Arriving in Venice
Tips on reaching the city center from Marco Polo airport, the railroad station,
and mainland highways.
Walking in Venice
How to find your way with maps, directional signs, and street signs.
Piazzale Roma
Venice's car and bus gateway is depressingly ugly, so read our instructions on where to
park (if necessary) and how to find a vaporetto or water taxi.
"Which Venice Pass do I need?"
Several passes give you an option of "all you can eat" local transportation
or--at greater expense--transportation plus access to municipal museums. Which
is best? Do you even need one?
Bicycles in Venice
In central Venice, riding or even pushing a bike is illegal, with a €100 fine
for violators who get caught.
Venice Marco Polo
Airport
VCE has a modern terminal, free
lugage carts, and flights to cities on four continents. Best of all,
it's just 6 km (4 miles) from Venice's historic center by boat, taxi, or bus.
Venice
Airport Transportation
This article links to several of the articles below and contains other tips
for travelers who are arriving at Venice Marco Polo or Treviso Airport.
Alilaguna Airport Boat
Henry James said Venice was best approached by sea. You can follow
his advice for the price of a local boat ticket. Also see our article on
Water Taxis.
Venice Airport Buses
Here's how to take the ATVO coach or the ACTV city bus from Venice's Marco Polo
International Airport to the Piazzale Roma.
Venice Land Taxis
Cabs will get you to
the Piazzale Roma or to your cruise ship in
15 to 20 minutes. (They're also handy for reaching cruise ships from the
Piazzale Roma if a free shuttle bus isn't available.)
Ryanair's Venice Airports
The British low-cost airline has two Venice airports, so know your
arrival or departure airport before you fly.
Treviso Airport
Buses
If you're flying in on a budget airline like EasyJet, GermanWings, or
Transavia, you'll probably be arriving at Treviso Airport. Coaches from two different bus
lines serve passengers on arriving or
departing flights.
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 Aerial
Views: Where to Sit on the Plane
If you're flying in or out of Venice
Marco Polo International Airport, try to get a seat that gives you the best
view of the city.
Venice Local
Transportation
When you hail a taxi, don't step off the curb--and if you
chase after a departing bus, make sure you're wearing a lifejacket.
ACTV Water Buses
This illustrated four-page "how to" article covers the basics of riding
public vaporetti, motoscafi, and motonavi in Venice and the Venetian Lagoon.
Vaporetto Routes
Venice's waterbus system is more Byzantine than St. Mark's Cathedral. This
article and route table will make the vaporetti and motoscafi
network less confusing.
Vaporetto
Fares
Our article has general information and a fare table (including a
printer-friendly version to take with you).
Land Bus & Tram
Fares
This article is worth reading if you're staying in Mestre or
Marghera, on the Lido di Venezia, or in Chioggia. It includes a description
of the inexpensive Mestre Daily Pass, which also covers rail transportation
between the mainland and Venice's historic center.
No. 1 Vaporetto trip on the Grand Canal
For the price of an ACTV water bus ticket, you can zig-zag up the Canal
Grande (with peeks into palazzi if you ride after sunset.)
How (and where) to buy vaporetto
tickets
Ticket offices, vending machines, and third-party vendors
make it easy to buy tickets for public transportation.
ACTV 24-hour to 7-day travel
passes
Venice's waterbus fares are outrageous, but you can soothe the pain with an
all-day or multi-day pass from ACTV, the local transit authority.
Venezia Unica city pass for regular users
If you're in Venice for several weeks or longer, or if you visit the city
fairly often, you can buy the same discount card used by local residents.
(With Venezia Unica for regular users, vaporetto fares are about 1/6 the standard tourist rate,
and the card also has other benefits.) A less desirable
tourist version is also available.
Imobber - Venice Ticket Reader
If you have
an Android phone with an NFC chip, Andrea Fontana's free app will let you
see how many rides are left (or how much time remains) on your ACTV
vaporetto and bus tickets.
Traghetto
Unless you're near a bridge, the quickest (and cheapest) way across the
Grand Canal is by rowboat. You'll ride in a secondhand gondola for the price
of a candy bar.
Water Taxis
Having a chauffeured boat at your disposal is a memorable experience, but
the fare can be prohibitive unless you're traveling with family or friends.
Gallivanting by
Gondola
The price isn't outrageous if you split it among six people. And
besides, a gondola ride is no more expensive than a bungee jump back home.
Venice Gondola Serenade Tour
It sounded like kitsch, but floating down a canal with a baritone and a
guitarist in the next gondola turned out to be fun--and maybe even a little
magical.
Venice Islands Tour
Plan your own day trip to San Michele, Murano, Burano,
Mazzorbo, Torcello, and the Lido di Venezia. My 10-page illustrated guide tells
how to reach the islands by public transportation or on an escorted tour.
Venice to Chioggia
Chioggia, a busy fishing port at the southern tip of the Venetian lagoon, is an
hour and a half from Venice by bus and ferry.
Venice for Cruisers - Index
This page lists all of our articles and resources about cruising to or from
Venice, including a large satellite-photo map of the port.
Parking in Venice
Our two-page
overview tells where to park in Venice or on the mainland, with links to
garages and other parking facilities.
Tronchetto Parking Garage
This is the handiest place to
leave your car or camper during a Venice stay, unless you're willing to park
on the mainland.
San Giuliano Parking
(Mestre)
If you can't afford the high parking rates in Venice, San
Giuliano is a good alternative: You can park alongside the lagoon and take a
Marive Transport
water bus into Venice.
Terminal Fusina Parking
When
other parking lots near Venice are full, Terminal Fusina's 1,500 parking
spaces on the mainland offer a convenient alternative--and you can even
commute to the city center by boat.
People Mover
Automated cable
trams connect the Piazzale Roma to the Tronchetto parking island in 3
minutes.
Venice-Lido car ferry
If you're driving to Venice and staying on the Lido, you can reach the island by
boat--and take your car with you.
Venice Santa Lucia Railroad Station
Make sure you get off at the right station, or you'll be stuck in the suburbs.
Venice Railroad Station Hotels
If you're in Venice for only a few days, stay at a hotel that you
can reach easily on foot from the station--even with heavy luggage.
Mestre to Venice by Train
Venice's Santa Lucia Station is a 10- to 12-minute train ride from Mestre,
on the Italian mainland, where many tourists stay to save money or for
easier parking. Also see our article on
Mestre Railroad Station.
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