Venezia / Venice / Venedig to Lugano by train

How to take a rail journey from Venice/Venezia to Lugano

Look up a journey by train from Venice/Venezia to Lugano on the rail ticket booking services and most of the journey options you will see involve taking a Frecce train to Milano Centrale station and connecting there for an EC express train to Lugano.

However, there is usually a direct train available, though it isn't due to arrive into Lugano until around 19:30.
If you want to arrive in the Swiss lake resort town (Lake Lugano is cited an Italian lake, but Lugano is in Switzerland) sooner, particularly good connections are usually available when departing from Venezia S. Lucia at 07:18 and 11:48.

When booking tickets for journeys by the direct train or the connecting between Frecce and EC trains in Milano, complimentary seat reservations for both trains will be included.
Though users of Eurail of InterRail passes will have to pay for those seat reservations, so if you will be travelling with a rail pass, a money saving option is to hop between Venice and Lugano on three regional trains, making connections in Verona and Milano.

Routes

From Venezia Santa Lucia/Venice S. L. to Lugano

Journey Summary

From

Venezia / Venice / Venedig

Venezia Santa Lucia/Venice S. L. Rail Station Guide

Lugano

Lugano Rail Station Guide

Travel Time

4hr 22min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Information

Final Destination: Zuerich/Zurich

This train also calls at: Monza, Como and Chiasso

There is only one direct train per day from Venice to Lugano and it usually scheduled to depart daily from Santa Lucia station at 15:18.

1 x train per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date

Seat reservations are complimentary when booking tickets to travel by this train to Lugano, which departs from Venezia S. Lucia daily at 15:18; so hone it on this departure time, if you want to travel by this direct train.

If you use the 'other search options' link on the Trenitalia home page, you can access the 'solutions without changing' facility, which will make this direct train easier to find.

Though if the departure times of this train aren't suitable, don't use that other search options facility and you will also see numerous other journey options, all of which will involve changing trains in Milano Centrale station.

Pay particular attention to the connecting time between trains, if you do opt to take make the journey on the indirect trains.

If you book discounted tickets and the train on from Milano is an EC train, your tickets will be specific that particular departure.

Rail Pass Users:

If you will be travelling with a rail pass, you can avoid the rail pass reservation fee on these trains by:

(1) Taking a Regionale Veloce train from Venice to Verona
(2) Taking a Regionale train from Verona to Milan
(3) Taking a Regionale/Ticino train from Milan to Lugano

Where to book

Ticket Provider	Approximate Cost
Italia Rail	from €29
Italia Rail Guide 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. Buying and using Tickets for Italian rail travel This guide to buying tickets and using rail passes for train journeys both within and to and from Italy will help you save money, time and confusion. Buying and using Tickets for Italian rail travel This guide to buying tickets and using rail passes for train journeys both within and to and from It... Using Rail Passes in and to/from Italy All that's good to know about using Eurail and InterRail passes on Italian train journeys and on international trains to and from Italy Using Rail Passes in and to/from Italy All that's good to know about using Eurail and InterRail passes on Italian train journeys and on int...
Trenitalia	from €29
Trenitalia Guide 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: Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together. Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under. The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under. Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets. Buying and using Tickets for Italian rail travel This guide to buying tickets and using rail passes for train journeys both within and to and from Italy will help you save money, time and confusion. Buying and using Tickets for Italian rail travel This guide to buying tickets and using rail passes for train journeys both within and to and from It... How to Buy Tickets on the Trenitalia website How to Buy Tickets on the Trenitalia website

On this journey

Travelling On

EC Giruno Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - No

Good to Know

This train will reverse direction on departure from Milano Centrale.

This would be a scenic journey if the train departed Venezia/Venice earlier, as the most scenic part of the trip is the final 20 mins before arrival, with the highlight being the crossing of the lake.
So if you opt to depart earlier and make the connections you'll get to experience these scenic highlights.

The general guide to Italian rail travel Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with Eurail and InterRail passes

The general guide to Swiss rail travel Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, taking popular journeys, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with rail passes

Take the stress out of your journey Everything planned to your specification, so sit back and relax… Try Concierge

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