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How to take the fabulous rail journey from Zurich to Venice/Venezia
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Zürich / Zurich to Venezia / Venice / Venedig by train
Doesn't taking a train from Switzerland to gorgeous Venice/Venezia seem like a fabulously romantic notion?
Well the reality doesn't disappoint and the icing on the cake is that wonderful brand new trains, complete with restaurant cars, are now being used on this route.
Routes you can take to go from Zürich / Zurich to Venezia / Venice / Venedig
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.
Choose one of the following options:
Looking for connections?
Route Information
Option 1: taking the daily direct train
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
from 6hr 10 min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
1 x train per day
Is this journey from Zurich to Venice direct?
Yes, there is no need to make a connection when taking this route.
Is the journey scenic?
The Swiss part of the journey has a wow factor, see the Journey Information for images and videos and insights on how to make the most of the views.
What other tourist locations are along the route from Zurich to Venice?
Lugano and Como and Milan and Desenzano-del-Garda* and Peschiera-del-Garda and Verona and Vicenza and Padua.
*= this train does not call here
When is the usual arrival time at Venezia S. Lucia?
Before 14:45 daily
Source = European Rail Timetable
How easy is it to travel on from the station in Venice
Santa Lucia station has a fantastic location on the Grand Canal and multiple boat bus routes depart from the piers in front of the station - see the Station Guide for more information and easy access to booking accommodation in its neighbourhood.
When is the usual departure time from Zurich?
Before 08:30 daily
Source = European Rail Timetable
How easy is it to get to the station in Zurich?
Zurich HB is at the northern edge of the heart of the city, the old town area is within a 10min walk and more than a dozen routes / lines use the two sets of tram stops.
See the Station Guide for more info, plus easy access to booking accommodation in its neighbourhood.
Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for these Zurich to Venice trains?
Yes
How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for these Zurich to Venice trains?
Typically up to 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.
What are the child ticket terms for these Zurich to Venice trains?
Children aged 6 -15 receive a 20% discount, those aged 5 and under aren't charged for a ticket.
Note that these terms are different to the national child ticket policies in Italy and Switzerland.
Does the ticket for these Zurich to Venice trains include assigned seats?
Yes - See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for insights on how to board the train
Do rail pass users need to book reservations for these Zurich to Venice trains?
Yes - See the rail pass reservation guide for info on the multiple booking options.
Is catering available on the Zurich to Venice trains?
Yes, there is a bar/bistro car and a restaurant.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information.
What else is good to know about Swiss rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Switzerland.
What else is good to know about Italian rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Italy
Purchase Tickets
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.
Trainline Guide
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 Guide
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
- it offers prices in multiple currencies
- it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
- when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.
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.
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Rail Europe ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option when booking international journeys with connections and for travellers who don't reside in western Europe. Use the easy options on its home page if you will be booking tickets with a railcard: Or purchasing rail pass reservations.
Other Ticket Providers
SBB Guide
SBB is the main national rail operator in Switzerland, but tickets for journeys by the other significant operators including BLS and SOB can be be booked on the SBB website.
SBB also sells tickets for journeys to many destinations which involve a combination of SBB trains and services provided by the many independent operators who serve the Alpine resort towns.
However, if you will be making a long-distance return day trip, look out for he possibility of SaverDay passes being cheaper than tickets.
Though if you download the SBB app, booking tickets on SBB's mobile services can be simper than using the website.
Also watch out for the fact that booking international tickets can be comparatively quirky.
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.
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.
Save A Train Guide
Travel Information
The train will typically depart daily at 08:33, so target that time when looking up this journey.
The new Giruno trains are scheduled to be used on this departure.
Final Destination: Venezia S.Lucia - the arrival time is is typically scheduled to be shortly before 14:45.
This train also calls at: Vicenza; Padova and Venezia Mestre
Take care NOT to leave the train at Venezia Mestre if you are heading to historical Venezia/Venice.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
This train will reverse direction on departure from Milano Centrale.
Also don't be surprised if this train spends up to 10 mins at Swiss stations, these fairly lengthy stops are a feature of the timetable
If your travel itinerary includes northern Switzerland and Venice/Venezia try to travel in this direction, the direct train from Venice to Zurich travels over the most scenic part of the route after night fall.
Journey description:
This train uses The Gotthard Base Tunnel - the world's longest railway tunnel, so long that it takes trains around 14 mins to travel through it.
An announcement is made on the train just before it enters the tunnel.
It takes the train away from what would have been scenic highlights, but this is still a journey with some wow moments.
From the LEFT of the train (when facing the direction of travel) the first highlight to look out for is the view over Lake Zurich, as the train ascends up from the shore.
Then, if the weather is behaving itself, after departure from Zug station comes what is now the highlight of the journey, the view over the Zugersee.
This lake with its mountain peaks on the far shore can be seen on the right for more than 15 mins between Zug and Arth-Goldau station.
The next beautiful vista to look out for comes after departure from Arth-Goldau station, when on the right, the train will pass by the Lauerzersee.
Then just to the south of here, also look out on the right for glimpses of the Luzernsee.
Now that the trains on this route use the Ceneri Base Tunnel the next scenic highlights on the journey
come shortly after departure from Lugano, where there are views over the lake, initially over on the LEFT.
and then the train will cross the lake, which is quite the wow moment!
After the trains have crossed the lake, the best of the views switch to the right.
The train will reverse direction on departure from Milano Centrale.
On the left, in good weather look out for a fleeting but spectacular view of Lake Garda, just before Desenzano.
Finally the journey climaxes with a flourish as the train heads over the lagoon to the historic heart of Venezia.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: Up to 180 days / 6 months ahead of the travel date - though booking periods will be shorter when travelling after the second Sunday in December.
Three types of ticket will typically be made available, Standard, Saver Flex and Saver - all types of ticket are only valid on the specific departure selected when booking.
The very cheapest type of ticket, Saver tickets, are taken off sale 7 days prior to departure.
The mid-price type of ticket, Saver Flex, are taken off sale 3 days prior to departure.
Exchanges
- Up until departure, the most expensive type of ticket, Standard tickets, can be for exchanged for another day of travel or travel time on the exact same route without paying any additional fees.
- Up until departure, the mid priced type of ticket, Saver Flex tickets, can be for exchanged for another day of travel or travel time on the exact same route, but the price difference with Standard tickets, at the time of exchange, will need to be paid.
- The cheapest type of tickets, Saver tickets, cannot be exchanged.
Additional information is available on the SBB website.
Refunds
- Up until departure, the most expensive type of ticket, Standard tickets, tickets can be returned and purchasers will receive 80% of the price paid.
- The mid priced type of ticket, Saver Flex tickets, cannot be refunded.
- The cheapest type of tickets, Saver tickets, cannot be refunded.
Seat reservations
Reservations are mandatory on the Italian section of the journey, so seats are assigned when booking all types of tickets.
Rail pass users
If you will be travelling with valid Eurail or InterRail passes, you will need to pay a rail pass reservation fee when boarding these direct trains for a journey to Italy.
Though avoid paying for these reservation fees at a station in Switzerland, because if you do so you, will also have to pay a 11CHF booking fee.
Child tickets
Children aged 6 -15 receive a 20% discount, those aged 5 and under aren't charged for a ticket.
Note that these terms are different to the national child ticket policies in Italy and Switzerland.
And the terms are also different for Swiss children travelling with a Junior Travelcard.
Bike tickets
When travelling with a non-folding bike, spaces must be reserved, but you need to make a simultaneous purchase of your travel ticket + the bike reservation on the Trenitalia website.
Dog tickets
Dog tickets seemingly aren't available for this end-to-end international journey, a dog pass will need to be purchased for the Swiss part of the trip and a dog ticket is required for the Italian section of the journey, see the dogs on trains guide.
Route Information
Via stations: Milano Centrale
Option 2: choose from more departures and connect in Milano
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
from 7hr 40mins (approx)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
Up to 6 x connections per day
Purchase Tickets
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Rail Europe ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option when booking international journeys with connections and for travellers who don't reside in western Europe. Use the easy options on its home page if you will be booking tickets with a railcard: Or purchasing rail pass reservations.
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.
Trainline Guide
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 Guide
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
- it offers prices in multiple currencies
- it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
- when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.
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.
Other Ticket Providers
Save A Train Guide
Travel Information
Most of the trains which are direct from Zurich to Italy travel no further than Milano.
In most hours during the day there are onward connections by train from Milano to Genova / Genoa and despite its size, Milano Centrale is a railway station in which it is exceptionally easy to change trains - the transfer simply involves walking from one train to another.
The end-to-end journey times of around 7hr 40mins are reliant on a comfortable interval between arrival and departure in Milano Centrale of around 55min
Though in the very unlikely event of an arrival into Milano being delayed by more than 50mins, the ticket / reservation on the onward Frecce train on to Venezia, can be transferred to a later departure by the Trenitalia customer assistance desks on the concourse in Milano Centrale.
There are numerous food and drink outlets in which to await departure in Milano Centrale on the same level as the train departure concourse.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Zürich HB / Zurich main station and Milano CentraleYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Milano Cle
On some departures, when two trains are joined together regardless of the type of train, the train closest to the concourse will be terminating at Chiasso or Lugano, with only the front train continuing on to Milano.
Journey description:
These trains may be faster than ever, but now that they use The Gotthard Base Tunnel and the brand new Ceneri Base Tunnel, this journey is also less scenic than it used to be.
The Gotthard Base Tunnel is now the world's longest railway tunnel, so long that it takes trains more than 15 mins to travel through it.
An announcement is made on the train just before it enters the tunnel.
However, this is still one of Europe's most epic express train journeys and thanks to those tunnels the journey time is now more than an hour faster than it was previously.
From the LEFT of the train (when facing the direction of travel) the first highlight to look out for is the view over Lake Zurich, as the train ascends up from the shore.
Then, if the weather is behaving itself, after departure from Zug station comes what is now the highlight of the journey, the view over the Zuger See.
This lake with its mountain peaks on the far shore can be seen on the right for more than 15 mins between Zug and Arth-Goldau station.
The next beautiful vista to look out for comes after departure from Arth-Goldau station, when on the right, the train will pass by the Lauerzersee.
The train then travels through a dramatic landscape to the north of Schwyz, which used to be a preview of what was to come when the trains still used the older Gotthard route.
Just to the south of here, also look out on the right for glimpses of the Luzernsee.
Now that the trains on this route use the Ceneri Base Tunnel the next scenic highlights on the journey
come shortly after departure from Lugano, where there are views over the lake, initially over on the LEFT.
The final wow moments come after departure from Lugano station, the train will travel along the shore of the Lago di Lugano
and then the train will cross the lake.
After the trains have crossed the lake, the best of the views switch to the right.The Italian section of the journey south of Chiasso is more mundane, despite the trains passing through Como, its namesake lake can't be seen from these trains.
Train 2
Between Milano Centrale and Venezia Santa Lucia/Venice S. L.You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Venezia S.L.
All trains also call at: Verona, Padova and Venezia Mestre.
Take care not to leave the train at Venezia Mestre when travelling to Venezia S. Lucia
Journey description:
The high speed part of the journey is the first stage to Brescia, on which the train will travel at more than 250 km/h, but only for around 15 minutes
If you're on the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel) keep a look out before Desenzano for a fleeting, but incredible view of Lake Garda - though you'll have to hope for good weather.
But this is a journey that saves the best to last as the train heads across the waters of the lagoon to reach the heart of historic Venice/Venezia.