Venice to Chioggia

From the Lido by bus and ferry

ABOVE: From the No. 11 bus line's stop in Pellestrina, an Actv water bus will take you to  this landing platform at the edge of Chioggia's historic center.

Chioggia, at the southern end of the Venetian lagoon, is one of Italy's major fishing ports. Most tourists visit Chioggia for one of two reasons: as a break during the drive along the littorale from Venice's Lido resort island to the mainland, or to stay at the nearby Sottamarina beach resort.

The usual way to get from Venice to Chioggia is to take a bus from the Lido, the long and narrow resort island that separates the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. Here's what to do:

From central Venice, take the #1 vaporetto to the Lido. (During summer, you can also take the #2.) See my vaporetto routes article for more information on waterbuses.

When you reach the Lido, buy a ticket for the #11 bus. Check the schedules and board a bus that goes all the way to Pellestrina. Buses run every hour or so.

In Pellestrina, transfer from the bus to a ferry for the 25-minute boat ride to Chioggia.

Total distance is 25 or 30 miles (ca. 40 km), and it'll take you about an hour and a half to reach Chioggia from the Lido.

(Note: Another option is to take a bus from Venice's Piazzale Roma to Chioggia via the mainland, but the trip is less scenic and you won't save much time.)

From Chioggia to Venice

If you're vacationing in Chioggia, you may want to make a day trip into Venice. An express boat leaves for Venice at 9 a.m. during the summer; you can catch it back to Chioggia at 5 p.m. The boat also stops in Sottamarina. For details, see Bob McGrail's reader report.

For more information on Chioggia, including more transportation options from Venice, see our illustrated Chioggia travel article.

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