Getting to Venice Marco Polo Airport VCE by waterbus (vaporetto), shuttle boat, or 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) offer a fun way to cross the lagoon and arrive in the canal city in style. Shared and private boat shuttle services are an even more classy way to arrive in Venice with pre-booked boats much cheaper than regular water taxi services. Compare services before making reservations for boat travel from Venice Marco Polo Airport, as fares and conditions vary widely. Suntransfers quotes for cars but these can of course only get you to near Piazzale Roma.
Getting to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) by Boat
Public bus transportation from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is surprisingly cheap but taking a boat across the lagoon is a far more interesting experience. Travelers arriving at Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) can choose between water buses operated by Alilaguna, various shuttle boat services, and water taxis to travel to Venice and surrounding islands in the lagoon.
It is walk of just less than ten minutes from the airport terminal at Venice Marco Polo Airport along a covered walkway to the dock from where all boats depart from the airport. 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 and not all hotels have their own suitable private landing piers.
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 Murano, Lido, and San Marco, and Tronchetto. 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. Tickets bought on the boat itself carry a €1 surcharge.
As the Alilaguna waterbus service is operated by a private company, regular Venice ACTV transportation passes are generally not valid.
By Shuttle Boat Service to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
Various shuttle boat services are offered 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 €30 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.
For small groups, private shuttle boat services are worth considering for the convenience of going directly to the hotel. Fares for private boat transfer shuttle services vary but are around €200 for up to four traveling to central Venice. For groups of up to 8, a surcharge of around €20 per boat is added and for up to ten passengers around €35. Nighttime boats are generally slightly more expensive too – add around €10. Advance reservations are usually required with return trips often giving a small discount.
By Water Taxi to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
Water taxis are the most expensive way to travel from Venice to Marco Polo Airport. Water taxis will be at least €100 and the fare could be more. A surcharge is added for water taxis ordered by phone and the mark-up added by hotel concierges and some travel agents are even higher. Always get a quotation in advance.
Get Your Guide can give an indication of prices and options but do compare and read the small print to see exactly what services are included.
Buses offer the best public transportation alternative to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) with one-way fares as low as €8. Suntransfers quotes less than €50 for a pre-booked car. Passengers on cheap flights by ultra-low-cost airlines such as Ryanair often arrive at Venice Treviso Airport (TSF), which is completely different airport from Marco Polo and a 70-minute bus ride from Venice.
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.