swalter518

OK, I'm confused. I read the whole Venice card website and don't see any distinction between the "orange" card or the "blue" card except that when you look at the prices the blue card is cheaper. Maybe I just missed it on the website...Can someone help me figure out the differnce? Thanks.

chepar

One of them (orange, I believe) also includes entrance to certain museums in addition to the vaparetto and toilets.

Unless you plan to visit enough museums covered by the Venice Card to make it worthwhile, I would probably just go with a regular vaparetto pass.

We purchased a one day blue card last spring, thinking the toilets being included was a good idea. We were never in proximity of the toilets covered by the card when we needed one.

We ended up buying regular vaparetto passes (which were less expensive) for the rest of our time in Venice.

swalter518

Thanks chepar-I'm not sure why I couldn't find that info-when you say the "regular vaporetto pass" do you mean just the pass purchased at the stops, as opposed to the blue card?

chepar

yup, we just walked up to a ticket window and purchased the 24 hour vaparetto pass. I believe that they also come in multi-day versions, but since we purchased the Venice Card for one of our 3 days in Venice, it was less expensive to buy consecutive 24 hour passes for the remainder 2 days.

The Venice Card we picked up/paid for at a ticket window outside the train station - there was this row of ticket windows, and at only one of them could you pick up the Venice Card. No one was manning the booth when we got there, so we had to wait about 15 minutes until someone showed up.

I believe there are other pickup locations, but I'm not sure where they are.

faredolce

I got an orange 3-day Venice Card last year. I thought for sure I would get my money's worth for it, but really, I only used the public toilets once. I did use it for all of my vaporetto rides, which amounted to two, because I spent two full days afraid to get on a vaporetto (I walked - alot). I also used it for entrance into one palazzo and one museum. Honestly, I am divided about it, but I still think it is a good idea. I just didn't use it enough. It may be best for a 7-day trip, when you have enough time to take full advantage of its benefits.

I also had to go back to the booth by the train station a couple of times to pick up my card - nobody was there the first time.

maryk

We buy the blue card when we're there. We use the vaporettos a lot, both for getting around and for sightseeing (nothing like an evening trip up and down the Grand Canal). As we tend to visit different museums than available on the Orange Card we haven't used that. The value of the cards is dependant on how long you're going to be there. For instance if you're there a week the 7 day blue card is a reasonable saving on buying normal tickets.

It's worth noting that as well as the sites where you can pick up the card if you pre-order ( the rail station, Piazzale Roma and the airport), they are also available from the Accademia & Vallerosso vaporetto stops.