Getting around Venice on a budget

One of the many attractions that makes Venice a favorite among travelers worldwide is its distinct infrastructure and layout. Navigating a city with canals instead of streets brings unique challenges that typical roadways don’t offer!

Adapting to this environment may take time—a laid-back mindset and awareness that exploring Venice and its Lagoon islands can be pricey are beneficial—but our best tips will guide you. Here’s all you need to know about the floating city's vaporettos, buses, gondolas, and more.

There’s nothing quite like exploring Venice on foot

Walking is undoubtedly the best way to navigate the six sestieri of Venice. This lagoon city is relatively compact— for instance, it takes about thirty minutes to walk from the Santa Lucia train station to Piazza San Marco— and its major attractions are typically well-signposted and easy to locate. While it’s a good idea to have a reliable GPS and a detailed map, the unique layout of Venice’s winding streets can challenge even the best navigators.

Strolling along the canals is an excellent way to acclimate to the city and uncover hidden gems and squares that you might overlook otherwise. There’s no need to fret about acqua alta— the city sets up walkways in case of flooding, but it’s always smart to keep a pair of rain boots handy if you plan to visit during the autumn season.

Who needs buses when you have a vaporetto?

Vaporettos are essential to life in the Lagoon. While most cities have standard buses (including Venice in its mainland area), the Serenissima boasts floating buses instead. The vaporetto service is managed by Venice’s municipal transport system, ACTV, connecting all the key points of interest across the six sestieri and other Lagoon islands.

There are various lines of vaporettos categorized into four main types, with the most notable for tourists being the 'city center lines' 1 and 2, which navigate the Grand Canal.

Vaporettos can be quite pricey, so it’s advisable to purchase your ticket in advance and validate it at the machine near the stop to avoid extra fees for buying onboard. A single ticket, valid for 75 minutes, costs €9.50. Additionally, you can opt for 24-hour passes for one, two, three, or seven days at €25, €35, €45, and €65, respectively.

A traghetto is a budget-friendly option for crossing the Grand Canal

Many people aren't aware that there's a traghetto (ferry) service that allows passengers to cross the Grand Canal – it’s significantly cheaper than a vaporetto and is a popular choice among locals. A ticket costs €2 for tourists, and you can board at several locations along the Canal, including Santa Sofia, Riva del Carbon, San Tomà, Santa Maria del Giglio, and Punta della Dogana.

The service operates from around 9am to 6pm, with slight variations depending on the boarding location, and it does not run during holidays or city festivals.

A water taxi is the fastest (and priciest...) option

Much like any other city, Venice has its own taxi service – just without wheels. Water taxis are an excellent choice if you want to reach your destination swiftly and stylishly, but be prepared for high costs, especially at night. They can accommodate up to ten passengers, making the fare less daunting for larger groups.

A gondola ride focuses more on the experience than just getting from one place to another

Instead of being merely a transportation method, the gondola is a unique experience and a tourist attraction in itself. Routes and prices typically get negotiated with each gondoliere, with daytime half-hour tours costing around €80 and nighttime rides about €100. Sharing a gondola is a great way to reduce costs, though they accommodate fewer passengers than a water taxi.

Discover the larger lagoon via ferry

The ferry service features two main lines, 17 and 11, linking Venice to the broader Lagoon area, beginning with the Lido, then heading south to Pellestrina on Line 11, and north to the beach area of Cavallino on Line 17. The ferry is a perfect option if you wish to take your vehicle along – prices start at €8 for cars and motorbikes, though this does not cover the passenger fares, which follow the standard vaporetto rates in addition to the vehicle fee.

Navigate Mestre by bus

Buses don't run on the Lagoon itself; their main role is to link Venice with Mestre on the mainland and to transport passengers around Mestre. However, some routes do extend to Venice, stopping at Piazzale Roma, which is conveniently located near the Santa Lucia railway station.

Advance single tickets cost €1.50 (€3 if bought on board), or you can opt for a ten-ticket carnet priced at €14. It's advisable to purchase tickets in advance for savings, and always remember to validate your ticket when boarding the bus.

Use the tram if you’re based in Mestre

Venice features just two tram lines, making them a great choice if you’re staying in Mestre rather than on the Lagoon. The T2 line operates solely on the mainland, while the other extends to Piazzale Roma, similar to the bus routes. Ticket prices are the same as the bus: €1.50 for a single ticket (€3 if bought on board) and €14 for a ten-ticket carnet. Don't forget to validate your ticket when you board.

Transportation options for accessibility in Venice

Travelers with accessibility needs might not initially view Venice as an accommodating destination due to its unique features—canals, narrow streets, and lack of buses. Nevertheless, the city is actively working to remove architectural barriers, even if there is still progress to be made.

For those who want to explore independently without relying on public transport, a group of experts, including locals with disabilities, has created a list of barrier-free routes available on the city’s official website.

Regarding vaporettos, they are generally designed to accommodate all passengers, although very high tides can present challenges. Most vaporettos can carry up to four wheelchairs, and tickets cost €1.50 (a companion rides for free).

Getting to Venice

Marco Polo AirportWater shuttles and water taxis are available at the airport ferry dock. Buses operate every 30 minutes from 5:20 AM to 12:50 AM to Piazzale Roma.

Treviso AirportBuses connect to Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto (for the monorail to Piazzale Roma). There are also buses to Treviso train station for connections to Santa Lucia station.

Piazzale Roma (car parks and bus station)Vaporetti (small passenger ferries) depart from the docks at Piazzale Roma to various city destinations.

Venezia Santa Lucia train stationVaporetti depart from the docks at Ferrovia (Station).

Venezia Mestre train stationTake the train to transfer to Venezia Santa Lucia.

Venezia Terminal PasseggeriLarge cruise ships typically drop off passengers in Venice; otherwise, taxis and vaporetti are available from the waterfront.