Santa Lucia is the only railway station on the island of Venice.
All trains reach the main station via a bridge over the sea, more than 3 kilometers long.
Almost all trains also stop at the Venice-Mestre station on the mainland.
Today, let's take a closer look.
SAnta Lucia station in Venice: article summary
Santa Lucia station in Venice: at a glance
From the Santa Lucia stationThere are both long-distance and local trains. After Mestre station, trains continue in various directions. There are frequent connections to VeronaBologna and Trieste.
On the island of Venice, only a very small area is accessible by car, and parking costs are very high. Venice is therefore probably the only major European city where transportation is mainly by public transport. Venice is served not only by trains, but also by buses and streetcars, which stop just a few minutes' walk from the Santa Lucia station at the Venice bus station.
A busy station
From Santa Lucia station, there are around 6 to 10 local trains per hour to Mestre during the day. Many tourists book hotels in Mestre, as hotels in Venice are very expensive. In season, several thousand holidaymakers per hour use local trains. These trains are often very busy in the morning towards Venice, and in the late afternoon and evening towards Mestre.
The same applies to buses and streetcars. As far as I know, all local trains departing from Venice Santa Lucia station stop at Mestre.
How much does a ticket to Mestre cost?
A train ticket from Mestre to Venice costs only 1.50 euro. Generally speaking, it's not easy to get a ticket. The reason for this is the long queues at the machines and counters. In fact, there are only 20 ticket machines in Mestre and Venice stations.
What's more, there's always 5 to 8 ticket offices at both stationsBut that's usually not enough. You could be waiting more than 30 minutes in line at the ATM in Mestre in October.
Shopping at Venice's Santa Lucia station
Station prices in Italy for a sandwich or a Coke to go are high. Venice is Italy's most expensive city, and this also applies to station prices. For example, a small bottle of soda can quickly exceed €2.
If you can, I recommend buying something to eat or drink before or outside the Santa Lucia station. The area around Venice's main station isn't exactly cheap.
As we said, Venezia Santa Lucia is a big station. There are also plenty of stores, the resort is a small shopping center. On-site stores include :
- Desigual
- Boggi Milano
- Generation Z
- L'Occitane
- A bureau de change and a ticket vendor.
How do I get to the center of Venice from the train station?
Most tourists walk from the main station through Venice. Depending on your destination, the walking time will vary. For example, you'll need to allow :
- 25 minutes to the Rialto Bridge
- 45 minutes to Piazza San Marco (Place Saint-Marc)
- 35 minutes to reach the Guggenheim Collection
Venice is a labyrinth of narrow streets. Even with Google Maps on your mobile, it's possible to get lost. So take your time and don't run to the tourist destinations. You'll only waste time if you get lost.
Use the Vaporetto
The other option is the vaporettothe only public transport on the island of Venice. The city is criss-crossed by water buses. Many lines stop at the Santa Lucia station. The boat-bus station is 20 meters from the main exit of the Santa Lucia station.
However, the price of the crossing can quickly dissuade you from taking this type of transport. Venice is expensive, and water buses are the best example of this. A single ticket costs € 7.50 per person, and a day ticket costs €20.
A family with 2 children pays around 50 euros for a round trip to St. Mark's Square. However, at this price, you'll have to stand on a crowded Vaporetto.
Venice's Santa Lucia train station is the place to visit when you're out on the town. Don't hesitate to stop here and watch the crowds arriving in Venice.
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