Venice, Italy Hotels and City Guide

Venice - Transportation

Venice Transportation

Venice is a very accessible city. As well as the international airport, the city is easily reached from the rest of Italy and beyond by the country's excellent road and rail networks.

Arriving by Air

Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) serves the Venice area and is used by a large number of international carriers. Treviso Airport (TSF) is served by budget airlines Ryanair and Transavia (formerly Basiq-Air).

Getting Around Venice

Gondola: Everyone's motif of Romantic Venice, the traditional serenaded gondola is not so much a transport option as an enjoyable way to relax and see some sights. They are an adjunct of tourism and are priced accordingly. Various tours can be taken including dinner trips and extended tours to places like the Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands or Cannaregio and the Jewish Ghetto (3 hours from around €20). Expect to pay more for night trips.

Traghetto commuter gondolas (€0.40) can be used to cross the Grand Canal quickly without crossing one of its three bridges. Ferries can be picked up at San Marcuola, Santa Sofia, San Tomà, San Samuele, Santa Maria del Giglio and the Dogana.

Vaporetti/Ferries: There are two kinds of water taxis: the slower vaporetti, used mainly on busy routes like the Grand Canal, and smaller, faster boats called motoscafi that run on smaller canals. There are at least a dozen pick-up points around Venice for Motoscafi boats including San Marco and Rialto; tours of the city, and to outlying islands and glass factories at Murano (number 41 or 42). Vaporetto number 1 is a leisurely route from the Piazzale Roma to the Lido, with 20 stops en route, with 82 the express service. More vaporetto routes here.

Tickets are available at dockside ACTV ticket booths or on the boats themselves. One-day passes (Biglietti a tempo) are €10.50, providing unlimited use of all water bus lines (excluding the Alilaguna, Fusina, LineaBlu and Clodia services) and on the buses in Mestre and Lido. ACTV provides route maps, timetables and fares.

On Foot: Often the quickest way to get around the city is on foot. Distances between the city's attractions are short and easy to walk. When not in the midst of the summer throngs clogging its bridges, Venice is a pleasure to explore on foot. A recently published map is useful to negotiate around the city's narrow alleyways, bridges and squares.

Train: Venice's principal train station, Santa Lucia (Ferrovia) is located on the north side of the Grand Canal in the Cannaregio district, on the island side of the causeway. Venice Mestre station is located in Piazzale Favretti on mainland. ATVO Flybus shuttle links Marco Polo airport to Mestre station in about 20 minutes.

Taxis: Car taxis operate from Piazzale Roma and Lido, and are used to link the historic centre to Mestre and the casino.

Bus: Buses run from Piazzale Roma to Mestre and other mainland destinations.

Cycling: Bicycles are prohibited in Venice.

Car: Pedestrianised Venice means cars can only be used for accessing the outskirts of the city, with parking restricted to the perimeter.

Hotels in Venice, Italy