The Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is often chaotic and not as straightforward as other European airports. The city is one of the most desired destinations worldwide due to its unique geography; it’s actually due to this fact that things might feel complicated. Therefore, to avoid losing time at the airport, it’s better to familiarize yourself beforehand with the different ways you can reach downtown Venice. Although you can get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice quickly, reaching the city center might confuse you.
In this article, you’ll find every way to travel between Venice and Marco Polo Airport. After traveling a couple of times to Venice, I feel comfortable sharing everything you need to know, and I’ll add info about prices and travel times. Moreover, at the bottom of this post, I will reply to frequently asked questions and offer travel tips for your journey.
So, let’s start with this guide about getting from Marco Polo Airport to Venice and the options you have.
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From Marco Polo Airport to Venice: every option explained
In the following lines, you’ll read how you can get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice. I’ll explain thoroughly every option, and you’ll read about the current prices and travel times.
From Marco Polo Airport to Venice by bus
As you read in the previous section, the bus is the cheapest way to travel between the airport and the city center.
Now, there are actually two bus services operating between VCE and downtown: bus No. 5 and the Blue ATVO bus (No. 35). Both services follow the same route, but there’s a key difference: the Blue ATVO bus stops only two times before reaching Piazzale Roma. On the other hand, bus No. 5 stops several times along the line, which translates to longer travel times.
In brief, the Blue Bus takes 20 minutes to Piazzale Roma and travels twice per hour, while No. 5 usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes but runs every 15 minutes.
Both coach services are reliable, and a one-way ticket costs 8 euros. That’s a true bargain for a pricey city like Venice, but keep in mind that they stop at Piazzale Roma. From there, you’ll either have to walk to your hotel or hop on a Vaporetto and continue your journey. If your hotel is not close to Piazzale Roma, walking with your suitcase through the city will be a hassle.
You can purchase bus tickets from the dedicated counters straight after baggage claim. However, to avoid long waiting times, it’s better to pre-book your ticket online here. It’ll save you time and is valid for every itinerary on the day of your arrival, so there’s no need to worry about losing a bus.
Who should use the bus to the city center?
As I stated, the bus is very convenient if you stay close to Piazzale Roma. Venice’s entry point is very convenient and has a very local atmosphere. The bus is unbeatable if your accommodation is at Santa Croche, the northern part of Dorsoduro, or the southern part of Cannaregio, close to the train station. However, if your hotel is at San Marco or the more distant areas of the Serenissima, you’ll need to hop on a water bus.
From Marco Polo Airport to Venice by Vaporetto
The Vaporetto is hands down the most scenic and nostalgic way of commuting in Venice. Traveling by water bus is a unique experience, and your Venice memories will be forever tied to the old yet charming Vaporettos.
As I wrote earlier, the Vaporettos circulating Venice belong to a different company from the ones offering the Airport-Downtown route. Specifically, the Venice Vaporetto is operated by ACTV, while Alilaguna offers the airport route. That said, to travel between the Marco Polo Airport and Venice, you’ll need to embark on the Alilaguna water bus.
There are three Vaporetto lines from the airport, and each has a distinct color: blue, orange, and red. The Blue Line will take you to St. Mark’s Square, while the Orange Line crosses the Grand Canal and calls at the famous Rialto Bridge. As for the Red Line, it’s a seasonal route, and it’s identical to the Blue with some extra stops along the way.
What is worth mentioning is that the Vaporetto is significantly slower. From the Marco Polo Airport to Venice city center they will need anything between 45 minutes and 1 hour and 20 minutes; the exact travel time depends on your disembarkation point. However, unlike the buses, the Vaporettos can bring you really close to your accommodation because they call several times at different stops around the city.
Additionally, although slightly pricier, they are still fairly cheap in reaching the city. A one-way ticket for the Alilaguna water bus costs 15 euros, and a return ticket costs 27 euros. The airport route runs twice an hour, and you can expect them to be packed during peak season.
As with the bus tickets, you can purchase your Vaporetto tickets straight after baggage claim. Alternatively, you can pre-book them online here to avoid queuing.
Who should use the Alilaguna water bus to the city center?
While the Vaporettos don’t travel through the city’s inner canals, they are a great option for reaching Venice city center from the airport. For travelers staying away from the train station or Piazzale Roma, the Alilaguna is the best and most affordable option for commuting.
The Vaporettos are my favorite way of traveling around Venice, and I also wrote an extensive guide about them. You can read my Vaporetto guide here.
Venice travel tip
The Vaporetto is the best way to travel quickly around Venice. As I already wrote, the water buses from the airport are operated by a different provider than the Vaporettos in downtown Venice. If you plan to use extensively the Vaporettos during your stay, it’s better to pre-book a Pass. A weekly Pass costs currently 65 euros, while a single ticket costs 9,50 euros.
You can pre-book a Vaporetto Pass here (not valid to or from the airport; for that, you’ll need the ticket I mentioned earlier).
From Marco Polo Airport to Venice by water taxi
Due to their compact size, Venice water taxis are the only means of transportation to travel through the inner canals. That’s incredibly convenient if you have heavy luggage or mobility issues. Despite being a fascinating city, Venice isn’t always the easiest city to walk around due to its narrow alleys and bridges.
That said, if you’d rather be brought as close to your accommodation as possible and spending extra cash is not an issue, a water taxi is a great option. Exactly like Vaporettos, water taxis are docked a 10-minute walk from baggage claim -yes, the Venice airport is straight at the water.
Apart from being a very stylish way to reach downtown Venice, water taxis are also the fastest option to the city. On the other hand, the service is significantly pricier. A private water taxi from the airport to Venice will cost you more than 100 euros; the final price depends on the exact address, and it’ll most likely be around 130-150 euros.
If that’s too much, but you’d still like to use the water taxi, you can also book a shared one. Water taxis can usually accommodate up to 10 people, and they usually fill quickly. Pre-booking a water taxi here will cost 35 euros, but you might have to wait until the water taxi is full. In peak season, that’s never a problem, but you might have to wait a bit in the off-season.
You can book a shared water taxi here. Or, if you don’t mind spending the extra cash, you can book a private water taxi here.
Who should use a water taxi to Venice city center?
A water taxi is very convenient for people with mobility problems or traveling with heavy luggage. Additionally, it’s a good option if you have just one day in Venice and want to make the most of it. In such cases, a water taxi is by far the best option. On the other hand, the service is pricey, so if you stay for a couple of days in Venice, it’s better to save money to enjoy the city.
From Marco Polo Airport to Venice by taxi
I have never used a taxi in Venice, and I think I’ll never do so. Although they are a bit cheaper than water taxis (but way more expensive than buses or Vaporettos), taxis will travel between the airport and Piazzale Roma in 15-20 minutes. However, since cars are not allowed in the city of Venice, there’s little to no use in choosing a taxi instead of the bus. I find the buses equally reliable, and the ATVO No. 35 is almost as fast as a taxi.
A taxi ride from Marco Polo Airport to Piazzale Roma costs approximately 40-50 euros, and from there, you’ll have to walk to your accommodation. If you don’t want to be cramped in a Vaporetto or a bus, I think a water taxi (shared or private) is a much better alternative.
Who should take a taxi to Venice city center?
Unless you are staying very close to Piazzale Roma and you’d rather skip the crowds of public transport, I don’t see any other reason to book a taxi in Venice. Of course, if it makes you feel comfortable and the extra cash is not a problem, you should go for it. But as I said, the Alilaguna water bus and the bus are much better and cheaper options.
From Marco Polo Airport to Venice by train
No, there’s no train to St Mark’s Square or any other place of interest in this legendary city. In fact, there’s not even a direct service connecting the airport and the city center. To get to Venice by train, you’ll have to embark on a bus to Mestre and, from there, hop on the train to Venezia Santa Lucia Station. The latter is located opposite the Piazzale Roma bus terminal, and it also serves as an entry point to the City of Bridges.
The train ride from Mestre to Santa Lucia takes only ten minutes. Unless you arrive from another Italian city to Venice, I only see one reason to use the bus-and-train option to the city.
Who should take the train to the city center?
Apparently, the only reason to use the bus-train option is if you decide to book a hotel in Mestre and you’d like to leave your luggage before exploring the Serenissima. Please remember that Mestre is a ~10-minute ride by train from the city center, so technically, you’re not staying in downtown Venice. However, the hotels in Mestre are significantly cheaper compared to San Marco and the other famous neighborhoods in town.
Marco Polo Airport to Venice: 5 quick tips
After explaining every travel option between Venice’s airport and the city center, I’ll add 5 quick tips. Those five tips will give you an idea of what to expect from the city’s public transport and intend to save you time and potentially money. Consider them as quick facts that’ll help you commute more smoothly.
So, here are the five things you need to know to commute between Marco Polo Airport (VCE) and downtown Venice.
- The cheapest way to reach the city center is by bus, while the fastest is by water taxi.
- A different provider operates the Vaporetto from the Marco Polo Airport to Venice. Therefore, you’ll need a separate ticket to use it.
- Only the water taxis can navigate through the city’s inner canals; the Vaporettos circumnavigate the city and can only travel through the Grand Canal.
- The train between the airport and the city center can only take you to Venice’s entrance; from there, you’ll either have to walk to your hotel or use a water bus.
- Finally, you can’t reach Venice city center by car or taxi: you’ll have to stop at Piazzale Roma.
So, after giving you a brief idea of how things work in the Serenissima, let’s move forward to the final section; this will solve some rational questions about traveling between the airport and downtown Venice.
Marco Polo Airport to Venice FAQ
In the final section of this guide, you’ll find answers to some frequently asked questions for the ride between Venice and Marco Polo Airport. Although I did my best to reply to common questions Venice travelers have, if you have an extra question, feel free to ask in the comments below.
What is the best transport from Marco Polo Airport to Venice?
The Vaporetto. The water buses of Alilaguna are reliable, and although they’re not the fastest way to reach Venice, they offer a nice introduction to the city. Seeing Venice’s landmarks from the water is a unique experience. Plus, they will take you much closer to your hotel than the bus.
What is the fastest way to reach Venice from the airport?
The water taxi is the fastest way to reach Venice. However, it’s also the most expensive.
What is the cheapest way to get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice city center?
The cheapest way to get to downtown Venice from the airport is by bus. It costs 8 euros, and you can reach Piazzale Roma in just 20 minutes.
Where are the Vaporettos and water taxis departing from Marco Polo Airport?
The Vaporettos and water taxis are docked outside the main building of Marco Polo Airport. You must follow the corridor straight after the baggage claim area, leading to the docking station. You should calculate approximately 10 minutes of walk.
How far is Marco Polo Airport from Venice?
The Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is approximately 15 kilometers from Venice’s city center.
How to get from Marco Polo Airport to Lido?
Lido is one of the most beautiful islands of the Venetian lagoon. To travel from the airport to Lido, you must use the Blue Line of the Vaporetto. The travel time is approximately 35 minutes.
How to get from Marco Polo Airport to Murano?
You can easily get from the airport to Murano with the Blue Vaporetto Line. I also wrote a dedicated post, feel free to check my Murano-Venice guide here.
Is there another airport close to Venice?
Yes, Venice is also served by Treviso Airport. However, it is located farther away, approximately 26 kilometers from Venice city centre.
From Marco Polo Airport to Venice: Conclusion
Traveling between Marco Polo Airport and Venice (and vice versa) might initially seem a bit confusing. However, after reading this thorough article, I believe you have a better overview of how things work. Although Venice is one of the most fascinating cities in the world, its airport feels hectic and, in peak season, is always packed.
In my opinion, the best way to travel between the city center and the airport is by Vaporetto or bus: the services are reliable and the prices are fair. More expensive options like a water taxi or a private transfer make only sense for people with just a few hours in town. Lastly, pre-booking your bus or water bus tickets can save you time at the airport.
So, that’s it with the guide on traveling between Venice and Marco Polo Airport. Enjoy Venice, and if you have more questions, feel free to comment below.
More Venice: Gondola guide, Burano guide, Accademia Bridge facts, Biennale impressions
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Last Updated on February 10, 2024 by George Pavlopoulos