Verona to Venice

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 4 min read

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Verona and Venice make a natural pairing on any northern Italian itinerary: Shakespeare's city and the lagoon city, roughly 120 km apart across the flat Veneto plain. The train is fast and frequent, and there is also the option of a scenic drive that can take in the vine-covered hills of the Valpolicella or Soave wine country on the way.

The quickest way: high-speed and intercity trains

High-speed Frecciarossa and Frecciargento services operated by Trenitalia, along with Italo trains, stop at Verona Porta Nuova and reach Venezia Santa Lucia — the main terminus right on the Grand Canal — in around 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. The frequency is good, with trains running every hour or more often through most of the day.

Seat reservations are compulsory on these services, so book ahead and include the reservation. Advance fares are the cheapest, and competition between Trenitalia and Italo can keep prices reasonable. Both arrive at Santa Lucia, though some services also stop at Venezia Mestre, the mainland station — confirm your stop before you board, especially if you are staying on the mainland.

Regional trains are a useful alternative: they take around 1 hour 30–50 minutes and are considerably cheaper, with no reservation required. They also call at Santa Lucia. For travellers on a tight budget, this is a solid option.

Coming from Lake Garda

Many visitors to Verona are actually based on Lake Garda, at resorts such as Peschiera del Garda, Desenzano or Sirmione. Peschiera del Garda has a train station with direct connections east towards Venice (roughly 1 hour to Santa Lucia), which can make a day trip to Venice from the lake entirely practical without needing to go into Verona city centre first. Check local timetables for the Peschiera–Venice services.

The cheapest way: the bus

Coach services between Verona and Venice exist, typically run by FlixBus and regional Italian operators. Journey times are roughly 2–2 hours 30 minutes, with fares that can dip below even regional train prices if booked well in advance. The main catch is that Venice's coach terminal (Piazzale Roma) is on the edge of the historic islands — exactly where you want to be, as it happens — but getting there by bus through Veneto traffic can mean delays. The flexibility of the train, which runs on dedicated track, is usually worth a small premium. See our FlixBus guide for details.

Flying: not applicable

The distance between Verona and Venice is too short for any sensible air option. Venice's Marco Polo Airport is actually closer to Mestre than to Verona, and the journey time by any realistic air routing would far exceed the train. If you are arriving at or departing from Venice Marco Polo (VCE), note that an Alilaguna water bus connects the airport to the historic centre in about 70–80 minutes, or you can take a bus to Mestre and continue by train.

The scenic drive: Veneto wine country

The drive from Verona to Venice is roughly 115–120 km and takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes on the A4 autostrada, with toll charges applying. By itself this is a fast if unremarkable motorway run across flat agricultural land. The more interesting option is to take the slower provincial roads through Soave, Montebello Vicentino or the Colli Berici, adding time but giving you one of Italy's pleasanter wine-country landscapes.

Driving to Venice does require a decision: you cannot drive into the historic city. Cars must be left in the large multi-storey car parks at Piazzale Roma or on the adjacent island of Tronchetto, both of which can be expensive, particularly over a full day or multi-day stay. If you are based somewhere in the Veneto and doing a day trip, parking costs are worth calculating in advance. For exploring the Veneto more broadly — Vicenza, Padua, Treviso — a car gives you useful flexibility.

Which should you choose?

The train wins on almost every measure for a direct Verona–Venice journey: fast, frequent, affordable if booked ahead, and it deposits you right on the Grand Canal at Santa Lucia. The regional train is the best budget option. Consider the bus only if fares are unusually competitive on the day. Drive if you are touring the Veneto and need the car, but be prepared for parking costs at the Venice end. Read more about navigating Italy's trains in our Italy by train guide, and for how reservations work across the network, see seat reservations explained.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the train journey from Verona to Venice?

High-speed and intercity trains take around 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes to Venezia Santa Lucia. Regional trains are a little slower at around 1 hour 30–50 minutes.

Which Venice station do I arrive at?

Most services terminate at Venezia Santa Lucia, which is on the historic islands at the head of the Grand Canal — the most convenient station for visitors. Some trains stop at Venezia Mestre on the mainland, so double-check your ticket.

Can I do a day trip from Verona to Venice?

Easily. With trains running throughout the day and a journey time of about 70 minutes each way, a day trip to Venice from Verona is very manageable. Venice is busy, particularly in summer and at weekends, so an early start helps.

Is there a day-tripper entry fee for Venice?

Venice introduced a day-tripper access contribution for certain peak dates. Check the current rules on the city's official channels before you visit, as the scheme and applicable dates can change from year to year.