There are three ways to get to Venice. For those traveling from Rome to Venice, or traveling between other cities within Italy or Europe, it’s more common to use a bus, train, and plane. However, Venice is also a stop for several cruise ships. So you can get there by boat.
In this post, we won’t mention the use of rented or private cars. Since it’s not possible to transit around Venice with them and the cost-benefit for your trip wouldn’t compensate. Wondering how to get to Venice? Then check out our transport tips here.
How to get to Venice by Plane:
It’s possible to reach the city of Venice by landing at Marco Polo Airport. For those who want a quick and comfortable way to get around, a plane or train are among the best options. However, it’s necessary to consider that the nearest airport is eight kilometers away from the city center.
To get from the airport to the island of Venice, there are four options:
1. By Bus
This is the cheapest way to get to the center. The journey costs around 8 euros and takes you to Piazzale Roma, the city’s bus station. The bus station it’s around 1 km from the train station, right at the entrance of the island. Two companies make this route, ACTV, and ATVO.
Be aware, because some of the ACTV buses make more stops, which will add more hours to the route. Also, the quality of ATVO buses is better. However, a plus point of ACTV is that you can buy tickets that also work with Vaporettos inside the city. Check out more about day passes on the VeneziaUnica website.
2. By boat
The AliLaguna boat takes you from the docks to the regions of San Marco, Rialto, Fondamenta Nuove, and Le Guglie. The docks are located in the airport departure area (about 5 minutes walking). The cheapest tickets are around 15 euros and the journey can take up to an hour.
I only recommend using the boat if your hotel is close to one of the drop-off points.
3. By Transfer:
For those who don’t give up comfort and don’t mind paying a little more for the service, transfers are a good option. The water taxi starts at €32 and takes you from the docks to the pier at your hotel, or the nearest one.
How to get to Venice by Train:
Santa Lucia Station is the arrival station for those arriving by train in Venice. It’s right at the entrance of the island, in the neighborhood of Cannaregio. Our hotel was only 5 minute walk from the station. So it was easy to move around the city with suitcases.
For those staying in hotels outside this neighborhood, you may need to take a Vaporetto or a water taxi to reach your destination. There is a Vaporetto terminal right in front of the train station. From there, boats depart for all areas in Venice.
The Google Maps application shows all the Vaporetto lines. So it’s easy to know which station will take you to the closest station to your destination. Check out a list of the apps you need to plan your trip here!
HOW TO REACH VENICE BY BUS:
We chose to travel from Rome to Venice by bus. This was by far the cheapest option. Although it took us about 7 hours to reach the city, we used this to our advantage. We traveled overnight and saved a hotel night stay.
We chose the Flixbus company, as the buses are new and we can track the travel information online. If you want to know a little more about traveling by bus within Italy, check out this post.
Venice’s bus station is Piazzale Roma, which is close to Santa Lucia train station. We arrived in the very early morning and walked to our hotel. Something around 25 minutes to Santa Lucia Train Station, and another 5 minutes to reach the apartment.
It’s also possible to leave the Venezia Tronchetto bus station or the train station by boat. There are several lines of Vaporettos and you can take one of them to the point closest to your accommodation. Next to the bus terminal, there is also a parking lot for those arriving in Venice by car.
Bonus tips on how to get to Venice:
- Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia Station are the last points you can reach Venice by land.
- Piazzale Roma, or Venice bus station, is the destination for all buses that come to the city, in addition to cruises and cars.
- The monorail in Piazzale Roma takes you to the Cruise Terminal and the Tronchetto parking lots, next to the cruise terminal. But it only works during the day.
- On the VeneziaUnica website, you can purchase, in addition to transfers between the airport and the bus station, single tickets for one, two, or three days with unlimited use of Vaporettos. Admission to some museums and other tourist attractions is also included.
Are you planning a trip to Venice? Check out our article with a two-day itinerary in the city.
FAQ How to get to Venice
Yes. Venice airport is 8 kilometers away from the city center. From there you need to take a transfer, bus or boat to your accommodation.
Venice’s airport is Marco Polo Airport. It’s located eight kilometers away from the city center. Check out how to get to the center in this post.
Venice’s bus station is Piazzale Roma, which is close to Santa Lucia train station. The bus station is about a 25-minute walk from the train station, which is located at the entrance to the island.
