Trying to figure out best way to get from airport to our hotel near the Accademia bridge. i pack light but i have 12 year olds which means not as light as I would like.

Also, last time I was in Venice we did not do a Gondola ride. But now with kids, I guess I could consider it. What is the best way to do a ride? A group ride? Ideas?

Thanks so much.

I would take the #5 bus from Marco Polo (you get the bus right at the curb in front of the Arrivals Hall; buy ticket from kiosk to the left of Customs exit) to Piazzale Roma in Venice.

You would then take the #1 vaporetto at Piazzale Roma to Accademia stop.

I am frequent visitor to Venice.


Thin

We took the bus and took us just to the Piazza where we took a water taxi to our street.

"Best" is a bit subjective, but the No 5 bus and No 1 vaporetto is certainly the cheapest and quickest.

A water taxi would be fun, but would cost about 100 euro.

For a gondola ride, there are generally a couple of gondoliers hanging around Campo San Barnaba, not far from Accademia. It will cost about 80 euro for 35 minutes.

I've never taken a gondola ride, not really our thing.

Our hotel was near the Rialto Pier so we took the water taxi. Worked out fine.

Water taxi is "best" and quickest but not cheapest.

<i><font color=#555555>""Best" is a bit subjective, but the No 5 bus and No 1 vaporetto is certainly the cheapest and quickest."</font></i>

Best is <b>completely</b> subjective. In Venice, everything regarding transportation is determined by time, convenience, and cost. If time and convenience are important to you, a water taxi is the best choice. It can take you directly from the airport dock to the front steps of your lodging (with good planning), and you can have the boat to yourself or share it with a few strangers at a lower cost.

If low-cost matters to you most, a land bus to Piazzale Roma and a transfer to the #1 vaporetto will save you a lot of money, but the trip will take much longer, because it will involve several modes of transport: bus, walking, boat, and more walking. And perhaps this choice will involve a whole storm of people, so expect a kind of Venetian mayhem.

We always do a water taxi with luggage from airport or Pzle Roma (gondola is not good for lots of luggage and would be fortune from airport even if you could get one there).

Yes, water taxi is expensive but IMHO is a great introduction to Venice and should be considered a sight - not just transportation. Esp useful when you have several people and luggage so the driver can help with it.

How many people in your group, and what's your budget?

The water taxi is undoubtedly the "best" and most expensive mode -- about 100 euros. But let's say you have four people in your group. Is it worth 25 euros/pp to get your hotel quickly, with no transfers and the least amount of hassle with luggage, etc.?

Only you can answer. Others here have provided reasonable alternatives.

If you are 4 people, the bus + vaporetto will cost 4 x €14 = €56. Total travelling time will be around 50 minutes, depending on the connection.

The watertaxi will cost €100 for up to 6 people. Travelling time will be around 25 minutes and the water taxi will drop you off directly in front of your hotel.

Be aware that schlepping baggage in Venice can be pretty nasty, since you may have to negotiate bridges with stairs.

Another aspect:

A water taxi ride will be quite an experience for your 12-year-old twins (much more exciting than a boring gondola ride)!

Re the gondola question: I recommend the group ride. It's cheaper, longer and more fun. A local travel agent in Venice can hook you up with a group. Or check with your hotel.

Water taxi will only drop you off in front of your hotel if the hotel is on a canal.

Have no idea if OP's hotel is on a canal or has a water door.

I agree that if you are travelling with three or more, water taxi makes economic sense.

If you are staying near Accademia bridge, you can shop for groceries and snacks at the Conad Supermarket next to the post office on the Zattere.

Thin

Our family (3) is headed to Venice on April 14. I plan on taking the Orange line water bus to our hotel. I seems to be the first stop after leaving the airport.
Is the orange line typically packed or do alot of visitors take the bus?

O.k. it sounds like a splurge on the water taxi might be worth it. And since we aren't in Venice very long (just two days!) it sounds like it might be worth it. Thank you.

outthedoor: the Orange line is the Alilaguna water bus to and from the airport. As I understand you, your hotel is very near the Orange line Alilaguna stop, right?

If so, I guess I would take it. The boats are smaller, but don't have customers from routes other than the airport.

So if your stop is the first in Venice, it shouldn't be a problem even if the boat is full. Alilaguna seems to manage the crowds well. Basically, they just have to measure airport traffic.

I am almost positive Madonna dell'Orto is the first stop on Alilaguna Linea Arancio.

Yes, the Alilaguna could be packed.

Depends on arrival time.

The last time I took Alilaguna Linea Arancio, I landed at Marco Polo at 9 PM. The boat was full. No empty seats below deck.

Thin

tuscanlifeedit
Thanks for the feedback. Our hotel is a 5 minute walk from the dell'Orto stop.

On the Linea Arancio (Orange Line) coming from the airport, Madonna dell'Orto is the second stop, immediately after Fondamenta Nove. The Alilaguna website is most helpful for info.

The Alilaguna folks do manage their crowds well. Crowd size depends on the time of year, day of arrival, and the time of arrival. Sometimes they board a boat according to your stop.

I love the Alilaguna service, but it helps if you plan your visit around one of their stops. Arriving by Alilaguna eliminates the need to load and unload from a land bus only to walk to get on a boat. Piazzale Roma is always a busy stop. When the vaporetto boats are packed, struggling with luggage is no fun.

Alilaguna requires an affordable, separate ticket, which means you can start/validate your vaporetto pass at a time when it's more convenient and possibly more economical. If you take the land bus to Piazzale Roma and then require a vaporetto ride immediately after, your start/validation time will begin upon arrival. Boat rides make me sleepy, so I typically do not board the <i>vaporetti</i> on my arrival day.

The Alilaguna website is very helpful. According to the Orange Line timetable, the first Nove stop is at 2130(9:30pm), when coming from the airport.
I'm looking forward for a cruise around the lagoon.