Planning your Venice airport transfer is not complicated, but it does require a decision that most people leave too late. There is a moment, somewhere between baggage claim and the dock at Marco Polo, when the water comes into view and the city appears across the lagoon. All you need at that point is the right boat.
Getting from Marco Polo Airport to Venice involves genuinely different options, not just in price but in experience. This guide tells you what each one actually involves, which is worth your money, and the one thing that catches first-time visitors off guard every time.
For everything else you need before you arrive, our Venice travel guide has you covered.
Which Airport Serves Venice?
Marco Polo Airport (VCE) sits on the edge of the lagoon, around 13 kilometres from the city, and is the main international gateway. Treviso Airport (TSF) is further out, around 40 kilometres away, and primarily handles budget European carriers such as Ryanair.
For most travelers coming from outside Europe, Marco Polo is where you will land. The rest of this guide focuses on transfers from there.
If you are arriving into Treviso, the standard option is an ATVO express bus to Piazzale Roma, which takes around 70 minutes. It is manageable, but factor in the extra distance. Listen to our podcast: Treviso: Home of Tiramisu and Prosecco is worth a listen if you are spending time in the area.
One Thing Most People Get Wrong About Venice Transfers
Before going through the options, there is a misconception worth clearing up. Many travelers assume they can take a regular taxi from Marco Polo Airport straight to their hotel. That is not how it works.
Cars and taxis can only reach Piazzale Roma, the main terminal on the lagoon where all road traffic ends. From there, you are on foot, on a vaporetto, or on a water taxi. There is no driving into Venice itself. A taxi gets you to Piazzale Roma, and then you still need onward transport to your accommodation.
This is why water-based transfers from Marco Polo Airport to Venice are so popular. They cut out the middle step and deliver you by boat, which is exactly how Venice deserves to be arrived at.
How to Get From Venice Airport to Your Hotel: All Options at a Glance
| DURATION | APPROXIMATE COST PER PERSON (ONE WAY) | WHERE TO BOOK ONLINE | BEST FOR | |
| Private Water Taxi | 25 - 30 minutes | €140 - €200 (up to six people) | Book a private water taxi transfer | Groups, first-timers, hotel direct drop-off |
| Shared Water Taxi | 50 - 75 minutes | Approx €40 per person | Book a shared water taxi transfer | Solo or couple wanting water experience at lower cost |
| Water Bus (Vaporetto) | 60 – 90 minutes +wait time | €18 (+ €3 for extra luggage) €32 return | Book waterbus tickets | Budget-conscious travelers, canal-side stop |
| Bus Transfer to Piazzale Roma | 20 - 25 minutes + wait time | €10 per person | Book bus transfer | Budget; those staying near Piazzale Roma |
| Land taxi to Piazzale Roma | 15 - 30 minutes + wait time | €40 – €70 | Radio Taxi Venezia Venice Airport Transfers | Quick land transfer to Piazzale Roma |
| Bus and Train to Mestre | 30 - 35 minutes (bus to Mestre) + 10 minutes (train) | €12 (bus transfer to Mestre) + €1.45 (train ticket) per person | Book bus transfer Book train tickets | Budget; those connecting near Mestre |
Venice Airport Water Taxi: Private Transfer
There is nothing quite like arriving in Venice by private water taxi. If you ever wanted to feel like a movie star, this is the way to do it. The elegant wooden boats glide down the Grand Canal and you feel the magic of the city all around you. It is not just transport. It is the opening scene of your trip.
If the budget allows, a private Venice airport water taxi is worth it. The boat collects you from La Darsena pier, a ten-minute walk from arrivals along a covered moving walkway. Most operators include a meet-and-greet in the arrivals hall if you book in advance, with someone waiting with your name. The boat takes you directly to your hotel's private dock or, if your accommodation is not on a canal, to the nearest public landing stage.
A note on conditions: in winter, when the weather is cold and the lagoon is choppy, the experience can be less enjoyable if you are seated inside the cabin rather than out in the open. Anyone prone to seasickness should also factor this in. The crossing is not always smooth. On a bright day in spring or summer, though, it is a memory you will carry with you for decades to come.
- Where to book: Book a private water taxi transfer in advance. Priority is given to pre-booked passengers.
- Journey duration: 25–30 minutes
- Operating hours: 07:00–21:30 (night surcharges apply after 20:00 or 22:00 depending on provider)
- Approximate one-way cost: €140–€200 for the boat (up to 6–8 people; a group can split the cost meaningfully)
Shared Water Taxi From Venice Airport
The shared water taxi is the sweet spot for most visitors. You get the same lagoon crossing and the same boat experience, you travel with a small group of other passengers, and the price per person is a fraction of a private transfer. For a solo traveler or a couple flying into Marco Polo Airport, this is the one to book.
Pre-booking is strongly recommended. Walk-up passengers wait while the driver fills remaining seats. A confirmed voucher means you go straight to the front.
The boat does make stops to drop off other passengers, which adds time. But you are still arriving in Venice by water, still watching the city come into view across the lagoon, and still moving through the canals toward your destination.
- Where to book: Book a shared water taxi transfer
- Journey duration: 50–75 minutes
- Operating hours: 08:00–23:30
- Approximate one-way cost: ~€40 per person
Alilaguna Water Bus
The Alilaguna is the public water bus service connecting Marco Polo Airport to Venice city center, and it is a solid option if you are watching your budget or prefer an unhurried arrival by water. The bright yellow boats are hard to miss.
From the arrivals hall, follow the signs for Water Taxi/Alilaguna and take the covered moving walkway to the dock. It takes around ten minutes. Tickets are €18 one-way or €32 return, with one large suitcase and one carry-on included. Extra bags cost €3 each.
Three lines run from Marco Polo Airport to Venice. Two operate year-round:
- Linea Blu (Blue Line): Airport to the cruise terminal, with stops at Murano, Lido, Arsenale, San Zaccaria, San Marco, Zattere, and Santa Lucia railway station.
- Linea Arancio (Orange Line): Airport to San Marco via Madonna dell'Orto, Guglie, Rialto, and Sant'Angelo on the Grand Canal. The right choice if your hotel is near Rialto or San Marco.
- Linea Rossa (Red Line): Seasonal, April to October only. Connects the airport to Lido via Murano.
The main trade-off is time. The Alilaguna makes multiple stops, and the journey from Marco Polo Airport to Venice city center can run 60 to 90 minutes. If you have heavy luggage and several connecting stops, the shared water taxi is a better choice.
- Where to book: At the Alilaguna ticket office in arrivals or at the dock, or book online
- Journey duration: 60–90 minutes
- Operating hours: First service around 06:15; last service around midnight. Check timetables
- Approximate one-way cost: €18 (plus €3 per extra bag)
Bus: The Cheapest Venice Airport to City Center Option
The ACTV and ATVO buses are the cheapest way from Venice airport to the city, stopping at Piazzale Roma in 20 to 25 minutes. They depart from the bus bay directly outside arrivals and run every 15 to 30 minutes.
The important thing to understand is that buses stop at Piazzale Roma, not at your hotel. From Piazzale Roma you will need to continue by vaporetto, water taxi, or on foot. If your hotel is close to Piazzale Roma, this works well. If it is near San Marco or Rialto, factor in the extra time and effort.
- Where to book: At the ticket office or machines in arrivals, or book online
- Journey duration: 20–25 minutes to Piazzale Roma
- Operating hours: 06:00–01:10 (Marco Polo to Venice); 04:20–00:40 (Venice to Marco Polo)
- Approximate one-way cost: €10 per person
Land Taxi to Piazzale Roma
A regular car taxi from Marco Polo to Piazzale Roma is quick, 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic, but the same limitation applies. It drops you at Piazzale Roma, not your hotel. Fares vary depending on the vehicle and time of day, and night transfers are considerably more expensive.
Use the ranks directly outside arrivals or book via Radio Taxi Venezia. We use Welcome Pickups for private transfers.
- Approximate one-way cost: €40–€70 to Piazzale Roma (higher after 22:00 and on Sundays)
- Operating hours: 24 hours
Bus and Train via Mestre
The least direct option, but it works. Take the ATVO express bus from the airport to Mestre station (20–25 minutes, €10), then a short regional train to Santa Lucia station (around 10 minutes, €1.45). From Santa Lucia you are at the heart of the vaporetto network, or you can walk directly into the city from the station steps.
Our guide to train travel in Italy has more on booking and navigating the Italian rail network.
- Where to book: Bus transfer online or at the ticket office. Train tickets via Trainline
- Journey duration: 30–35 minutes total
- Approximate one-way cost: ~€11.45 combined
If You Are Arriving at Santa Lucia Train Station
This comes up often, and it deserves a direct answer: a water taxi from Santa Lucia station to your hotel is expensive and usually not worth it. Prices from the station to a Venice hotel typically run €40–€100 depending on your destination, and for many hotels a vaporetto or a short walk is both faster and far cheaper.
The better approach is to check your hotel's location before you arrive, identify the nearest vaporetto stop, and buy a single ticket (around €9.50) or a multi-day pass if you will be using the boats regularly. Vaporetto lines 1 and 2 cover most of the city from the station.
For a deeper look at getting around Italy, our guide to transportation in Italy has everything you need.
Getting From Piazzale Roma to Your Hotel
If you have arrived at Piazzale Roma via bus or land taxi, you have three onward options:
By vaporetto: The most practical choice. Multiple lines depart from Piazzale Roma to stops throughout the city. Check the ACTV route map for the stop nearest your hotel.
By water taxi: Available from the docks at Piazzale Roma. The Venezia Taxi and Venezia Turismo Motoscafi stations are both nearby. Worth considering if you have heavy luggage and your hotel has a canal dock.
On foot: If your accommodation is within walking distance and you are not overloaded with luggage, walking is fine. Venice is compact in a way that maps do not always convey.
Hotels Near Marco Polo Airport
If your flight arrives late or departs very early, an airport hotel makes sense. Transfers are more expensive after dark, and there is no need to push into the city if you are only going to sleep and leave.
Annia Park Hotel
Annia Park Hotel is half a mile from Marco Polo, with a paid shuttle (€5 per person), Alilaguna and ACTV bus connections, and taxi links to Mestre station. Check rates and availability.
Courtyard by Marriott
Courtyard by Marriott is just over half a mile from the terminal, with a shuttle bus (€5 per person) and ACTV connections arranged through reception. Check rates and availability.
FAQs: Venice Airport Transfers
What is the best way to get from Venice airport to my hotel?
For most travelers, the shared water taxi is the best balance of experience and value. It delivers you into the city by water, drops you close to your accommodation, and costs around €39 per person. For a group of four or more, a private water taxi splits to a similar per-person cost and drops you directly at your hotel dock.
How long does it take to get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice?
It depends on the option. A private water taxi takes 25–30 minutes. The Alilaguna water bus takes 60–90 minutes. A bus to Piazzale Roma takes 20–25 minutes. Always plan for the full journey to your hotel, not just to the first stop.
Can I take a regular taxi from Venice airport to my hotel?
A regular car taxi can only take you as far as Piazzale Roma, the last point where vehicles can go. It cannot reach a hotel in the historic center. From Piazzale Roma you will need to continue by vaporetto, water taxi, or on foot.
Does Uber operate in Venice?
No. Uber does not operate in Venice. For car-based transport, use licensed taxis from the ranks at the airport or book through Radio Taxi Venezia. For most visitors, a water-based transfer is the more practical option.
Is a water taxi from Santa Lucia train station worth it?
Usually not. Water taxis from the train station are expensive relative to the alternatives. For most hotels, a vaporetto ticket or a short walk is a better use of your money. Check your hotel's nearest vaporetto stop before you arrive.
How much luggage can I bring on the Alilaguna?
Each ticket includes one large suitcase and one carry-on. Additional bags cost €3 each. The Alilaguna is not wheelchair accessible, and luggage trolleys can only be used as far as the dock. Help with bags is not available once you are on the water or in the city.
Staying in Venice
Venice is not a place you arrive at. It is a place you enter. The moment your boat clears the dock at Marco Polo and the lagoon opens up ahead of you, Venice does not disappoint.
Once you are settled in, explore all of Venice’s main attractions to your heart's content but make sure you have familiarized yourself with the Venice Tourist Tax – an exemption is required even if you are staying overnight in the city at one of our favorite boutique luxury hotels or family-friendly accommodation.
If you are still working out the rest of your trip, our Italy trip planning services can help you put it together properly. And for curated recommendations on where to stay and what to do once you arrive, the Untold Italy app is worth having on your phone before you land.
Katy is the founder of Untold Italy and host of the Untold Italy podcast, with more than five million downloads and counting. She has spent decades traveling, writing about, and helping travelers plan trips to Italy that cover the highlights and lesser-known regions. When she is not planning someone's Italian adventure, she is probably already on one. → Read Katy's bio
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