Select Your Experience
- Give a slip to the expensive gondola rides and travel around the City of Canals through the value-for-money ACTV Water Bus Pass, available in 1, 2, 3, and 7-day options.
- Make the most of the unlimited use of Vaporetti (water-buses) in Venice, Lido and the lagoon islands.
- You also have access to the use of ACTV buses in Mestre and Marghera.
- Tickets must be validated before boarding ACTV public transport. The validity of ACTV Tickets and Travelcards starts from the exact moment they are first validated.
This ticket has the following options that you can choose from:
- 1-Day Pass
- 2-Day Pass
- 3-Day Pass
- 7-Day Pass
- Tip: With the paper ticket in hand, you are free to board any vaporetto in Venice multiple times.
- Note: This pass does not include ACTV Services from/to Marco Polo Airport, routes no. 16, 19, 21, Casinò, and Alilaguna lines.
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Alilaguna Shuttle Service to/from Marco Polo Airport
- Have your travel sorted when you land in Venice with this online ticket.
- Travel through interconnecting routes that ensure you reach any location in the city within minutes.
- Use this ticket any time after the purchase and it comes without an expiry date!
- Exploit the great connectivity of Alilaguna Public Shuttle to your benefit.
Routes you can use the ticket for
- Marco Polo Airport to Venice City or vice-versa
- Round Trip Transfers
Connectivity of the 3 lines
- Blue Line connects Venice Marco Polo Airport with Cruise Terminal, passing through San Marco. Click here for the map route.
- Red Line connects Venice Marco Polo Airport with Cruise Terminal, passing through Murano and San Marco. Currently, the Red Line is temporarily suspended. Click here for the map route.
- Orange Line connects Venice Marco Polo Airport with the Railway Station, passing through Rialto and S. Maria del Giglio. Click here for the map route.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Venice is known for its network of alleyways and canals. With most of its medieval structures still standing tall, there are no roads that can accommodate vehicular traffic in Venice. The best way to get around Venice is by foot. The labyrinthine alleys allow you to get lost and explore the lesser-known parts of the city. Apart from foot, you can also use water taxis, Gondolas, Traghettos, and water buses.
Venice Public Transport Options
ACTV Water Bus
From: €25
Good For: Micro-commutes within Venice and the neighboring islands.
Timings: Monday - Sunday (8 AM - 10 PM)
The Vaporetti or water buses are a lifesaver when you’re in Venice. Their services are available in Venice, Lido, and the Lagoon islands, along with access to Mestre and Maghera.
- When you have an ACTV water bus pass, figuring out the travel routes in the city’s canal system will not be at the top of your worries.
- The Vaporetti is significantly cheaper than the Gondola rides, and you can commute within Venice and to neighboring islands with ease.
- The passes are available in 1, 2, 3, and 7-day variants. You can choose the one which suits you the best.
- The Vaporetto Route Map should help you decide if this mode of transport will be sufficient for all your commuting needs during your Venice trip.
- Note that water bus service is not available to/from Marco Polo airport.
Hop-on Hop-off Boat Trip
Good For: Sightseeing
Timings: Apr 23 to May 28: Fri, Sat, and Sun at 9 AM; May 29 to Aug 27: Daily at 9 AM; Aug 28 onwards: Fri, Sat, and Sun at 9 AM.
The Hop-on Hop-off boat experience gives you panoramic views of the city. It allows you to explain the city when you have limited time.
- You can opt for a 24h option or a 48h option depending on your convenience.
- It takes you to 120 different points of interest.
- The large windows of the boat allow you to take breathtaking views of the city.
- You can visit “must-visit” locations like St. Mark’s square, the island of Murano, and Torcello.
- You’ll also have audio guides in English, Spanish, German, French, and Italian. The content is curated so that both adults and children can enjoy and learn.
Alilaguna Shuttle Service to/from Marco Polo Airport
From: €15
Good For: Commuting from the airport.
The Alilaguna shuttle service takes you from Marco Polo airport to Venice city or vice versa. If you book the shuttle service online, you have your travel arrangements sorted out when you land at the airport.
- The Alilaguna Shuttle service has 3 lines: Blue, Red, and Orange.
- The Blue line connects the airport with the cruise terminal, passing through San Marco. Check out the route map here.
- The Red line connects the airport with the cruise terminal, passing through Murano and San Marco. Check out the route map here.
- The Orange line connects the airport with the cruise terminal, passing through Rialto and S. Maria. Check out the route map here.
- Note that during winter, the red line is inactive.
- Children below 6 years can travel free of cost.
Gondolas
From: €80
Good For: The gondola experience is unique to Venice.
Gondolas are a traditional mode of transport in Venice. It is the most romantic and the best way to see Venice.
- The cost of your ride will differ, depending on the number of minutes you’d like to spend on the Gondola.
- Between 7 pm and 8 pm, costs can reach €120.
- Most Gondoliers do not sing nowadays. However, if you want them to sing when they row, you’ll be charged extra.
- Despite the expense, the Gondola can be a good one-time experience.
- Here’s a tip: If you don’t mind sharing your ride with other guests, Gondola can be very cheap.
Traghetti
From: €0.5 to €1
Good For: Commuting across the Grand canal.
Timings: Typically operate from 9 AM to around 6 or 7 PM, although some routes finish by noon.
Traghetti are large public Gondolas on the Grand Canal. They are useful to get from one end of the canal to the other. Unlike the touristy Gondolas, Traghetti are cheap and are also used by locals for commuting.
- Note that the Traghetti is a regular mode of transport for Venetian workers. Therefore, the facility will be in service only at certain times of the day.
- Traghetti is effective because only 4 bridges cross the grand canal.
- Unlike regular Gondolas, Traghetti do not have singing Gondoliers with beribboned hats.
Travelling By Road in Venice
Bus
Venice is closed to all kinds of vehicular traffic since most of its streets are narrow. Moreover, the winding alleyways in the city are ideal for exploring the city on foot.
You may however use buses to visit places like Mestre. The Venice bus station is situated at Piazzale Roma.
Taxis
Venice is a walkable city and is completely closed for vehicular traffic. However, if you want to rent a car for traveling outside Venice you can do it in car rental offices in Piazzale Roma.
Airport Connectivity in Dubai
Marco Polo Airport
The Alilaguna Shuttle service can transport you from the Marco Polo Airport to Venice at rates starting from €15. There are 3 lines that can take you from the airport to the Cruise terminal. However, all 3 lines go through different parts of the city.
The Blue line passes through San Marco, the Red line passes through Murano and San Marco and the orange line passes through Rialto and S.Maria del Giglio.
Treviso Airport
The Treviso airport is connected to Venice by road. There are many buses plying between the airport and Venice. The buses cost you €10 to €13 and take about 1 hour to reach. Alternatively, you can also take airport taxis. While taxis can be the fastest way to travel between Treviso and Venice, the cheapest option is the ATVO or Barzi shuttle bus services. Keep in mind that all motorized transport must stop at the Piazzale Roma terminal or the parking island of Tronchetto. From there you can take a water taxi or the Vaporetto ferry.
Must Have Venice Public Transportation Apps
Ulmon Venice Travel Guide
Google maps can sometimes show only a few sponsored places or may even leave out some narrow alleyways. Moreover, Google maps require internet connectivity. With Ulmon Venice travel guide, you can roam around the narrow alleyways with much ease. Furthermore, the map is available offline. Here’s a tip: When you’re using the map, try to look for landmarks instead of using your GPS coordinates. Since the streets are narrow and close by, GPS coordinates can be wrong.
High Tide Venice- Hi!Tide
This is a free official app developed to help both locals and tourists to locate ferry points and water labels at various parts of the city. The app also gives you updates on flooding levels in a few locations. This can come in handy, especially in the rainy season. The app is developed in collaboration with the ICPSM- Venice’s premiere forecasting organization.
CheBateo
CheBateo helps in planning your Vaporetto routes around Venice. The app provides easy-to-view ACTV timetables. You can also favorite your routes so that you don’t have to type them every time you go in them. Furthermore, the app also tells you the Vaporetto routes that pass through and stop at a particular stop.
Hacks & Tips For Using Venice’s Public Transport
- Venice bans vehicular movement, making it a pedestrian-friendly city. The narrow and winding alleyways give you the perfect opportunity to explore lesser-known parts of the city.
- The Traghettis offer the cheapest mode of water transport. Avail it when it suits you.
- While Gondolas can be slightly expensive, they can give you an experience of a lifetime. The traditional ride takes you back to the heydays of Venice and lets you culturally connect with the city.
- If you have time constraints to explore the city, we recommend you book Hop-on Hop-off boat tours. It allows you to check out the key locations quickly.
- Download the High Tide Venice- Hi!Tide if you’re traveling during the rainy season. The app allows you to keep a tab on the rising water levels in different parts of the city. It also gives updates on floods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Venice Public Transport
A. Vehicular movement is not allowed inside Venice. Inside the city, public transport is available in the form of water buses, Gondolas, and Traghetti. However, Venice is a walkable city. The best way to get around the city is on foot.
A. Traghetti provides the cheapest public transport option within the city. However, if you want to experience the traditional transport choice, you can go on a Gondola.
A. The ACTV water bus pass is ideal for micro-commutes within the city.
A. You can get ACTV cards online. Once you finish your purchase you’ll get an e-voucher via email. When you reach Venice, you can redeem this e-voucher for a paper ticket. The paper ticket is valid for all micro-commutes within Venice until its expiry.
A. Yes, water buses are affordable. The one-time pass for all bus routes starts from €25.
A. Yes, the Alilaguna shuttle water bus service connects Venice to Marco Polo airport. There are numerous bus services from Treviso airport too.
A. No, Venice does not allow any kind of motorized transport within the city. So, buses are not allowed in Venice.
A. There are no road taxis within the city. However, water taxis like Gondolas can be expensive.
A. No, there is no monorail in Venice.
A. No, you cannot drive in Venice. Motorized traffic is not allowed inside Venice.
A. Yes, Venice has very safe public transport services like Water buses, Gondolas, and Traghetti.
A. Yes, Venice public transport is affordable. Traghetti costs between €0.5 to €2.
A. No, Venice doesn't have a strict dress code.
A. The Ulmon Venice travel guide app and the CheBateo app can come in handy while navigating the streets of Venice.