How to Get to Venice: Essential Tips & FAQs

Venice’s fascinating timeless beauty and charm attract visitors from all over the world to enjoy its outstanding historical sites and cultural heritage. However, as charming as Venice is, first-time visitors may somewhat find it challenging to get there and navigate the city. 

The following suggestions and information about Venice are intended to make your trip to Venice not only less daunting, but also more memorable and informative.

How to Get to Venice ?

By Plane

If you are heading to Venice from the United States, Europe, or elsewhere, a flight is the best method to get there. You can take trains to Venice from European locations other than Italy, but because there are no nonstop high-speed train services, the journey takes substantially longer.

From the United States

There are a few direct flights departing from the United States cities to Venice. Direct flights are more expensive than connecting flights, but by paying more, you can fly directly without losing any time on connection flights.

Which US airports do offer direct flights to Venice?

• New York City (JFK)
• Philadelphia (PHL)
• Atlanta (ATL)

From Europe

Marco Polo Venice Airport has multiple nonstop daily flights from various European cities. Cities like Paris have 7-10 daily direct flights.

How to Get to Venice from the Marco Polo Airport?

The vaporetto (water bus) is the most cost-effective and easiest way to go to Venice.

Alilaguna, a shared water bus operator, provides daily service from the airport to Venice. Water buses operate hourly until 9:50 a.m. After that time frame, a water bus runs from the airport every 20 minutes until 8:20 p.m.

You can purchase tickets at the airport’s self-service ticket machines or online.

By Bus

In addition to the water bus option, you can arrive to Venice by bus or water taxi. The ATVO Airport Bus Express is the only bus operator that operates from the airport to Piazzale Roma. The Piazzale Roma is the hub for all public Actv water bus/vaporetto services.

By Water Taxi

If you want a private direct non-stop service to the nearest drop-off point to your destination in Venice, take a water taxi from the airport. Even though the private water taxi is the most expensive choice, it is most likely the quickest method to arrive to your desired accommodation in Venice. You may reach the dock area by exiting the Arrival portion of the Water Polo airport. Look for a covered walkway on the left and continue walking until you arrive to the dock area.

How to Get to the Water Bus Stop from the Marco Polo Airport?

There are signs guiding you to the water bus stop at the airport. Follow the “Transporti via Acqua/Water Transport” signage from the baggage claim area. Walking with bags might be challenging, but manageable. It takes roughly ten minutes to walk to the water bus deck. 

In addition, Alilaguna operates six separate lines that connect travelers from Marco Polo Airport to various Venice areas. If your final destination is Venice, take the Orange Line (Linea Arancino) from the airport to San Marco Piazza/Square.

Check out my Venice Uncovered: 15 Things to See & Do for First-Timers post for information on top sites to visit and activities to do in Venice.

During peak seasons, expect to wait for up to 30 minutes or longer in long lines to board a water bus. Each water bus has a limited capacity, so you may need to wait until the next one arrives for boarding.The water bus ride to Venice takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Furthermore, it only stops at a few piers to discharge passengers. Water bus services do not make direct stops at hotels. Be prepared to use Google Maps to get directions to your hotel and walk there while carrying your stuff across bridges and streets. 

How much does the water bus ticket cost? 

As of 2024, a one-way ticket costs €15. Those wishing to depart from the airport can purchase a round-trip ticket for €27 . Check the schedule for water bus arrivals before departing. The journey takes approximately one hour.

Travel From Rome to Venice

The fastest way to go to Venice from Rome is by high-speed rail from Roma Termini rail Station. High-speed trains are usually cheaper in Italy. Italo and Le Frecce trains operate high-speed trains that take only three hours and seven minutes. Every day, up to eight high-speed trains travel between Rome and Venice.

By Plane

There are four daily nonstop flights between Rome and Venice, each taking 1 hour and 10 minutes. If you have limited time and want to travel to Venice or vice versa, a direct nonstop flight may be the better option. However, you will need extra time to check in and get through security at the airport.

By Bus

A cheaper option is to take the bus from Roma Termini to Venice. However, bus travels take an average of 9 hours and 7 minutes. The fastest non-stop bus travel lasts 6 hours and 40 minutes. The bus station in Venice located on the opposite side of the Grand Canal from the Santa Lucia Railway Station.

Driving to Venice

If you rent a car, you may drive from Rome to Venice, going through Florence and Bologna. Depending on traffic circumstances, the fastest route from Rome to Venice might take from 5 hours and 42 minutes to 6 hours and 51 minutes without stopping.

Travel from Milan to Venice

By Train

Milan, located in northern Italy, is an ideal location to take a high-speed train to Venice. A high-speed Italo train takes less than 2 hours and 30 minutes to arrive in Venice. 18 trains every day run from Milan Centrale station to Venice Santa Lucia and Mestre train stations, beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at midnight.

Train ticket prices vary greatly based on the type of train, route, class, and time of purchase. High-speed train tickets are very popular, especially during peak seasons; therefore, the sooner you get your ticket, the less you will likely pay, and you will not have to worry about sold-out tickets.

By Bus

If you’re on a tight budget and looking for a cheaper option, you can take the bus from Milano Autostazione Lamplignano to Venice Bus Station. The average bus travel lasts 3 hours and 10 minutes to 4 hours and 35 minutes.

By Car

The distance between Milan and Venice is 167 miles, which takes approximately 3 hours to 3 hours and 30 minutes to travel non-stop.

From Florence to Venice

By Plane

There is no direct nonstop flight from Florence, thus other modes of transportation may be a better option for traveling to Venice.

To Venice from Florence by Train

There are multiple daily trains that travel between Florence Santa Maria Novella (SMN) and Venice Santa Lucia stations. Italo and Trenitalia high-speed trains depart from Florence until 9:20 p.m. every hour, starting at 7:20 a.m. daily, covering 127 miles in approximately 2 hours and 16 minutes.

Alternatively, it’s convenient to take a day trip to Venice from Florence. By catching an early morning high-speed train from Florence, you can arrive at Venice’s Santa Maria Novella station before noon and return to Florence in the evening. The last train to Florence departs just before 8 p.m. 

By Bus

There are numerous daily bus services that travel 153 miles between Florence and Venice. FlixBus, Marino Bus, and Itabus are bus companies with itineraries ranging from 3 hours 40 minutes to 5 hours.

Driving from Florence to Venice

If you have your own rental car, enjoy a scenic journey from Florence, stopping in Bologna, Ferrara, Padova, or Ravenna along the way. If you don’t have much time to stop anywhere else, traveling from Florence to Venice takes 3-4 hours, depending on traffic and route.

How to get from Santa Novella Venice Train Station to San Marco Venice?

By Foot

There are several options for getting to San Marco from the rail station. The first option is to stroll across the Ponte degli Scalzi, or Ponte della Costituzione (Constitution Bridge). It takes about 30 minutes to walk from Ponte degli Scalzi to San Marco Square. While it’s easy to get lost in Venice’s narrow streets, walking offers the best way to discover the hidden gems of this historic city.

By Vaporetto

Taking a vaporetto or ferry is a faster option to get to Rialto Bridge or St. Mark’s Square in San Marco District. Take lines 1, 2, or 34 to go to San Marco from the train station. Each line typically operates a ferry every 30 minutes.

Water Taxi

A water taxi is the fastest and most expensive alternative option to get to your destination in Venice. Water taxis typically cost $70-$90 from San Marco Square to the train station. If you are in a hurry to get to the train station or want to enjoy the captivating sites of Venice along the canals, the water taxis may be the right choice for you.

How to Navigate in Venice ?

If you have enough time, you can walk over bridges to visit the majority of Venice’s attractions. Venice has 391 bridges that connect the lagoon’s islands. If you just have a limited amount of time, you can tour the sights along the Grand Canal by using a public water bus (vaporetto), water taxi, or gondola. 

ACTV is the public water bus business that operates in Venice. You’ll notice water bus stops where the water bus picks up and drops off people. There are several options for buying vaporetto tickets. ACTV public water bus tickets can be purchased online from a variety of applications, including Headout and Get Your Guide, for 1-7 days.

Water taxis tend to be more expensive than water buses. They can, however, pick you up and drop you off near your hotel. Furthermore, for a more exclusive private experience, water taxis are a great option for getting about Venice. 

In addition to water buses and water taxis, gondolas are an authentic way to experience the charm of Venice. There are gondolas all along the Grand Canal. You may also take a gondola ride at night, but these are typically pricier. Before getting on the gondola, make sure you agree to the fare. As of 2024, a gondola ride normally costs €90; however, it can be shared by up to 5 individuals.

How to get to Murano, Burano, and Lido Islands from Venice ?

The cheapest and most convenient way to get to Murano, Burano, Lido, San Maggiore, and other islands from Venice is via ACTV vaporetto. You can take a vaporetto from the Fondamonte Nove stop in the north of the city. In addition, an express ferry operates from the San Zaccaria water bus stop in St. Mark’s to the islands of Burano and Murano. For a map of the vaporetto routes, visit the following Venice webpage.

The quickest way to get to Lido from Venice is to take the vaporetto line 14 from St. Mark’s Square to Lido. The trip takes around 15 minutes. The water bus route 5.1 also makes a quick trip to Lido.

Venice FAQs

About Venice

In the fifth century, people who were fleeing the adjacent northern and eastern Italian areas founded Venice. To avoid being attacked by vandals and Lombards, the local populations in these districts fled to the lagoons of Venice. It’s amazing how the people who lived there managed to construct such amazing structures considering that the lagoons are mostly marshy areas.

Since the founding of the Republic of Venice, the city had transformed into a commerce hub for products from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The Venetians used to trade local grain, wine, and salt. In exchange, they purchased spices, silver, and other Far Eastern things to market in Western Europe. Salt was the most valuable product for locals exported by Venice. In the Middle Ages, salt was employed to preserve food.

During the early times of the Republic of Venice, pirates on the Balkan and North African coasts used to disrupt Venetian trade lines. As a result, the Venetians established one of the most powerful naval and ship fleets in the Eastern Mediterranean. To secure its commercial routes and enhance its economic power, the Republic seized possession of the Dalmatian islands in the year of 1000, which are now part of Croatia. 

Allies with Crusader States

Moreover, Venetians were close allies with the Crusader States throughout the history and they leveraged these ties in the early 13^th century to strengthen their position in the region. The Fourth crusaders needed ships to transport them to Egypt. However, the crusaders lacked the necessary funds to pay for the ships. In exchange for the ships, the Doge, the ruler of the Venice Republic at that time, convinced the crusaders to capture the city of Zadar in Dalmatia, a Croatian city. Following the invasion of Zadar, the crusaders went to Constantinople (Istanbul).

The ultimate intent was to continue traveling through Egypt after receiving additional Byzantine soldiers and financial support, but due to unexpected reign changes in the Byzantine Empire, they took advantage of the situation and sacked Constantinople, seizing a number of priceless treasures, including the famed bronze horses placed in Constantinople’s hippodrome. This event also marked the start of the Byzantine Empire’s territorial fragmentation and downfall.

The Golden Periods of Venice

Throughout the 13^th– 14^th centuries, the Republic of Venice expanded its territories significantly in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, taking the control of Aegean Islands, Ionian Islands, Corfu, Crete, and Cyprus. The city of Venice was the most powerful maritime trade empire in the Mediterranean Sea in its golden periods in the early 15^th century.

The Decline of Venice

As other nations, Portuguese and Dutch started controlling Atlantic and African maritime routes, Venice experienced decline throughout the 17^th and 18^th centuries. 

Venice became French territory in 1797 as a result of Napoleon’s conquest. By that time, significant art works were looted, including bronze horses to France. Following Napoleon’s defeat, Venice became an Austrian territory. Interestingly, Venice was connected to the mainland for the first time with the construction of a railway. In 1866, Venice joined the new nation of Italy, and it thrived as a port and manufacturing center in the late 19^th century. Additionally, the first road from the mainland to the city was completed in 1933, resulting in the increase of tourists in the in the following years. 

Flooding Risks

Flooding of the city is a significant issue in the coming years because of global warming and rising sea levels. Venice had significant flooding in 1966 and late 2019. To prevent the city from flooding, Italy built the mega tidal floodgate system, called as MOSE. The project completion took several years and cost more than $5 billion. Steel sea walls were built deep underwater to protect the city from tides up to 10 ft.

Do You Have to Pay for a Venice Entry Fee Ticket for a Day Trip to Venice? 

Starting April 25th, 2024, visitors to Venice for day visits will be required to pay a €5 admission fee on specific days during the peak seasons of April 25th – July 14th. However, if you are a guest staying in Venice overnight, you can request an exemption from paying this fee online. Check the following website to pay the Venice entry fee if you are visiting the city for a day trip on the specified days, and to request an exemption if you will be staying overnight in Venice.

Where to Stay in Venice?

Aqua B

Aqua B is one of Venice’s hidden jewels for accommodations in the Castello neighborhood. This bed and breakfast is approximately a 5-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge, as well as many other attractions. It includes everything you need, including free high-speed internet, air conditioning, comfortable chairs to sit or rest in, and a free breakfast in your room.