Venice Local Transportation
Getting Around Venice
For the most part, transportation within Venice consists of a sturdy pair of
rubber-soled shoes or Birkenstocks. Distances are short, although they'll often seem much
longer since you're bound to get lost whenever you venture off the well-marked central
pedestrian routes.
Still, there are times when you'll want to take to the water, so here's how to cruise
the canali without bruising your pocketbook:
Waterbus
The public boats called vaporetti and motoscafi run almost
constantly, and you'll seldom have to wait more than a few minutes for one to come along.
The waterbus you'll use most often is the No. 1, the local that stops 13 times between
the Piazzale Roma and the Piazza San Marco. (For details on boat routes, see my
easy-to-print vaporetto routes article and the ACTV Web site.)
The standard waterbus or autobus fare is a painfully steep
€6,50. However, if you plan on traveling
extensively by public transportation, you can save money with 12- to 72-hour
"tourist travel card" from ACTV, the Venice transit authority. See our
Venice Vaporetto and Bus Fares page for
more information. (Another option, the tourist office's
Venice Connected pass, is worth considering
if you can figure out the byzantine pricing scheme.)
There's also a Cartavenezia card for residents, students, and
visitors who are planning to stay a while. This card offers big discounts on
public-transportation fares but isn't practical for short-term visitors.
TIP: Smaller boat stops may not have ticket booths. In such cases, board the vaporetto
and immediately ask the conductor for a ticket (biglietto). The
alternative--keeping your mouth shut and hoping you aren't noticed--could result in a
hefty fine and public humiliation.
Water taxi
The sleek, wood-trimmed water taxis of Venice are priced for the limousine crowd,
with extra fees for radio-dispatched service, trips after 10 p.m., and Sunday travel. Warning: aquatic cabs don't have meters,
so know what you're paying before the skipper casts off.
Gondola
The gondolas of Venice are beautiful but expensive. Gondoliers often demand
more money for less time, so read my
Gallivanting by Gondola article before you're taken for a ride.
Traghetto
With only a handful of bridges crossing the Grand Canal's four-kilometer length, Venetians
rely on gondola ferries called traghetti at seven points between the
railroad station and the Santa Maria della Salute church. Follow the yellow
gondola signs down to the water, where you'll pay only a small fee to reach the
other side. See my Traghetto article for more
information.
For more detailed information on
reaching and getting around the the historic center and the Venetian Lagoon, see
Arriving in Venice and my
Local Transportation - Quick Index.
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