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Europe November 30, 2022

How to get to Venice (bus, train, and plane)

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!

Santa Lucia Train Station in Venice. @– Wikimedia Commons

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

Can I go to Venice by plane

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.

Which is the airport in Venice

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.

Is there a bus station in Venice

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.

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Europe September 12, 2022

What to do in Venice? 2 Days in the Romantic Italian City

Looking for things to do in Venice? In this post, you will discover places to visit in this romantic Italian city. Everything can be done in 2 days. Read until the end to check a guide with a map that we prepared.

What to do in Venice?

Our visit to Venice was literally a nice surprise. Not because we didn’t expect Venice to be a charming city, but because we didn’t expect to include the place in our travel itinerary in 2020. However, those who followed our itinerary through Rome know that we missed our flight to Croatia on New Year’s Eve.

So we suddenly bought two bus tickets to go from the capital to Venice. Our final destination was Athens in Greece. So we only had two days to explore the city, which I thought was enough. In this post, you can check our Venice travel guide for two days in the city.

Want to know more about transport between cities in Italy? Confer in this post.

Arrival in Venice:

We arrived by bus at dawn. Piazzale Roma is the last stop to reach Venice by road. It’s the square where the Freedom Bridge ends and where you will have to stop if you go by bus, car or even plane to Venice. Since airport transfers also stop there.

For those who like to travel at night like us, be aware that the only way to get to the center of the city at this time is to walk with your bags for about 20 minutes to the train station. From there, you can choose to walk to the hotel, if your accommodation is close to the station, or to take a boat to the nearest point of accommodation.

Between the bus station and the train station, there are also Vaporettos. These boats travel to different parts of the city. They work on specific routes and times. If you want to know more about how to get to Venice, check out this post.

Photo of a Vaporetto sailing through the canals of Venice. The white boat is relatively large and covered. The buildings are lit up by the sunset. — Vaporetto on the Venetian canals.

We decided to continue walking to our hotel, as it would only be another 7 minutes from that point. A tip is to avoid rolling suitcases to walk around Venice, after all the streets are narrow and irregular, with paths full of stairs and bridges.

Accommodation in Venice:

Staying in Venice isn’t cheap because of low availability and high demand. Therefore, we recommend booking in advance your accommodation. Although hotels close to the center are more expensive, I strongly recommend them to anyone who can afford to stay in the area.

Thus, you will end up saving a lot on transportation, since you can do everything on foot. Plus, it will save you time waiting for boats and avoid crowds. We made our reservation the day before, but we were very lucky in choosing the guest house. We stayed at Porta Orientalis Venice. The room had a mini kitchen, which also helped us save money.

In this post, you will find some tips on budget travel in Venice.

Photo of the guesthouse room. The bed and two bedside tables are leaning against the left wall. On top of the gray comforter are two sets of white towels. On the other wall, two windows are covered by a violet curtain. — Our room at Porta Orientalis Venice.

Photo of the kitchen inside the room. The kitchen has white cabinets, a sink and a cooktop. In addition to a microwave and other utensils that are on the countertop. — Our room at Porta Orientalis Venice.

Venice travel guide: day 1

As we were tired from the bus trip, we took the morning to rest at the hotel. Around noon we went out to have lunch and explore the city. We traced an itinerary all on foot, to explore the streets and save a few euros.

We reserved this day to walk in the regions farther from the center. First, we visited the Ca’ d’Oro, passed the Mocenigo Palace-Museum, and descended towards the district of Dorsoduro. This is a more university district south of Venice, home to two important art galleries and the Basilica Santa Maria Della Salute, from which the dome can be seen from across the city.

We ended the day at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. For €12 you can visit one of the most important art galleries in the world, which houses the largest collection of Venetian art.

Venice travel guide: day 2

Our second day in Venice started early. We planned to go to the most touristics spots in Venice that day. So we left the hotel towards the Bridge of Rialto, the most famous and oldest bridge in Venice. We crossed the Rialto Market, where fruits, vegetables, and fish are traditionally sold every morning. Then, we head to St. Mark’s Square.

St. Mark’s Square

St. Mark’s Square is the most important and busiest in the city. Most of Venice’s historic buildings are located there, such as the Ducal Palace, St. Mark’s Belfry, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Clock Tower.

Photo at dusk of St. Mark's Basilica. The tall building is decorated throughout, with images of saints painted on its arches. — St. Mark’s Basilica

Photo at dusk of St. Mark's square. Several tourists walk in the center of the buildings illuminated by the yellow light. — St. Mark’s Basilica

I suggest visiting St. Mark’s Basilica and St. Mark’s Museum, which is located inside the basilica. Admission is free to see the interior (and the lines are almost always long). However, it’s required to purchase tickets to access the Museum of São Marcos and its treasuries.

The Belfry Tower is the name given to the bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica. With 98 meters, the tower is the tallest building in Venice. But this isn’t the actual original tower, as the first one collapsed. The appearance is the same as the original. It’s possible to pay a visit to the tower and see Venice from another angle for 8 euros.

Doge’s Palace

The Doge’s Palace, located next to the Basilica, is also open to visitors. The common ticket (without a guide) entitles you to the Ducal Palace in addition to the Correr Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, and the Marciana Library.

It’s also possible to take a guided tour around the secret places inside the palace. This tour is offered daily in English, Italian, or French. You go through the basement, the officers’ offices, the courtyard… However, you need to make a reservation. The tour only takes place with a minimum number of people. You can get more information on the Doge’s Palace website.

Enjoy the sunset on the Riva Degli Schiavoni promenade. The landscape is incredible, overlooking the island of São Jorge Maior and several gondolas anchored. On the way back to your accommodation, take the opportunity to give a look at the Bridge of Sighs, right behind the Palace.

Photo of gondolas parked in St. Mark's Square during sunset. — Sunset on the Riva degli Schiavoni promenade.

Photo of the view of São Jorge Maior Island during sunset. — Sunset on the Riva degli Schiavoni promenade.

Extra day at Venice

Another option for those who have more time in the city is to go by boat to the islands of Burano and Murano. These smaller islands are located next to Venice. They are famous for their artisans and colorful houses.

Map of our Venice itinerary:

On the map below you can see all the places we visited on our itinerary. You can open and use it to guide yourself during your visit to the city.

Access and discover Venice:

Did you like our tour? Here we have a post with the best budget restaurants in Venice.

FAQ what to do in Venice

How many days is ideal to stay in Venice?

To visit all points of interest, stay for 2 days in the city of Venice. It’s possible to extend an extra day to discover the surrounding islands. Check out a complete two-day itinerary in the city here.

What to do in Venice in 1 day?

Don’t miss the walk to St. Mark’s Square. Walk through the Rialto Bridge on the way. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica and, if you’re willing to spend a few euros more, ride a gondola.

What can’t you miss in Venice?

You should walk to St. Mark’s Square and watch the gondolas. Another highlight of the visit is the Rialto Bridge and the market at its entrance.

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Europe August 20, 2021

4 Days in Rome: Complete Travel Itinerary

I consider 4 days in Rome the minimum amount of time to get to know the city. With over 2,500 years of history, Rome is famous among tourists. The capital of Italy has incredible monuments, still preserved from the time of the Roman Empire. Like the Coliseum, the city’s postcard. In this post, you will find a complete itinerary with hotels, transportation, and attractions of the city.

4 days in Rome: Travel Itinerary

Our idea was to enjoy 3 days in Rome and leave for Croatia on New Year’s Eve. But we ended up missing the flight. With the change of plans, we had our New Year’s Eve in Italy and enjoyed another day in the capital. In the end, it was the perfect time to explore the city and we also added a two-day visit to Venice.

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Europe April 23, 2021

How to visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill

In this post, you will find tips, prices, and everything you need to know to visit the Coliseum. For those who followed our 4-day trip through Rome, you know that we went in our first day to the Vatican. For our second day, we save a visit to one of Rome’s most emblematic monuments: the Coliseum.

ROME GUIDE: COLOSSEUM, PALATINE, AND ROMAN FORUM

As you would expect from the monument that makes up one of the 7 wonders of the modern world, the lines to enter were kilometers long. In December, when we took this tour, the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine closed at 16:30. Which left us a little desperate about spending our time in lines.

During the European winter, some attractions have their opening hours shortened. That’s why we chose to buy a guided tour right there near the Arch of Constantine. All guided tours have a different entrance than other visitors, which makes you skip the line. We negotiated the price and entered the Coliseum in less than half an hour.

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Europe March 6, 2021

How to get around with public transport in Rome

To get around Rome, I can say that there is nothing better than public transport. Especially with the high value of the euro, taking private transport has become almost impossible in Europe. However, this is not a problem in big cities.

There is plenty of buses and trains that take you to all the main tourist attractions in the city. On our four-day trip to Rome, we got around easily with public transport. So, to make your experience easier, we have prepared here some tips on how to use public transport in Rome.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN ROME

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Europe January 21, 2021

Transportation Between Cities in Italy

In this post, we will talk a little more about transportation between cities in Italy with the best cost benefit.

Italy is full of incredible places to visit. Milan, Naples, Venice, Rome, each city has their own unique attractions. Those who follow the blog already know that we spent the new year in Rome. After, we decided to go on a trip to Venice. We bought the tickets at the last minute, but researching well we could find a good price to go by bus.

Wondering how to get to Venice? Check out this post for tips.

Types of Transportation between cities in Italy:

To move between cities in Italy, tourists find mainly three options: train, bus, and plane. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each one, among other tips:

Getting around by Bus:

The bus trip, although not very comfortable for far destinations, is a great option for those who will buy tickets at the last minute. Because ticket prices don`t have big variations. Usually, the prices are quite stable between seasons. Also, bus tickets are usually much more affordable than train and plane tickets.

We took the bus from Rome to Venice, leaving at night on the second day of 2020. The ticket cost around 44 euros, traveling with Flixbus company. Yes, there are cheaper options than that, but I always recommend choosing a good company when traveling. A few euros more will guarantee more comfort, good service, and safety.

We bought our ticket on the day of the trip directly at the bus station. However, Flixbus has an application for buying tickets online. You can also follow the bus route and schedule by the App. The trip took about 7 hours with the stops. We chose to travel at night because like this we would be able to save a day on the hotel rate as well.

Getting around by Train:

Getting around by train is one of the fastest ways, and I dare say one of the most beautiful too, to travel around Italy. The same route we took to Venice would take less than 4 hours. Plus, you don’t have to go through airport bureaucracy, which would cost more time. Being at the station half an hour before boarding is enough to check where the train is stopped and get on board.

However, be prepared to pay very expensive fares for the trip. Tickets can cost around 200 euros, depending on the stops and the distance between cities. On the Trenitalia website, you can find all the train itineraries and prices.

Two Trenitalia wagons parked at the station. The train has the colors of the Italian flag, red, green and white. — Trenitalia wagon at the station.

To our surprise, we found tickets from Venice to Bologna, from where our flight to Greece would depart, for only 25 euros. The station is right at the entrance to the city and access is easy. We made a very quick trip on the train to Bologna station, and then a few more minutes by bus to the airport.

Airplane Locomotion:

Getting around by plane is ideal for those who are planning their travel itinerary in advance. There are several low-cost companies operating in Europe, such as Ryanair. It’s possible to find promotional flights for 10 euros! However, these tickets don’t include checked baggage. If you are carrying a lot of bags, the price may be more expensive than other tickets.

If you have time to plan, stay tuned to the prices of air tickets until two to three months before your flight date. This time is when prices use to be at their lowest. Also, be flexible with dates and times. If you must travel by plane, checking the price of the tickets should be the first step before planning the rest of the itinerary. I use the Skyscanner ticket comparator to guarantee the best price for the route.

Best travel apps you need on your phone.

Although flights have a short time until de destination, take into consideration when purchasing the tickets the time it takes you to go through all the bureaucracy at the airport. From baggage check to boarding. In addition, airports are usually far from the city and the time to get to them also needs to be taken into account.

Did you like the tips? Tell us your favorite way to travel.

FAQ Transportation between cities in Italy

How to get around in Italy

Traveling inside Italy is easy. Tourists can use buses, trains, planes, or rental cars. Check this post for more information on transport in Italy.

Means of transport in Italy

Italy has good public transportation, as well as many types of private transport to go from city to city. Traveling by bus would be the cheapest way. But you can also go by train, plane, or rental car. Check this post for more information on transport in Italy.

How to travel cheaply in Italy?

The best way to travel cheaply between cities in Italy is to go by bus. But, if you are planning your trip in advance, is possible to find good promotions on flights, especially on low-cost companies.

How to travel by bus between cities?

To travel by bus, you can purchase your ticket directly at the bus station of every city. Some companies also have apps where you can buy tickets online, follow the bus route, and schedule.

How to travel by train in Italy?

Italy’s train company, Trenitalia, has routes to almost every city in the country. The tickets are not very cheap but the travel is very fast and comfortable.

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