How to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice – cheap & fast

Most places are pretty straight forward on how to get from the airport to your hotel. Uber, taxi, metro, etc. Venice is not quite as simple and if you’re not careful you can get yourself royally screwed on how much you pay by not knowing in advance how to get from point a to point b. Thankfully, the fact that you’re reading this post means you are above being taken for the confused tourist and will have a game plan for how to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice. I’ll take you through the fastest and cheapest ways to get to the city center of Venice so you don’t have to break a sweat wandering around the airport and waiting for your phone to get a signal so you can figure out where to go next!

Just to make sure we are all on the same page and understand the setup of Venice…the Marco Polo airport is on the mainland. The Venice you are visiting with St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto bridge, and picture-perfect canals is the island of Venice. There is a highway and railway that connects the mainland with the island, but there are no cars allowed past the parking lot and garage at the entrance of the island. From this point on your only method of transportation is by boat or foot. Which leads to my favorite way to get from the Marco Polo Venice airport to Venice. The Alilaguna water bus.

**Each transportation method that is listed can also be used in reverse to get from Venice to Marco Polo airport.

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How to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice

Alilaguna water bus - my preferred method on how to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice 

The slow but simple and scenic route from Marco Polo Venice airport to Venice

14 euros

1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes

There are three Alilaguna lines that take passengers directly from the Marco Polo airport to Venice; blue, orange, and red. I could go into the detail of every stop each line makes, but honestly, it makes the most sense to ask your hotel which line will get you closest. The journey will take from 1 hour to a little over an hour. It’s slower than other options but it’s cheap at 14 euros for a one-way ticket.  It’s also the best public transportation option to get you within walking distance to your hotel. If you take the bus you will have to hop on a vaporetto (the public boat system in leu of a metro or bus system) to continue the journey to your hotel. The Alilaguna water bus will take longer than the bus but I prefer to have a relaxing journey where I’m not having to lug my luggage on and off transportation more than necessary.

Visit the Alilaguna website to see line maps, time tables, etc. 

Once you clear customs in the Marco Polo airport you will see signs that say “Transporti via acqua/Water transport”. Follow these signs, there are plenty to make sure you don’t get lost. It’s about a 7-minute walk to get to the dock. The expensive water taxis leave from the same dock as the Alilaguna water bus so don’t get scammed into boarding a water taxi by a seemingly helpful driver offering to take you to the water bus. The Alilaguna water bus is a large boat that has a bright yellow bottom and spells Alilaguna in large print. Expensive water taxis are small and all white or brown wood tones. 

You can purchase your tickets online but you will still need to swap out your printed ticket for a boarding pass at the ticket office. You can also buy tickets in the baggage claim area by the #3 and #5 claim or at the ticket office at the dock right by where you board the boat. For an additional euro you can also buy tickets on board.

Board the blue, red, or orange line boat and relax for the next hour. If you’re staying on or visiting Murano or Burano, this is the same boat you will take to get to those islands.

The easiest way to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice – water taxi

The most convenient way to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice. 

100 to 150 euros (potential into being scammed for more if you don't settle on price before you board)

30 minutes

A water taxi is the most expensive but also the easiest way to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice. Water taxis can usually get you within steps of your hotel. If talking the Alilaguna and having to walk 10 to 15 minutes to your hotel isn’t a viable option, a water taxi will likely cut down on your walking time. It’s also a quicker option at around 30 minutes. Expect it to cost at least 100 to 150 euros. You can work with your hotel to arrange a water taxi for you ahead of time or book a ride from the taxi desk in the arrivals area. If you decide to work directly with the drivers at the dock, make sure to agree upon the price before you board so there aren’t any surprises.

The cheapest way to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice – bus

Buses are the cheapest and quickest combination to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice

8 euros (Vaporetto pass or ticket most likely required to continue to your hotel)

20 to 30 minutes

Taking the bus from the Venice airport to Venice island is the cheapest method. It will be quicker than the Alilaguna water bus but will likely require at least one transfer via vaporetto to get to your hotel. Two bus companies transfer visitors from Marco Polo airport to Venice stopping at Piazzale Roma, the only bus station on Venice island. ATVO takes about 20 minutes and ACTV takes about 30 minutes. It will cost 8 euros one way for each option. Unless you are staying by the bus station, which I don’t recommend, you will have to take a vaporetto to get within walking distance to your hotel. 

You can buy ATVO tickets on their website. Tickets for ACTV can be purchased through Venezia Unica. You can also buy your vaporetto tickets and passes here (see the vaporetto information section below).

The semi convenient and semi expensive way to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice - car hire

Booking a car is the best way to get from the venice airport to Venice if you want to avoid the public bus system but don't want to pay 100 plus euros for a water taxi.

40 to 55 euros

20 minutes

The last option is to hire a car. Sorry, no UBER in Venice. Just like the bus, it will take about 20 minutes and drop you off at Piazzale Roma where you will then have to take a vaporetto to get to your hotel. Cost will be 40 to 55 euros. Work with your hotel to arrange a car if this is your preferred method. 

Vaporetto Information

Think of a vaporetto pass like a metro or tube pass. Since Venice is made of water canals the best method of transportation is public boats. Single tickets are not cheap at 7.50 euros and it makes sense to buy a 24 hour, 48 hour, 72 hour, or 7 day pass at 20, 30, 40, and 60 euros respectively. Take the time to get used to the vaporetto system as I guarantee you will be using this throughout your stay in Venice. You can buy tickets online (click the ACTV LImited Time Tickets for passes) or from kiosks on the dock wherever the boats depart. Make sure to validate your ticket with the automated machines before boarding to avoid being fined. 

Google maps does a great job showing which lines to take and where the docks are. 

The only DISCOUNT option is for travelers between 14 and 29. You can get a 72 hour pass for 22 euros when paired with the Rolling Venice discount card (discounts on sights and shops) for 6 euros. 

Now that you know how to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice start planning your tours and activities! I highly recommend taking a walking tour.

See my other Italy posts!

I hope I have given some clarity on how to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice since it can be confusing for first time visitors. If you visit Venice often let me know in the comments your preffered method of how to get from the venice airport to venice!