what is the distance and is it best to do it by train rather than drive?

'zactly 2 hours and 50 minutes from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station to Venezia Santa Lucia in a Eurostar, and you don't have to worry about the traffic and/or weather between Firenze and Bologna.

Anytime I can, I leave the driving to them.

Centro to Centro: 260 km.

Train: 3-3 1/2 hours, depending on the type of train.

I can't see the value of renting a car just for this trip. Basically, driving to Venice to stay there a few days, would imply returning the car on arrival to Venice, as it will be useless there.

The train is the way to go. It takes about three hours, and you walk out of the Santa Lucia station in Venice, and you are on the Grand Canal. Hop on the vaporetto and you're ready to be fully immersed in Venice. No worries about parking or drop offs, and the time it takes to accomplish all that.

Honestly, take the train. You'll be glad you did.

Here's another vote for the train. We did it and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Elly

Me too!! We were there end of Sept. The Eurostar was great, very relaxing, and as the previous message, you come right into Venice. And the cost is very reasonable.

When we went by train we got on the 2nd car when leaving Florence and in Venice it was the 2nd last car (probably 100 cars in front) and lugging all our bags from there to the boat to the hotel was quite exhausting.

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When we went by train we got on the 2nd car when leaving Florence and in Venice it was the 2nd last car (probably 100 cars in front)

The cars are usually something like 11 ore 12 or 13, and if you think the way the two stations are designed, you will always have to walk all the lenght of the train, no matter where you are seated. The lenght you do not walk in Florence, you will have to walk in Venice.

quote:

lugging all our bags from there to the boat to the hotel was quite exhausting

Travelling by train with large bags is a slow way of committing suicide (let me tell it, once I was stuck on a business trip with 80 kg. of documents). But I do not think that travelling by car would solve this problem. Going to Venice, you will always have to switch to some form of water transportation, and you will have to lug your luggage to the boat anyway.