Venice Santa Lucia (Train Station): Departures and guide

Travel from Venice city center to Venezia Santa Lucia

The Italian city of Venice is also known as the Floating City. Amongst winding canals, Venice is one of Italy’s most picturesque destinations, filled with beautiful bridges and stunning architecture. This is the part of Italy where you can go on a romantic gondola ride through the canals or experience the iconic Venetian Carnival. The main train station in Venice, the Venezia Santa Lucia, dates back to the 1930s and is located in the Cannareggio district, on the northernmost of the Venetian islands.

The main way of getting around in Venice is either on foot or by water-buses and water-taxis. To travel from the city center to the Venice train station is neither difficult, nor that far of a route. The center of Venice is the area of San Marco and more specifically, the Piazza San Marco. To get from there to the Venezia Santa Lucia train station, travelers can either walk or take different ferry options such as the lines 2/ or 1.

How far is it from the city center to Venezia Santa Lucia?

For those who either have a train to Venice or are catching one out of Venice, the Venezia Santa Lucia train station is just about 1.4 miles (2.2 km) from the city center, the San Marcos district. There are no cars or roads in Venice, so on foot, the route to the Venice train station takes about 22min. The most direct route would be heading northwest though the San Marco district until reaching the Grand Canal. As you cross the Grand Canal, over the Ponte di Rialto bridge, continue heading northwest through the Villaggio Eden district. Once you arrive at the Ponte degli Scalzi bridge, the train station is just on the other side of the Grand Canal. If you’re running late and need to make it to your train time in Venice, you can hop on a water-bus, the Vaporetto boats.

What is the best way to get to Venezia Santa Lucia from the city center?

The best way to get to the train station from the city center is most likely catching a Vaporetto water-bus, even though the distance is walkable. If you’re at San Marcos square in front of the Torre dell’Orologio clock, take the street next to it, heading northwest on Merceria Orologio. Follow it until the road ends, taking a right on Ramo S. Zulian and the second left on Marzaria S. Zulian. As you cross over the Ponte dei Bareteri bridge, continue along Marzaria del Capitello until it ends at Calle delle Acque. Head west for about four blocks until you arrive at the Rialto Vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal. Take the 2/ route towards the Roma ferry terminal. From here it’s a non-stop water-bus ride that takes about 10min until you get off at the Ferrovia “a” stop right at the Venezia Santa Lucia train station.

Venice San Simeone Dome. Source: Shutterstock

Where is the airport in Venice and how to get there?

The Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is on the mainland of Italy. The Venize Santa Lucia train station is about 9 miles (14 km) away, and can take about 20min depending on the time of day and traffic in the area. If you wish to take public transportation, there are public buses like the 5 or 35 routes, that go to the Venice train station and take about 30min.

How accessible is Venice train station for those with limited mobility?

Upon your arrival at the Venize Santa Lucia train station, if you’re traveling and have reduced mobility, the entrance from street level is elevated. However there is a wheelchair accessible ramp to get into the station. Once inside the station, if you’re looking for information about the train station in Venice and its accessible facilities, there is something called Salablu. Follow the signs to it, and you’ll find the office along the west end of the station, near platform 14. Salablu is a service available at various Italian train stations offering assistance for passengers with reduced mobility. This assistance can imply help getting around the station, as well as boarding and getting off the trains. Passengers who may require help can request it abut 48h in advance, prior to your departure on a train out of Venice. Apart from Salablu, the Venize Santa Lucia train station also has accessible restrooms available for use, and boarding most of the Trenitalia trains is step-free.

Night trains to/from Venezia Santa Lucia

There are multiple night train offers departing from Venice as well as arriving at the Venice train station. For instance, the ÖBB Austrian railway has nightjets between Venice and other European cities like Munich (Germany) and Vienna (Austria). Trenitalia, the Italian national railway, offers a night route between Venice and Rome on the InterCityNotte. For a unique experience, passengers can book a ticket on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express going to London or Paris overnight.

Traveling by train in Venice: Sustainable journey

RFI is currently working towards a more efficient and sustainable way of travel by train. There way of reaching this goal is by researching and implementing innovative solutions to attempt to reduce the carbon emissions of their train stations, like the Venize Santa Lucia, as well as their Trenitalia trains. They are finding ways to also lower the use of natural resources.

Local tips: Venice train station points of interest

The Venize Santa Lucia train station is a building from the 1930s in the northernmost district of the six historic districts forming the city of Venice. It is located right at the Ponte della Libertà bridge that connects Venice with the Italian mainland. The city is known to be walkable and also for its picturesque canals and water-buses. All the main attractions are somewhat near the Venize Santa Lucia train station and no longer than a 30min walk away. From the train station, make your way towards the San Marco district known as the city center. On your way you’ll come across the iconic Grand Canal. It is the main waterway of Venice, lined with palaces and connected to San Marco by the Rialto Bridge. Once in the San Marco central area, wander the streets and along the canals taking in this unique floating city.

• Take in the beautiful San Marcos square
• Learn about the Venetian Gothic-styled Doge’s Palace
• Get the perfect angle of the white limestone Bridge of Sighs
• Try some Baccalà Mantecato
• Take a romantic gondola ride

Venice Cathedral. Source: Shutterstock

What to do in Venice

Venice is known as one of the most picturesque cities of Italy. This floating city is full of Venetian palaces and winding canals. Enjoy this car-free destination and wander the streets and squares of the iconic Venice. Taking a romantic gondola ride through the Venetian waters is part of the experience, or even a Vaporetto water-bus would give you an amazing view of the city. Make sure you see the magnificent San Marcos Square and Basilica as well as the Venetian Gothic-styled Doge’s palace nearby.

While you’re visiting Venice, the food is also an important part of getting to know a new place. Seafood and fish are a main part of their traditional dishes. Try the “sarde in saor” for a sweet-sour sardine appetizer, or the jet-black risotto with cuttlefish ink for a unique looking and tasting meal. During Venetian Carnival period a popular sweet snack are the “fritole”, sweet pastry fritters dusted with sugar.