How Alilaguna Works
Make a stylish entrance:
By boat from the airport straight into the lagoon
Venice is an island city—and the most beautiful way to reach it is undoubtedly by water. The distinctive yellow Alilaguna boats, which you can see in the photo above, offer reliable, scheduled service directly from Marco Polo Airport to the heart of the city.
Important Note on Ticket Selection
To ensure a smooth start, it is important to distinguish between the different public transportation systems in Venice. Please note the strict distinction:
- Alilaguna: A private company that provides airport transfers.
- ACTV: Public transportation (vaporetti within the city).
Attention: The tickets are not interchangeable. An Alilaguna ticket does not entitle the holder to ride ACTV buses or ferries, and vice versa.
Especially comfortable for seniors
- Short distances: From Marco Polo Airport, you can easily reach the boat dock via the Moving Walkway (covered moving walkways). This saves you energy and is ideal if you're traveling with luggage.
- Introduction: Alilaguna boats are designed so that boarding is generally at ground level. The staff will assist you in stowing your main luggage in the middle section of the boat.
- Seating: Unlike the often crowded city vaporetti, you'll usually find it easier to get a sheltered seat below deck on the Alilaguna boats.
The 3 lines: Blue, Orange, and Red
Although the lines have colorful names, you can always recognize the boats by their distinctive Alilaguna yellow. Depending on where your hotel is located in Venice, choose the appropriate route. Here in the photo, you can see a typical boat entering the Grand Canal.
Which line is right for you?
- Blue Line (Blu): The classic route via Murano and the Lido to St. Mark's Square (San Marco).
- Orange Line (Arancio): This is ideal if your hotel is located near the Rialto Bridge or along the Grand Canal.
- Red Line (Rossa): A seasonal addition that often provides faster connections to certain hubs.
Prices and Baggage Policies
All Alilaguna routes have the same fare (Exception: Short trip to Murano). It is particularly reassuring for seniors to know that the fares are fixed and transparent. (September 2026)
| Ticket Type | Price per person |
| One-way trip (Airport ↔ Venice) | 18,00 € |
| Round-trip (Airport ↔ Venice) | 32,00 € |
| One-way trip to Murano | 10,00 € |
| Round-trip to Murano | 18,00 € |
Note for families: Children up to and including age 5 travel free when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.
Baggage Policies
To ensure you don't encounter any surprises at the pier, here are the services included for each paying passenger:
- 1 suitcase (large piece of luggage)
- 1 carry-on bag (Backpack or bag)
- Extra baggage: A surcharge of €4.00 will be charged for each additional piece of luggage.
Comfort Tip for Seniors
Since loading and unloading luggage at the floating docks can be a bit of a hassle, Alilaguna staff will help you stow your luggage on the middle deck. When purchasing your ticket, be sure to check your change right at the counter—this will save you from unnecessary stress before boarding.
Alilaguna Blue Line (Blu): The Classic
The photo shows a boat right at the dock at Marco Polo Airport. The Blue Line is the most important route for many travelers, as it serves key destinations such as Murano, the Lido, and finally St. Mark's Square (San Marco).
Focus on Reliability
Whether it's a weekday, Sunday, or holiday, the Blue Line operates daily, all year round. Boats generally depart every 30 minutes. This gives you the peace of mind you need when planning your trip, even if your flight happens to be delayed.
Comfort Tips for Seniors
- Accessibility: The path from the airport terminal to the Blue Line pier is completely covered and equipped with moving walkways. So you won't have to carry your suitcase very far.
- Travel time: Please allow about 1.5 hours for the trip into the city. Use the time to sit back, relax, and enjoy your first view of the lagoon.
Stops and Travel Times for the Blue Line
To help you plan your arrival at the hotel, here are the key stops along the Blue Line Summarized for you. The following map is based on data from OpenStreetMap and shows the route through the lagoon.
Departure times from Marco Polo Airport
The Blue Line runs very reliably every 30 minutes. Here are the current departure times (as of 2026):
From 5:20 a.m. to 12:20 a.m.
Early in the morning and late in the evening, a boat departs every hour. From 8:20 a.m. to 9:20 p.m., the interval is 30 minutes.
Current Schedule for the Blue Line
Since departure times may vary slightly depending on the season, I recommend checking the official online schedule: Alilaguna Blue Line Schedule
Key Stops & Travel Time
Venice moves at a leisurely pace—and that goes for the boat transfer as well. Please allow the following travel times to reach your destination:
- Murano Colonna 30 min
- Fondamente Nove, 41 min
- Hospital 45 min
- Bacini 49 min
- Certosa 57 min
- Lido S.M.E. 66 min = 1:06 hours
- Arsenale 78 min = 1 hour and 18 minutes
- S. Zaccaria 84 min = 1 hour and 24 minutes
- San Marco 88 min = 1 hour 28 minutes
- Zattere 98 min = 1:38 hours
- Giudecca Stucky 103 min = 1:43 hours
Important Information for Your Arrival
- Allow for a time buffer: Since boarding and disembarking with luggage, as well as rough seas, can slightly affect the time, these figures are approximate.
- Accessibility at St. Mark's Square: The San Marco Giardinetti stop is relatively easy to access, but depending on your hotel's location, you may have to cross a few small bridges.
- Copyright Notice: The map shown was created based on contributions from © OpenStreetMap.org.
Alilaguna Orange (Arancio) Line:
The Path to the Grand Canal
The Orange Line is especially popular with travelers whose hotels are centrally located near the Rialto Bridge or along the Grand Canal. The photo shows a typical Alilaguna boat at the stop S. Stae, one of the most beautiful landing stages right on the Grand Canal.
Daily service, without exception
Like all of Alilaguna's main lines, the Orange Line is also reliable. It runs daily—including Saturdays, Sundays, and all public holidays. You can generally expect a departure every 30 minutes.
Special Features for Seniors
- Centrality: This line often takes you closer to the hotels in the historic center without requiring you to walk long distances across many bridges.
- Experience Value: The entrance to the Grand Canal is a highlight. Since you're sitting comfortably in the boat, you can admire the palaces while your luggage is safely stowed away.
- S. Stae Boat Landing: Compared to other stops, this one is often a bit quieter and less crowded when boarding and exiting.
Stops and Travel Times for the Orange Line
The Orange Line is the ideal choice if your destination is in the Cannaregio district or near the Rialto Bridge. The route also offers a beautiful ride through the northern part of the lagoon all the way to the Grand Canal.
Departure times from Marco Polo Airport
The Orange Line runs every 30 minutes. Here are the current departure times (as of 2026):
From 8:35 a.m. until 10:50 p.m.
The Orange Line typically runs every 30 minutes.
Current Schedule for the Orange Line
Since departure times may vary slightly depending on the season, I recommend checking the official online schedule: Alilaguna Orange Line Schedule
The Orange Line starts at Marco Polo Airport and stops at the following major stops (travel time from the airport)
- M.dell Orto 30 min
- Guglie 37 min
- San Stae, 40 min
- Rialto 56 min
- S. Angelo 60 min 1:00 hour
- Ca’ Rezzonico 65 min 1:05 hour
- S. M. Giglio 71 min 1:11 hour
Important Information on Accessibility
- Guglie & Rialto: These stops are very popular. Please note that the route from the stop to the hotel often goes over bridges with steps.
- Seating: Since the trip to Rialto or San Marco takes over an hour, we recommend that seniors arrive at the pier early to secure one of the coveted seats in the open-air section at the back or in the sheltered interior.
- Basis for the Plan: The graphical representation of the route is based on data from © OpenStreetMap.org contributors.
Stops and Travel Times for the Red Line
To help you plan your arrival at the hotel, we’ve summarized the most important stops on the Red Line for you here. Please note that the Alilaguna Red Line operates only during the summer. Unfortunately, the official and current schedule only lists the dates for the year 2025: from April 16, 2025, to November 4, 2025. The map above is based on data from OpenStreetMap and shows the route through the lagoon.
Departure times for the Red Line from Marco Polo Airport
The Red Line runs hourly. Here are the current departure times (as of 2025):
Every hour: 08:50, 10:15, 11:15, 12:15, 13:15, 14:15, 15:15, 16:15, 17:15
Current Schedule
Since departure times may vary slightly depending on the season, I recommend checking the official online schedule: The Alilaguna Red Line Schedule
- Murano Museum 30 min
- Certosa, 45 min
- Lido S.M.E. 57 min
- San Marco 72 min 1:12 hour
Important: Alilaguna is not part of the ACTV network
A common mistake when planning a trip is confusing the two major public transportation systems in Venice. Please be sure to note the strict distinction between the airport shuttle and the city’s public transit system.
Tickets are non-transferable
The Alilaguna and the ACTV public transit system are competitors. In practice, this means the following for you:
- No combined use: With an Alilaguna ticket, you cannot use the ACTV vaporetti (water buses) within the city after you arrive.
- ACTV passes are not valid: Conversely, ACTV season passes or single-ride tickets are not valid on Alilaguna's yellow boats.
Expert Tip for Seniors: If you plan to use the ACTV water buses frequently in Venice to avoid bridges and stairs, you’ll need to purchase a separate ticket or a pass (e.g., an ACTV 2-day ticket). The Alilaguna ticket is intended solely for travel to or from the airport.
What to Look for in an Investor
At many stops (such as San Marco or Lido), the Alilaguna and ACTV docks are located close to each other. Pay attention to the signage and the color of the boats:
- Yellow Boats: Alilaguna (airport transfer).
- White boats with the ACTV logo: Public transit.
Important tip for your return trip:
Fondamente Nove Stop
If you're planning your return trip to Marco Polo Airport from the Fondamente Nove stop, you should plan ahead carefully. This stop, located in the northern part of the city, is one of Venice's busiest landing spots.
Avoid long lines
At the Fondamente Nove stop, you should almost always expect a large number of passengers. The lines at the ticket counters can be very long here.
My advice for a stress-free departure:
- Buy tickets in advance: It's best to buy your return ticket as soon as you arrive at the airport (a round-trip ticket is also cheaper), or use the online booking service.
- Allow for a time buffer: Don't count on being able to buy a ticket at the ticket counter at the last minute. It would be very frustrating if the boat were to leave right in front of you while you're still standing in line, and you had to wait another 30 to 60 minutes for the next one.
Comfort Tip for Seniors
- Seating: There is limited seating at Fondamente Nove while you wait. If you already have your ticket, you can go straight to the waiting area and avoid the hassle at the ticket counter.
- Orientation: Be sure to find the correct pier for the Blue (Blu) line, as many other lines (e.g., to Burano) also depart from here.
Buy your ticket conveniently online—at no extra charge
To avoid the rush upon arrival or long lines at the ticket counters (such as at Fondamente Nove), we recommend that you book your ticket online in advance.
The benefits of booking online:
Safety: You already have your confirmation—either digitally or as a printout—which is especially reassuring for a stress-free arrival.
No processing fees: You'll pay exactly the same price as you would at the ticket counter.
Time savings: They go straight to the dock without having to wait in line first.