The Alilaguna waterbus (vaporetto) is one of the cheapest and most scenic ways to travel between Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) and Venice. While slower than private water taxis or airport buses, the vaporetto offers an affordable way to cross the Venetian lagoon and arrive in Venice by boat.
Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) in Italy is located on the edge of the Venetian lagoon, only around a 20-minute drive from one of the most romantic cities in the world. Getting to Venice Airport is cheapest by bus, but many first-time visitors prefer to arrive romantically by water. Water taxis and shared shuttle boats provide fast access from Venice Marco Polo Airport, but are fairly expensive. An Alilaguna waterbus (vaporetto) is a much cheaper alternative, with ticket prices only €8 more expensive than regular buses. Buy Alilaguna waterbus tickets online.
Venice Airport Boat Transfers Quick Guide
- Cheapest boat option: Alilaguna waterbus (vaporetto) from around €18.
- Best overall experience: Shared water taxi shuttle across the lagoon to Venice.
- Most convenient: Private water taxi directly to hotels with private docks.
- Best for budget travelers: Regular airport buses from around €12 are cheaper than boats.
- Travel time: Around 20 to 70 minutes, depending on boat type and destination in Venice.
- Good to know: Most Venice boat transfers still require some walking with luggage.
Marco Polo Airport (VCE) boat docks are around a 10-minute covered walk from the terminal building.
| Boat Option from VCE | Typical Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Alilaguna Waterbus | €18 | Cheapest boat option |
| Shared Shuttle Boat | €39+ | Best balance of price and comfort |
| Private Water Taxi | €220+ | Direct hotel transfers |
Cheap Alilaguna Water Bus (Vaporetto) to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) in 2026
The cheapest way to travel by boat from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) to central Venice is by waterbus (vaporetto). A one-way ticket on the waterbus from Venice to Marco Polo Airport can be as cheap as €18. Shared water taxi services are around €39, while private water taxis easily exceed €200. (A standard airport bus ticket is around €12.)
The airport dock, from where these waterbuses depart, is around a ten-minute walk on a moving covered walkway from the baggage claim in the terminal building at Venice Marco Polo Airport. Follow the “Water Taxi Motoscafo” or “Water Bus Alilaguna” blue signs. Luggage trolleys may be used from the airport terminal to the water transport dock. Such help will not be available upon arrival in the city of Venice.
Alilaguna Water Bus (Vaporetto) Routes from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
Alilaguna has several water boat routes, with generally at least one Alilaguna airport service per hour per route between 8 am and 8 pm. The Blue Line has some services through the night as well.
Travel time from Venice airport to San Marco (St Mark’s Basilica) by waterbus is around 75 minutes.
Alilaguna operates three main waterbus routes with scheduled services to and from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE):
- Blue: Alilaguna Linea Blu waterbuses connect Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) with Ferrovia (Vaporetto stop at Santa Lucia railway station). Intermediate stops en route include the islands of Murano (Colonna), Bacini, Lido, San Zaccaria, San Marco (St Mark’s), Guidecca Stucky, and Tronchetto (people mover to the Venice cruise terminal and Piazzale Rome bus stop).
- Orange: Alilaguna Linea Arancio water buses connect Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) with San Marco via M Dell Orto, Guglie, Rialto, and S Angelo on the Grand Canal.
- Red: Alilaguna Linea Rosso is seasonal, with its water buses connecting Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) with San Marco via Murano Museo, Bacini, and Lido.
Tickets for the Alilaguna Water Bus (Vaporetto) from Venice Airport
The ticket price for travel on any of these waterbus lines from the airport to San Marco, train station, or Lido is generally €18 (€32 return) with slight discounts for vouchers bought online (but note that the voucher must be exchanged for a real ticket before boarding the boat).
Online waterbus tickets are valid for travel on any boat on the booked day.
For other routes, the fare depends on the distance traveled. For example, from San Marco to the train station / Lido / Murano is €10 (€18 return).
The standard single waterbus ticket includes one piece of hand luggage and one larger suitcase. Buy a €4 “extra luggage” from ticket machines or ticket desks at the airport and larger stops.
If ticket windows are closed, Alilaguna waterbus tickets may also be bought on the boat itself, but at a surcharge of €1 per ticket (and find the ticket seller before s/he finds you). Return tickets are valid for 30 days.
As this public waterbus service is operated by a private company, a regular Venice ACTV ticket or transportation pass is generally not valid.
See Alilaguna for timetables, maps, and ticket prices for waterbuses to Venice Marco Polo Airport in Italy.
Is the Alilaguna Waterbus Worth It?
The Alilaguna waterbus is absolutely worth the slight surcharge compared to traveling by regular bus between Marco Polo Airport and Venice. Arriving in Venice by water is magnificent, not only on a first visit.
The waterbus may even drop you off at a landing closer to your hotel than the Piazzale di Roma, where the bus or private transfer will leave you. Dragging luggage through Venice is even more of a hassle than along cobblestoned streets.
The waterbus is a great budget tradeoff between more expensive water taxis and the less scenic, cheaper bus.
Venice Airport Transportation Guides in 2026
Buses are the cheapest way to travel to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) (€12 online), but waterbuses (only €18!) or other boats are more romantic. Small groups may consider boat transfer services or even a private water taxi service for the convenience of going directly to a Venetian hotel’s private dock.
- Best Transportation Options to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
- Cheap Public Bus Transportation to Venice Marco Polo Airport
- Waterbus and Taxi Boat Shuttles to Venice Marco Polo Airport
- Cheap Alilaguna Vaporetto Water Bus to Venice Marco Polo Airport
- Cheap Public Bus Transportation to Venice Treviso Airport (TSF) — the airport used mostly by low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz
Online skip-the-line tickets for top sights in Venice, such as the Doge’s Palace, the Basilica di San Marco, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, are great time savers, while museum passes also allow for fast-track admissions and may give small savings.
FAQ: Alilaguna Waterbus to Venice Airport
How much does the Alilaguna waterbus from Venice Marco Polo Airport cost?
A one-way Alilaguna waterbus (vaporetto) ticket between Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) and Venice is generally around €18, while return tickets cost around €32.
How long does the Alilaguna waterbus take to San Marco?
Travel time from Venice Marco Polo Airport to San Marco by Alilaguna waterbus is usually around 70 to 75 minutes, depending on the route and number of stops.
Are Venice ACTV transportation passes valid on Alilaguna waterbuses?
No. Alilaguna waterbuses are operated by a private company, so regular Venice ACTV transportation tickets and passes are generally not valid.
How far is the Alilaguna dock from Venice Marco Polo Airport terminal?
The Alilaguna waterbus dock is around a 10-minute covered walk from the terminal building at Venice Marco Polo Airport.
Does the Alilaguna waterbus include luggage?
Standard Alilaguna tickets normally include one piece of hand luggage and one larger suitcase. Extra luggage may require an additional fee.