Venice is the only city in the world where your choice of transportation determines whether your vacation begins with stress or with an adventure. After landing at Marco Polo Airport (VCE), you’ll face a unique logistical challenge: You can either travel by land to the edge of the historic city center or take a water taxi directly to your hotel.
To help you make the best decision for your needs—and your luggage—we've evaluated the six most important options in an unbiased and professional manner.
Marco Polo Airport on the site map
Category 1: Directly by water to the hotel
These options are ideal if you want to avoid stairs and transferring at the bus station.
1. Private Water Taxi – Exclusivity Without Waiting
The water taxi is the only way to be taken directly to the hotel's own dock (or the nearest landing) without any detours.
- Waiting time: None: Land, check out, get in, and drive off.
- Travel time: about 30 minutes
- Costs: Approx. 175 € (flat rate for up to 6 people).
- Advantage: Maximum comfort even with heavy luggage; no waiting after landing.
2. Fast Airport Transfer (Shuttle Service)
An excellent balance between luxury and cost. You'll share the boat with other travelers, but you'll still be dropped off individually at your hotel.
- Waiting time: 0 to 40 minutes by water taxi.
- Costs: With us, it's only €36 per person per trip.
- Advantage: You'll enjoy the comfort of a water taxi at a fraction of the price.
3. Alilaguna – The Public Waterfront
The Alilaguna boats are the „water buses.“ There are several routes (blue, orange, red) that serve different parts of the city.
- Waiting time: 0 to 30 minutes in a line.
- Travel time: Up to 90 minutes, depending on the destination.
- Costs: 18 € (online) per person per trip
- Note: Plan your route from the bus stop to the hotel on foot.
Category 2: Via the mainland (arrival at Piazzale Roma)
Important: All land-based vehicles end their routes at Piazzale Roma. From there, you'll need to take a vaporetto (water bus) or walk.
4. ATVO Express Bus – The Recommended Option for Travel by Land
The blue express bus specializes in transporting tourists. It runs nonstop and has large luggage compartments under the passenger compartment.
- Travel time: About 20 minutes.
- Costs: 12 euros per person. Round trip for only 20.00 euros
- Advantage: It's more convenient than the regular city bus because there are no stops along the way.
5. ACTV Line 5 – The Classic City Bus
The most affordable option, which runs frequently and is often used by commuters and students.
- Travel time: About 25 minutes (plus a transfer to the vaporetto).
- Costs: 10 € (NO combined ticket with the vaporetto available).
- Note: It's often very crowded during rush hour when there's a lot of luggage.
6. Street Taxi – Private Ride to the Outskirts of Town
A regular taxi will take you from the terminal exit directly to Piazzale Roma.
- Waiting time: None.
- Travel time: About 20 minutes.
- Costs: 40.00 € per taxi (up to 4 people).
- Advantage: No need to stick to a schedule, and you can leave right after your luggage is loaded.
The Royal Transfer: The Private Water Taxi
A private water taxi is the most exclusive way to reach Venice. It takes you directly from the airport pier to your hotel or the nearest pier, with no detours. This convenience and speed come at a price.
- Travel time: About 30 minutes (direct).
- Advantage: No need to lug your luggage across bridges; arrive right at the hotel dock.
Important Note Regarding Online Reservations
In Venice, quality and planning come at a price. The rates you see on signs in the airport terminal often apply only to spontaneous trips arranged on the spot.
Please note that almost all water taxi operators for Online reservations incur an additional charge require. In return, you’ll have the assurance that your boat will be ready when you arrive and that you won’t have to wait in line. The decision between saving money on-site and the peace of mind that comes with a reservation is entirely up to you.
Fast Airport Transfer with Shuttle Service
Visually, this transfer is indistinguishable from a private taxi: it’s the same elegant wooden boat that takes you to Venice. The only real difference lies in the terms and the price. Here, you share the boat with up to 10 people, which makes the trip significantly more affordable for individuals or couples.
- Procedure: During peak hours, a shuttle departs from the airport pier approximately every 20 to 40 minutes.
- Objective: The boat will drop you off as close to your hotel as possible.
- Price: With us, it's only €36 per person per trip (as of June 2026).
- Advantage: You can enjoy the „water taxi experience“ and a direct route across the lagoon for a fraction of the private tour price.
The yellow Alilaguna boats
The Alilaguna (from the airline to the lagoon) is a private boat operator that connects the airport to the city center by water. The distinctive yellow boats are the perfect choice for travelers looking for an affordable alternative to a water taxi but who still want to arrive directly across the lagoon.
- Schedule: The boats run every 30 minutes.
- Route Network: There are two main routes:
- Blue Line: Takes you through Murano to St. Mark's Square and on to the Hotel Molino Stucky.
- Orange Line: The direct route through the Grand Canal (Rialto Bridge) to St. Mark's Square.
- Price: 18 € per person per trip (as of June 2026).
Advantage: This is probably the most picturesque way to arrive, as you get to discover Venice from the water as you approach the city.
Directions to the Boat Terminal (Alilaguna & Water Taxi)
After you have collected your luggage, you will be on the ground floor of the arrivals hall. The path to the water is modern and accessible, but involves a slight change in level:
- Changing Floors: Take the escalator or elevator to the first floor.
- Treadmills: From there, follow the new, covered moving walkways, which will take you directly to the lagoon.
- Time required: The entire route takes about 7 to 10 minutes on foot with luggage.
At the end of the moving walkways, you'll arrive directly at the terminal, where both the yellow Alilaguna boats and the private water taxis depart.
The ATVO Express Bus – The Experts' Recommendation
The ATVO bus is the fastest and most comfortable way to travel by land. Unlike regular buses, this service is specifically designed for travelers with luggage.
- Location: The bus stops are located on the ground floor, right in front of the exit from the airport building.
- Destination: The bus travels nonstop via the highway and the Freedom Bridge directly to Piazzale Roma (Venice's bus station).
- Price: 12 € per person (one-way).
- Money-Saving Tip: Book your round-trip ticket directly for just €20.
Why we recommend the ATVO bus: Unlike a regular city bus, the express bus doesn't make any detours through the surrounding towns. It takes the shortest route and has large luggage compartments under the passenger compartment, so you don't have to bring your suitcases onto the bus.
Personal recommendation: When relatives or friends ask us how they can get to Venice easily and inexpensively, our answer is always the same: Take the ATVO bus. We use this mode of transportation ourselves, too.
The ACTV City Bus (Line 5)
Line 5 is the classic public transit bus. It connects the airport to Piazzale Roma via land, but stops at several stops along the way to pick up commuters and residents.
- Location: On the ground floor of the terminal building, walk straight ahead to the outside; there you'll find the ACTV bus stops.
- Destination: Piazzale Roma (final stop on the outskirts of Venice).
- Price: 10 € per person for a one-way trip.
Important Note About the Ticket: Although Line 5 is operated by the official transit authority ACTV, the airport route has a special fare. The standard one-day or multi-day tickets for Venice are NOT valid for this trip. You must purchase a special ticket that includes the airport transfer.
Good to Know: Important Details for Your Transfer
To avoid any surprises at the airport and upon arrival in Venice, please keep the following points in mind:
1. Continue from Piazzale Roma (if arriving by bus)
If you arrive at Piazzale Roma by bus (ATVO or ACTV Line 5), your journey isn't over yet. From there, you can either walk to your hotel or continue your journey by vaporetto (water bus).
- Important: You'll need a separate ticket for the vaporetto (a single-ride ticket or a multi-day ticket), since the bus transfer is only valid up to the bus station.
2. Ticket System: Simple and Digital
For all tickets ordered online, you will receive a PNR code (QR code).
- Pickup: With this code, you can easily print out all the tickets you've ordered (bus and vaporetto) at the yellow ticket machines in Venice. You won't have to wait in line at the ticket counters.
3. Rules for Children and Luggage
- Children: Children up to 5.99 years of age ride for free on all ACTV routes.
- Luggage: The ticket price includes one piece of luggage. The sum of its length, width, and height must not exceed 150 cm.
4. No senior discount for tourists
An important note for travelers over the age of 65: Unfortunately, ACTV does not offer any special discounts for seniors who are not residents of Venice. The regular tourist fare applies.
The classic street taxi
A street taxi is the most flexible option for anyone who wants to be taken immediately and privately to the outskirts of Venice (Piazzale Roma) after landing.
- Availability: In our experience, there are always plenty of available taxis in front of the airport building. Therefore, it is not necessary to make a reservation in advance.
- Destination: The taxi will take you directly to Piazzale Roma.
- Price: The official flat rate is 40 € per trip per vehicle.
- Capacity: This price includes up to 4 people and 4 pieces of luggage.
Note: Keep in mind that the ride ends at Piazzale Roma here as well. For the rest of the way to your hotel, you'll need to either walk or transfer to a vaporetto (water bus).
Summary: Which transfer option is right for you?
To help you make your decision, we've briefly evaluated the six options here once again:
- Maximum comfort: The private water taxi (direct to the hotel, no transfers).
- Best Value for the Money: The shared water taxi (shuttle service).
- Our Recommendation (Affordable & Fast): The ATVO Express Bus.
- The most scenic route: Across the lagoon on Alilaguna's yellow boats.
- For those who decide on the spur of the moment: A street taxi right outside the door.
- For budget-conscious explorers: ACTV Line 5 (with views of the countryside).