How to Get Around in Venice (gondola, vaporetto ferry, water taxi...)

One of the most incredible experiences in Italy is stepping out of Santa Lucia train station and witnessing the beauty of Venice. It feels like travelling back to a time before cars, where the only way to travel is by boat or on foot.

Of course, Venice's transport is unique and very different from most other cities, so getting to know the different modes of transport in Venice is synonymous with getting to know Venice. In this guide, I'll explain all the options you have for getting around this dream archipelago.

Walking is probably still the best way to get around Venice's six sestieri (districts into which the city is divided). The city of the Lagoon is relatively small (getting from Santa Lucia train station to St Mark's Square will only take you about thirty minutes on foot, and this is one of the longest walks) and its main sights are usually well marked and easy to find.

Walking along the canals is definitely a unique experience in itself and will allow you to discover hidden corners and squares that would otherwise be impossible to reach. Along the same lines, it also gives you the possibility to see the small bridges and canals of Venice, to get to know better the atmosphere of each area, the culture of the Venetians and the habits from a closer perspective.

You don't have to worry about high water either: the city deploys walkways in case the streets get flooded, although it would be advisable to bring some rain boots ready to wear, especially if you go in autumn or in winter to Venice to Venice. In any case, here are some tips for your trip to Venice.

If walking isn't your thing, the best and most cost-effective option is to get around by water bus or vaporetto. The public service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round. During the day, water buses along the Grand Canal run less than 10 minutes a day. However, to reach the islands of Murano and Burano the maximum frequency is every 20 minutes. And, during the night, frequencies or waiting times are doubled.

You can buy waterbus tickets in many places in Venice:

• At the vending machines in front of all the main stops.
• At ticket offices outside the train station, both in Rialto and St. Mark's.
• At newsagents and tobacconists.
• On board the water bus itself, as long as you have cash.

And if you're wondering about prices:

• A single ticket costs €7.50 and is valid for 75 minutes.
• A 1-day ticket lasts 24 hours after validation and costs €20.
• There are also 2-day, 3-day and 7-day tickets available.

Finally, a highly recommended option is to purchase a water transport pass which can be used on any of the three Alilaguna lines and is valid for 72 hours. The pass is activated when you use it for the first time and will allow you to get on and off the bus without limit.

Buses do not run in the lagoon and their main function is to connect Venice with Mestre, and then also if you want to get around Mestre. Some lines, however, arrive in Venice and stop at Piazzale Roma, not far from Santa Lucia train station. Single tickets cost €1.50 and you can buy a booklet of ten tickets for €14.

In Venice, the bus will only get you from Marco Polo airport to Piazzale Roma on bus 5 operated by ACTV. I have to tell you that this is the last part of Venice navigable by car; at this point, you can only get around on foot or by water.

In this sense, a great idea is to buy a transport card, which allows you to use the bus and vaporetto for 75 minutes, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours or up to 7 days - the choice is yours!

From the airport to Venice by bus

The bus takes about 25 minutes between the airport and Piazzale Roma and departs every 15 minutes. There are luggage racks in the lounge area, so you will need to take your luggage on board.

You can also take the buses operated by ATVO. These run every 30 minutes and have storage so you don't have to worry about carrying your luggage on board the bus. You can buy tickets at the airport on arrival from ticket machines, or online if you know roughly when you will be arriving.

For more information, please visit our airport transfers to Venice article.

Honestly, more than a way of getting around the city, the gondola is a means of transport, an experience and a tourist attraction. The routes and prices of gondola rides often vary and are agreed on the spot and with each gondoliere. Not to leave you curious, you can expect to pay between €60-80 for a half-hour ride during the day and around €80-100 at night.

Sharing a gondola is always a good solution to lower prices, although you can't carry as many people as in a water taxi. A gondola can carry up to 6 people, including the gondoliere.

Gondolas can be found all over the city. The rides offer beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, passing along the Grand Canal and over some of Venice' s most important bridges and monuments. The great advantage of the gondolas is that they give you the opportunity to explore narrow canals and beautiful areas of the city that you might not otherwise see. They may not be the best mode of transport; however, if you are looking for both pleasure and sightseeing, then they are recommended.

Traghetti are very similar to gondolas, but are only used to cross the Grand Canal perpendicularly at points where there is no bridge nearby, so traghetti are more useful as a means of transport than gondolas. Traghetti are therefore more useful as a means of transport than gondolas.

Remember that there are only four bridges across the Grand Canal, so rather than travelling a long distance in search of a bridge as a lifeline and then repeating the journey in reverse, I recommend you board a traghetto as the Venetians do at one of the seven stops along the Grand Canal. Traghetti carry passengers back and forth from one bank to the other continuously and their gondola drivers don't sing or wear striped shirts, so it's a more transport-oriented and less artistic or touristy way of getting around Venice.

You'll pay 2 euros in cash when you get on and you'll see how the locals stand rather than sit. So, if you're looking to take pictures, you'll want to hurry as the ride is quite short and quick.

Taxis are much more expensive than public transport, but they are also the only luxurious and private way to get around on the water. A water taxi will make your journey take much less time, and not just because of the speed, but because it goes straight to the destination.

In terms of price, a taxi ride will cost between €100 and €130 each way for up to 4 people. Up to 10 people can be accommodated in a taxi; however, an additional fare of around €15 will be charged from the fifth passenger onwards.

Alternatively, you can hire a water taxi to take you from the airport to the centre of Venice or book a ride back to Marco Polo airport when you've finished your stay in Venice.

The ferryservice has two main lines, 17 and 11, which connect Venice and stop in the most important areas of each district. Line 11 starts at Lido and moves south to Pellestrina, while line 17 starts from the Cavallino beach area and heads north.

The ferry is a great option if you want to get from end to end without stopping so much. Prices depend a little on where you want to get to and from, although it should be noted that they are often updated over time. However, as a reference, the minimum price to get on is €8 per person.

The only boats in Venice for which tickets apply are the vaporetti, as all other boats require a direct payment which varies in price depending on the length or distance of the journey. If you are interested in vaporetti tickets you can buy different tickets depending on your stay:

• Single tickets will work very well if you are only going to Venice for one day.
• If you are going to be in Venice for 3 days or more, I recommend the day passes.
• In case you are going to be in Venice for more than 7 days, weekly passes might be better for you.

However, the best option is to buy a transport card that includes not only the vaporetto, but also the buses, so you don't have to worry about how to get around and just think about where you want to go.

After buying a ticket, you must validate it before getting on the vaporetto. The validation machines are usually located on the edge of the walkway leading to the actual vaporetto stop, and when you validate you will see a time stamp on your ticket. I recommend that you don't cheat and validate when you have to regardless of whether you are asked to show your ticket or not.

Most of the time, Venetians prefer to get around on foot and only use public transport when necessary, for example, when they need to cross the water.

You will see how Venetians use rowing boats mainly for sport or for the simple pleasure of rowing, while motor boats are used more as a means of transport, either to get around or to move their goods.

Getting around on foot is the fastest and most efficient means of transport in Venice, as long as you know how to get to your destination, of course!

Whenever possible, I recommend getting around on foot as the real Venetians do. By doing so, you will be able to enjoy the most touristy areas and monuments such as the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs or St. Mark's Basilica itself. Plus, you avoid the queues at the machines and the crowds in general. Not to mention that the most interesting places to eat in Venice are not exactly close to the vaporetti stops.

I also recommend you to enjoy Venice from the water, regardless of the means of transport you use, of course the gondolas are the most comfortable option. Seeing Venice from the water will give you a completely different perspective of what life in the city is like!

Also, walking and taking a tour in a rowing boat are not only beautiful and fun activities, but also ways that allow you to discover the city while helping you reduce your carbon footprint.