Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is on the mainland at Tessera, and the historic centre has no roads. Every bus, taxi and car stops at Piazzale Roma, the last point a vehicle can reach; from there you go on by waterbus (vaporetto) or on foot. The only way to arrive by water straight from the airport is the Alilaguna boat.
Short answer: the cheapest and quickest way is ACTV Aerobus line 5 to Piazzale Roma, about 20 minutes for €10.00. Piazzale Roma is where the road ends, so for a hotel near Rialto or San Marco you add a vaporetto (€9.50 for 75 minutes) or a walk over bridges. The Alilaguna boat goes from the airport dock to Rialto in about an hour for €18.00, with one large bag included. By car it is 14 km to Piazzale Roma, about 17 minutes without traffic. Our private transfer costs €70 per car (1–3 passengers) and €75 per van (4–8).
| Option | Travel time | Price | Changes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACTV Aerobus 5 to Piazzale Roma | about 20 min | €10.00 | 0 (to Piazzale Roma) | Cheapest, hotels near Piazzale Roma or the station |
| Aerobus 5 + vaporetto | about 20 min + boat time | €10.00 + €9.50 | 1 | Hotels on the Grand Canal, light luggage |
| Alilaguna Orange line to Rialto | about 55–60 min | €18.00 (1 large bag + 1 hand bag included) | 0 | Arriving by water near Rialto or the Grand Canal |
| Alilaguna Blue line via Murano and Lido | longer than the Orange line | €18.00 | 0 | San Marco waterfront, Murano, Lido |
| ShuttleHero private transfer to Piazzale Roma | about 17 min (longer in traffic) | €70 per car (1–3), €75 per van (4–8) | 0 | Families, groups, heavy luggage |
Venice's historic centre is an island city in the lagoon with no roads for cars. The Ponte della Libertà bridge carries road traffic as far as Piazzale Roma, the bus terminal on the western edge of the city, and the Tronchetto car park next to it. That is the end of the line for any bus, taxi or private car, including ours. From Piazzale Roma you continue by vaporetto (the public waterbus run by ACTV), by water taxi or on foot. Walking means carrying your luggage up and down the steps of the bridges, so it suits light bags better than large suitcases.
Aerobus line 5 leaves from the bus lane a few metres from the arrivals exit (door B) and reaches Piazzale Roma in about 20 minutes, according to Venezia Unica, the official ticket portal of the city's transport group. A single airport transfer ticket costs €10.00 and a return €18.00. You can buy it from the machines in the baggage reclaim area, at the Venezia Unica counter in arrivals or from the machine at the bus stop. If you will use the waterbuses that day, the Venezia Daily Pass with one airport trip costs €32.00.
The regional operator ATVO also runs a Venice Airport Express bus to Piazzale Roma from stop 3, outside exit D. Tickets are sold online, in the ATVO app and at the airport ticket points.
Alilaguna runs boats from the airport's own dock across the lagoon. The Orange line goes to Madonna dell'Orto, Guglie, San Stae, Rialto, Sant'Angelo, Ca' Rezzonico and Santa Maria del Giglio. On the current timetable it reaches Rialto in about 57 minutes and Santa Maria del Giglio in about 73 minutes. The Blue line calls at Murano, Fondamente Nove, Lido, Arsenale, San Zaccaria and San Marco before going on to Zattere and the railway station. The trip is longer, so it suits Murano, the Lido or the San Marco waterfront. The seasonal Red line is suspended in winter, and new winter timetables start on 28 October 2026.
A one-way ticket to Venice costs €18.00 (return €32.00, Murano €10.00). It includes one large bag and one hand bag; each extra bag costs €4.00. Children under 6 travel free with an adult.
From Piazzale Roma, ACTV vaporetti run along the Grand Canal towards Rialto and San Marco. An ordinary ACTV ticket costs €9.50 and is valid for 75 minutes on vaporetti and buses in the city of Venice. Water taxis also wait at Piazzale Roma and at the airport dock; agree the fare before you board. A road taxi from the airport rank uses the meter and can only take you as far as Piazzale Roma.
A private transfer Venice Airport → Piazzale Roma costs €70 per car for 1–3 passengers and €75 per van for 4–8 passengers. The price is per vehicle, fixed and paid by card when you book, with luggage included. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup, and a child seat costs +€10. Like every road vehicle, the car stops at Piazzale Roma. From there you go on by vaporetto, water taxi or on foot, so it makes most sense for a group with luggage or a hotel near Piazzale Roma or the station.
Venice Airport → Piazzale Roma
Car, 1–3 passengers: €70 · Van, 4–8 passengers: €75
Venice Marco Polo has one main terminal. Your driver waits in the arrivals hall, just after baggage reclaim, holding a sign with your name. We track your flight and you get 60 minutes of free waiting after landing. The drive ends at Piazzale Roma, the last point in Venice a car can reach.
Travelling light to a hotel near Piazzale Roma or Santa Lucia station: Aerobus 5 for €10.00 is the obvious choice. Staying near Rialto or along the Grand Canal: the Alilaguna Orange line takes you there by water for €18.00 with no change. Heading to the San Marco waterfront, Murano or the Lido: the Alilaguna Blue line. A family or a group of four or more with big suitcases: a car or van to Piazzale Roma costs one price per vehicle, but you will still need a boat or a walk for the last part.
Only if the hotel is at Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto. The historic centre has no roads, so every car, taxi and bus stops at Piazzale Roma. From there you go on by vaporetto, water taxi or on foot.
ACTV Aerobus line 5 to Piazzale Roma for €10.00, about 20 minutes. Add an ACTV vaporetto ticket (€9.50 for 75 minutes) if your hotel is further in.
Take Alilaguna from the airport dock. The Orange line reaches Rialto in about an hour and the Blue line goes via Murano and the Lido to San Marco. A one-way ticket costs €18.00 with one large bag included.
About 14 km, roughly 17 minutes without traffic, over the Ponte della Libertà.
Our transfer to Piazzale Roma costs €70 per car for 1–3 passengers and €75 per van for 4–8, fixed when you book, luggage included.
Public transport times and fares were checked on 25 October 2026 on the operators' websites. Timetables and fares change, so check the operator before you travel.
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