Venice Marco Polo Airport buses

ABOVE: ATVO's comfortable blue buses serve the Piazzale Roma in Venice's historic center (above) and the Mestre railroad station on the mainland.

Also see these articles:

• Venice Marco Polo Airport
• Venice Airport Hotels
• Venice Airport Boat
• Treviso Airport Bus (Ryanair)
• Treviso Airport Bus (Transavia/Basiq-Air)

And don't miss this diagram:

• Piazzale Roma Bus Stops

Marco Polo International Airport at Tessera, on the mainland just north of Venice, is a 20-minute road trip from the city's Piazzale Roma. Two different bus routes are available, and both are inexpensive:

ATVO Fly Bus (blue coach)

This bus costs €3,00 and is handy if you're carrying more than one suitcase or backpack, since it has a luggage compartment underneath where the driver will stow your bags. You may also want to take this bus early or late in the day, when local commuters are riding the public bus. The stop is located between the Arrivals terminal and the Departures area. (Caution: Buses for Padova and certain other locations are also blue, so look for the "Venezia" sign before boarding.)

You can buy tickets at the ATVO counter in the arrivals hall (open 8 a.m. to midnight), from the ticket machines in the baggage-claim area, or from a ticket machine in the bus departure area.

Travel time to the Piazzale Roma is 20 minutes. For more information, including timetables, see the ATVO Web site's Airport Service page.

Note: To take the bus from Venice to the airport, buy a ticket at the ATVO Bus Terminal in the Piazzale Roma and walk to the D2 bus bay, where you'll see signs for the ATVO airport buses to both the Venice and Treviso airports. Board the bus for Marco Polo Airport. (ATVO's Treviso buses are for Ryanair and Transavia flights.)

See diagram: Piazzale Roma Bus Stops

Actv (public bus)

Actv's No. 5 bus runs frequently from about 4 a.m. until midnight and costs €1,10. If your luggage is minimal and you aren't traveling at rush hour, this public bus is a cheap way to reach the city. However, you'll need to take your bags into the bus with you, and there are no luggage racks.

You can buy tickets at the public-transportation booth in the arrivals terminal, which also sells 12- to 72-hour Actv tourist tickets, ATVO blue bus tickets, etc.

Once you have your ticket, head for the sidewalk in front of the terminal and look for the Actv stop. Validate your ticket in the stamping machine next to the bus stop. Wait for the No. 5 bus. (The route number and destination are shown on an LED display on the front of the bus.)

Board the #5 bus via the front door. The bus will stop a number of times on the 20-minute trip into Venice, so stay on board until you've crossed the causeway and reached the end of the line. For more information, visit the Actv Web site.

Note: To take the No. 5 bus from Venice to the airport, buy a ticket at the tile-roofed Actv Biglietteria e informazioni building in the Piazzale Roma and catch the bus at the A1 stop near the newsstand along the quieter side of the square opposite the large parking garages.

See diagram: Piazzale Roma Bus Stops

Military vans and tour buses

If you're headed for a military base (such as the U.S. base at Vicenza), you'll find a "NATO / U.S. Military Buses" zone in the center strip between the Arrivals and Departure terminals.

If you're with a tour group, look for your guide or tour leader in the arrivals terminal, or follow the instructions that you were given with your tour materials.

Buses to Venice-Mestre Railroad Station

Both ATVO and Actv run frequent buses to the railway station in Venice's suburb of Mestre, on the mainland, where express trains connect with cities in Northern and Southern Italy. Buy tickets for the "Fly Bus" at the ATVO booth or for the #15 city bus at the Actv counter.

Related articles

Venice Marco Polo Airport
VCE has a new terminal and flights to cities on four continents. Best of all, it's just 6 km (4 km) from Venice's historic center by boat, taxi, or bus.

Venice Airport Hotels
Got an early flight or heaps of luggage? Whether you're going to Marco Polo or Treviso airport, pick a hotel that's convenient to transportation.

Venice Airport Boat
Alilaguna's motoscafi cost more than the bus, but they're more fun, and they may get you closer to your hotel.

Vaporetto Routes
Venice's waterbus system is more Byzantine than St. Mark's Cathedral. This article and route table will make the vaporetti less confusing.

Venice Water Taxis
If you're well-heeled or are traveling in a small group, a private water taxi is a great way to get from the airport to where you're staying.

Article updated September, 2008
 

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