Questions about the vaporetto system!
 

You don't have to answer all the questions, just any info would be really appreciated :-) Obviously it's going to be a little different than the subway system I'm used to, so how long does it take to get to the San Marco area from Santa Lucia? What exactly is Piazzale Roma and is it next to Santa Lucia? is there only one stop at San Marco? How long in advance should I take the vaporetto before my train leaves Santa Lucia? How do I know what direction the vaporetto is heading? does it have it's final destination written somewhere like a bus or a train? Where do I buy the ticket?Thanks for your patience.

You can find lots of infos by searching here and other forums also reasing guide books but here you go :

> how long does it take to get to the San Marco area from Santa Lucia?

You can take No1 (stops at every stop) = about 45 minutes
or No2 (stops at only main stops, Rilato, Accademia, etc) = Takes about half of No.1. Very apprximative.

> What exactly is Piazzale Roma
Is a terminal where all the busses arrive/ start

> Is it next to Santa Lucia?
On the other side of the Grand Canal - one vap. stop away. 5 minutes walk. You really should get a map and a guide book on Venice.

> is there only one stop at San Marco?
No. There are a few.

> How long in advance should I take the vaporetto before my train leaves Santa Lucia?

Taking a vaporetto at San Marco? It depends what time of the day you do it. To be very cautious, I would do it about 2 hours before the train departure. I once waited for No2 and line was long, I had to let one or 2 boats go before I was able to board. And the boat I took was also FULL. Was not a fun. I had to run for my train. I think I missed it actually.

> How do I know what direction the vaporetto is heading?
Read the signs/electric boards well.

> does it have it's final destination written somewhere like a bus or a train?
Yes.

> Where do I buy the ticket?
Most stops have manned window (or machines lately). Or reserve ahead on www.veniceconnected.com

36 minutes - http://www.actv.it/pdf/navigazione/linea1.pdf

It's where vehicle traffic enters Venice, and it's right across the grand canal from the train station (Ferrovia)

You need to be on the train when it leaves the station. I would arrive at Sta. Lucia no later than 30min before departure to get your bearings, buy your ticket, etc.

There will be signs indicating the direction (final stop) on each vaporetto line. From the train station, facing the canal with the station to your back, you want to take a vaporetto coming from the right/going to the left. From San Marco back to Sta. L, just the opposite.

There are ticket booths at vaporetto stops. I believe you need to validate the ticket before you get on, as the ticket is not dated. If you're going to use the vaporetto frequently it may make sense to get a multi day pass.

look at www.hellovenezia.com for more info.

All of the above is correct but while you can get tickets at machines it can be a total hassle you can also get 3-5-7 day pass's with some museums tossed in at: http://www.veniceconnected.com they have several options and you end up saving about 15% over single purchase plus for me a big factor is not standing in machine line at busy stops. The sight will also give you all the stops that do have auto machines.

A Venice Vaparetto Guide which covers the topic .....

http://livingveniceblog.com/venice-i...ice-vaporetto/

Individual tickets are several euros and a day pass is not much more - I think just a few rides may be cheaper with a day pass = and one thing IMO to do in Venice is to just ride around - especially try to go thru the canals in the eastern end of Venice!

Individual tickets are now 6.50€ each. A 12hr pass is 16€, 24hrs for 18€, and the price per day drops thereafter.

http://www.actv.it/en/movinginvenice/fares1

Kappa1 you're a lifesaver, thanks everyone! so do any of the vaporettos enter the smaller canals inside the different neighborhoods? or do they mainly stick to the grand canal and circle around Venice besides going to the other islands?

So say you were visiting Venice for 4 days... would you all recommend buying a multiple day pass or what? Im ex9pecting to spend a lot of time walking around and touring the city.. so how often would you think we would need the vaparetto?

For 4 days I would buy a 24, 36 or 48r pass for the last days time to cover my trip back to the train station. I agree that the 1st few days especially one would do more walking.

I'd use those 3rd & 4th days to visit outer islands & hop on/off the vaporetto for some trips on the Grand Canal which would make good use of the pass.


chillout - you can see the routes here http://www.actv.it/pdf/navigazione/Mappa_linee.pdf

The vaporetti stick to the Grand canal and other major channels/open water.

there are boats I have ridden that do go thru smaller canals - not all as bridges are too low but you can crisscross Venice by boat.

Most if not all of the routes that used to go through the smaller canals have been eliminated. The interesting route that used to pass through the Arsenale now circles around Venice. The same is true of the charming route that used to go from Piazzale Roma along Rio Nuovo and Rio di Ca'Foscari all the way to the Grand Canal. (In the movie "Summertime," Katharine Hepburn arrives in Venice on this route and even sees a boat traffic light.) So, indeed, "they mainly stick to the grand canal and circle around Venice."

Great helpful information for our upcoming visit.

Can you buy the 12, 24 hour etc passess from the ticket machines?

ellenem - thanks for the update - just two years ago I took the vaporettos thru the Arsenale - too bad they no longer go as it was such a great trip.

One more thing. Don't think of Vaporetti as just transportation. They are entertaining as well.

How will you arrive in Venice? Train? Car or bus? That will dictate where you board. Our first trip we arrived by car, parked at Piazzale Roma at took the vaporetto from there. After passing through some not particularly interesting areas it made the turn onto the Grand Canal and WOW! What an unforgettable first sight that was.

Another option is to buy your multi-day vaporetto passes at the airport.
No lines, simple, and stress-free.

I know I am piggy backing on chillouts post, but we will be arriving by train from Bologna. Our stop near our B&B will be San Zuccaria.

We will be departing Venice by plane.

This sight contains great, useful information on the vaporetto system and Venice-

http://livingveniceblog.com/

Click on the Venice Instructions tab and then look on the right hand side of the page.

Oops, that should be site, not sight.

Steviegene and aussie, START YOUR OWN THREADS!!!

Just kidding. I started this thread for all questions regarding the mysterious vaporetto system :-)

We arrive in Santa Lucia by train, so I'm assuming we would take No. 1 or No. 2 towards San Marco Vallaresso (hotel says that's the closest one).

What if we were very tired and decided to take a taxi? could you "hail" them as they pass by or do we have to search for a taxi stand?