Everything you need to know about directions, parking, tickets, information, and prices.
Even the headline doesn't quite hit the mark: The vast majority of vacationers in Lignano who visit Venice don't spend a full day (24 hours) there.
Most visitors arrive sometime in the morning and leave sometime in the afternoon. So, as a day-tripper from Lignano, you’ll spend less than a full day in Venice.
Of course, that's fine, because:
First, most vacationers want to be back at their vacation home by dinnertime, and second, city tours are usually exhausting—especially in the summer—because they’re worn out from taking in so many sights, the kids are whining, their feet hurt, and the crowds in Venice eventually get on their nerves.
So the question remains:
- What should you see in such a short time?
- What are the must-see sights? What's really important?
- This information page here on the Venice Guides is designed to answer exactly those questions.
Of course, everyone’s interests vary greatly. Some people are more interested in art and culture and therefore tend to visit museums and art exhibitions. However, many tourists visiting Venice for the first time (or returning after a long absence) are satisfied with the main attractions. And that is the focus of this information page.
Your two options for getting here
First, you'll need to decide how to get from Lignano to Venice. You have two options:
- Drive from Lignano to Venice in your car and park there in one of the three large parking garages.
- Drive to Punta Sabbioni and then take the No. 14 ferry to Venice: it goes straight to the city center, to St. Mark's Square.
Note: The most beautiful way to get to Venice is by boat from Punta Sabbioni to St. Mark's Square. Upon arrival, you'll be right in the heart of Venice and can explore the lagoon city from there. And the view of Venice's magnificent skyline as you arrive from the south on Line 14 is the most beautiful sight you've ever seen in Venice.
Driving to a parking garage in Venice
The plan is from http://www.OpenStreetMap.org – © OpenStreetMap contributors
If you use Google Maps to calculate the route from Lignano to Venice, it will show a distance of about 95 km and an estimated travel time of 100 minutes. This matches our own experience exactly.
The route runs from Lignano toward Venice, past Venice’s Marco Polo Airport, through Mestre, across the 4-kilometer-long, 1-meter-high bridge, to the northern outskirts of the city at Piazzale Roma (P.le Roma), where there are three large parking garages.
All three parking garages are equally good, equally safe, and equally expensive. (35.00 euros – 45.00 euros)
Furthermore, you CANNOT drive a car there. In Venice itself, there are only narrow alleys and small canals. First of all, cars are not allowed—in fact, there are no roads at all, neither for driving nor for parking. Venice relies almost exclusively on tourism. That’s why great care is taken to ensure the safety of tourists and the parking garages. You can therefore park your car here safely.
Tronchetto Parking: Our Parking Recommendation
We do not wish to repeat the parking details here. Please visit our website for more information at Parking in Venice
We recommend the Tronchetto parking garage, which is located on the right at the end of the 4-kilometer-long bridge. You'll be able to see it from a distance as you approach from the bridge.
This parking garage is the most affordable and is large enough that you’ll always find a spot here. Right behind the parking garage is a stop for the water buses (vaporetti), which will take you quickly to the center of Venice. Price per person per trip: 9.50 euros. Children up to 5.9 years old ride for free.
You can also walk to the city center: it’s about a 50-minute walk to St. Mark’s Square. First, head toward Piazzale Roma, then turn left and cross the large new bridge to the train station, and then continue along the „main street“ toward the city center.
Traveling to Punta Sabbioni by Car
The plan is from http://www.OpenStreetMap.org – © OpenStreetMap contributors
Drive from Lignano through Jesolo and Cavallino to Punta Sabbioni. There you’ll find a good, secure parking spot for 6.00 euros (or 8.00 euros in the summer) right next to Boat Line 14, which will take you to Venice.
The Google Maps route planner estimates a distance of about 80 km and a travel time of 80 minutes. This is consistent with our experience. Venice is an island located in the lagoon of the northern Adriatic Sea. Traveling by boat is by far the most beautiful way to get there. You’ll arrive right at St. Mark’s Square in the center of Venice. Even from a distance, you’ll see Venice’s famous skyline bathed in the light of the Italian sun.
The dock in Venice is right next to the Church of S. Maria della Pietà, named after the famous Venetian composer and violinist Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741). The trip on Line 14 takes about 35 minutes and costs 9.50 euros per person per trip. During the day, a boat departs every 30 minutes, on the hour and on the half-hour.
Parking in Punta Sabbioni
We don't want to keep repeating ourselves on various websites. Please read our detailed information about Punta Sabbioni. The topic of parking is also described in detail there:
Our tip: Think about in advance whether it would be better for you to buy a 24-hour ticket. This costs 25.00 euros per person, which is only 6.00 euros more than a round-trip ticket. In return, you can take as many additional trips as you like on public transportation (vaporettos) in Venice. We generally recommend that all tourists take a ride across Venice on the Grand Canal using Line 1.
Take Line 14 from Punta Sabbioni to Venice
The boats on ACTV Line 14 take you from Punta Sabbioni directly to the heart of Venice: St. Mark's Square. These boats run at the top and bottom of the hour.
Arrival in Venice
By the way, the boats on Line 14 stop in Venice right in front of the Church of Santa Maria della Pietà, where Antonio Vivaldi served as a priest.
Between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.: Lots going on in Punta Sabbioni!
The behavior of most vacationers in Lignano is pretty easy to figure out. They often have the following attitude:
- First, let's get a really good night's sleep. After all, we're on vacation, not on the run.
- Then it's time for a leisurely breakfast. After all, that's what you're paying for. And if you're lucky enough to enjoy the sunrise from the dining room, that's already the first highlight of the day.
- Then it's time to take your time getting everything ready that you'll probably need in Venice—a snack, something to drink, and so on.
- Only then do they set off for Venice. As a result, the vast majority of tourists visiting Lignano arrive in Punta Sabbioni between 11 a.m. and noon.
That's why there are longer lines at the registers at this time of day during the summer season.
This is especially true when the sky is overcast or when it's raining (as shown in the picture above). Since you can hardly go to the beach on days like these to enjoy a typical day at the beach anyway, it makes sense to take advantage of this bad-weather day to take a trip to Venice. Unfortunately, almost all the other vacationers on the Adriatic think the same way.
Your online ticket for the boat to Venice
In any case, you should reserve your ACTV ticket online in advance. That way, you won't have to wait in line at the ticket office here in Punta Sabbioni, and you won't risk missing a boat.
Burano, Murano
The plan is from http://www.OpenStreetMap.org – © OpenStreetMap contributors
If you've already been to Venice but haven't yet visited the neighboring islands of Burano and Murano: Take ACTV Line 12 or 14 from Punta Sabbioni and travel directly from Punta Sabbioni to Burano, then continue on to Murano, and finally return to Punta Sabbioni.
Drive from Lignano to Punta Sabbioni in your car as described above, and take the boat to Burano from there.
Price per person per trip: 9.50 euros. Maximum trip duration: 75 minutes. So if you want to visit Burano first and then Murano later, a 24-hour ticket is a good value. Price per person: 25.00 euros. The 24-hour period begins with the first validation—that is, with the first trip.
The most important gateway for all vacationers heading to the Adriatic:
Take a boat from Punta Sabbioni right into the heart of Venice.
To open the video in a new window, click here: https://youtu.be/qF0Dx1nGtRw