Travel Guide: Using Vaporetto Public Transit In Venice Italy (2024)

On our recent trip to Italy we were in Venice for 3 nights. Getting around Venice involves boats, there’s just no way around it. You have a few choices that range in price and availability. Transportation in Venice is part of the fun.

The main form of public transit in Venice Italy is the Vaporetto operated by ACTV. These are the classic water busses that have operated in Venice for more than 100 years. They are efficient, easy to use, and fast. They however can be a little expensive as a tourist.

There are also some competitive companies that offer transit around Venice. These have a specific role, especially when going to the airport or various hotels.

In This Guide

1 :Travel Guide: Using Vaporetto Public Transit In Venice Italy

1.1: Vaporetto of Venice

1.2: Vaporetto Venice Stops

1.3: Buying a Vaporetto Ticket

1.4: Activating/Validating Vaporetto Tickets

1.5: Using the Vaporetto

1.6: Vaporetto Venice Routes

1.7: Boarding the Vaporetto

1.8: Riding the Vaporetto

1.9: Departing the Vaporetto

1.10: Luggage on the Vaporetto

2.1: Alilaguna

2.2: Alilaguna Tickets

2.3: Alilaguna Stations

2.4: Alilaguna Airport Routes

2.5: Alilaguna Routes

2.6: Alilaguna Hotel Routes

2.7: Alilaguna vs Vaporetto

3.1: Taxi Boats

4.1: Transportation in Venice Final Thoughts

Vaporetto of Venice

The public transit option in Venice is the Vaporetto. What is a Vaporetto? It literally just means water bus, and that’s exactly what it is. These are operated by ACTV and can get you all around Venice however they do not go to the airport. Google maps has the ACT Vaporetto available for directions, however it’s not always completely accurate with regards to the timetable.

Vaporetto Venice Stops

The Vaporetto stops are bright yellow and are easy to spot. They are also floating platforms and stick out into the water. The bus stops will have signage as to what routes they service and what directions they are going.

They are slightly enclosed and are where you want to wait for the Vaporetto. They have markings on the floor that you follow when entering or exiting. There are also often boards displaying the arrival times of the various Vaporetto. Don’t forget that transportation in Venice is also for the locals so there is a rush hour when the stops can get very busy.

Buying a Vaporetto Ticket

Tickets for the Vaporetto are available at all of the stops. The Venice Vaporetto ticket machines will sell you a ticket(Biglietti) and there are several options for tourists. Venice Italy vaporetto tickets are only valid on ACTV Vaporetto. The Vaporetto ticket machines have English as an option and also accept credit cards.

You can buy single use tickets for 7.50EUR, these are not a great deal unless you just need a single ticket. They also sell day passes in 1, 2, 3, and 7 day versions. They cost 20, 30, 40, and 60 EUR respectively. So as cities go, it’s expensive, but it’s really the only option. These Venice transportation passes work great for tourists as you can then hop on and off as you wish.

Activating/Validating Vaporetto Tickets

At the entrance to the floating Vaporetto stations will be a validation machine. These are non-contact machines and all you do is hold the ticket near the box and it will beep. Some of the stops have automated gates but others don’t. Always make sure you approach from the entrance and not exit of the station. It’s well marked and easy to figure out where you should be.

Using the Vaporetto

Using the Vaporetto(water busses) is easy. Just like a normal bus, they run a fixed route and you need a ticket. Using the water busses in Venice is just fun instead of a bus. The Vaporetto approach the floating stations, don’t be surprised if there’s a good bit of movement when the bus docks. This process is well choreographed between the boat captain who’s driving the boat, and the mate who handles the ropes and boarding door. The Vaporetto docking process is fun to watch, they are so good at what they do.

Vaporetto Venice Routes

The routes that the Vaporetto take are fixed and well mapped. They are even on google maps though the time table isn’t always accurate.

The boats are marked with the route that they are running. Sometimes this is a large placard placed in the windows or hung on the boat. Other times this is an electric screen that will display what route the water bus is on. Like a bus stop or train platform, you need to make sure you are going the correct direction. At smaller stops, there may only be one platform so make sure you check the sign and direction on the boat. At larger stations there is often a separate platform when you’re going different directions.

Boarding the Vaporetto

When the Vaporetto approach the stop, the captain will quickly dock the boat and then the mate will open the gates. The people disembarking will leave first then the mate will signal for boarders to come forward onto the Vaporetto. Use caution at this point, everything is moving, the boat, the dock, the people, it all moves.

The mates are friendly but on a schedule so don’t doddle. They will not usually check your tickets, however if you don’t have one, let them know immediately and they will sell you one. They can and do spot check tickets, they ask to see it and scan it to make sure it’s valid.

Riding the Vaporetto

The Vaporetto are pleasant to ride but they are boats. If you are one to get seasick, some of the routes on the water busses might not be very fun. Val and I had no seasickness issues on the Vaporetto, but I can see how it would happen on the larger water.

The Vaporetto can also make a great sightseeing bus. The Vaporetto cover some of the most iconic sights like the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, and San Marco. The water bus is a great way to see some sights while saving some money on expensive taxis or tours.

We liked riding on the deck of the Vaporetto. You get a much better view of Venice than if you are below deck in the front or in the rear area. However there are no seats up-top so you’ll need to stand the whole time. You also need to stay out of people’s way as they are coming and going at the Vaporetto stops.

Departing the Vaporetto

Departing the Venice water busses is easy, just like any bus or train, you simply get off at your stop. The bout will arrive and the mate will open the gate. Leave through the exit and you’re done!

Luggage on the Vaporetto

You can bring your bags onto the Vaporetto, however don’t expect any help from the mate. They might offer to give a quick hand on or off, but it’s not something you can count on. There are special areas designated for luggage, make sure you put your bags in that area. You might need to bring them down a few steps on the Vaporetto so make sure you’re up to the task and you bag is small. Don’t bring something you cannot lift or takes up a ton of space, it’s just not feasible.

Because it’s a boat and space can be tight, if you have a backpack take it off and carry it. You don’t want to bump into people.

Alilaguna is a private water bus company that operates in Venice. They have routes to and from the airport. They also operate lots of the private transfer services for hotels. For example, our Hilton used Alilaguna for their shuttle boat.

Alilaguna

Alilaguna Tickets

Alilaguna sells tickets on-line, in offices, and at various shops around the city. They also will sell you a ticket onboard the boat, but there is a fee for this. Tickets must be activated before boarding the boat, if you don’t, notify the boat driver and you’ll be just fine.

Alilaguna Stations

Alilaguna uses a mix of the public boat stations and their own private stations. Don’t get confused and board the wrong boat. Alilaguna boats are well marked and different from the ACTV Vaporetto.

Alilaguna Airport Routes

Alilaguna operates routes to and from the Venice Airport. Tickets cost 15EUR one way or 27EUR round trip. Unless you want to take a private water taxi, Alilaguna is the only boat service to and from the airport.

Alilaguna Routes

Alilaguna operates some fixed routes. They are not as prevelet as the ACTV Vaporetto routes, but they can be of value if your hotel is located on one of those routes. They also offer routes to and from the train station and port. They can also take you out to Murano and Burano(but ACTV can too).

Alilaguna Hotel Routes

Alilaguna operates several routes for hotels directly. When we visited Venice we stayed at the Hilton Stucky Venice. Alilaguna runs the shuttle bus that docks just in front of the hotel. It’s a great service that is very cheap for hotel guests.

Alilaguna vs Vaporetto

What’s the difference between the Alilaguna and Vaporetto? The Alilaguna and ACTV Vaporetto serve different goals. The Alilaguna goes to the airport, ACTV Vaporetto don’t. Vaporetto cover hundreds of stations, Alilaguna doesn’t. Just remember their tickets are not interchangeable, don’t pick the wrong one. The ACTV Vaporetto is likely what you’ll use when your in Venice, the Alilaguna will take you back to the airport.

Taxi Boats

Venice also has taxis, these are of course boats. They are on-demand and any hotel can call you a taxi. There are also taxi ranks in the busy parts of town that you can get ride from. Just make sure you know the price, they are very expensive and at night or on Sundays, they are even more costly.

Transportation in Venice Final Thoughts

Transportation in Venice is easy and fun, but is a little expensive.

ACTV Vaporetto tickets machines accept credit cards and have an English language option.

Luggage on the Vaporetto is allowed, but bring a small bag as you’ll need to carry it yourself.

ACTV and Alilaguna are different companies with different routes.

Can you drive a car in Venice? No, there are no roads in most of Venice, you need to take boats.

Can you drive to Venice? Yes, we did drive to and from Venice. Parking is very expensive so consider renting a car or taking the train.

Should you take a cruise to Venice? No

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