Train to Florence

[rbslos18]

We arrive in Chioggia. Would it be preferable to take a train to Florence from Padua or Rovigo?

We intend to take a van to the selected train stations.

[euro cruiser]

It will take roughly the same amount of time and, therefore, presumably the same cost to get to either station, so the decision is more about the availability of trains to Florence.

 

From Padova you can get the high speed Frecce trains direct to Florence, from Rovigo you can occasionally get a high speed train but they are infrequent and most require a change en route.

 

For that reason alone I would choose Padova, unless you aim specifically for the 8:16 train from Rovigno.  The next high speed train from that station isn't until 14:17 (2:17 PM).

 

Also, from Padua you have the option of Italotreno, so you can check both companies to see which one offers you the best combination of price and timing for your trip.  The service offered by each is comparable to the other.

 

Note that the Trenitalia site requires you to use the Italian station names (in this case, Padova and Firenze S. M. Novella) even in the English language pages:  EN - Trenitalia

 

Italotreno uses the English language place names on their English language pages:   Italo, italian high-speed train | Book no service fee | italotreno.it

Edited March 18 by euro cruiser

[rbslos18]

Do we need to order the tickets in advance or would a week early work? Is there an app you recommend such as Omio?

Thanks so much!

[euro cruiser]

You can wait and buy them at the station if you want, the odds of getting shut out are very slim.  You might not get seats together, however, if you wait.

 

If you purchase in advance buy directly from the train operators, not via a third party app.

[rbslos18]

Thanks for sharing. Would it make more sense to take a van to Padova and then get the high speed train or take a train from Chioggia to Padova and then switch to the high speed train?

Are the trains in the same terminal?

[euro cruiser]

Chioggia is not a working station, pretty much everything scheduled from there is a bus, not a train.  If it's within your budget I would use a taxi or car service to Padova, but there are bus options if you're looking for a budget option.  You can see them on the Trenitalia site.

 

The buses take about an hour and forty minutes to get to Padova.