There isn't a high speed railway between Venice/Venezia and Verona, but high speed Frecce and Italo trains heading to Milano and beyond, plus EC trains heading to Switzerland 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 in journey times between the express trains and the regional trains isn't particularly extreme on this route.
So if you will be booking tickets last minute at the station, for a spontaneous day trip from Venice to Verona, then taking the slower Regionale Veloce trains will be a money saver.
Final Destination: Verona Porta Nuovo (or Brescia)
All trains also call at: Padova, Vicenza and *Verona Porta Vescovo
* If you're heading to Verona city centre on one of these RV trains take care NOT to leave the train at Verona Porta Vescovo station.
The train will call there before it arrives at Verona Porta Nuova and Porta Vescovo station is some distance from the city centre.
The alternative Regionale trains:
In most hours there are also slower Regionale (R) train services on this Venice to Verona route
There is no point taking those Regionale (R) trains, as tickets will be the same price as these faster RGV trains; and the journey time will be around an hour longer!
However, those slower trains tend to depart from Venezia S. Lucia around 6mins BEFORE these RGV trains.
Check the departure screens and look for RGV or RV next to the train number.
These RGV/RV trains will then overtake the slower R trains and arrive in Verona around 45 mins sooner.
There is typically 1 x faster RV train per hour, but at weekends there is a gap between 11:10 and 13:10.
Book early and save: No (not on these trains)
Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the same station immediately before departure.
If you will be buying tickets at the station just before departure then these Regionale Veloce (RGV/RV) trains will be around 50% of the price of the alternative, faster Frecce trains.
Rail pass users should target these trains and avoid the €10 rail pass reservation fee payable on the Frecce trains.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Trenitalia | from €9 approx | |
Italia rail | from €9 approx |
Even if you will be buying at the station on the day, it's worthwhile to look up the departure times of these trains on Trenitalia.
These trains tend to be popular and seats can’t be reserved, so it pays off if you're able to board around 8-10 mins before the train is due to depart.
Therefore aim to be at Santa Lucia station around 25 mins ahead of the departure time, to give yourself time to buy a ticket and find a seat.
The ticket office at Venezia S. Lucia is constantly busy, so give the Trentalia branded ticket machines a try - they're comparatively easy to use.
Don't forget to stamp your ticket before boarding these trains.
Final Destination
Milano Cle or Torino P.N. or Genova (the Frecce trains)
Geneve and Zurich (the EC trains)
Two of the daily departures, which have been included in the frequency total above, are EC trains that are heading to Switzerland.
All trains also call at: Venezia Mestre
Most trains also call at: Vicenza
There are no departures from Venezia S. Lucia by the Frecce trains between 08:18 and 10:48, and the final Frecce train of the day currently typically departs at 16:48; though there is usually an EC train at 17:18.
The alternative trains:
(1) Less frequent Italo trains now compete with Trenitalia's Frecce trains on the Venice to Verona route.
They match the speed of these Frecce trains and can be cheaper, but tickets for those Italo trains aren't sold on the Trenitalia website.
Though ticket prices and departure times of both the Frecce and Italo trains can be compared on the Omio and Trainline websites; see the links below
(2) Or there are Regionale Veloce trains from Venice to Verona on which seats can't be reserved.
They are also around 15 mins slower than either of the two express train services, but they are generally cheaper; they definitely will be if you'll be booking tickets last minute at the station.
Frecce trains:
Mon-Sat = 7 x trains per day
Sunday = 6 x trains
EC trains:
2 x trains per day
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 4 months ahead of the travel date; though this period of time can be shorter, particularly when searching for journeys more than three months ahead during October and March.
A choice of train services:
There is now a choice of three train services on the Venice to Verona route:
(1) If you want to travel to Verona 15 mins faster and have the peace of mind of an assigned seat, thanks to a complimentary seat reservation, then you can now either, take these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia, OR an alternative Italo train.
Those Italo trains are much less frequent, but they can be cheaper, particularly if you will only be booking a couple of weeks ahead of your travel date.
(2) Or there are Regionale Veloce trains on which seats can't be reserved.
They are are also around 15 mins slower than either of the two express train services, but they are generally cheaper.
Think twice before taking these Frecce trains for this journey, yes they're more comfortable than the alternative Regionale Veloce (RGV/RV) trains and around 15 mins faster, but even the cheapest 'Super Economy' tickets are more than €6 more expensive.
If you'll be booking at the station just before boarding, then you will save more than €10 by taking the Regionale Veloce trains.
Rail pass users can save avoid a €10 rail pass reservation fee by taking the Regionale Veloce trains.
Booking tickets for a Frecce/Italo train:
Tickets for the Trenitalia trains are placed on sale around 4 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available around 5 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for these 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 Trenitalia 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.
Complimentary seat reservations are included when booking tickets for either of these train services.
If you're heading from the historic heart of Venice/Venezia, then take care to select Venezia S. Lucia as the Departure station.
If you will be using an agent check that they are making a booking from Venezia S. Lucia and NOT from Venezia Mestre station.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Italia Rail | from €15.90 | |
Trenitalia | from €15.90 | |
Trainline | from €15.90 | |
Save A Train | from €15.90 | |
Omio | from €15.90 | |
OBB | from €15.90 |
The newer type of ETR 700 trains are used for the overwhelming majority of the departures on this route; ShowMeTheJourney has yet to capture any images of these trains.
The highlight of this journey comes at the very beginning of the trip, as the train heads out over the lagoon to the mainland - with the best of the views on the right.
(The video was filmed from a train arriving in Venice)Then after Padova, also on the right of the train, on a clear day, there are distant views of the Alps.
Final Destination: Milano Cle or Torino P.N.
All trains also call at: Venezia Mestre and Vicenza
These Italo trains now compete with Trenitalia's Frecce trains on this route from Venice to Verona
They match the speed of the Frecce trains and like the Frecce trains, if you book a ticket for these Italo trains, complimentary seat reservations are included
Tickets for these Italo trains can be cheaper than the Frecce trains, prices can be compared on the Omio and Trainline websites - see the links below.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for these Italo trains.
Though if you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, the alternative service of slower Regionale Veloce trains, will be cheaper.
7 x trains per day
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 5 months ahead of the travel date
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale around 4 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available around 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 with 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
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Italo | from €9 approx | |
Omio | from €9 approx | |
Trainline | from €9 approx | |
Happy rail | from €9 approx |
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