Using water transport to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) such as a cheap waterbus (vaporetto), a shared shuttle boat, or a private water taxi is a fun and romantic alternative to cheap bus transportation.
Getting to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) in Italy by regular bus is very cheap but waterbuses (vaporetto operated by Alilaguna boat) offer a fun way to cross the lagoon and arrive in the canal city in style for only around €5 more. Shared and private boat shuttle services are an even more classy way to arrive in Venice with pre-booked boats much cheaper than a regular water taxi service. Compare services before making reservations for boat travel from Venice Marco Polo Airport, as fares and conditions vary widely. Regular airport transfers are around €60 for cars but these can of course only get you to Piazzale Roma near Santa Lucia railway station.
Getting to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) by Boat
Public bus transportation from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is surprisingly cheap (single ticket price €10) but taking a boat across the lagoon is a far more interesting and romantic experience. Travelers arriving at Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), the main airport used by most airlines, may choose between cheap waterbuses (€15) operated by Alilaguna, various shared water taxi boat services, and luxury water taxis to travel to Venice and surrounding islands in the lagoon.
It is a walk of just less than ten minutes from the baggage claim in the airport terminal at Venice Marco Polo Airport along a covered moving walkway to the water taxi dock from where all boats depart from the airport to the city of Venice. Luggage trolleys may be used all the way from the terminal to the docks.
It is often a bit of a long step or even jump from small boats to some landing jetties. Also, bear in mind that porter services are rarely included in transfers and are very expensive.
Waterbus, shuttle service, and water taxi passengers generally have to carry their own luggage once on land. Not all hotels have their own suitable private landing piers — some water taxis offer premium service, which includes meeting at arrivals and assistance with extra luggage at a reasonable surcharge.
By Cheap Alilaguna Waterbus (Vaporetto) to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
The cheapest way to travel by boat from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) to central Venice is by waterbus (Vaporetto) operated by Alilaguna. Traveling time from the airport to San Marco is around 70 minutes.
Alilaguna vaporetto routes from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) to Venice stop most frequently at the islands of Murano, Lido, and San Marco (St Marks). The two main lines are:
- the blue line goes all the way to Ferrovia (train station) via Murano, Lido, San Marco, and Guidecca, while
- the orange line goes down the Grand Canal with stops at Rialto and St Mark’s.
A one-way ticket on the Alilaguna water bus from Lido or San Marco to Marco Polo Airport can be as cheap as €15 for tickets purchased in advance.
Alilaguna tickets bought on the boat itself carry a €1 surcharge — buy online, from ticket machines, or ticket desks at any larger Vaporetto stop. Some luggage may incur a surcharge or additional fees.
As the Alilaguna waterbus service is operated by a private company, regular Venice ACTV transportation passes are generally not valid.
→ See Cheap Alilaguna Vaporetto Water Bus to Venice Marco Polo Airport for more details on routes and pricing.
By Shuttle Boat Service to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
Various shuttle boat services are available for travel from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) to Venetian hotels. It is important to compare rates and conditions as deals vary widely in price as well as additional services offered.
Shared transfer shuttle boat services can be as cheap as €35 one-way for travel from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) to hotels in central Venice. However, services differ in the number of passengers needed before boats depart, as well as where the boats stop in Venice.
Sometimes services are available directly to hotels but others stop at more central points in Venice, requiring passengers to walk to nearby hotels. Luggage, with or without wheels, is a pain in much of Venice with all the steps and uneven surfaces.
For small groups, private luxury boat services are worth considering for the convenience of going directly to the hotel. Fares for private taxi boat transfer services vary but are around €200 for up to six traveling to central Venice. Premium services are often a small surcharge that may add meeting at the arrivals hall at the airport and assistance with luggage.
Advance reservations are usually required with return trips often giving a small discount.
By Private Water Taxi to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
Water taxis are the most expensive and most convenient way to travel from Venice to Marco Polo Airport to Venice City. The starting fee for private water taxis will be at least €100 and the fare is usually much more. A surcharge is added for water taxis ordered by phone and the markup added by hotel concierges and some travel agents is even higher.
Always get full fare, all included quotations in advance and compare different prices. Advertising low fares for nearly unbookable rides are popular with final prices sometimes much more expensive.
Get Your Guide gives an indication of prices and options but do compare and read the small print to see exactly what services are included.
Buses are the cheapest public ground transportation to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) with one-way fares as cheap as €10. A pre-booked private transfer by car or minibus from the airport to Venice Piazzale Roma is around €60, so well worth considering for families or small groups.
Passengers on cheap flights by ultra-low-cost airlines such as Ryanair often arrive at Venice Treviso Airport (TSF), which is a completely different airport from Marco Polo and a 70-minute bus ride from Venice.
Ground and Water Transportation to Venice Airport in Italy
- 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.