Water Taxis in Venice
 

I've read that water taxis to and from the airport in Venice are very expensive. How about in the city itself? If one wanted to go from San Marco to the cruise terminal for instance or from San Marco to the Rialto bridge?
I know about the vaporetti but I'm just curious as to what the fares are based on. Anyone know?

Hi tiggle,

I can't cite the reference, bit I read that Venice is putting meters in the water taxis in order to slow them down. They will make the same money in fewer trips.

Water taxis are still the most expensive way to get around Venice.

The Vaporetto takes about 20 min to go from San Marco to Rialto. A water taxi might save you 10 min.

I can see no reason to take a more expensive water taxi from San Marco to the Rialto Bridge, when the vaporetti costs considerably less and is just as scenic.

We took water taxis from Piazzalle Roma, where we dropped off our rental car, to our hotel, and from our hotel to the train station. Each trip cost about 50-60 euro. It was pouring rain on each occasion and we had our luggage. Other than that we used the vaporetti or walked to get around Venice the entire time we were there.

You can walk to Rialto Bridge in 5 minutes from San Marco.Butif you are just looking for the experience and maybe photos riding in a water taxi just go to Sam Marco square in the morning and many water taxis will take you for free to Murano Glass factories if you act interested in buying. You will have to take the Valporetto back if you don't buy anything.

Limited experienced of 2 trips in Venice, but San Marco to Rialto bridge is definitely a short walk across town!

Water taxis are very expensive to operate, so even short rides cost a lot. Do you have a particular reason for needing a water taxi?

No, I just wondered what the average fare would be. I'm presuming they are in business because people use them, so I just wondered for a frame reference what was a typical fare and how it is calculated. Is there a meter or do they tell you before you board what the fare will be? Does one negotiate or just psy what is asked at the end.

You can find out the fare beforehand, when you book. We recently took one from Rialto to the airport and it was 85 euro.

I agree that the walk from San Marco to Rialto is fairly short. I even did it in heels one night.

In my opinion, you can enjoy a boat ride just as well on the vaporetto (during a time other than rush hour), rather than paying the high water taxi fee.

Okay, this was in October or November just before the Euro went into circulation: it was the wee hours (and raining) when we went from the winter casino to the Metropole Hotel for about $30 . We negotiated price before boarding, he said whatever ($50), we said $30, he said Let's go! (All this Italian, of course!) It really was a little like a scene from a James Bond movie, starring us!!!! We didn't have much choice at that time of night and I've always been glad we did this. I'm actually trying to think up some need to do it again sometime and just might when I'm there in September. Now that they have meters, prices will be more fixed but can't believe negotiating will disappear.

I asked a friend of mine who lives in Venice about the meter situation. She said it will never happen. Guess only time will tell.

I agree that the walk from San Marco to the Rialto is short--but five minutes??StephenG, you must not like to window shop!

When we were planning our last trip to Venice, it became a joke that every hotel we investigated maintained that it was "10 minutes from San Marco." Maybe some were, some not, but who cares? Walking, vaporetti, water taxis--all fun.

A slightly different question about water taxis - which may well appear very naive.

If two people arrive in Venice, each with a large suitcase, can one get the suitcases to one's accommodation by vaporetto, or does one have to take a water taxi, using the vaporetto only when one is sightseeing?

Hi tassie,

Yes you can bring your suitcase on board a vaporetto.

It might be a struggle if there are crowds.

Someone has suggested leaving your luggage at the train station until the mid afternoon and then going back to get it when the station is less crowded.

PS,

Both people can take their luggage.

If and when they do get meters on the watertaxis, I doubt it will make much difference price-wise...

Tassietiger, yes you can take your suitcase on the vaporetto, but if they are large you will have to pay an extra fare for each piece of luggage.
Vaporetti are good for sightseeing, but they are first and foremost public transportation ;)

Federico
Venice, IT

To Tassie-just a clarification-if you arrive at the airport, you take the alilaguna (another form of water taxi) into Venice proper. If you arrive at the train station, you can take a vaparetto. People take luggage on the vaparettos all the time but at the busiest times, it may be a bit of a challenge.

We just returned from Venice, and the vaporetti are usually way over crowded, like the New York City subways at rush hour. The NY subways are air-conditioned, but the vaporetti are not, and it was very hot. Depending on the season of your trip, and the time of day, your luggage might not be welcomed by your squooze together fellow passengers. Splurge on the 80 euro for the water taxi from the airport, and walk or use the vaporetti while touring. Don't miss the free water taxi ride to Murano for the glass blowing demonstration. Resist the hard sell to purchase and just leave and enjoy the island. Then take the vaporetti to Burano or back to Venice.

Thanks for the advice on my water taxi/vaporetto question - it all helps prepare us for the (largely) unknown !

We just returned also and didn't find the vaporetto to be a problem at noontime, even with luggage. However, we were going from the train station to San Silvestro, so that might be different.

We did, however, spring for a water taxi to go to Marco Polo airport for our departure. Mainly due to the early morning departure and the ease of travel and time.

Fascinating string of replies and yet no one has yet been able to answer my simple question...How much is a water taxi ride locally between FOR EXAMPLE(I know its a ten minute walk or less I just wanna know how much will I get blasted for the ride) San Marco and the Rialto...

No one seems to be able to answer your question since no one we know really does that....takes a water taxi such a short distance.

I think that's why we've all been trying to give you an idea of what we've paid for distances that people typically ride so that you can guage on your own what the cost might be.

If you really want to do this, just ask a water taxi the cost before boarding. My guess is that it would be anywhere betweent $30 and $40, but that's just a guess.

Hi tiggle,

I would guess that it would be closer to 50E.

If you note the fare schedule for taxicabs, you will see that the first mile or two are the most expensive.

Thus, a short trip on a water taxi, will cost more than half the price of one twice as long.

In June, I posted this info:

FYI: paraphrased from the most recent Venice Word email:

Last Friday, Venice's municipal council
set mandatory fixed prices for all water taxis, which will be required to install meters.

The prices, to go into effect sometime in July 2003, will be:

8.7 Euro for the "pull" or the initial charge;
1.3 Euro for each additional
minute;
5.5 Euro for a nighttime surcharge;
5.9 Euro for a holiday (timeframes not specified) surcharge; and
1.5 Euro for luggage (did not say per piece).

Since then, the taxi drivers (captains?) have pressured the Venetian officials to delay the mandated compliance date to August 4 (at the earliest) to make certain the unlicensed, illegal taxis are dealt with in the new ordinances.

So, sorry to not specifically answer your question, but (depending upon when you go and when the meters start running) the result of this may affect the fares.

I agree with Ira's estimate of 50 euro for the water taxi from San Marco to Rialto. I asked for a price from San Marco to the gaming casino (which is also on the Grand Canal) in the hope that there may be a freebie offer like the taxi to the glass factory or the bus from New York to Atlantic City, but I was quoted 50 euro.

Thank you all for the great information!

Found this posted on slowtrav.com.

From Veniceword:

NEWS. The bargaining goes on. At least until August 4th, the new date for the installation of compulsory taximeters on the water-taxis of Venice. The machines were supposed to be activated last Friday, July 25th, but the influential water-taxi drivers oppose the new system, and they lodged a strong protest with the mayor and the municipality: "There are no controls for illegal water-taxi drivers, and the rules for us are too strict," one of the legal drivers said. "For example, we're fined like the big cruising boats. It's persecution." But August 4th could still be the official starting date.

CURIO. Do you want a cheap visit to Venice? The solution is very simple: arrive by yacht. A recent study found that one of the cheapest ways to visit Venice is to moor a boat in the central area called Riva dei Sette Martiri, between Riva degli Schiavoni and the Giardini di Castello, five minutes from St. Mark's Square. Despite its prime location, parking for private yachts isn't very expensive -- the price is 6.24 euros every day, the same as a car park in Piazzale Roma and less than a cappuccino in St. Mark's Square. So a romantic week on the lagoon in the centre of Venice costs only 43 euros!

Thanks statia, but where do I tie up my dighy?

Good one, Ira!

Heck, after just returning and seeing those yachts for myself, I wouldn't mind just having the dinghy from one of them! I'd still gladly pay the daily fee for mooring.