Venice is the only city in the world where you can reach the center from the airport by boat. Marco Polo airport (VCE) is 13 km from the center, and no cars run inside Venice itself — vehicles only reach as far as Piazzale Roma. Your options: the Alilaguna water bus — ~$16 (€15), about 1 hour straight to San Marco; a bus to Piazzale Roma — ~$11 (€10), ~20 minutes; a water taxi — expensive, but straight to your hotel.
🛥️ Ways into the center
- ATVO/ACTV bus → Piazzale Roma: ~20 min, ~$11 (€10)
- Alilaguna water bus → San Marco / Rialto: ~1 h, ~$16 (€15)
- Private water taxi → straight to your hotel: ~$130-155 (€120-140)
- Once ashore, getting around Venice is only on foot or by vaporetto (ACTV)
🚌 Bus to Piazzale Roma — the cheapest option
The cheapest and fastest way to reach Venice overland is the ATVO express bus or ACTV line 5, both to Piazzale Roma. The ride is ~20 minutes and the ticket is ~$11 (€10). Piazzale Roma is the furthest point cars and buses reach; from there you continue into the city on foot or by vaporetto.
Buy the ticket at a machine or counter in the arrivals hall — the price is the same and booking ahead isn't necessary.
From Piazzale Roma you can easily reach the historic center via the People Mover (a monorail between Tronchetto and Piazzale Roma) or a vaporetto straight down the Grand Canal (Canal Grande).
🛥️ Alilaguna — arriving straight from the water
Alilaguna is a scheduled water bus that runs from the airport straight into the heart of Venice — San Marco, Rialto or Fondamente Nove. The trip is ~1-1.5 hours and the ticket is ~$16 (€15). It's not the fastest, but you enjoy lagoon views the moment you arrive.
The lines are colour-coded (orange, blue, red) — pick yours by your stop. Buy the ticket right at the airport jetty.
If your luggage is heavy and your hotel isn't near a water stop, keep in mind: Venice has many bridges and steps — an Alilaguna stop isn't always by your hotel. Check the map in advance.
🚖 Water taxi — fast but pricey
A private water taxi (motoscafo) takes you from the airport straight to your hotel's door — ~$130-155 (€120-140). It's Venice's most expensive but most comfortable transfer, especially in a group or with heavy luggage.
The taxi desk is in the arrivals hall — agree the price in advance to avoid taxi scams.
💡 Tips
- For planning the whole trip from Tbilisi, see Tbilisi → Venice
- No cars run in Venice — beyond Piazzale Roma you move only on foot or by vaporetto
- The vaporetto is a separate ticket (ACTV) — single rides are pricey, so a 1-3 day tourist pass often saves money
- Arriving late at night, check the last bus and Alilaguna departures — after that only the water taxi remains
- For another Italian airport transfer see Bologna (BLQ) → city center and the transfer series
Venice is best learned slowly, on foot — and the ride in from Marco Polo airport is the first part of that experience. Find a cheap ticket to Venice on the Travel365 price calendar, and the full city guide in Tbilisi → Venice.
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