Making the rail journey from Venice to western Switzerland is straightforward thanks to the locations being linked by comparatively comfortable trains.
Though the daily direct train isn't scheduled to arrive in Geneve until after 23:00 - and the optimum alternative also has an evening arrival
If you will be planning a travel itinerary which includes both Geneva and Venice, if you travel by direct train in the opposite direction you'll get to experience the fabulous views, which can be seen during the daytime.
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
7hr 36min - 8hr 15min (approx)
Daily
1 x train per day
Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:
Italiarail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.
Though Italiarail will charge a booking fee, typically of around €3.
The Early Bird service
Italiarail has launched an 'early bird' pre-booking service for journeys by Frecce trains.
Tickets can be booked up to a year ahead of travel at a flat-rate price per route, before the tickets have been released for sale by Trenitalia.
If when they are placed on sale, the price is cheaper than what you have already paid to Italiarail, it will automatically refund the price difference.
Conversely, if the price is more expensive, you won't be charged the price difference.
You can also have the peace of mind of securing your seat(s) on the Frecce train(s) when you are first planning a trip.
If before the tickets are placed on sale, you decide to change your plans, you can request a refund; but once the tickets are released for sale, you will then be bound by the terms and conditions of the ticket(s) you have booked.
Final Destination: Geneve-Aeroport
This trains also calls at: Brig, Sion, and Montreux and Lausanne.
This one direct train of the day from Venice to Geneva, which usually scheduled to depart from Venezia S. Lucia station at 16:18 doesn't arrive in the Swiss city until after 23:15, which obviously isn't particularly convenient.
And the scenic part of the trip will be after night falls
However, if it doesn't particularly matter at what time you'll arrive in Switzerland, then it's our preferred option on this route.
This train will not be available from June 8th to September 9th, due to the railway route in northern Italy being closed due to construction work.
On Fridays and Saturdays the train will typically scheduled to arrive into Geneve at around 23:20, but on the other days of the week it makes many more station calls on the Swiss section of the journey, so is slower by 40mins and doesn't arrive until around midnight.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
This one direct train of the day is usually scheduled to depart from Venezia S. Lucia station at 16:18.
Rail Pass users will need to pay a reservation fee prior to boarding this train,.
If you opt to travel to Geneva, by making a connection in Milan, you'll either need to pay the rail pass reservation fees on both the Frecce train from Venice to Milan AND the EC train from Milan to Geneva OR avoid paying any additional fees by taking this slower journey option.
7hr 35min (approx)
Daily
1 x optimum connection per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
When available the daily direct train from Venezia / Venice to Geneve doesn't arrive in the city until after 23:15 on any day of the week, but the optimum alternative of only making one connection, arrives into the Swiss city only two hours sooner.
The first train of the day from Milano to Geneve departs too soon for a connection from Venezia / Venice to be available - and the train which departs from Milano at around 13:15 at weekends doesn't have a convenient connection.
Though the train which usually departs Venezia S. Lucia at around 13:45 typically has a connection of around 50 mins into a train on to Geneve.
Final Destination: Milano Centrale
All trains also call at: Venezia Mestre and Verona and Brescia
Some trains also call at: Peschiera del Garda and or Desenzano del Garda
Virtually all of the Frecce services on this route to Milano Centrale are now provided by the new type of Frecciargento E700 train
*There is usually 2 x departures per hour, but there is a gap in the the departures between 08:20 and 10:50.
Final Destination: Milano or Torino
All trains also call at: Venezia Mestre, Padova, Verona
Most trains also call at: Vicenza
The Frecciarossa/Frecciarossa 1000* trains have now completely replaced the Frecciabianca trains on this service, since the opening of the high speed line (that these trains use) between Brescia and Milano.
*Two departures per day are by Frecciarossa 1000 train
Two of the daily depatures are EC trains that are heading to Switzerland
The EC trains are 10 mins slower, as they don't use the high speed line - but they can be around €10 cheaper than the Frecciarossa trains.
On the Journey:
If you're on the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel) keep a look out between Desenzano and Peschiera for a fleeting, but incredible view of Lake Garda (weather permiting).
Final Destination: Geneve
The train also calls at: Sion and Montreux (connect for MOB trains to Gstaad) and Lausanne
The railway between Arona and Stresa is closed completely from June 9th to September 8th, so during these dates these EC express train services will be turning around in Domodossola and won't be serving Milano.
This is an enchanting journey, which tends to get overlooked, but not by ShowMeTheJourney; as it's been included in our list of Europe's Most Epic Express Train Journeys
If your reserved seat is on the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel) there are some fabulous views over Lake Maggiore after Arona.
Though this video, filmed in the opposite direction, only gives a sense of the view of the beautiful islands that can be seen by the lake shore, shortly after the train has departed from Stresa.
ShowMeTheJourney has been a tad unlucky with the weather when making this train ride.
The train then travels through a spectacular valley between Domodossola and The Simplon Tunnel - which for much of the 20th century was the world's longest railway tunnel.
Between Visp and Sion, the train threads through spectacular valleys lined with vineyards.
The views on this part of the journey are wonderful from both sides of the train - but the video shows what can be seen on the right.
And then the journey ends with a flourish, as either side of Montreux, there are some great views over Lake Geneva from the left of the train
This clip was also filmed from a travelling in the opposite direction - and technically it isn't our best attempt at capturing a train journey, but it gives a sense of what you can expect to see in fine weather!
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 4 months ahead of the travel date; though this period of time can be shorter, particularly when searching for journeys more than three months ahead during October and March.
Reservations will automatically be assigned when booking tickets (but rail pass users will need to make reservations prior to boarding at a ticket office - they're not available from the Trenitalia ticket machines)
Rail Pass Users:
If you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass you will either to pay the reservation fee to travel on this train
Our guide to using using rail passes to travel from Italy has all the info you'll need, OR you can avoid paying the fee by following this alternative routing.
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