What is the fastest way to get from Zurich to Venice?
Be in Venice in six hours when driving a car or hiring a driver. This route is tricky to navigate by train and car due to the Alps, but flights require traveling to the citiesтАЩ outskirts and enduring the pre-flight check-in and security.
What is the easiest way to get from Zurich to Venice?
For the ease of door-to-door service and no stress about missing your train or flight departure, hire a private driver for the journey. Do your vacation on your schedule and have all the convenience of a rental car with none of the responsibilities.
Is the train ride from Zurich to Venice scenic?
Switzerland and northern Italy have stunning landscapes, but the grand beauty of the Alps is also a logistical challenge. Trains cannot traverse giant mountain ranges, so expect lots of tunnels during this trip, but your scenic view above ground promises to be worth it.
How much does VeniceтАЩs tourism tax cost?
If you do not have accommodation booked in Venice, you may have to pay a $5.40 (тВм5) tourism tax to help fund the environmental protection of Venice. It was implemented to offset the impact of cruise ship guests and daytrippers, but if you show your hotel booking you are exempt.
Is Venice sinking?
Yes, but scientists are on the case! VeniceтАЩs muddy foundation has compacted over time, and it is also particularly susceptible to rising oceans and more severe storms. Levees and dams are being installed to protect this architectural wonder from the unrelenting sea.
How long is the train from Switzerland to Venice, Italy?
Direct trains from Zurich to Venice take approximately seven to eight hours. Switzerland and northern Italy have robust railroad networks and some high-speed rail options. Trains are modern with wifi, meal cars, comfortable seats, bike racks, luggage storage, and closed cabins for more privacy.
From your hotel in Zurich, the only thing standing between you and Venice is the Alps, the highest mountain range in Europe. ThatтАЩs no problem for your Daytrip driver, though. They are professional drivers local to the area who know the mountainous roads and tunnels from Zurich to Venice very well.
The drive involves five hours and 50 minutes of driving across some of the most beautiful stretches of Europe. Take panoramic photos at Mount Rigi or visit Brescia Castle, all without relying on a regional bus schedule.
Arriving in Venice by car is tricky for foreigners, but not for your local driver. They will drop you off as close to your hotel as possible, given VeniceтАЩs lack of roads. You wonтАЩt be worrying about how to return a rental car or how safe the massive parking garages are on the edge of the islands. Venice will be yours to explore as soon as the transfer is over!
About Venice
Venica has baffled engineers and anthropologists for centuries. It is among the worldтАЩs most-visited cities and its creative approaches to environmental challenges keep it in the scientific limelight. Your trip from Zurich to Venice promises to be inspiring and intriguing, and youтАЩll leave with more questions than when you arrived.
Venice: an unlikely success
In 452 AD, the Huns invaded and forced mainland Italian refugees onto a marshy lagoon off of the northeastern coast of the Italian Peninsula. These refugees used the materials and knowledge they had from the landscape and drove sturdy timber poles into the marshland. Atop these poles, they placed limestone slabs to form the foundation of their homes, stores, artisan workshops, and churches.
The timber poles gradually petrified over time into stone-like beams due to the chemical composition of the marshes. Venice continued to grow despite its unusual foundation. Today, it sits atop about 120 islands and is connected by endless bridges and ferries.
### The Republic of Venice
As refugees who would rather build an entire world from the ground up than live under Hun rule, Venetians became known for their independent society and unique government structure.
The Republic of Venice was governed by an elected Doge and a complex web of local councils. They were master sailors and built their wealth through trade, banking, and salt production from their easy access to the sea.
After a devastating loss to Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797, the Republic of Venice was folded into a series of neighboring empires until joining the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.
### The future of Venice
In 1987, Venice became a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its contributions to artisan crafts like glass-blowing, engineering prowess, and unique adaptation to the surrounding environment. It is an incredibly popular destination but must balance its popularity with the preservation of its legacy. Dams, levees, and visitor taxes are a few such interventions in place to keep Venice around for centuries to come.
From Zurich to Venice: travel tips
The drive from Zurich to Venice is an all-day affair. Keep these travel tips in mind so youтАЩre fully prepared and having a great trip.
Plan your breaks
For the six-hour-long journey, youтАЩre already going to have to stop at least once for food, the restroom, and to stretch your legs. Instead of pulling into a rest stop off of the highway for fast food, use the occasion to have a nice meal of tortellini in Borghetto sul Mincio and a stroll along the Mincio river. You are in Italy, after all!
### Bring a portable battery pack
Before leaving Zurich, charge your portable battery pack and put it in your personal bag so your phone will always have a full charge. Take pictures and videos, and stay connected without fear of running out of battery.
How to get from Zurich to Venice
You have several options for your Zurich to Venice transfer from a variety of price ranges. Which will you choose?
Zurich to Venice with Daytrip
DayripтАЩs door-to-door private car service is the easiest and fastest way to get to Venice. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel in Zurich on your schedule and drive you across the Alps to the coast of northern Italy. Plan the stops that interest you, travel in privacy, and do everything you can do with a rental car without the hassle. Prices start at $193 (тВм178) per passenger.
Venice does not allow cars, but your driver will take you as close as possible to your accommodation. You wonтАЩt have to worry about expensive parking garages on the edge of the city or about returning the car after a long trip. YouтАЩll be free to explore Venice!
### Zurich to Venice by train
In the summers, Trenitalia has one direct train per day from ZurichтАЩs main train station to VeniceтАЩs St. Lucia station. It leaves at 7:33 AM and arrives in downtown Venice at 2:42 PM. Tickets cost between $130 and $217 (тВм120-тВм200); however, the cheapest seats sell out weeks ahead of time. During less busy seasons, departures may be less frequent or may require a transfer.
### Zurich to Venice by plane
Direct flights from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) are operated by SWISS airlines. They have three flights per day and tickets start at $293 (тВм270). The flight is one hour long, but after factoring in transportation to the airport, the check-in process, deplaning, and the final taxi to Venice, you are looking at a 7-hour long journey door-to-door.
### Zurich to Venice by bus
Direct buses for this route are few and far between. SwitzerlandтАЩs mountainous roads make bus travel slow and uncomfortable, but Flixbus has one direct connection daily. The trip takes nine hours and leaves Zurich at 7:30 AM.
Things to do when you get to Venice
Just being in Venice is a remarkable event. Its winding canals, tight alleyways, and extravagant buildings are the perfect backdrop to a casual evening stroll after your journey from Zurich to Venice. In the morning, start your day off right with a traditional Italian breakfast and head to these famous sites:
Piazza San Marco: the heart of Venice
Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) was the center of Venetian society and is a natural starting point for sightseeing. It sits in the shadow of Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica), the Campanile di San Marco (St Mark's Campanile), and the Palazzo Ducale (DogeтАЩs Palace).
### Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica)
Not a single expense was spared in the commissioning of the basilica. Its elaborate mosaics, ornate carvings, and intricate detailing leave more to be uncovered with every turn. Like an optical illusion, the longer you study its statuettes, arched doorways, and marble columns, the more details emerge.
### Palazzo Ducale (DogeтАЩs Palace)
A mere couple of steps from St. MarkтАЩs Square, off of a smaller square, is the Palazzo Ducale. Venetians were ruled by a Doge, and during their reign, their home was the Doge's Palace. It also served as the home of the government and a symbol of VeniceтАЩs incredible wealth. A visit to Venice is incomplete without a tour of its lavish interior.
### VeniceтАЩs glass prison: Murano Island
Venetian glass is a world-renowned artisan craft with a dark history. Murano Island was VeniceтАЩs solution to an age-old problem: factory fires. Glass production requires very hot fires, but with VeniceтАЩs unique layout, a single devastation fire could destroy the entire republic. Glassblowers were made to live on Murano Island to isolate their dangerous profession from the rest of Venice.
To preserve the secret techniques and styles of glass-blowing, artisans had to ask for permission to leave the island, and very few people outside of industry professionals could come to Murano. Today, however, it is a quick boat ride away!
When is the best time to visit Venice
As you can imagine, a city built on a solid bed of limestone floating on a marsh doesnтАЩt have tall buildings or trees to keep the streets shaded during hot days. Summers in Venice are incredibly hot and crowded, with guests streaming in from both mainland Italy and the cruise ships docked outside of its harbors.
We recommend planning your trip from Zurich to Venice during the spring or autumn. YouтАЩll have a much more pleasant experience, cheaper accommodation, and shorter queues for tours.
EuropeтАЩs oldest alpine railroad take visitors up this massive massif, which provides panoramic views all the way into France and Germany.┬а Queen of the Mountains┬а
Devil's Bridge over Sch├╢llenen Gorge
According to legend, building a bridge over the Sch├╢llenen Gorge was so difficult, it took the Devil himself to make it.┬аYou Shall Not Pass┬а
Bellinzona
Strategically positioned and heavily fortified, this scenic valley city has been enthralling visitors for centuries.┬аKey to the Alps┬а
Alfa Romeo Museum
This historic car makerтАЩs museum in its former factory is a delight for car lovers, and those who appreciate a slice of Italian culture.┬аFirst Love┬а
Brescia Castle
Standing at the top of Cidneo Hill lies the Castle of Brescia, one of the largest and best-preserved fortresses of Northern Italy.┬аThe falcon of Italy┬а
Borghetto sul Mincio
The quaint, medieval village of Borghetto sul Mincio remains hidden from mainstream tourism and evokes a feeling of Italian rural peace and serenity.┬аOne of ItalyтАЩs most beautiful villages┬а
