Venice is the world's only pedestrian city, is easily walkable, and the absence of cars makes it a particularly pleasant experience. Walking and standing all day can be exhausting too so acclimatize yourself. The historic center is small enough to walk from one end to the other in about an hour.
If you want to get around a bit more quickly, there are numerous vaporetti (water buses) and water taxis. The vaporetti are generally the best way to get around, even if the service changes frequently. If you are going to be in Venice for a few days visiting, it is a lot cheaper to get the vaporetti than to get private water taxis. If you want to have a romantic ride along the canals, take a Gondola Ride.
ACTV runs the vaporetti and other public transport services both in the lagoon and on the terra firma. Travel cards are extremely useful since the basic fare for one vaporetto journey is typically €9.50 whereas a 1 day travel card costs €25, a 3 day costs €45 and a week costs €65 and there are other versions (including discounts for youth under the age of 29). Prices corresponding to the year 2024.
The Venezia Unica Website of the Comune di Venezia makes possible to book online most services controlled by the town administration: public transportations, access to the civic museums, access to the public restrooms, car parking tickets, entrance to the Casino and access to the municipal WiFi network which will cover all of the historic centre. The online prices vary according the days in advance but are always cheaper than the current on-site prices. There is a 'Junior' version of the Venice card that is available at a slightly reduced rate for those between 5 and 29 years of age.
Maps are available at the vaporetto stops in the ticket booths and the ACTV website. Of course, keep in mind that you can collect your transport card at the machines at the vaporetto stops in Piazzale Roma or in front of the train station by presenting the QR code of the reservation.
Otherwise, take a walk! The city is not that big, and you can walk from one end to the other in a few hours. But it would take months for a fit person to discover every path in the city. Along the way you will discover marvelous art, superb architecture and breathtaking urban landscaping. Exploring the city randomly by walking is well worth it but also be prepared to get lost easily!
Vaporetto Routes 1 and 2
These two public transportation routes connect the Tronchetto, Piazzale Roma and Ferrovia S. Lucia terminals to the city centre, with waterbuses (the vaporetti) cruising along the Grand Canal to St. Mark's Square and the Lido (only in specific seasons).
Trip duration and schedule:
- A waterbus following route 1 from Piazzale Roma to St.Mark's Square takes about 40 minutes to complete the trip, and leaves every 10 minutes throughout the day.
- A waterbus following route 2 from Tronchetto to St. Mark's Square along the Grand Canal requires about 40 minutes to complete the trip, 30 minutes from Piazzale Roma. Buses leave every 10/20 minutes, depending on the season and the time of the day.
Route 2 makes it possible to reach St. Mark's Square (specifically, S. Zaccaria) also by cruising along the Giudecca Canal. The duration of the whole trip from Tronchetto to S. Zaccaria is about 28 minutes, and the waterbuses leave every 10 minutes throughout the day. From 20.30 to about 23.30 waterbuses leave every 20 minutes.
Vaporetto Routes 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2
These are the so-called "Giracittà" routes, as they cruise along a circular route that goes through the Ferrovia and Piazzale Roma terminals and link the city proper with the islands of Murano (Routes 4.1 and 4.2), Giudecca (Routes 4.1 and 4.2) and Lido (Routes 5.1 and 5.2). The boats used on these routes are called "motor boats" and can transport fewer passengers than the waterbuses.
They leave about every 20 minutes in either direction throughout the day.
Lagoon Routes
These routes connect:
The Cavallino-Treporti coastline to Venice, and viceversa: there are Vaporetto line #15 (direct link) and Vaporetto line #N (that goes to the Lido too), whose trip takes from 30 to 40 minutes;
Venice's historic centre to:
- Murano, Burano, the Cavallino-Treporti coastline (Vaporetto line #N);
- Murano, Vignole, Sant'Erasmo, the Cavallino-Treporti coastline (Vaporetto line #13);
- San Servolo and San Lazzaro degli Armeni (Vaporetto line #20);
- Chioggia (Vaporetto line #11), starting from the Lido; this is an integrated (bus + ferry-boat + motor-ship) link that goes almost through the whole of the Lido island and the whole of the Pellestrina island, with its terminus in Chioggia.
- Torcello (route 9 and 12) from Burano; the trip takes 5 minutes.
Ferry-Boat Services
These services are offered using ferries that allow transportation of people and vehicles between: the island of Tronchetto and the island of Lido (Vaporetto line #17), between the Lido and the Cavallino – Treporti coastline (Vaporetto line #17), and between the Lido and the island of Pellestrina (Vaporetto line #11).
Airport Links
The airport is connected to the Historic Centre by bus and cruising links. Check transport from/to Venice Marco Polo airport.
Night Services
During the night (roughly from 23.30 to 4.00) it is possible to move by public transport thanks to:
- Integrated night services connecting the Lido to the Historic Centre and the Historic Centre to Mestre, leaving on average every 20/30 minutes.
- The Notturno Murano service, connecting the Historic Centre to the island of Murano, departures every 30 minutes;
- The Notturno Laguna Nord service, connecting the Historic Centre to the islands of Burano and S. Erasmo, as well as the Cavallino-Treporti coastline, with departures roughly every hour.
ACTV validation rules
Regarding the validation of all electronic ACTV transport passes such as the time based Tourist Travel Cards purchased through the Venezia Unica site, it is compulsory to revalidate your ticket every time you board an ACTV water bus, independently of the time period of validity remaining on the pass.