Visit Venice station welcomes thousands of travelers every year.
This is by far the preferred option for those wishing to visit Venice's old town.
Today, I'd like to tell you more about this exceptional place.
Venice station: article summary
Where are Venice's two main railway stations?
Venice has two main railway stations. These are :
- Visit Venezia Mestre station. This is the station serving the Venetian mainland. It is located in downtown Mestre on the mainland.
- Visit Venice Santa Lucia train station. This is the station serving the historic center of Venice in the Venetian lagoon. It is located in the Cannaregio sestiere, near the western end of the Grand Canal.
Venezia Mestre station and Venezia Santa Lucia station are on the same railway line. This means that if you want to visit Venice, your train will stop first at Venezia Mestre and then at Venezia Santa Lucia. then on to Venezia Santa Lucia.
Unless you have a particular interest in Mestre or have booked accommodation there, don't get off at Venezia Mestre station. Stay on the train, wait for it to cross the long Ponte della Liberta' and then stop at Venezia Santa Lucia.
Practical tips for navigating the Venice Santa Lucia train station
Venezia Santa Lucia is a terminus station serving the historic center of Venice. It stands at the end of a long railway bridge linking the water city to the mainland.
The station is located in the venetian sestiere of Cannaregio and at the western end of the Grand Canal. In fact, as you leave the station, the first thing you see is a captivating view of Venice's most important waterway, with the church of San Simeone Piccolo on the opposite bank. When you see this landscape, you're sure you've arrived in Venice!
Venezia Santa Lucia takes its name from Santa Lucia church which stood in its place. The church was demolished in the 19th century to make way for a railway station.
Construction of the Venice railway station as we see it today was completed in 1952. It is one of rare modernist buildings in the floating city. It is built lengthwise on a single storey.
So it doesn't dominate the landscape. In fact, the church of Santa Maria di Nazareth and the Scalzi Bridge next to the train station, as well as the church of San Simeon Piccolo just across the Grand Canal, are much more imposing and immediately catch the eye when you take your first steps in Venice.
The Constitution Bridge (also known as the Calatrava Bridge, after its Spanish architect) stands on the other side of Venice's railway station. The bridge leads to Piazzale Roma. Diagonally across the Grand Canal from the station, there's a public garden with a small playground.
Get a first glimpse of Murano glass
Several steps lead up to the main entrance of the Santa Lucia station. Overlooking the top of the steps are magnificent Murano glass panels celebrating the rich flora and fauna of the Venetian lagoon. You have to look up to see them.
The station's side entrances offer step-free access. Baggage handlers gather in front of the station to offer their services to passengers arriving with heavy luggage.
Outstanding attendance
Venice Santa Lucia station is one of Italy's largest and busiest. It has numerous shops, several restaurants, over 20 platforms, a tourist information point, luggage storage and pay toilets. It is home to around 30 million passengers a year.
The station serves an average of 450 high-speed and regional trains a day. These connect Venice to many major Italian cities, including Verona, Milan, Bologna, Turin, Florence and Naples, to the Italian capital Rome and to countless smaller towns in northern Italy.
Venice also boasts excellent rail links to several major European cities such as Vienna, Paris, Munich and Geneva. The famous Orient-Express also travels to Venice's Santa Lucia station.
A trip to Venice is one of the most magical moments of your life. When you arrive at this station, surfing a few centimetres above the water, you'll realize that your upcoming visit will be all the more magical.
What to do in Venice in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, a week?
Whatever the length of your stay, I invite you to download my special Venice guide.
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