Venice has the most varied airport transport pricing in Italy. The costs below reflect a city accessible only by water, with options ranging from budget to premium.
ATVO express bus to Piazzale Roma: EUR 10
The cheapest way to reach Venice's road terminus. Journey time: about 20 minutes. The ACTV public bus covers the same route on ACTV's standard single ticket (EUR 9.50, the same ticket used on the vaporetto network). From Piazzale Roma you then walk (possible for hotels very close) or take the vaporetto water bus (EUR 9.50 for 75 minutes). Practical for light travellers who know the city.
Alilaguna water bus: EUR 18 per person to San Marco/central Venice, EUR 10 to Murano
Public boat service directly from the airport dock into Venice's canal network, on Alilaguna's own fare table. Fares vary by stop, so check the current table for your destination. Three lines:
- Arancio (orange): Airport → Murano → Fondamente Nove → Cannaregio → Rialto → Grand Canal stops. About 75-90 minutes to San Marco.
- Blu (blue): Airport → Lido → San Marco → Zattere. About 75 minutes to San Marco.
- Rossa (red): Airport → Murano → Fondamente Nove. Shorter route, good for Murano/Cannaregio.
The Alilaguna is comfortable enough, runs every 30-60 minutes depending on the line, and stops at useful locations. It is the best value water option for solo travellers.
Private water taxi: fixed per-boat fare, not published online
The price is fixed and regulated by the Comune di Venezia and covers a standard water taxi (motoscafo) from the airport to anywhere accessible in Venice, per boat rather than per person — but the municipality does not publish the current amount online, so confirm it at the taxi stand or with your booking before you travel. Up to 4-6 passengers share this price, so it is far more reasonable per head for a small group than for a solo traveller. The boat goes directly to the closest accessible dock to your hotel, which can be very close indeed.
A night-rate supplement applies after midnight — again, confirm the current figure when you book.
Land taxi to Piazzale Roma: metered, no flat rate published
A regular road taxi from the airport to Piazzale Roma, where the road ends. No flat municipal tariff for this specific route is published, so confirm the fare with the driver or check the meter. From there you need a vaporetto or to walk. This is a peculiar middle option — you save on the water crossing but still need boat transport. Useful mainly for groups with heavy luggage who want to manage the two legs separately.
Land taxi to Mestre: metered, no flat rate published
For travellers staying in Mestre (mainland). A 15-minute drive; confirm the fare with the driver or check the meter, since no flat municipal rate for this route is published.
Vaporetto (once in Venice): EUR 9.50
The ACTV vaporetto (public water bus) costs EUR 9.50 for a 75-minute ticket. If you are connecting from Piazzale Roma or have multiple legs, check whether a day pass is worth it for your itinerary — confirm the current pass price before buying. Line 1 (slow, all stops) and Line 2 (faster, fewer stops) are the main Grand Canal routes.
Costs to specific destinations
| Destination | Alilaguna | Water taxi (per boat) |
|---|---|---|
| Piazzale Roma | check current fare table | fixed fare, confirm before travel |
| Rialto area | EUR 18 | fixed fare, confirm before travel |
| San Marco | EUR 18 | fixed fare, confirm before travel |
| Lido di Venezia | check current fare table | fixed fare, confirm before travel |
| Murano | EUR 10 | fixed fare, confirm before travel |
| Tronchetto (parking) | check current fare table | fixed fare, confirm before travel |
| Mestre (mainland) | ACTV bus EUR 9.50 | Land taxi, metered |
Fixed-price private transfer
VCE Venice (Historic Centre & Islands)
From€144for 2 passengers
Other destinations
The real calculation
For a solo traveller, the Alilaguna (EUR 18 to San Marco) is generally far cheaper than taking a private water taxi alone — confirm the current water taxi fare to see exactly how it compares for your dates.
For a couple: two Alilaguna fares (EUR 36 total to San Marco) versus one water-taxi fare shared between two. Get the current water taxi price before deciding; it is usually several times the Alilaguna cost but arrives closer to your hotel and takes half the time.
For four people sharing one water taxi, the per-head cost drops substantially and the maths can tip in the water taxi's favour — confirm the current fare and divide by your party size to check.
Hidden cost: luggage in Venice
Carrying large suitcases around Venice is physically demanding. Bridges, cobblestones, steps. If you take the bus to Piazzale Roma or the Alilaguna to a busy stop, you still have a walking stretch to your hotel. This physical effort has a value — a water taxi that deposits you at the closest dock to your hotel saves that effort. Factor this into the cost calculation if you are travelling heavy.