Train from La Spezia Centrale to Venice

The trip from La Spezia Centrale on the western coast of Italy to the canal city of Venice in the east is not a simple one. The 224-mile (361-km) train journey requires at least one train transfer, and will take up a few hours of your day.

The trip between these two cities is difficult, as it involves passing over mountains. Driving this route does save you about one hour of travel time, but the drive in the mountains is somewhat difficult, and you cannot drive your car once in Venice. Taking the train is a better option as you sit back and relax while watching the lovely Italian scenery outside of your window.

Frequent Trains from La Spezia Centrale to Venice

The high-speed train will get you from La Spezia Centrale to Venezia Santa Lucia, but every route option requires at least one transfer. The quickest trip takes just under five hours, though most options are in the 6-7 hour range.

Transfer stations vary depending on the route, although most are either at Milano Centrale station or Firenze Santa Maria Novella in Florence. Some high-speed Alta Velocità (AV) trains serve La Spezia Centrale, so some routes will allow you to take AV trains the whole way. Most options involve taking a Regionale or InterCity train from La Spezia to Milan or Florence, and then an AV train from there to Venice.

There are 24 trains leaving La Spezia Centrale each day bound for Venice, and tickets cost $59-81.

Note that weekends and holidays typically mean less frequent service and sometimes longer travel times.

Direct Trains from La Spezia Centrale to Venice

There are no direct trains from La Spezia to Venice.

Amenities on Trains from La Spezia Centrale to Venice

The top of the line AV trains are Frecciarossa, and these train cars are all equipped with air conditioning and power outlets in your seat for your convenience. There are both 1st class and 2nd class cars. First class passengers get a free drink and a choice of newspaper. A cafe car is available to all passengers.

Frecciabianca trains are very similar in terms of passenger experience to the top of the line AV trains, they’re just not as fast. There are both 1st class and 2nd class cars. Passengers in 1st class cars get a free drink and a newspaper. Both typically have a cafe car which all passengers can use, and power outlets are in both class cars at each seat.

Regionale and InterCity trains sometimes have 1st class and 2nd class cars, but not always. Because reservations are not required on these trains, you simply find an available seat on a car in the appropriate class for your ticket. There is no food service or cafe car on these trains, and the air conditioning doesn’t always work.

La Spezia Centrale and Venice Train Stations

La Spezia Centrale is the city’s main station, located in the city center on Piazza Medaglie. Several bus lines stop outside the station, and there are regular trains from La Spezia to the Cinque Terre towns nearby.

Venice has two stations, Mestre and Santa Lucia. Mestre station is on the mainland, while Venezia Santa Lucia (sometimes shortened to S. Lucia) is on the island. If you are going to Santa Lucia, pay attention so that you don't get off too early at Mestre accidentally. Some trains stop at both Venice stations, while some only stop at Santa Lucia. Once at Santa Lucia, there's a vaporetto water taxi stop right outside the station on the Grand Canal.