How to get around Venice: complete transport guide

Getting around Venice requires a unique understanding of lagoon transport and the peculiarities of a city built on water. This complete guide will reveal all the secrets for moving around Venice efficiently and economically, from vaporettos to water taxis, from tourist gondolas to walking among the bridges and calli of La Serenissima. If you're planning your trip, be sure to also read our guide on how to get to Venice.

Vaporettos: Venice's public transport

ACTV system and main lines

ACTV vaporettos represent the main public transport for getting around Venice and constitute the aquatic equivalent of buses and subways in traditional cities. With over 20 operational lines, the vaporetto system connects all strategic points of the historic center, the lagoon islands and the mainland.

Line 1 is the most touristic and panoramic: it runs along the entire Grand Canal stopping at main attractions like Rialto, San Marco, Accademia and Santa Lucia. The complete journey takes about 45 minutes and represents a natural guided tour of the city, perfect for orientation during your first visit.

Line 2 offers faster service along the Grand Canal, with fewer stops but greater speed. It's ideal for quick trips between Piazzale Roma, Rialto and San Marco, reducing travel times compared to Line 1.

Vaporetto tickets and passes

Vaporetto tickets have fixed prices regardless of distance traveled. A single ticket costs €9.50 and is valid for 75 minutes, allowing you to change lines during this period without additional costs.

Tourist passes represent the most convenient solution for those planning multiple trips:

• 24-hour pass: €25 for unlimited travel on all ACTV lines
• 48-hour pass: €35 for two consecutive days
• 72-hour pass: €45 for three days validity
• 7-day pass: €65 for a complete week

The Venezia Unica Pass combines transport and museum entries, offering significant savings for those wanting to visit main city attractions in addition to using public transport.

During special events like Venice Carnival or the Historic Regatta, ACTV enhances the service with additional runs. To discover all the events in Venice and better plan your movements, check the city's event calendar.

Service hours and frequency

The vaporetto service operates from 5:00 AM to midnight, with frequencies varying according to time and season. During peak hours (8:00-10:00 AM and 5:00-7:00 PM), vaporettos run every 10-12 minutes on main lines, while evening frequencies reduce to 20-30 minutes.

Night lines (N) guarantee essential connections after midnight, with hourly runs until 5:00 AM. This service is fundamental for reaching Piazzale Roma or Santa Lucia Station during nighttime hours.

During special events like Carnival or the Historic Regatta, ACTV enhances service with additional runs and special lines to manage extraordinary tourist flow.

Water taxis: exclusive and fast transport

Water taxi service and rates

Water taxis represent the most exclusive and fastest transport for getting around Venice, offering door-to-door service similar to traditional taxis. These private motorboats can transport up to 10 people and reach any destination accessible by water directly.

Water taxi rates are regulated by the Municipality and start from €15 for the call, plus €2 per minute of ride and supplements for luggage, nighttime hours and holidays. A typical ride from the airport to San Marco costs about €110-130, while trips in the historic center start from €40-60.

Water taxis are ideal for those arriving with lots of luggage, have limited time or seek an exclusive transfer experience. Many luxury hotels offer private transfer services included in the stay.

Booking and additional services

Water taxi booking can be made through dedicated apps, telephone centers or directly at designated stations. During high season and special events, it's advisable to book at least 2-3 hours in advance.

Additional services include personalized lagoon tours, airport transfers with luggage assistance, and romantic transfers for special occasions. Many operators offer combined packages including island tours, tastings and guided visits.

Gondolas: tradition and romance

Official rates and regulation

Gondolas maintain an important role in traditional Venetian transport, although today they're mainly used for tourism and special occasions. Rates are fixed by the Municipality and uniform for all gondoliers.

Daytime rates (8:00 AM-7:00 PM): €80 for 30 minutes, €120 for 50 minutes Evening rates (7:00 PM-8:00 AM): €100 for 30 minutes, €150 for 50 minutes Each additional 20-minute period costs €40 during day and €50 in evening.

The most suggestive gondola routes include secondary canals of the historic center, passing under historic bridges and through hidden rii offering unique city perspectives. The standard tour lasts 30 minutes and touches the most beautiful panoramic points. 

A gondola tour represents an unmissable experience for anyone visiting Venice, allowing you to discover hidden corners of the city in a unique atmosphere.

Gondola stations and reservations

Main gondola stations are located at San Marco (Bacino Orseolo), Rialto, Santa Maria del Giglio, San Tomà and Danieli. Each station offers slightly different routes, allowing you to choose the experience best suited to your preferences.

During high season (June-September), it's advisable to book in advance or go to stations in early morning hours to avoid long waits. Gondoliers can customize routes on request, including serenades or special photo stops.

Getting around on foot: walking among calli and bridges

Orientation and pedestrian routes

Walking in Venice is a unique experience requiring a different approach compared to traditional cities. The pedestrian network consists of calli (streets), campielli (small squares), fondamenta (streets along canals) and over 400 bridges connecting the city's 118 small islands.

Walking distances in the historic center are surprisingly short: from Piazzale Roma to San Marco takes 30-40 minutes on foot, while from Rialto to San Marco takes just 15-20 minutes. However, it's easy to get lost in secondary alleys, which many consider part of the discovery charm. Walking through the calli allows you to discover where to eat in Venice in the most authentic bacari and to experience unique cultural experiences, from glass workshops to traditional mask ateliers.

Bridges and accessibility

Venetian bridges represent fundamental architectural elements for pedestrian movement. The four bridges over the Grand Canal - Rialto, Accademia, Scalzi and Calatrava (Constitution Bridge) - are the main connections between different city areas.

Many historic bridges don't have ramps for disabled people or strollers, making some routes difficult for people with reduced mobility. Accessible routes are marked and provide barrier-free alternatives, though longer.

During acqua alta (November-February), some pedestrian routes may be temporarily flooded. The Municipality installs raised walkways along main itineraries, allowing continued walking even during tidal peaks.

Transport to Marco Polo Airport

Airport-city center connections

The Venice Marco Polo Airport offers various options to reach Venice center, each with specific time, cost and convenience characteristics.

Alilaguna manages the vaporetto service from the airport with three lines:

• Blue Line: Airport → Murano → Lido → San Marco (1 hour 15 minutes)
• Orange Line: Airport → Guglie → Rialto → San Marco (1 hour)
• Red Line: Airport → Murano → Lido → Giudecca (1 hour 30 minutes)

Alilaguna tickets cost €15 for adults and €8 for children 6-14 years. Tickets can be purchased online with 5% discount or directly at airport ticket offices.

ATVO bus and People Mover

The ATVO bus connects the airport to Piazzale Roma in 20-30 minutes at a cost of €8 for adults. It's the most economical and fastest option to reach Venice, though it then requires a vaporetto transfer to the historic center.

From Piazzale Roma, the People Mover is an automatic monorail connecting Piazzale Roma to Tronchetto Island and Marittima parking in 3 minutes. Tickets cost €1.50 and are included in some ACTV subscriptions.

Transport to lagoon islands

Murano, Burano and Torcello

The lagoon islands represent unmissable destinations accessible exclusively via maritime transport. Each island has unique characteristics and requires specific planning for movement.

Murano, the artistic glass island, is reachable with lines 4.1, 4.2, 7 and 13 from various historic center stations. The vaporetto to Murano departs from Fondamenta Nove every 20 minutes with a 15-20 minute crossing.

Burano, famous for colorful houses and lace, is connected by line 12 continuing from Murano or departing directly from Fondamenta Nove. The complete journey from Venice takes 45-60 minutes but offers spectacular views of the northern lagoon.

Torcello, the lagoon's oldest island, is reachable by line 12 with a stop after Burano. The island, inhabited by fewer than 20 people, preserves archaeological treasures like the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta from the 7th century.

Practical tips for getting around Venice

Acqua alta and alternative transportation

Acqua alta is a natural phenomenon that can significantly influence movement in Venice between November and February. When water exceeds 110 cm above sea level, some vaporetto stops might be temporarily suspended and pedestrian routes flooded.

During acqua alta, the Municipality installs raised walkways along main itineraries like San Marco-Rialto and Rialto-Piazzale Roma. These temporary walkways allow continued walking even with significant water levels.

ACTV services are adapted with alternative routes and substitute stops when necessary. Updated information is available on the ACTV Official app and on electronic displays at main stops.

To optimize your Venetian experience and what to see in Venice, plan your movements considering museum hours and the cultural experiences you want to live.

Useful apps and trip planning

Citymapper Venice is considered the most reliable app for planning trips combining vaporettos, pedestrian routes and real-time waiting times. The app includes offline maps and alternative routes during service interruptions.

ACTV Official provides real-time schedules, delay and cancellation information, plus the possibility to purchase digital tickets. The app is fundamental during special events when services undergo modifications.

Google Maps has significantly improved Venetian coverage, including vaporetto routes and realistic time estimates for walking among historic center calli.

Where to stay to optimize transportation

For those wanting to move easily throughout Venice while minimizing transport time and costs, choosing your hotel location is fundamental. B&B HOTEL Venezia Laguna represents the ideal strategic base for exploring the city: located on Tronchetto Island, it offers optimal connections with all Venetian transport systems while maintaining affordable rates.

Tronchetto location advantages for getting around:

• Direct access to main vaporetto lines: Line 2 to the Grand Canal every 10 minutes
• People Mover to Piazzale Roma in just 3 minutes with connections to all destinations
• Parking steps from the hotel, ideal for those arriving by car

• Strategic starting point for Murano and Burano with direct line

   

From B&B HOTEL Venezia Laguna you easily reach all Venetian destinations: San Marco in 15 minutes, Rialto in 12 minutes, the airport with direct connections, and the lagoon islands without changes. The location allows you to save on daily transport costs while investing in authentic experiences rather than expensive transfers.

Book your stay at B&B HOTEL Venezia Laguna and discover how getting around Venice becomes simple and economical, with the freedom to explore La Serenissima without logistical stress and with maximum comfort.