The historic centre has no cars or bikes: you walk or take ACTV water buses (vaporetti). Line 1 is the all-stops Grand Canal line from Piazzale Roma to the Lido (about 45 min); line 2 is the faster Grand Canal and Giudecca Canal loop; line 12 serves Murano, Burano and Torcello from Fondamente Nove. Traghetti (gondola ferries) cross the Grand Canal where there is no bridge. On the mainland, Mestre has buses and trams, and trains link Venezia Santa Lucia with Mestre in about 10 minutes.
Paying: ACTV / Venezia Unica tickets and passes
How to buy
Buy at ACTV/Venezia Unica ticket machines and offices at main stops, in the AVM Venezia app, or online at veneziaunica.it. Validate at the reader on the pontoon before boarding every time, including with a pass.
Fares
Single ticket EUR 9.50, valid 75 minutes; 24h pass EUR 25, 48h EUR 35, 72h EUR 45, 7-day EUR 65; passes run from first validation and also cover regional trains Venezia Santa Lucia - Mestre. Ages 6-29: Rolling Venice 72h transport + card EUR 33 (veneziaunica.it). Residents and Venezia Unica cardholders pay EUR 1.50 per ride; children under 6 free. One piece of luggage is included (visit.venice.it, 2026).
Lines and services
- FerryVaporetto line 1
All-stops Grand Canal line Piazzale Roma - Ferrovia - Rialto - Accademia - San Marco/San Zaccaria - Lido, about 45 min end to end. Crowded at midday; board at Piazzale Roma to get a seat.
- FerryVaporetto line 2
Faster Grand Canal service plus the Giudecca Canal loop (Zattere, Giudecca, San Giorgio).
- FerryVaporetto line 12
Northern lagoon: Fondamente Nove - Murano - Mazzorbo - Burano - Torcello area.
- FerryTraghetto (gondola ferry)
Standing gondola crossing of the Grand Canal at a few points; EUR 2 per person for visitors (visit.venice.it). The cheapest gondola ride in Venice.
- BusACTV Aerobus (line 5)
Marco Polo Airport - Piazzale Roma; EUR 10 single, EUR 18 return (visit.venice.it).
- TrainRegional trains Santa Lucia - Mestre
About 10 minutes across the lagoon bridge; included in ACTV passes on this stretch.
- FunicularPeople Mover
Short automated cable shuttle linking Tronchetto (car park and cruise area), the cruise terminal and Piazzale Roma.
- TaxiWater taxi
Private motorboats; expensive. Take only licensed yellow-badged taxis from official ranks or booked by your hotel; agree the price before boarding (fares not verified 2026).
Common trips
Santa Lucia stationRialto30 min
Walk via Strada Nova (signed 'Per Rialto')
- Vaporetto 1 or 2 from Ferrovia
Santa Lucia stationPiazza San Marco35 min
Vaporetto 2 (faster) or 1 (scenic) from Ferrovia
- Walk 45-50 min via Rialto
Piazzale RomaAccademia25 min
Vaporetto 1 or 2 down the Grand Canal
- Walk 25 min via Campo Santa Margherita
Marco Polo AirportPiazzale Roma25 min
ACTV Aerobus line 5 (EUR 10)
- Water taxi (expensive)
- Alilaguna boat to the centre
Fondamente NoveMurano10 min
Vaporetto 12 or the circular 4.1/4.2 lines via San Michele (line numbers not verified 2026)
Fondamente NoveBurano45 min
Vaporetto 12
- Line 12 via Murano Faro
BuranoTorcello5 min
Short hop by vaporetto (line 12 serves Torcello per visit.venice.it)
San Marco (San Zaccaria)San Giorgio Maggiore5 min
Vaporetto 2, one stop
San Marco (San Zaccaria)Lido15 min
Vaporetto 1 or other Lido lines to Lido S.M.E.
ZattereGiudecca5 min
Vaporetto 2 or 4.1/4.2 across the Giudecca canal
- Hilton shuttle boat to Molino Stucky (for hotel and Skyline bar)
RialtoRialto market side (across the Grand Canal)5 min
Traghetto gondola crossing (EUR 2) where running
- Walk over the Rialto Bridge
Venezia Santa LuciaMestre10 min
Regional train (covered by ACTV passes)
- Tram or bus from Piazzale Roma
To and from the airport
VCE (Marco Polo)
- Bus · 25 minEUR 10 single / EUR 18 return (ACTV Aerobus, 2026); with a 24-72h pass, airport supplement EUR 7 one way / EUR 13 return
ACTV Aerobus line 5 to Piazzale Roma, then walk or take the vaporetto. Duration is approximate (not verified 2026).
- Ferry · 75 minNot verified 2026
Alilaguna boats run from the airport dock to Murano, Fondamente Nove, the Lido, San Marco and the Grand Canal; slow but door-to-water. Not an ACTV service; ACTV passes do not cover it (not verified 2026).
- Taxi · 30 minNot verified 2026; expensive
Water taxi from the airport dock straight to your hotel's water entrance. Book officially and confirm the fare first.
Venezia Santa Lucia station
- Ferry · 30 minEUR 9.50 single (2026)
Line 1 or 2 from Ferrovia along the Grand Canal to Rialto/San Marco.
Good to know
- Validate your ticket or pass on the reader at the pontoon before every boarding; an unvalidated ticket counts as no ticket.
- A single ride is EUR 9.50, so a 24h pass (EUR 25) pays for itself after three rides.
- Under 30? The Rolling Venice 72h package (EUR 33) is cheaper than an adult 72h pass (EUR 45).
- Line 1 is slow but the best Grand Canal tour for the price of a ticket; sit at the front or back outside seats.
- Use the EUR 2 traghetto to cross the Grand Canal like Venetians do.
- Walking is often faster than the vaporetto inside the centre; follow the yellow 'Per Rialto' and 'Per S. Marco' signs.
Useful apps
- AVM Venezia (ACTV tickets)
- Venezia Unica (tickets, Rolling Venice, access fee)
- Google Maps (vaporetto routing)