Everything you need to know to navigate Venice by vaporetto, water taxi, Alilaguna, and more.
Venice is a very walkable city, but you’ll likely need to use its public transport system at some point whether that’s to get to the airport or visit outlying islands like Murano or Burano. Being predominantly water-based, the system can be a little daunting, so here’s how to travel through the city’s canals and across the lagoon using its waterbuses, ferries, and taxis.
How Do You Get to and From the Venice Airport?
There are two public transport options to reach the historic city of Venice when you arrive at Marco Polo Airport. You can take an ACTV (Line 5) or ATVO bus, which takes between 20 and 30 minutes and terminates at Piazzale Roma. This is on the western extreme of the city, near the railway station. Alternatively, you can catch an Alilaguna ferry service and disembark at various stops including Lido Island, St Mark’s Square, and the Rialto, which takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes depending on your destination.
How Do You Get Around Venice Using Public Transport?
The main island of Venice is serviced by a network of vaporetti (waterbuses). According to the operator of the waterbus network, there are actually 159 different types of vessels in their fleet. The ACTV transport system has 30 lines and over 120 floating stops (imbarcaderi) around the city and outlying islands.
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Routes include City Centre lines (1 and 2) that cross Venice using the major waterways of the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal. They leave from Tronchetto—a parking lot on the edge of the city—or Piazzale Roma and go as far as the Lido island. Line 1 is useful for reaching the railway station, the Rialto market, the Rialto Bridge, the Accademia Gallery, the Basilica della Salute, the Arsenale, and the Lido.
There are also connections around the city’s lagoon perimeter. City Circle lines (3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, and 6) go as far as Murano and the Lido. The Lagoon lines (12, 13, 14, and 19) connect the islands of the lagoon archipelago, including Murano, Burano, Torcello, Sant’Erasmo, and San Servolo.
Vaporetto services run on a 24-hour schedule. Most lines run between 4.30 am and midnight, while a night service (Line N) covers midnight to 5 am.
How Do You Get Vaporetto Tickets and What Do They Cost?
You can purchase single tickets and multiday passes from counters and automatic vending machines beside some of the major vaporetto stops, like at the railway station or near the Rialto Bridge. They are also on sale at Venezia Unica and ACTV sales points, newsstands, and in many bars, shops, and tobacconists—look for the ACTV sign outside. You can also pre-book tickets online.
In front of the floating pontoons at each stop, you’ll find automatic card readers where you need to validate your ticket before boarding. Place your ticket on the circular panel and wait for the green light. Some of the bigger stops have barriers that open when you scan your ticket. From the time you validate your ticket, you can travel for 75 minutes (irrespective of the number of times you change waterbus). A single ticket costs €9.50.
If you are going to be making frequent use of Venice’s public transport system, you can invest in 1,2,3 and 7-day passes entitling you to unlimited trips. Passengers between 6 and 29 years of age can purchase a Rolling Venice card for €6,00, which gives a discount on 3-day passes. Public transport tickets are also valid on buses on the mainland traveling to Mestre and Marghera and on buses on the Lido.
How Do You Take a Water Taxi in Venice?
You can also get around Venice by private transfer in a water taxi. Though the more expensive option, it means you can arrive at many destinations not serviced by waterbuses (at some hotels you can arrive directly at the canal entrance by taxi), and it might be essential if you have an early morning flight or a lot of luggage.
You’ll find taxis waiting at piers all over the city, including outside the railway station and near major attractions. You can also book a trip by phone. It doesn’t happen often, but avoid being scammed by checking the boat you board has a yellow stripe with a license number showing it is legit.