Venice is a city on the water, so there are only two ways to get around: by boat (vaporetto) and on foot along the sidewalks that run along each of the canals.
You can then get between Venice and the mainland Mestre literally every few minutes by train, bus or tram.
To pay for your tickets, download the ACTV transport company's app or buy a paper ticket at the ticket outlets we break down below.
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Public transport tickets
The vaporetto (water bus) boats, trams and buses are operated by ACTV. Special fares are available on the Alilaguna boat lines running from Venice VCE airport.
Due to the high fares, always consider how many days you will be buying tickets for. The historic centre of Venice can easily be explored on foot and the boats can only really be used for trips to nearby islands such as Lido, Murano or Burano.
AVM/ACTV ticket prices
All-day and multi-day tickets are always valid for a given number of hours from the first marking, not just on a calendar day.
Children under the age of 6 travel for free.
| Time validity | Price | Valid for | Not valid for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 hours Venezia Pass | 25 eur |
ACTV ships (except lines 16, 17) |
Boats Alilaguna ACTV boats (lines 16, 17) ATVO buses Buses 5, 15, 45 to VCE airport |
| 48 hours | 35 eur | ACTV ships (except lines 16, 17) ACTV buses (Mestre, Venice, Lido, Pellestrina) Tram People Mover |
Alilaguna boats ACTV boats (lines 16, 17) ATVO buses Buses 5, 15, 45 to VCE airport Trenitalia trains |
| 72 hours | 45 eur | ACTV boats (except lines 16, 17) ACTV buses (Mestre, Venice, Lido, Pellestrina) Tram People Mover |
Alilaguna boats ACTV boats (lines 16, 17) ATVO buses Buses 5, 15, 45 to VCE airport Trenitalia trains |
| 168 hours | 65 eur | ACTV boats (except lines 16, 17) ACTV buses (Mestre, Venice, Lido, Pellestrina) Tram People Mover |
Alilaguna boats ACTV boats (lines 16, 17) ATVO buses Buses 5, 15, 45 to VCE airport Trenitalia trains |
| 24 hours Mestre Pass | 5 eur | ACTV buses (only within Mestre outside the airport) Tram (only within Mestre) |
All boats Buses between Mestre and Venice Buses 5, 15, 45 to VCE airport All trains ATVO buses |
| 75 minutes | 1,50 eur | ACTV buses (Mestre, Venice, Lido, Pellestrina) Tram People Mover |
All boats Buses 5, 15, 45 to VCE airport All trains ATVO buses |
| 75 minutes | 9,50 eur | ACTV boats (except lines 16, 17) ACTV buses (Mestre, Venice, Lido, Pellestrina) Tram People Mover |
Alilaguna boats ACTV boats (lines 16, 17) ATVO buses Buses 5, 15, 45 to VCE airport Trenitalia trains |
| 75 minutes (VCE airport) | 10 eur 18 eur - return |
ACTV buses (Mestre, Venice, Lido, Pellestrina) Buses 5, 15, 45 to VCE airport Tram People Mover |
All boats All trains ATVO buses |
| 75 minutes (VCE airport) | 18 eur | ACTV boats (except lines 16, 17) ACTV buses (Mestre, Venice, Lido, Pellestrina) Buses 5, 15, 45 to VCE airport Tram People Mover |
Boats Alilaguna All trains ATVO buses |
| Return journey on line 14 | 16 eur | Boat line 14 ACTV buses (Lido only) |
All other |
The Venice VCE Airport Guide has a useful tip on how to save money on your journey from the airport to the city centre and avoid paying for a more expensive ticket.
For a complete list of public transport tickets in Venice, visit the official website of the transport company actv.avmspa.it.
Where to buy an AVM/ACTV ticket
Tickets can be bought at the ticket machines located at all bus and tram stops and at major bus and tram stops.
ACTV service offices are available at Mestre Station, Santa Lucia Station and Piazzale Roma in Venice.
The machines are always open for cash and card payments.
All tickets can also be purchased on the official AVM app after registration. You activate your ticket manually at the time of first use and then just show the QR code on your mobile when boarding the bus or boat on request.
Detailed instructions on how to use the app can be found on the website: actv.avmspa.it.
On the other hand, you can no longer buy a ticket on a boat or from a bus or tram driver.
How to use the ticket?
Tickets are used in the same-looking validators for all modes of transport (boats, buses, People Mover, tram).
Paper tickets contain a chip and you just need to attach them to the validator. The ticket is only attached to the validator when boarding and must be attached on every journey, even in the case of a day or multi-day ticket.
Do not be alarmed if the validator shows an error after you have attached your ticket. This happens very often, for example if you have a ticket in your wallet near your credit cards or if the ticket gets wet.
Usually you just need to try another validator or wait for a while.
If you use the mobile app, you must activate your ticket by pressing the "Activate" button before using it for the first time. Attention, the ticket will only be active after 3 minutes!
For ports of call that are accessed via turnstiles, you must always scan the QR code at the validator, which can be found in the app. Press the Click to Scan QR Code button on the validator's touchscreen and set your phone to read the QR code.
Where are AVM/ACTV tickets valid?
Tickets are valid on all routes, except for boat routes 16, 17, all Alilaguna routes and bus routes to Marco Polo or Treviso airport, for which you must buy special tickets.
Tickets are valid throughout the whole area of Venice, Mestre and the adjacent islands (Burano, Murano, Punta Sabbioni, Lido, Pellestrina, Sant'Erasmo, Vignole, Mazzorbo, Torcello, Treporti).
ACTV tickets are not valid on classic Trenitalia trains between Mestre and Venice (except for the 24-hour ticket, which is valid for regional services).
Tickets cannot be used on ATVO buses either.
Venezia Unica Pass
If you are planning to stay in Venice for at least 3 days and visit the various museums, palaces and galleries, purchase the Venezia Unica Pass online, of which there are different types at different prices depending on the number of sights accessed.
It includes a 72-hour pass for all boat lines (except Alilaguna routes) and all ACTV buses and trams, including routes to and from Mestre, which can definitely pay off given the high prices of individual tickets. The Venezia Unica Pass is the cheapest and easiest to buy online.
Alilaguna, ATVO tickets
Separate tickets are used by Alilaguna and ATVO and are not valid on any ACTV boat, bus or tram services.
Alilaguna
Tickets are only valid on Alilaguna's yellow boats and are not very useful as the route network is considerably narrower than ACTV's. Day tickets may only be available if you are travelling by boat to/from Venice Marco Polo VCE airport.
- 24 hours for all Alilaguna lines - 30 eur
- 48 hours for all Alilaguna lines - 50 eur
- Single fares - 8 eur to 15 eur depending on distance
Tickets can be purchased from the staff on board (cash and card payment possible) or via the alilaguna.it website.
ATVO
ATVO buses provide a regional service from Venice to the surrounding towns. They can also be used for travel between Venice and Mestre, but the frequency and especially the signage is significantly worse than ACTV buses.
Tickets are purchased from the driver.
Vaporetto (public transport boat)
Dozens of boats called vaporetto (plural vaporetti) ply the canals of Venice on many marked routes. Stops are located on all the major canals, around the perimeter of the city and on the surrounding islands.
The vaporetti actually operate like regular public transport buses, only they run on water. They have their own timetables, routes and line numbers. Even if you don't absolutely need to go, definitely consider a ride, you'll see Venice from a different perspective and have a great experience.
ACTV
ACTV, which also operates buses and a tram, has the most extensive network of boat lines.
You can easily recognize the docks because they all look the same. They are floating covered stops with a yellow stripe and a name.
Some major stops are only entered through turnstiles, where you always have to retrieve your ticket. The turnstiles are separated for regular ticket holders and Venezia Unica Pass holders with a loaded ticket valid for more than 1 week, i.e. mainly for locals.
Routes and timetables
During the day (approx. 5:30 am to 11:45 pm) the numbered lines run, while at night the trio of "N" lines run through the canals. Some lines run only between 7:00 and 18:00.
- Timetables: actv.avmspa.it/orari
- Map of all lines: actv.avmspa.it/map
The busiest lines run about once every 10 to 12 minutes during the day, while other routes usually run 20-30 minutes.
In Venice you can use these ACTV boat lines:
- Route 1 - Piazzale Roma - Train Station - Grand Canal (Rialto) - San Marco - Giardini - Lido
- Frequency 12 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_1
- Route 2 - (Lido - Giardini) - San Marco - Canal Grande (Rialto) - Train Station - Piazzale Roma - Tronchetto - Giudecca - Zattere - San Giorgio - San Marco
- On the Lido - San Marco section, it only runs from the end of May to the end of September
- Frequency 12 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_2
- Route 2/ - Reinforcement service on the section Piazzale Roma - Train Station - Rialto
- Frequency 12 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_2/
- Route 3 - suspended
- Route 4.1 - Riva del Biasio - Train Station - Piazzale Roma - Giudecca - San Marco - Giardini - Certosa - Ospedale - Fondamente Nove - Murano - Fondamente Nove - San Giobbe
- After 20:00 only the section F.te Nove - Murano
- Frequency 20 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_4.1
- Route 4.2 - San Giobbe - Fondamente Nove - Murano - Fondamente Nove - Ospedale - Certosa - Giardini - San Marco - Giudecca - Piazzale Roma - Train Station - Riva del Biasio
- After 20:45 only on the section F.te Nove - Murano
- Frequency 20 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_4.2
- Route 5.1 - Lido - Ospedale - Fondamente Nove - Train Station - Piazzale Roma - Zattere - San Marco - Giardini - Lido
- Frequency 20 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_5.1
- Route 5.2 - Lido - Giardini - San Marco - Zattere - Piazzale Roma - Train Station - Fondamente Nove - Ospedale - Lido
- Frequency 20 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_5.2
- Route 6 - Piazzale Roma - Zattere - Giardini - Lido
- Frequency 20 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_6
- Route 7 - San Marco - Murano - San Marco
- Seasonal service from May to October
- Frequency 20 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_7
- Route 8 - Lido - Giardini - Giudecca
- Seasonal service from late May to September
- Runs only in the morning in the direction of Lido and in the afternoon in the opposite direction (frequency 30 minutes)
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_8
- Route 9 - Burano - Torcello
- Seasonal service from late May to September
- Frequency 15 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_9
- Route 10 - Lido - Giardini - San Marco - Zattere - Lido
- Seasonal service from late May to September
- Runs only from 7:00 to 9:00 with a frequency of 20 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_10
- Route 12 - Fondamente Nove - Murano - Mazzorbo - Burano - Torcello - Burano - Treporti - Punta Sabbioni
- On the Burano - Punta Sabbioni section only every second service
- Frequency 30 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_12
- Route 13 - Fondamente Nove - Murano - Vignole - Sant'Erasmo - Treporti
- Frequency 60 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_13
- Route 14 - San Marco - Lido - Punta Sabbioni - Treporti - Burano
- On the Punta Sabbioni - Burano section only every second service
- Frequency 30 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_14
- Route 15 - San Marco - Punta Sabbioni
- Only 4 times a day in the morning in the direction of the centre and 3 times a day in the afternoon in the direction of the centre (weekdays only)
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_15
- Route 16 - Zattere - Fusina
- A special fare applies on the line, tickets are sold on board the ship
- Frequency 60 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_16
- Route 17 - Tronchetto - Lido
- Ferry for cars and cyclists only
- A special fare applies on the line, tickets are sold at the ticket office before boarding
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_17
- Route 18 - Murano - Lido
- Seasonal line from the end of May to September
- Frequency 15 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_18
- Route 20 - San Marco - San Servolo - San Lazzaro
- Frequency 40 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_20
- Route 22 - Punta Sabbioni - Ospedale - Fondamente Nove - San Giobbe
- Runs only once a day
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_22
- Route DMP - Piazzale Roma - Train Station - Murano
- For Venice residents only
- Route NM - San Giobbe - Murano express service
- Frequency 30 minutes
- Timetable: avm.avmspa.it/linea_NM
Tips and tricks for passengers
Most often on routes 1, 2 and 7, boats run with several outside seats in the front and rear of the deck (sometimes there are no outside seats in the front, but only in the rear). These seats are the most popular for views, photography and filming.
There is also always outdoor space amidships, but only for standing.
The interior of the boat with seats is covered and has windows.
In the morning rush hour in the direction from the train station and Piazzale Roma to the centre, the boats are often very crowded and it can be more convenient to walk. The same situation occurs in the late afternoon on the way back.
Alilaguna
Special Alilaguna lines, which connect Venice with the tourist boat port and Marco Polo Airport, run at a special rate 15 eur from the airport to the centre of Venice, or 8 eur to the island of Murano. AVM/ACTV day tickets cannot be used on Alilaguna lines.
For information on Alilaguna connections, please visit the website: alilaguna.it.
Gondola ferries
In addition to the vaporetto boats, you can also take a classic gondola ride on three active ferries across the Grand Canal.
These ferries are the cheapest way to take a ride on a traditional Venetian gondola, with fares on all routes costing just 2 eur.
There are no integrated tickets on the gondolas. Payment is always made to the gondolier on boarding and only in cash. However, you do not need to have the exact amount.
- Traghetto di Punta della Dogana - connects the San Marco Vallaresso dock with the Church of Santa Maria Salute
- Traghetto di Santa Maria del Giglio - connects the churches of Santa Maria del Giglio and Sana Maria Salute
- Traghetto di Santa Sofia - connects the Mercato Rialto and the Ca' d'Oro Palace
The ferries usually run between 8:30am and 7pm, but on Sundays the hours are usually reduced to 9am to 6pm.
The gondola is designed for 12 people and constantly pendulates between the two banks. The frequency therefore varies between 3-7 minutes.
From Venice to Mestre to the mainland
Many of you will be dealing with transport from the mainland city of Mestre, either for hotels or on the way to the bus or plane. Fortunately, travel between the mainland and Venice is easy, but above all, very busy.
Find the cheapest hotels in Mestre
Between Venice and Mestre you can use trains, trams and many bus lines.
| Frequencies | Single fares | Ticket validity AVM/ACTV |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| ACTV buses | 3-12 minutes | 1,50 eur | Yes |
| Trains | 2-12 minutes | 1,45 eur | 24-hour ticket only |
| Tram | 10 minutes | 1,50 eur | Yes |
| ATVO buses | 5-15 minutes | 1,50 eur | no |
The suitability of transport depends mainly on where you are staying in Mestre or where you are travelling from.
Train
The train is the cheapest and quickest option if you are heading to the Mestre train station area. Trains don't stop elsewhere on the mainland.
From Mestre to Santa Lucia station in the centre of Venice takes 10 minutes, and the Regionale or Regionale Veloce services, for which you don't need to buy tickets in advance, run at intervals of 2-10 minutes.
The big advantage of the train over buses or trams is that there is always plenty of space, even at peak times. There are so many trains running and they are so spacious that you can always fit and sit comfortably - unlike buses or trams.
A one way ticket costs 1,45 eur, a return ticket is no better.
If you buy a paper ticket from a machine, you must always mark it in the validator on the platform. You can also pay the fare with your own credit card by attaching it to the validator before boarding and after alighting.
A 24-hour ticket for public transport in Venice and Mestre purchased via ACTV/AVM is valid for the train. However, other tickets are not valid for trains, including 48-hour, 72-hour or 168-hour tickets.
For exact timetables, visit trenitalia.com.
ACTV buses and trams
If you'll be staying in Mestre outside the vicinity of the station, it's also worth taking advantage of the ACTV bus or tram service that runs from Venice to all corners of Mestre.
These services also have the advantage that all ACTV lines have all-day or multi-day tickets (see above). A single ticket for a single journey is available at 1,50 eur.
On the other hand, the big disadvantage is the extreme overcrowding, especially in the morning on the way to Venice (from about 8:00 to 10:00). If you are not coming from the initial stop, very often you have to wait for a second, third or even fourth bus/tram to even fit in.
For a full listing of timetables, visit actv.it.
- Tram between Mestre and Venice - line T1
- Buses between Mestre and Venice - lines 2, 4, 4L, 5, 6, 6L, 7, 7E, 19, 24, 24H, 43, 56, 66, 80, 84
ACTV buses stop at Piazzale Roma at the first platforms (before the tram stop).
ATVO buses
From Mestre to Venice you can also use the ATVO buses, which run mainly from more distant places. The timetables are irregular and one ticket costs 1,75 eur, you can't use the above time tickets here.
It's just good to know that if you are somewhere in Mestre and see an ATVO bus with Venezia written on it, it is possible to get on it.
Information can be found on the website: atvo.it.
Transport at night
All-night transport from Venice to Mestre is provided by a pair of bus lines, the N1 and N2, which run every 30 minutes at the same prices as daytime buses (1,5 eur, or use multi-day tickets).
People Mover
You can use the automatic train called People Mover if you arrive in Venice by long-distance bus (e.g. Flixbus), a large cruise ship or a car parked in the Tronchetto car park.
This train connects the artificial island of Tronchetto with Piazzale Roma, the central station where the city buses and trams from Mestre arrive and which serves as the entry point to Venice.
People Mover It runs from 7:15 to 22:50 Monday to Saturday, or from 8:10 to 21:50 on Sundays and public holidays.
- Frequency - 10 minutes
- Journey time - 10 minutes
- Price - 1,50 eur
You can purchase your ticket at the ticket machine outside the station entrance. All day and multi-day tickets are also valid on the People Mover.
On foot
Your feet will be your main means of transport around Venice and the surrounding islands. Simply because the vaporettos only reach the largest canals and there are only pedestrian walkways along the others.
Orientation in the intricate network of streets and canals is made easier by yellow signs pointing to important points, especially Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge or the train station.
After all, the size of Venice is very small and if you have a good sense of direction and never stop, you can cross the entire centre in 15 minutes.