We will be traveling from Venice aiport(marco polo) to S. Stae stop area where we will be staying in Venice(Ca'Bonvicini). We will be in Venice for only 48 hours. My question is, does the Vaporetto pass also cover the bus transport from the airport to the Pizzale Roma? And will the vaporetto pass be worth the 25 Euro each, or will we be doing more walking than we think. I doubt we will be going to any of the "islands" in the short amount of time.

The ACTV (bus/vaporetto) pass covers the ACTV bus that does not have a luggage compartment and goes to Piazzale Roma with stops along the way; it does not cover the non-stop ATVO bus with a luggage compartment.

Personally, I've never bought a pass for the full time I was in Venice. I was there for two weeks the last time and bought one 72-hour pass. Most of Venice is eminently walkable if you have no mobility issues, and the traghetti (public gondolas) that cross the Grand Canal can save you lots of walking at only .60 Euro a ride.

thanks, zerlina.. maybe we'll skip the pass then. it's my understanding that it's 6Euro per trip if we use the vaporetto, is that correct? even if we use the vaporetto three more times(including our departure for the train station) we'll break even, so might not be worth it.

Correct, vaporetto tickets are now 6Euro each.

Having a pass will give you the freedom to hop on/hop off for short rides, or take an evening ride down the grand canal without having to dig into your wallet each time.

Personally, I would buy a pass. It's not always convenient to purchase a ticket for a single ride, and the fines are quite heavy. Plus, I like riding around on the vaparetti.

Ok.. now you have me re thinking this. If i don't have a pass, where do I buy a ticket? Does it cost more if you buy it 'on board'? Didn't really think of having to actually buy each ticket.. good point. It's only 48hrs, so i don't know how much it will be used.... What is the pass actually called and where do i get it?
Thanks all.
Any others who have been there for short time.. did u use the pass??

I didn't know about the bus for the pass, but I did buy the 48h vaporetto pass (20 euros). You can buy it at a vaporetto stop. I believe there're 24h, 36h, 48h, 72h passes -- and possibly some others.

We were checked once to see if we had tickets. I did feel that we made good use of our passes, but much of Venice is indeed very walkable. Still we would have had to take at least two rides -- from the train station to San Marco and back to Piazzale Roma.

Basically in 48h you breakeven with 4 rides. I don't think that's too hard to do.

Apologies -- I think I bought the 36h pass. I think that was 20 euros.

I would definitely recommend the pass. We bought the 36-hour ones. They're not THAT expensive, and the vaporettos are extremely convenient. Once you have a pass, you don't even have to think about whether you want to shell out another 6 euros to go up the canal a couple of stops. You will still do PLENTY of walking even with the pass.

Ok... thanks guys... I'm leaning toward the pass.
Also, can we take the ATVO bus from the airport? We each will have 22" carryon bag, will that cause an issue? and can I buy the pass at the airport?
thanks again to ALL

I've seen advertising for a "Venice Card" which includes unlimited use of the Vaporetto as well as admissions or discounts to many of the municipal museums. It also includes the hourly water transport from the airport to the city. The cost is 44.50 Euro for 48 hours on-line. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has used it, particularly if it is better than simply getting a vaporetto pass.

BTW, I found getting luggage on and off the vaporetti to be very difficult.