How to Get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice City Center | Bus, Boat, Water Taxi, Car
A detailed guide on how to get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice city center/island. Should you take the bus, water bus, private car, or water taxi? Learn which is the best way to reach your hotel based on your time and budget.
Most places are pretty straightforward on how to get from the airport to your hotel. Uber, taxi, metro, etc. Venice is not quite as simple. If you’re not careful, you could find yourself in a situation where you're paying double or triple what you should 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 from Venice airport to Venice island (i.e., the tourist/city center). This post will help you avoid wandering around the airport trying to figure out where to go next.
Venice mainland vs. Venice islands (city center/tourist area)
First, let's make sure we are on the same page and understand the setup of Venice.
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(s) of Venice.
There is a highway and a railway that connect the mainland with the island, but cars are not 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 on foot.
Which leads to my favorite way to get from the Marco Polo Venice airport to the city center: the Alilaguna water bus.
**Each transportation method listed can also be used in reverse to get from Venice to Marco Polo Airport.
Yellow square: vaporetto dock - red circle: water taxi - large boat between the two: vaporetto
ALILAGUNA WATER BUS
My preferred method for how to get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice city center. The slow but simple and scenic route.
Cost: €18
Time: 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes
Three Alilaguna lines take passengers directly from Marco Polo Venice airport to Venice: blue, orange, and red. I could go into the details of every stop each line makes, but honestly, it makes the most sense to ask your hotel which line to take.
The journey will take around an hour. It’s slower than other options, but it’s cheap at €18 for a one-way ticket (€32 for a round trip). It’s also the best public transportation option to get you within walking distance of your hotel.
If you take the bus, you'll have to hop on a vaporetto (the public boat system in lieu 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 can avoid dragging my luggage on and off transportation more than necessary.
Visit the Alilaguna website to see line maps, timetables, etc.
How to Get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice | Water Bus
How to Get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice | Water Bus
Once you clear customs at Marco Polo Airport, you'll 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 reach the dock.
The expensive water taxis leave from the same dock as the Alilaguna water bus. 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.
How to Get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice | Water Bus
How to Get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice | Water Bus
You can purchase your tickets online, in the airport baggage claim area by the #3 and #5 claim, or at the ticket office at the dock right by where you board the boat.
I prefer to buy my tickets at the dock or online.
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.
Small white/brown boats are water taxis. The large boat with the yellow is a vaporetto.
How to Get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice | Water Taxi
WATER TAXI
The most convenient way to get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice
Cost: €120 to €180 (with the potential of being scammed for more if you don't settle on a price before you board)
Time: 30 minutes
A water taxi is the easiest but most expensive way to get from Marco Polo Venice airport to Venice city center. Water taxis can drop you within steps of your hotel and are the quickest option at around 30 minutes.
If you have a lot of heavy luggage and your hotel isn't close to an Alilaguna stop, it may be worth it to pay for a water taxi. Keep in mind that Venice has over 400 bridges, so you may be walking up and down a few of those to reach your hotel if you take the Alilaguna.
Expect to pay around €120 to €180.
Depending on your group size, it may not be much more than taking the Alilaguna.
You can work with your hotel to arrange a water taxi ahead of time or book a ride from the water taxi desk at the dock (same area as the Alilaguna boats).
Water taxis vary in size and typically fit four to eight passengers. They may charge extra for each passenger, luggage, etc. This is why it is extremely important to agree upon a price before boarding.
How to Get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice City Center
How to Get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice City Center
BUS
The cheapest and quickest combination to get from Marco Polo airport to Venice
Cost: €10 (Vaporetto pass or ticket most likely required to continue to your hotel)
Time: 20 to 30 minutes
Taking the bus from Venice airport to Venice island is the cheapest method. It will be quicker than the Alilaguna water bus, but many hotels will require at least one transfer via vaporetto (public transportation water boats - i.e., Venice's answer to a metro system or public bus system).
If you're staying at AC Hotel Venezia (one of my recommended mid-range hotels), or somewhere nearby, this will be the quickest method as the bus stop is a few minutes' walk away.
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 €10 one way for each option.
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).
AWA Tip: consider purchasing a combo ticket:
- ACTV - Ticket 90' + Airport Transfer Bus (one way) €18 ticket (this will cover the bus from the airport and a 90-minute vaporetto pass)
- ACTV 1 day Transport + Airport Transfer Bus one way VENEZIA DAILY PASS for €32 (this will cover the airport bus plus a full day of vaporetto/bus transport).
Expand the AIRPORT TRANSFER MARCO POLO - VENICE option to see the above tickets.
Bridge of Sighs - How to Get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice City Center | Bus, Boat, Water Taxi, Car
CARE HIRE or TAXI
The semi-convenient and semi-expensive way to get from Marco Polo Venice airport to Venice. A great option if you want to avoid the public bus system but don't want to pay €120 plus for a water taxi.
Cost: €40 to €55
Time: 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. Work with your hotel to arrange a car or just grab a taxi from the taxi stand at the airport (be sure to confirm the price before you get in).
Vaporetto dock
Kiosk to buy your tickets
Vaporetto boat - How to Get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice City Center | Bus, Boat, Water Taxi, Car
Vaporetto information
Think of a vaporetto pass like a metro pass. Since Venice is made of water canals the best method of transportation is public boats.
Single tickets are not cheap at €9.50. It makes sense to buy a 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, or 7-day pass at €25, €35, €45, and €65, respectively.
Take the time to learn 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.
Google Maps does a great job showing which lines to take and where the docks are.
The only DISCOUNT option is for travelers between 6 and 29. You can get a 72-hour pass for €33 when paired with the Rolling Venice discount card (discounts on sights and shops) for €6.
In summary
I hope this post provided some clarity on how to get from Marco Polo Venice Airport to Venice. It can be confusing for first-time visitors unfamiliar with the different modes of transportation.
Decide which option works best for you and your budget, and don't let water taxi drivers take advantage of you by not agreeing upon a price first!
**VENICE HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS**
Luxury
- Londra Palace Venezia
- The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice (Marriott)
- St. Regis Venice (Marriott)
- Baglioni Hotel Luna
Midrange
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How to get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice | Cheap & Fast
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.
For the water taxi, is the price you estimated for a group or per person. We are a group of 4 and are looking into a water taxi option.
That price (€100-150) is per group, not per person. Water taxis vary in size and typically will take four to eight passengers. Keep in mind that they may charge extra for each passenger, luggage, etc. This is why it is extremely important to agree upon a price before boarding.
Hi Ashley
Very easy to follow, complete and well written information. I appreciate that.
I just booked a shared water taxi by following your link and found that the drop-off location might not be the hotel I’ll be staying. Could you give me a tip of avoiding walking too long or getting scammed? I don’t want to be dropped off out of nowhere. Do you know where I should be dropped to go to St. Regis?
Thanks in advance.
I always email the hotel I’m staying at and ask the best drop-off point ([email protected]). You should be able to get within walking distance.