We'll be arriving in Venice by train at 9:30 pm in late November. I have read that the vaporetto regular daily schedule ends at 9:00 pm and there is only limited night service. What is the best way for four of us to get to our hotel (near the Accademia Galleries) at this late hour?

Take the short shuttle ride, or walk, to the water taxi stand. Price isn't too bad when divided by 4.

Looks like the last vaporetto from Sta Lucia train station to Accademia departs at 9:02 PM. Unless you stop in Zattere, but it would require some walking, not so convenient at night because you would easily get lost, unless you're very familiar with Venice. Since you're asking, I assume you are not.

Thus, so far, it seems your best option is taking a water taxi.

"Limited" simply means a vaporetto that makes all stops and comes every 20 minutes. You won't have any trouble catching vaporetto service from Ferrovia at that time. People are still dining in restaurants. If not the #1 then the "N," depending on how late you actually arrive. I often photograph sunrise in Venice and, depending on the season, you can find me on a vaporetto at 5 AM, which is a marvelous time to see Venice. they run pretty much all night, even when it's cold.

Sorry, but the previous two posters have it wrong. Yes, you have the option of a water-taxi but 4 people won't make it cheaper, unless each is pitching in. Price increases with each person and starts at $10 a head, depending on distance.

nyc food snob--4 people would have to buy individual vaporetto tickets, while the water taxi is the same price whether it's one or four. But the taxi is still much more expensive. And with the wine I've been drinking this evening I missed the train part--was thinking airport; don't believe there would be a shuttle from the train station to the taxi stand, unless porters are carrying people on their backs now.

I suspected you thought airport, Rufus, but -"while the water taxi is the same price whether it's one or four" is an incorrect statement.

Let me be even clearer. The fee from the airport is set at 80 Euro and yes, four people can split that. Once you're on the Grand Canal, pricing changes as I've described above. You are charged per person and length of travel.

NYCFoodSnob, are you sure that vaporetti schedule is as widely available as you stated?

This is not my experience. After 10 PM, the stops are limited. Maybe newesttraveler could drop off at Rialto, or even San Zaccaria, but the last depart that stops in Accademia seems to be, as per ACTV, at 9:02 PM.

And I repeat, unless the traveler is quite familiar with Venice, it would be tricky to get to wherever is, having to reach Accademia Bridge from San Zaccaria, or to navigate trough Dorsoduro having dropped off at Zattere in the late evening.

I've just re-checked ACTV website. There're later departures, at 9:16, 9:26, 9:36 and 9:46 PM, on line 1.

So, don't worry, newesttraveler, any of these departures will suit you, and line 1 stops right at Accademia, close to your hotel.

If you choose to get off at the Zattere, it's a straight shot ahead to the Accademia Bridge. About a 2 minute walk, with no turns. Even if the vaporetto stop is moved due to construction, it's still not difficult to navigate from the Zattere.

"...are you sure that vaporetti schedule is as widely available as you stated?" Thanks for the laugh, Surlok.

The current ACTV website states that the last #1 from Piazzale Roma to Accademia departs at 11:43 PM. The "N" then assumes service and departs P. Roma at 12:09 AM.

This schedule may change come November and, if it does, we can revisit it. DO NOT WORRY, newesttraveler, you will have no problem getting to Accademia at your scheduled arrival time. I promise!

You learn something new every day.

Amen, Rufus.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. As Surlok surmised, I do not know my way around Venice and while getting lost there actually sounds like fun, I'd rather not do it with luggage in tow.

Can someone direct me to the ACTV web site mentioned in this string?

Here it is:
http://www.actv.it/eng/home.php

Holly, you are not quite correct. I stayed in a convent right adjacent to the Zattere stop. It is not "a straight shot." You must walk to the right over the bridge to the Gesu church (maybe 100 meters)and make a left. Then it is a straight shot to the Accademia. You can also make a quick left just over the bridge and walk up along the canal toward San Trovasso, then a winding right turn. Could easily get lost in the dark. However Newesttraveler gets there, I think at night it's better to get off right at Accademia.