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Getting There & Away in Venice

Overall7.3/10Easier to reach than about 70% of cities

Good to Know

  • Vaporetto tickets must be validated in onboard machines before departure; failure to validate incurs a €50+ fine even if you purchased the ticket.
  • Marco Polo Airport sits on water; Alilaguna water ferry is the most scenic direct option and bypasses the need to travel via Piazzale Roma.
  • Treviso Airport is the cheaper alternative for international budget carriers (Ryanair, EasyJet) but requires 40+ minutes ground transport to Venice entry point.
  • All ACTV vaporetto tickets exclude airport service; airport ferries (Alilaguna) require a separate €18 ticket.
  • Venice center is highly walkable (central-to-central ~40 minutes on foot); vaporetto day passes make sense mainly for island visits or luggage convenience.
  • Venice's main railway station (Santa Lucia) is steps from Piazzale Roma; high-speed trains connect to Milan, Bologna, and Rome within 2–5 hours.
  • Night vaporetto Line N runs midnight–5 am for late arrivals/departures; daytime services typically 4:30 am–midnight.
  • During peak summer months, vaporettos and key routes become severely overcrowded; early morning or evening travel is quieter.
  • Water taxis are expensive but direct to your accommodation and skip luggage-hauling through narrow alleyways; often worth it for first arrival with heavy bags.

Airports

  • Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
    Location
    On the lagoon, 13 km north of Venice city center

    Ground Transport

    • 30 Minutes to 1 Hour 30 Minutes Depending on Destination
      Cost
      €18
      Option
      Alilaguna water ferry
      Notes
      Operated by Alilaguna, not ACTV; separate ticket required
      Description
      Direct boat service across the lagoon to Venice with multiple lines (Blue, Orange, Red seasonal) serving Grand Canal and various city stops
    • 20–30 Minutes
      Cost
      €8.00
      Option
      Bus to Piazzale Roma
      Notes
      Cheapest option; bus station adjacent to Railway Station; single journey one-way
      Description
      ACTV Line 5 or ATVO bus service to Piazzale Roma (Venice's bus/entry terminal at mainland bridge), then vaporetto or foot into city
    • Water taxi
      Cost
      €39
      Notes
      Per person if shared; private taxi starts at approximately €70
      Description
      Private direct boat service to your hotel or specific location
  • Treviso Airport (TSF)
    Location
    Mainland, ~30 km northwest of Venice

    Ground Transport

    • 40–70 Minutes Depending on Operator
      Cost
      €12
      Option
      Bus (ATVO or Barzi) to Piazzale Roma
      Notes
      Barzi approximately 40 min; ATVO 70 min with stops; one way
      Description
      Ground transport to Piazzale Roma, then water/foot into Venice
    • 30–45 Minutes
      Cost
      €60
      Option
      Taxi or car service
      Notes
      Approximate; terminal taxi stand available
      Description
      Private ground transport to Piazzale Roma or Venice bridge

Nearby Day Trips

  • Murano (Glass-blowing Island)
    Access
    Lines 3, 4, 5, 12, 13 from Venice center
    Distance
    ~6 km north across lagoon
    Travel Time
    10–20 minutes by vaporetto
  • Burano (Historic Fishing Village)
    Access
    Lines 12, 13, 14 from Venice center
    Distance
    ~9 km northeast across lagoon
    Travel Time
    25–40 minutes by vaporetto
  • Torcello (Byzantine Ruins)
    Access
    Lines 12, 14 from Venice center
    Distance
    ~11 km northeast across lagoon
    Travel Time
    40–45 minutes by vaporetto
  • Lido (Beach Island)
    Access
    Lines 1, 2, 6 from Venice center
    Distance
    ~8 km southeast
    Travel Time
    15–20 minutes by vaporetto
  • Padua (Padova)
    Access
    From Venezia Santa Lucia station
    Distance
    ~40 km southwest
    Travel Time
    Train ~20–30 minutes; regional or high-speed
  • Verona
    Access
    From Venezia Santa Lucia station
    Distance
    ~120 km west
    Travel Time
    Train ~1.5–2 hours; high-speed or regional

Rail Connections

Main Station
Venezia Santa Lucia
Description
Located at western edge of Venice proper, on the Grand Canal; main entry point for train passengers

Major Destinations

  • Padua (Padova)
    Distance
    ~40 km
    Travel Time
    ~20–30 minutes
  • Verona
    Distance
    ~120 km
    Travel Time
    ~1.5–2 hours
  • Milan (Milano)
    Distance
    ~270 km
    Travel Time
    ~2–3 hours high-speed
  • Bologna
    Distance
    ~190 km
    Travel Time
    ~2–2.5 hours high-speed
  • Florence
    Distance
    ~280 km
    Travel Time
    ~3–4 hours
  • Rome
    Distance
    ~460 km
    Travel Time
    ~4–5+ hours

Key Routes

  • Line 1
    Frequency
    Every 10 minutes daytime; 5 boats/hour minimum in winter
    Description
    Main Grand Canal route stopping at every stop (Railway Station → St Mark's Square → Lido), ~45 minutes end-to-end
  • Line 2
    Description
    Express Grand Canal route with 5 stops (Railway Station → St Mark's Square), ~30 minutes

Ticket Types

  • 75 Minutes
    Cost
    €9.50
    Type
    Single journey
  • 24 Hours
    Cost
    €25
    Type
    Day ticket
    Coverage
    All vaporetto lines in Venice and islands (Lido, Murano, Burano)
  • 3-day Pass
    Cost
    €45
    Coverage
    All vaporetto lines in Venice and islands
  • 7-day Pass
    Cost
    €65
    Coverage
    All vaporetto lines in Venice and islands

Private Water Taxi

Stations
Available at Piazzale Roma, Santa Lucia Railway Station, and major city stops
Starting Cost
€70
Description
Private boat service for direct routes to specific addresses

Shared Option

Approximate Cost Per Person
€39
Description
Share a water taxi with others

Operator

ACTV

Description

Public water buses serving Venice canals and lagoon islands

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

  1. 1.venicelover.com
  2. 2.thetourguy.com
  3. 3.22places.com
  4. 4.rometoolkit.com
  5. 5.fodors.com
  6. 6.tickets-venice.com

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.