Venice Airport to City – Explained Clearly

If you’re wondering how to get from Venice airport to the city, this guide explains every option clearly, as a local would.

How to reach the city smoothly

Landing at Venice Marco Polo Airport is exciting. In front of you is one of the most unique cities in the world — and the first real decision of your trip is how to reach it. Venice has no cars, no roads, and hundreds of bridges, which makes choosing the right transfer more important than in any other destination.

This guide explains every option clearly and simply, helping you pick the best one based on where your hotel is located. Because here, more than anywhere else, your final stop matters.

🌊 Water or land? Understanding the choice

Venice can be reached in two very different ways: by water or by land.
Neither is universally better; each one is perfect for certain areas.

If you arrive by water, you enter directly into the lagoon and disembark close to places like San Marco, Rialto, Fondamente Nove, Zattere, or Giudecca. It’s scenic, atmospheric, and unforgettable.

If you arrive by land, every bus, taxi or shuttle will take you to Piazzale Roma, the final point of Venice that can be reached by road. From there, the city opens up through vaporettos and walking routes, and for many hotels this is the fastest and simplest arrival.

A good rule of thumb:

If your hotel is near Piazzale Roma, Santa Lucia Train Station, Cannaregio, or Santa Croce, land transport is almost always the smartest choice.

If you’re staying near San Marco, Rialto, Accademia, Giudecca, or along the Grand Canal, arriving by water gets you much closer and avoids long walks with luggage.

🚤 Arriving by water

Water transport is the most iconic way to enter Venice. If your hotel is in the heart of the historic center, or if you want to start your trip with a beautiful approach over the lagoon, this is the experience you’ll remember.

Alilaguna – the scenic public water bus

Alilaguna connects the airport to Venice through dedicated lagoon routes. Boats stop at major points such as Rialto, San Marco, Zattere, Fondamente Nove, and even Murano.
It’s slower than a water taxi, but much cheaper, with a comfortable space for luggage and a coastline view that sets the tone for your trip.

Travel times vary from an hour to a little more depending on the line, but the journey is smooth and atmospheric. It’s ideal for travellers heading to central Venice, or anyone who prefers a direct lagoon arrival without the cost of a private boat.

⛴️ Alilaguna Airport Boat Ticket

Private and shared water taxis

If comfort is a priority — or if you’re travelling with children, heavy luggage, or arriving late — a water taxi is unbeatable.
Private boats pick you up directly from the airport pier and glide across the lagoon straight to your hotel’s nearest canal. For many hotels in San Marco, Rialto, Dorsoduro, and the Grand Canal, this means stepping off within meters of your accommodation.

It’s the fastest option, often reaching Venice in about 25 minutes, and undeniably the most glamorous.

🚤 Check availability & prices for a private airport water taxi

Shared water taxis offer a more affordable alternative, keeping the experience but sharing the cost with other travellers.

🚤 Book Shared Water Taxi from Venice Airport (Fast & Affordable)

🚌 Arriving by land

For many areas of Venice, land transport is not just cheaper — it’s smarter.

All land transfers arrive at Piazzale Roma, the city’s main gateway. From there you’ll find vaporetto stops, bridges leading into Santa Croce and Dorsoduro, and the short walkway to Santa Lucia Train Station.
If your hotel is anywhere near this part of Venice, arriving by land saves time, money, and unnecessary walking.

ATVO Express Bus

This is the simplest and most efficient option. The express bus runs frequently, has luggage space, and takes around twenty minutes to reach Piazzale Roma without intermediate stops.
For travellers staying in Cannaregio, Santa Croce, Piazzale Roma, Dorsoduro, or near the station, it’s often the best transfer available.

🚌 Check bus transfer availability & prices

ACTV Local Bus

A slightly slower but equally reliable alternative. The journey takes about half an hour with more frequent stops, but it gets you to the same final point.

Land taxi or private car transfer

A car transfer brings you directly from the airport to Piazzale Roma. It’s the most comfortable land option, especially for families or visitors with large luggage, and the safest solution for night arrivals.
Even with a taxi, remember that Venice is entirely pedestrian beyond Piazzale Roma — but for nearby hotels this is the shortest walk possible.

🎯 When land transport is clearly the better choice

Many visitors imagine Venice as a maze of water, but a huge part of the city is actually easier to reach from Piazzale Roma than from the lagoon.

Choose land transport if your accommodation is near:

the Train Station (Santa Lucia)

the Piazzale Roma area

Cannaregio (Lista di Spagna, Riva de Biasio, Guglie)
San Giacomo dell’Orio

In these neighbourhoods, arriving by boat is absolutely possible — and often very scenic — but it can take significantly longer.
Water routes from the airport follow the lagoon, may include multiple stops, and naturally move at a slower pace. While taxis can reach hotels directly, the overall travel time is often longer than expected.
Land transport, instead, brings you quickly to Piazzale Roma allowing you to reach nearby accommodations sooner and with less transit time.

🌙 Night arrivals

During the late-night hours, options become limited.
Alilaguna reduces its frequency, and vaporetto lines run with fewer departures.

If you land after midnight, the most reliable choice is a private taxi boat transfer or a car taxi to Piazzale Roma, followed by a short walk or the night vaporetto (Line N).
For travellers with luggage, this is by far the most comfortable solutions.