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Venice Travel Guide


General planning:


Transportation:


Enjoying Venice:


On the mainland:


San Giorgio Maggiore photo by Matthew Dixon

Aerial Venice
Explore Venice from the air, with explanatory text.


More resources:


From Viator:

Viator

Venice Vaporetto and Bus Fares


Also see:

May, 2012

The fares listed on page 2 of this article are for visitors to Venice and its suburbs. Prices for single boat trips are shockingly (some might say "obscenely") high, so consider buying a 12-hour to 7-day Tourist Travel Card, an imob.venezia card (CartaVenezia) for longer stays, or--less desirably--a Venice Connected (formerly Venice Card) pass.

Better yet, skip the boat and walk, except on special occasions: Venice is extremely compact, and it's often faster to walk from one part of town to another than to take a water bus. See our "Walking in Venice" article for practical advice on finding your way around the city.

For tips on where and how to obtain tickets, see our articles about Buying Vaporetto Tickets and ACTV Ticket Machines.

Actv photo

ABOVE: An Actv motoscafo in the Cannaregio Canal.

Important:

  • ticket machineYou must validate tickets before use. Look for the white or green iMob card reader near the walkway that leads to the floating vaporetto platform. Hold your ticket within 6 cm (about 2� inches) of the circular panel for three seconds, or until you see a green light and hear a beep.
  • If you're at a vaporetto stop without a ticket counter or machine, buy a ticket from the boat conductor as you board to avoid a fine. (On land, purchase bus tickets at ticket machines, Hellovenezia/ACTV offices, or at the nearest tobacconist.)

  • A single waterbus ticket is good for 60 minutes in one direction, which means you can transfer as long as you aren't headed back toward your starting point.

  • As we point out in the fare tables, children under 6 ride free, but kids 6 and over must pay the full adult fare.

  • On water buses, you're allowed to carry one piece of luggage with a combined length, width, and height of 150 cm (60 inches) or less. For more luggage, or for a bigger bag, you may need to pay a supplement. Ask the agent in the ticket booth or the boat conductor as you board.

  • The imob.venezia stored-value card (CartaVenezia) is worth the steep non-resident fee if you're staying in Venice for a while, since it offers huge discounts on public-transportation fares. (It used to be available only for residents and students, but tourists can now buy it at HelloVenezia ticket offices.)
  • The standard (non-Cartavenezia) fare tables on page 2 were last updated in May, 2012, after an ACTV fare increase.

Money-saving tip:

  • Venice is a compact and walkable city, and you shouldn't need to use the vaporetto often unless you have trouble walking, are pressed for time, or are going to an island (such as the Lido or Murano) outside the historic center. Our advice: Walk when you can, and organize your schedule to make the most efficient use of a tourist travel card.

Checking fares:

The Water and Land Bus Fare Tables on page 2 show what you'll pay for single tickets, carnets, and Tourist Travel Cards.

Next page: Water and land and bus fare tables


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Photo by gianlucabartoli

Hotel Advice:

Location can be important in a car-free city with 400+ bridges, especially when you're walking with luggage. Before you book, see:

  • Aerial Venice Hotels
    Read our tips on choosing the right sestiere or district. Then view individual hotels and their surroundings in large satellite photos and aerial close-ups.

MSC cruise ship in Venice

Venice for Cruisers:


Venice canal reflections

A water taxi ride to Venice Airport
A warning about water taxis
Venice Railroad Station: a vaporetto view
Long lines at Venice Airport
Free boat trips to Murano
Need to pee? Prepare to pay
Crime in Venice
The perils of overpacking
Venetian daily life


Maggie in Venice

From Maggie in Venice:

A dog's life in Venice
A Beagle boards a water bus
Maggie in Venice video clips


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