In Venice's centro storico or historic center, which is made up of more than 100 islands, water buses are the equivalent of buses and subways on dry land. ACTV, the public-transportation authority in Venice, operates vaporetti and other water buses around the clock, with a fleet of 150 boats and routes that extend into the far corners of the Venetian Lagoon.

Motoscafo and Vaporetto on Grand Canal

ABOVE: A motoscafo (foreground) and a vaporetto on the Grand Canal.

Ferrovia vaporetto platform Venice is a small city, and you can walk nearly to nearly any street, square, monument, or hotel within the historic center in 30 minutes or less. Still, there are times when you'll want to take a water bus, such as:

If you're staying outside the center on an island such as the Lido or La Giudecca (site of the Venice Hostel);
When you want to visit the islands of the Lagoon, including the glassmaking island of Murano;
When you want to spend 45 minutes or so cruising up or down the Grand Canal on the No. 1 vaporetto line;
When you're tired after a day's sightseeing and you're willing to pay a premium for a ride back to the neighborhood where you're staying.

Vaporetto bow In this article, we'll describe the different types of vaporetti, motoscafi, and motonavi in Venice's ACTV fleet. We'll also tell you how to board and use the boats, how to avoid crowds during high season and holiday weekends, and what you need to know before boarding a water bus with luggage.

For even more information (including routes, fares, and tourist passes), please click the links in the "Related articles" menu at the bottom of each page.

Next page: Types of water buses

In this article:
Venice Vaporetto Water Buses	Traveling by Vaporetto
Types of Water Buses	More Tips and Warnings

Vaporetto Routes

Vaporetto Fares

Buying Vaporetto Tickets

ACTV Ticket Machines

ACTV Tourist Travel Cards

VeniceConnected (Venice Pass)

imob.venezia Stored-Value Card (CartaVenezia)

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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:

Hotel Recomendations by Area
Find hotels that are handy to the airport, railroad station, cruise port, or Piazza San Marco, and in Mestre.

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

From our Venice Travel Blog:

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