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Tickets Venice

How to use Venice public transport

In Venice, the bus is a boat. ACTV water buses connect the historic centre, Lido and lagoon islands, while buses and trams serve the mainland. This guide helps you choose the right ticket or airport transfer, understand what it covers, and avoid two common mistakes: validating incorrectly and assuming an ACTV pass includes Alilaguna airport boats.

Venice public transport at a glance

  • What does ACTV cover? ACTV tickets cover eligible water buses in Venice, plus buses, trams and the People Mover within the Venice municipal network.
  • Which ticket do you need? The 75-minute standard ticket costs and works well for occasional journeys. For frequent travel, choose a 1-, 2-, 3- or 7-day pass, depending on how long you’ll be using public transport.
  • What about airport travel? Alilaguna is separate from ACTV. Travel to and from Marco Polo Airport by ACTV bus follows separate airport fares and rules, so check your ticket before assuming a standard ACTV fare applies.
  • When does my pass start? ACTV daily and multi-day passes start from first validation, giving you 24, 48, 72 or 168 hours of travel depending on the pass.
  • What do I need to do before boarding? Validate or activate your ticket correctly before travel, and validate again when required after changing service or vehicle. An unused pass is not valid until activated.
  • What’s the classic Venice ride? Vaporetto Line 1 is the classic scenic route, running along the Grand Canal and doubling as a sightseeing ride.

​Compare tickets & passes ↓

The 3-ride rule: when an ACTV pass starts saving you money

If you expect to board an ACTV vaporetto, bus or tram 3+ times in one day, a 24-hour pass is usually better value than buying single tickets. Only taking 1–2 rides? Stick with individual tickets.

Jump to what you need

Compare ways to get around Venice

Mode of transportMain routes & stopsTicket you needBest for

🚤 Vaporetto (water bus)

Line 1: Grand Canal, Rialto, San Marco and the Lido. Line 2: faster, selected central, Giudecca and Tronchetto connections. Lines 3, 4.1, 4.2: Murano. Line 12: Murano, Mazzorbo and Burano.

ACTV 75-minute ticket or 1 to 7 days travel pass

Venice’s main public transport, making it easier to cover longer distances between the Grand Canal, Rialto, San Marco, and the islands without wearing yourself out.

🚌 ACTV buses & trams

Mestre, Marghera and Piazzale Roma

ACTV 75-minute ticket or 1 to 7 days travel pass

Travellers staying in Mestre or Marghera who need a daily connection between mainland hotels and Venice’s island centre.

🚝 People Mover

Piazzale Roma, Tronchetto and the Marittima cruise terminal

Eligible ACTV ticket/pass or People Mover-only ticket

Cruise passengers and drivers linking parking, the cruise terminal and Piazzale Roma without hauling luggage over bridges.

✈️ Airport transfers (Alilaguna / ACTV Aerobus / ATVO)

Marco Polo Airport: ACTV Aerobus, Alilaguna and other transfer options. Treviso Airport: ATVO buses to Venice/Mestre.

Airport-specific Alilaguna / ACTV Aerobus / ATVO tickets

Getting from the airport to Venice without figuring out the connection after landing, especially with luggage or fixed arrival times.

🚤 Water taxi

Marco Polo Airport, Santa Lucia Station, cruise terminal and hotel landing stages

Private & shared water taxi

Visitors who want a faster, more direct alternative to public transport, especially for airport-to-hotel arrivals with luggage or easier trips to Venice’s lagoon islands.

⛵ Gondola / traghetto

Smaller canals and Grand Canal crossing points around Venice

Separate fare; private & shared gondolas

Experiencing Venice’s canals as a traditional sightseeing ride, especially along the city’s main and smaller canals, rather than as a way to get from A to B.

What your ACTV pass covers?

ACTV time-based tickets cover eligible Venice water buses, mainland buses and trams, plus the People Mover. They do not cover Alilaguna airport boats or private water taxis, and standard ACTV travel does not automatically include journeys to or from Marco Polo Airport. Some services also sit outside normal pass coverage, so check your exact product conditions instead of assuming every passenger boat in Venice uses the same ticket.

Which ACTV ticket length fits your trip?

TicketBest forHow to use it wellPrice from

75-minute ticket

Short stays or occasional rides

Choose this if you’ll mostly walk and only need a few ACTV journeys. It allows travel on eligible services for 75 minutes from first validation, including permitted transfers.

€9.50

24-hour pass

One busy sightseeing day

Compare it with single tickets if you’ll make several journeys in one day, combining central Venice with a vaporetto ride to the islands.

€25

48-hour pass

Two days of regular exploring

Useful if you expect several separately ticketed journeys over two days, such as exploring historic Venice and visiting Murano or Lido.

€35

72-hour pass

Longer city breaks and island hopping

Compare it with single tickets if you plan several journeys across the three days, especially if you’re visiting the lagoon islands.

€45

7-day pass

Week-long stays or frequent travel

Useful for week-long trips, mainland stays in Mestre/Marghera, or travellers exploring multiple areas at a slower pace.

€65

Compare before you buy: Three standard 75-minute tickets cost €28.50, while a 24-hour pass costs €25. Choose based on the number of separately ticketed journeys you expect to make on eligible ACTV services, not just the length of your stay.

Travelling with children? ACTV's published fare policy says children under 6 travel free on Venice's urban services. For other ACTV services, children under 4 travel free under its published rules; check the applicable conditions before travelling.

Note: ACTV passes cover eligible travel but do not provide priority boarding; busy boats may still involve queues or waiting.

Arriving from Marco Polo Airport

Option Arrives at Choose this if Important

Alilaguna

Selected lagoon-side stops

Your accommodation is close to a served stop and you prefer arriving by boat

Separate Alilaguna ticket

ACTV road transfer

Piazzale Roma

You can continue on foot or by vaporetto

Airport travel follows separate fare rules

Private water taxi

Suitable landing point near your accommodation

You have heavy luggage, a group or want the most direct arrival

Private service; access and fare depend on route

Start your first ACTV journey

Before travelling, confirm your route, collect your ticket if required, and validate or activate it correctly. Buying a ticket online does not necessarily mean it's ready to use.

Booking something else? Here's the short version.

  • Alilaguna: Exchange your voucher if bought online, then board at your scheduled departure. No repeat validation once you're on.
  • Private water taxi: Nothing to validate. Your driver meets you at the agreed dock and time, full stop.
  • HOHO boat: Scan once at your first stop, then hop on and off freely for the rest of your ticket's window.

Your ACTV pass starts when you first validate it, not when you purchase it.

A 24-hour pass first used at 2pm runs for the next 24 hours rather than expiring at midnight that day. Longer time-based passes follow the same rolling-validity principle. You still need to follow the required validation rules when using the network. If you are using a single 75-minute ticket, check the current ticket conditions before planning multiple legs or a return on the same fare.

Key ACTV routes for visitors

You want to…Useful serviceWhat to know

See the Grand Canal

Line 1

The slower, stop-rich route. Take it when the journey itself is part of the sightseeing

Move faster through central Venice

Line 2 or another direct service

Direction and stopping pattern matter. Check the destination display

Reach Murano

Lines 3, 4.1/4.2 or another suitable connection

The best service depends on where you start

Reach Burano

Line 12 from Fondamente Nove

Check the current sailing and return before leaving

Reach the Lido

Current Lido service

Check the final destination rather than relying only on line number

Check for service disruptions

Fog, high water, strikes and temporary service changes can affect lagoon routes and airport connections. Check the current timetable and operator updates before travelling, especially for late returns from the islands or airport transfers. Frequencies, routes, stops and first and last departures vary by line, direction and season, so check the timetable for your actual boarding stop.

For ACTV services, check ACTV/AVM notices. For Alilaguna or ATVO, check the relevant operator’s updates.

Arriving in Venice: what to do next

Build your Venice day using public transport

The best way to use Venice's public transport is not to ride every line. Build your day around a few areas worth travelling between, then let the vaporetto handle the longer jumps while you walk the rest. Where you're starting from matters as much as what you want to see, so start there.

Accessibility & luggage

Small decisions that make a big difference

For short trips between nearby sights, walking is often quicker than waiting for a vaporetto. Save boat journeys for longer crossings, destinations further along the Grand Canal or trips to the lagoon islands.

Venice public transport vs walking, water taxis and tours

Choose based on distance, convenience and whether you want to explore independently or follow a planned itinerary.

Frequently asked questions about Venice public transport

It depends on how many separately ticketed journeys you expect to make. Three standard 75-minute tickets cost €28.50, while a 24-hour ACTV pass costs €25. If you expect to buy three separate tickets within 24 hours, compare the pass first. Remember that a single ticket can cover permitted transfers within its validity period, so count the tickets you need rather than every time you board.