Getting Around in Venice
Venice is a very unique city in that there are no cars within the city. You get around in Venice via waterway vehicles, from boats, water taxis, gondolas and vaporettos. However, the most common way to get from A to B is via walking through the narrow streets and over the many bridges. It is most possible that you will get lost but that is the objective as you will fall in love with each attempt to find your way back to your lodging.
Below you will find some helpful hints of the most common ways to navigate the waterways and streets of Venice.
Arrival:
By car: Cars are not allowed in Venice, so you will have to park your car in Piazzale Roma, the hub where all cars, buses, and taxis meet, just outside the city. If you have a rental car, return it for your stay in Venice and then rebook when you leave if possible to save on parking fees. Remember it is against the law to drag wheeled suitcases up and down bridges, so plan to board the vaporetto at Piazzale Roma for your hotel destination.
By train: Get off the train and down the ramp if you have luggage, then veer left outside the station to find a small public transportation ticket office, to buy your water transportation for your journey to your hotel and beyond. Porters may surround you and offer to take your luggage, but decline and go on your way.
By plane: Here you have a choice, based on how much money you want to spend. Remember the main event in Venice is the Grand Canal itself, so what better splurge than to rent a water taxi and enjoy your first view of this magnificent city from the water. Everyone needs to do this at least once, in my opinion. If the budget does not allow for this, a waterbus ride is a fine way to travel into the city as well. You also could take a bus or land taxi into Piazzale Roma, then transfer to a vaporetto.
Four choices to get to Venice proper from the airport, listed cheapest to most expensive:
- Bus. Take a shuttle bus from the airport to Piazzale Roma, the hub that is the closest land vehicles can get to Venice. ATVO coach has a luggage hold and takes about 20 minutes. It departs regularly. You can get tickets at a location at baggage claim or from an attendant. One way tickets are about 8 euros. Then you will need to take the vaporetto that is closest to your hotel. (Ask your hotel about this before you leave.)
- Alilaguna Waterbus. This is the slowest route into the city itself, but you won’t have to change to another vaporetto when you get to Venice. From the airport, San Marco is about an hour.
These buses run every 30 minutes and get full quickly. One ticket (15 euros) includes one piece of luggage and one personal item. You will pay more for more luggage. Ticket offices are at the public transportation desk in the arrivals area or at the ticket booth at the dock. Check there for the route that is closest to your hotel (again ask your hotel which stop is best for you and your luggage).
Land taxi. The closest you can get to your hotel is Piazzale Roma, and this voyage will cost you approximately 60 Euros for 4 people with one piece of luggage each.
Official taxis are along the sidewalk as you exit baggage claim. Then you will need to take the vaporetto that is closest to your hotel. (Ask your hotel about which stop to take before you leave.)
Water taxi. By far the most romantic, most expensive, and most convenient way to enter Venice. At the time of this writing, the cost of a water taxi is approximately 130 euros into Venice for up to four people .
I think everyone should do this at least once, because it is a magical introduction to Venice on the water.
It takes about 20-30 minutes and tickets can be obtained at the taxi dock or at the water taxi ticket desk after you exit baggage claim. Our hotel booked a taxi for us, which was a great advantage. You may also pre-book
Getting Around in Venice:
- Use your feet! The very best way to traverse this city is on foot. Be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes and prepare to walk, walk, walk. If you get tired, find a place to have a refreshing drink and a pastry or two. This is all part of the romance of Venice.
2. Use the vaporetto
Tickets can be purchased at machines at most stops (credit cards accepted) or from ticket windows at the larger stops , or from VeneziaUnica offices at the train station, bus station, and Tronchetto parking lot. I recommend the ticket windows to avoid holding up a long line like I did the last time I was there. If this worries you, you can book before leaving home at https://www.veneziaunica.it/en/e-commerce/services up to 30 days before you plan to visit.
Validation is required before each use of your ticket to avoid a hefty fine. Be sure to tap your ticket at the validation machine until it beeps, and if there is a gate, it will open for you.
- Cost of vaporetto 2023
Single one-way ticket (Good for 75 minutes from validation, allowing you to hop on and off as long as you are going in the same direction)—9.50 Euros
One day pass for unlimited travel (Good for 24 hours started from 1st validation)—25 Euros
Two day pass for 48 hours—35 Euros
Three day pass for 72 hours—45 Euros
Weekly pass—65 Euros
Navigation Be sure you are getting on the right vaporetto and that it is going in the direction you desire. Hint: A sign on the vaporetto has a color-coded number of that line and the stops it’s going to make. #1 leaves every 10 minutes and goes up and down the Grand Canal, stopping at every stop. #2 makes fewer stops and goes to the major attractions. If you are confused ask the vaporetto conductor your destination, such as “Rialto?”, to be sure you are headed where you want to go.
Vaporetto maps are available at www.actv.it. and may or may not be available at the docks.
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