Today's Route at a Glance
The Santissima Annunziata quarter flat - Leave by 9:00 AM
Check out, bags packed the night before. Grab breakfast near the flat or at SMN station.
Taxi: Flat to Santa Maria Novella (SMN)
15 min drive, allow 20 min on the day. EUR 10-12 / USD 11.50-13.80 metered.
Train: Florence SMN to Venezia Santa Lucia
Frecciarossa or Italotreno high-speed. Target 10:00-10:30 AM departure. Approx 2h 15m journey.
Vaporetto: Ferrovia to Ca' d'Oro
Line 2 (~5 min, one stop) or Line 1 (~8 min, two stops). Do NOT walk Strada Nova with luggage on arrival day.
Venice Flat - Cannaregio near Campo Santi Apostoli
5-min flat walk from Ca' d'Oro. No bridges on this final stretch.
Morning - Breakfast Before Departure
Three Options, Choose by Train Time
Pick based on which train you're catching. The 10:00 AM train means station coffee. The 10:30 AM or later allows a proper stop.
If catching the 10:30 AM or later
Caffe del Verone
Piazza Santissima Annunziata 13 - 3 min from flat. Opens 9:30 AM. Good espresso and pastries before the short taxi to SMN.
EUR 4-8
USD 4.50-9
If catching the 10:00 AM
Bar at Santa Maria Novella Station
SMN station has decent bars with espresso and pastries from 6:00 AM. Not a destination, but perfectly fine as a transit breakfast.
If timing allows
Ditta Artigianale - Via dello Sprone 3R (Oltrarno)
Opens 8:00 AM daily. Not on the direct route to SMN but works with flexible timing. Florence's best roastery - the right way to say goodbye to the city.
EUR 5-10
USD 5.50-11
Train
Florence SMN to Venezia Santa Lucia
Transport
Frecciarossa or Italotreno High-Speed
Target 10:00-10:30 AM departure from Santa Maria Novella. Approx 2 hours 15 minutes to Venice. Book at trenitalia.com or italotreno.it. Buy early - prices rise close to date.
EUR 35-60 per person
USD 40-70 per person
Varies by timing and class
Afternoon - Venice Arrival
Santa Lucia to the Flat
Train arrives Venezia Santa Lucia. Exit the station and you are on the Grand Canal. Take the vaporetto from the Ferrovia dock - do not walk Strada Nova with luggage on arrival day. Two bridges with steps and tight turns make it genuinely miserable with bags.
Vaporetto to Ca' d'Oro
Line 1 or Line 2 from Ferrovia
Line 2: Ca' d'Oro in one stop, approx 5 min. Line 1: Ca' d'Oro in two stops, approx 8 min. Both stop at the same dock. Buy ACTV tickets at machines on the dock - cash and card accepted. Validate at yellow machines before boarding. From Ca' d'Oro: 5-min flat walk to the Cannaregio flat near Campo Santi Apostoli. No bridges on this final stretch.
Single ticket EUR 9.50 / USD 11
Or buy 3-day pass on arrival
⚠ Oct 4 Holiday Note
Feast of St. Francis (Oct 4) falls later in the week. Vaporetti may run a reduced schedule that day. Buy the Venice 3-day pass now (Thu-Sat, EUR 45 / USD 52 each) - it covers most of the Venice stay. Single ticket EUR 9.50 / USD 11 for Sunday if needed.
Practical Notes
- Leave flat by 9:00 AM for a 10:00 AM train - taxi to SMN is 15 min, allow 20 min on the day
- Taxi from the flat to SMN: EUR 10-12 / USD 11.50-13.80 metered
- Buy Venice 3-day vaporetto pass on arrival at Ferrovia dock (EUR 45 / USD 52 each) - covers Thu-Sat
- Venice flat: Cannaregio near Campo Santi Apostoli - 5-min flat walk from Ca' d'Oro, no bridges
- Train tickets: book at trenitalia.com or italotreno.it - prices rise close to date