '2 changes' on the ticket search results.
Though the compromise with this routing is spending more than two hours between trains in Basel - though making the connection is virtually guaranteed and there will be time enough for a brunch in the area around Basel SBB station.

There is also a train from Paris that is typically scheduled to arrive Basel only two minutes before the departure of a train on to Milano, but understandably the ticket agents won't allow those making the journey to gamble on making this connection in time.

Making the connection in Milano Centrale

The EuroCity train on from Basel is due to arrive in Milano Centrale at 16:40 but this is an awkward time when travelling on to Venezia. S.Lucia station by train - this is the station in the heart of historic Venice on the banks of the Grand Canal.
There is a train to Venezia. S.Lucia at 16:45, but making the five minute gap between trains in time is considered too big a gamble by the ticket agents
The train which typically departs Milano Centrale at 17:15 heads on to Trieste, so it only calls at Venezia Mestre station - though when looking up the journey on Trainline it will offer this as an end-to-end journey option.
So the next train on to Venezia. S.Lucia is an Italo train, which usually departs at 18:35 - hence another waiting time of around two hours between trains.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: around 6 months ahead of the travel date

What if the connections are missed

There is relatively new E.U. legislation which protects travellers against financial loss in the event of missed connections due to train delays, and it applies to 'through tickets' - so the advice is to check the T&Cs pre-booking.

In effect 'the terms' for 'through tickets' now protect travellers against financial loss in the event of missed connections due to train delays, in non-exceptional circumstances, and this includes expenditure on hotel fees (up to a limit) if an overnight stay is required in Milano.
Though these new E.U. 'rules' protecting against financial loss don't apply in the exceptional circumstances causing a delay to the trains from Paris or the train from Basel - and these include; extreme weather conditions, damage to the track by a naturally occurring event such as a flood, the behaviour of a third party such as persons on the track; and on-board emergencies.

Though there is also an Agreement of Journey Continuation Policy, the AJC, which the operator of all the trains on this route have signed up to
Under the terms of the AJC the ticket holder can take the next train on to Venezia / Venice, with no need to book new tickets and the exceptional circumstances don't apply - but the AJC doesn't cover the costs of overnight accommodation, if the arrival from Basel into Milano is then after the final train of the day on to Venezia has departed.

Much more info is available on this ticketing guide.

Seat Reservations:

There are mandatory on all trains along this route, so are automatically included when booking tickets, but users of rail passes, will need to pay rail pass reservation fees per train.