Getting to Venice

Getting to Venice

Aerial view of Venice

Getting to Venice

When planning a trip to Venice, it is important to remember that it is a collection of more than 100 islands in the middle of a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. There are with absolutely no roads. Mestre is like the city centre of the mainland opposite the main island of Venice. The only way to get to Venice from the mainland is via one long access road used by cars and trains.

The only way to get around Venice is by boat on foot.

Flying to Venice

Venice has two airports: Venice Marco Polo (VCE) is the international airport, it is also the closest airport at just over 4 (nautical) miles away and is located in the lagoon. Venice Treviso (TSF) Airport services low-cost airlines and European flights and is just over 40 kilometres away over land.

An aerial view of Venice, Italy

Getting from the airport

Venice Marco Polo (VCE)

Because the airport is situated in the lagoon, there are a number of water transport options including shared or private water taxis as well as a bus.

The bus is the best, fastest and cheapest way to get from Venice Marco Polo Airport to the old town of Venice. There are frequent buses to downtown Venice as well as to Mestre and other places such as Lido di Jesolo.

Public buses to and from Venice Airport are operated by ATVO. The buses stop in front of the exit of the airport. The journey takes around 20 minutes, single tickets are €8 (prices from January 2020) and must be bought in advance from a counter at the airport or online.

Bear in mind buses terminate at Piazzale Roma and you will have to use the vaporetto, water taxi or walk to your destination.

>https://www.atvo.it/

Airport Ferry to Venice and the islands

Airport shuttle ferries are operated by Alilaguna from the airport to Venice, Lido or Murano. You board the ferries at the airport harbour/port which is accessed by a travellator from the airport. Travelling by ferry costs around €15 for a single trip but unlike the bus from the airport, the ferries have a number of stopping points that may take you closer to your hotel. Tickets must be bought separately at the airport, ticket booths or online.

>https://www.alilaguna.it/en/shop

An aircraft taking off at Venice Airport, Italy

Venice Treviso Canova (TSF)

Venice Treviso Airport is located outside of the city but is not connected by train (the nearest station is in Treviso). Onward travel options are taxi, shuttle bus or train (from nearby Treviso). Keep in mind all motorised transport stops at the Piazzale Roma terminal or the parking island of Tronchetto. From there, you will need to take an alternate form of water transportation or walk to your accommodation.

Shuttle Bus Service

The easiest and cheapest way to get to Venice is by bus. Two companies offer a frequent scheduled service which coincide with flight arrivals and departures:

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ATVO buses stop at Mestre railway station (70 minutes) and Piazzale Roma (55 minutes), the transport hub of the Venice lagoon. Tickets can be purchased online, from an ATVO ticket machine or at the ATVO counter for €12 one-way or €22 return. You must stamp your ticket to validate it in the yellow machine at the bus stop or on the bus. Note: ATVO’s Treviso buses are often labelled “Brusutti,” rather than “ATVO.” (Brusutti operates the service for ATVO.)

>https://www.atvo.it/en-treviso-airport.html

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Barzi Bus stop at Mestre railway station and terminates at Isola Nova del Tronchetto, a ferry hub attached to the main lagoon from which you can get onward transport. Tickets can be purchased the Barzi counter at the airport for €12 one-way or €22 return.

Taxis

The quickest and most expensive way to get to Venice from Treviso is Taxi or Private hire transfer. Taxi fares from the airport are not fixed and so may end up costing more than your flight once the base fare, mileage and extra charges for luggage are included.

Remember all vehicles drop off at Piazzale Roma, from where you will have to take water transport to your destination.

>http://www.taxitreviso.it

Arriving by Train

‘Venezia Santa Lucia’ is the only train station on the island of Venice. All trains arrive via a bridge (ponte liberta) which stretches more than 3 kilometres across the lagoon. Most trains also stop at Venice-Mestre station on the mainland.

Piazzale Roma is the main transport hub of the main island. Buses and larger shared water taxis terminate here. From Piazzale Roma you can take the water bus or vaporetto or a water taxi to your accommodation.

Driving to Venice

Quite simply you cannot drive in Venice, so if you are arriving by car you will need to find parking which is charged by the day. The only parking available in Venice is around Piazzale Roma, Mestre, or further away on the mainland which will be cheaper. Charges range from around €30 per day.

>https://parclick.it/parcheggio-venezia?affiliate=5a1bebef

Treviso Airport Terminal, Italy