Venice is located in the center of the lagoon connected only by 1 causeway for buses, cars and trains. Otherwise you must arrive by water. Since you are traveling, you probably have a good bit of luggage, so knowing exactly where you want to go is important, otherwise you and your luggage might get to know some of the 400+ bridges in the city.
By Train
If you arrive by train in Venice at Santa Lucia train station (the stop after Mestre on the mainland) it's really easy, you step off the train and you are along the canal. There's a Tourist Information office just inside the station where you can also book a hotel, should you need one, and get a map. Just outside along the canal is the ticket office for the vaporetti.
From Marco Polo Airport.
If you arrived at the Marco Polo Airport (in Tessera)
You still need to get to Venice. There are 4 possibilities. Inside the terminal at the airport, you can
(1) Buy a ticket for the bus to Piazzale Roma (the last place cars and buses can go)
(2) Take a taxi to Piazzale Roma
(3) Take Alilaguna (the water bus) to it's drop off places
(4) Take a water taxi. (Ranging from 100 Euro to ???) Get the price before you go!
If you choose to go to Piazzale Roma, you can catch the #5 bus just outside the airport and there is an Express Bus which cost a bit more, but again it is just outside the airport. Once you are at Piazalle Roma, you can take the Vaporetto along the Grand Canal to as close as possible to your destination.
If you choose to take Alilaguna or the Water Taxi, when you exit the airport, take a LEFT, you still have a good 1/4 mile walk to get to pier where the boats await. Follow the crowds, there is an obvious walkway. I recommend that you pay for a cart for your luggage if you have many pieces (when you return the cart, you get your money back).
If you are hungry, need the bathroom, by all means stop at the airport because depending on where you are going, it will be 30 minutes to 1 hour by Alilaguna which runs every 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the time.
Along the waterside there is the Taxi Stand and on the other side is the Ticket Office for
Alilaguna. It's your least expensive way to Venice, but you must buy your ticket before boarding. When go on the pier for the boat, the guy taking your ticket will ask your destination so be sure to know which line you want to take and la fermata (the stop) you need. You board the boat and they stow your luggage, mostly in the way you will be dropped off. They will announce the stops, but having a general idea of the number of stops will alleviate some nervous moments for you.
There are 3 lines, Linea Blue. Lina Arancio and Linea Rosa. They go to very different destinations, so it's rather important you know where you are going. Again print out the information on your hotel and where you buy the ticket they can help.
Linea Blu (Blue Line)
Linea Arancio (Orange Line)
Linea Rosso (Red Line)
To take a taxi:
You can arrange a taxi online before you arrive but I don't recommend as you run the risk of not arriving on time with no way of letting the taxi know you are delayed. You can arrange a taxi inside the terminal when you exit the baggage claim, or you can use the taxi stand by the water front. Be absolutely sure they know where you are going and that you know the total price to the destination. They are expensive from 100 Euro and up. The taxi can go up many small canals and get you quite close to your destination, a big advantage with lots of luggage, many people, and children and in general make for a less stressful arrival. So you have to measure the ease of use with the cost.
From Treviso Airport
Charter flights like Ryan Air and some others land in Treviso. Take the charter bus which is associated with the airline and it will drop you off at Piazzale Roma, where you can buy your ticket for the vaporetto. There is no easy other way.
In all of these cases you first need to know your final destination - not just the name of the hotel. Print a map before you leave. Unless your Italian is quite good, the map will come in quite handy to explain just where you need to go.
Getting Around Venice - GET A MAP
Venice is a very walkable city,. It is built over some 117 small islands, 150 canals and some 409 bridges, full of streets that end at canals, streets that go under houses and small courtyards that go nowhere. Getting lost in Venice is one of the pleasures, though no one can stay lost for long in such a small area. By night it has a completely different look with the shutters closed and lights off. On the sides of building are signs pointing to "San Marco"," Ferrovi" (Train Station) "Piazzale Roma" (bus station). Sometimes the arrows point in two directions. They will both arrive, just different paths. Your hotel can tell you which boat stop is closest to the hotel. (Be sure to take a card from your hotel when you check in, so you can find it later.)
Other than your feet, the main method of transportation is the Vaporetto which takes you to every place you need to go. Taxis are expensive and generally not needed to get around the city.
While some things remain constant in the schedules, like Linea 1 (Number 1) which makes the scenic route of the Grand Canal, many other lines change numbers. The routes are all shown by the boat stop, but it is definitely a plus to have a map or to have looked at the map before you begin travel.
RECOMMENDED Take Line 1 along the Grand Canal if you do nothing else, it's the full Venice experience, even better at night.
VAPORETTO
Venice is a very walkable city,. It is built over some 117 small islands, 150 canals and some 409 bridges, full of streets that end at canals, streets that go under houses and small courtyards that go nowhere. Getting lost in Venice is one of the pleasures, though no one can stay lost for long in such a small area. By night it has a completely different look with the shutters closed and lights off. On the sides of building are signs pointing to "San Marco"," Ferrovi" (Train Station) "Piazzale Roma" (bus station). Sometimes the arrows point in two directions. They will both arrive, just different paths. Your hotel can tell you which boat stop is closest to the hotel. (Be sure to take a card from your hotel when you check in, so you can find it later.)
Other than your feet, the main method of transportation is the Vaporetto which takes you to every place you need to go. Taxis are expensive and generally not needed to get around the city.
While some things remain constant in the schedules, like Linea 1 (Number 1) which makes the scenic route of the Grand Canal, many other lines change numbers. The routes are all shown by the boat stop, but it is definitely a plus to have a map or to have looked at the map before you begin travel.
RECOMMENDED Take Line 1 along the Grand Canal if you do nothing else, it's the full Venice experience, even better at night.
VAPORETTO
1) First: How do you buy a ticket?
As a tourist, you need to choose from a confusing number of options. (rates could change any time)
6,50 - WATER SERVICES TICKET Allows travel on all most services for 60 minutes from stamping, with transport means change allowed in the same direction.
Does not include the return journey. Included in the price is the transport of one luggage item of up to 150 cm as the sum of its three dimensions.
You can purchase at major Vaporetto stands (like at the Train Station, Piazzale Roma, Fdte. Nove, Colonna Murano), or on board if you just can't figure it out..
As a tourist, you need to choose from a confusing number of options. (rates could change any time)
6,50 - WATER SERVICES TICKET Allows travel on all most services for 60 minutes from stamping, with transport means change allowed in the same direction.
Does not include the return journey. Included in the price is the transport of one luggage item of up to 150 cm as the sum of its three dimensions.
You can purchase at major Vaporetto stands (like at the Train Station, Piazzale Roma, Fdte. Nove, Colonna Murano), or on board if you just can't figure it out..
2) Tourist Travel Cards (RECOMMENDED!!)
The travel card is the most economical, least confusing and generally best for tourist. It leaves you free to jump on and off most vaporetti and change your mind. It is good for the entire lagoon, so your trip to Burano, Lido, Torcella, Murano is all inclusive. Just remember to validate (stamp) your ticket before you use it the first time. Their are inspectors as some stops, mainly the #1 at Piazzale Roma, but they can be on any boat who will ask to see your card and that it is valid. (It is not good for Alilaguna.)
BUY AT: The Airport, Piazzale Roma or the ticket stand by the train station.
For a map of the Vaporetto click here
The website for the ACTV in Venice is http://www.actv.it and it is available in English
BUY AT: The Airport, Piazzale Roma or the ticket stand by the train station.
For a map of the Vaporetto click here
The website for the ACTV in Venice is http://www.actv.it and it is available in English
