In a nutshell
- Vaporetto, water bus, or water taxi — what’s the difference and do you actually need one? We break down everything you need to know about getting around Venice on the water.
- Vaporetto and water bus are the same thing — vaporetto is simply the Venetian word for it.
- A single ticket costs €9.50 and is valid for 75 minutes. It’s steep, but day and multi-day passes pay off quickly — especially if you’re island-hopping.
- Getting in from the airport? You’ll need an Alilaguna ticket — a regular vaporetto ticket won’t work for that route.
What Is the Vaporetto?
The vaporetto is Venice’s water bus — and honestly one of the most useful ways to get around the city.
It works just like a regular city bus anywhere else. The only difference is that Venice has canals instead of streets, so the bus floats.
Venice’s public transportation company is called ACTV.
There are many lines and stops throughout Venice, and you can also use the vaporetto to reach the other islands in the lagoon — like Burano, Murano, or the beaches on Lido.
Vaporetto Tickets & Prices
A single vaporetto ticket is valid for 75 minutes and costs €9.50.
If you plan to ride at least three times in one day, you should definitely go for the day ticket at €25. That gets you unlimited rides on all water buses in Venice for 24 hours — it pays off fast.
That’s especially worth it if you want to visit more than one island on the same day.
| Price | Tickets | |
|---|---|---|
| Single ride | 9.50 EUR | Buy now |
| 24-hour ticket | 25 EUR | Buy now |
| 48-hour ticket | 35 EUR | Buy now |
| 72-hour ticket | 45 EUR | Buy now |
| 7-day ticket | 65 EUR | Buy now |
All vaporetto tickets are valid on all public transportation within the city limits, except to Marco Polo Airport.
The city limits include:
- Mestre (on the mainland)
- Lido
- Murano
- Burano
In Mestre and on Lido, regular wheeled buses run that you can also board with your ticket.
So if you’re staying on a budget in Mestre and taking the bus into Venice, you can hop straight onto the vaporetto with the same ticket — no need to buy a new one.
Where to Buy Vaporetto Tickets
During peak season, we recommend buying your vaporetto tickets online. You skip the lines at the ticket machines, and the price is exactly the same.
Alternatively, you can buy tickets directly at the stop — either at the machine or the ticket counter.
There’s also an ACTV ticket app, though it’s only available in Italian and a bit tricky to navigate.
Do You Always Need the Vaporetto in Venice?
When you arrive in Venice, you don’t automatically need a vaporetto ticket right away.
Most of the top attractions in Venice are super easy to reach on foot — from one end of the historic center to the other is about a 40-minute walk.
You really only need the water bus if:
- you’re only making a day trip to Venice and don’t have enough time to reach everything on foot,
- you’re visiting Venice with kids who can’t walk as much,
- you have limited mobility,
- you want to reach the other islands of the lagoon.
Good to know: The vaporetto is also included in the Venice Turbopass. If you want to pack in a lot of highlights in a short time, the pass can seriously be worth it. Check out our Venice pass comparison for the full breakdown.
Vaporetto Schedule
On the vaporetto timetable below, you’ll find all lines and stops.
You can see that the water buses only travel along the Grand Canal and around Venice.
The gray-shaded areas are the old quarter with its narrow canals — only gondolas and water taxis can navigate those.
Taking the Water Bus to Venice’s Islands
You can cover central Venice entirely on foot — but to reach the other islands, you’ll need the vaporetto.
Most water bus lines to the islands depart from the main train station, the stop S. Zaccaria near St. Mark’s Square, or from the stop F. Nove.
Taking the Vaporetto to Murano
Lines 4.1 and 4.2, as well as lines 7 and 12, serve Murano.
Lines 4.1 and 4.2 loop all the way around Venice. The fastest way to get to Murano is from the stop Fondamente Nove (F. Nove).
From the Rialto Bridge, it’s a 10-minute walk to that stop — and from there, just 20 minutes to Murano. You can also board at St. Mark’s Square or the main train station, but the trip will take longer.
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Taking the Vaporetto to Burano
You can get to Burano on line 12; the crossing takes about 50 minutes.
Line 12 also stops in Murano along the way, so with a day ticket you can visit both islands in one trip. Alternatively, you can join a guided boat tour to Burano, Murano, and Torcello.
Line 12 departs only from the F. Nove stop, so you’ll either need to walk through the center or take lines 4.1 or 4.2 first and transfer at F. Nove.
The F. Nove stop has four docks, A through D. Line 12 to Burano departs from dock A.
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Taking the Vaporetto to Lido
Several water buses run to Lido. From the stop San Zaccaria, near St. Mark’s Square, lines 1, 10, and 14 go directly to Lido in about 15 minutes.
The stop on Lido is called Lido S.M.E. From there, it’s only a 10-minute walk down to the beach.
From Lido S.M.E., bus line A also runs to the beach — and you can use it with your vaporetto ticket. It’s a real bus with wheels, since Lido has streets, not canals.
Good to know: You can also take your car to Lido. Line 17 is a car ferry that runs from the island of Tronchetto to the stop Lido San Nicolò.
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Water Bus vs. Water Taxi: What’s the Difference?
The difference is the same as between a bus and a taxi.
The water bus carries lots of people at once and only runs set routes. The water taxi takes you directly wherever you need to go — including right to your hotel in Venice, so you don’t have to haul your luggage through narrow alleyways.
Of course, that convenience comes at a price. A private water taxi starts at around €70.
You can, however, also share a water taxi. For the transfer from Marco Polo Airport to your hotel, you’ll pay €39 per person.
Book a shared water taxi transfer
From the Airport to the City
Marco Polo Airport sits right on the water, so you can travel directly to Venice by boat or bus.
The airport water buses are operated by the transportation company Alilaguna — and your regular ACTV vaporetto ticket is not valid for these services.
An Alilaguna ticket from the airport to the city costs €18. Depending on the line, the boat travels right through Venice along the Grand Canal.
Book your Alilaguna airport water bus ticket
Taking the bus is cheaper, but it only goes as far as Piazzale Roma in the northern part of the old city. From there, you’ll either need to jump on the vaporetto or walk to your hotel.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Vaporetto in Venice
From what age do children have to pay for a vaporetto ticket?
Children only need a ticket from age 6 — but they pay the full adult price.
How often does the vaporetto run?
It depends on the line. Water buses within the old city run roughly every five minutes. Services to the islands typically run every 30 minutes to an hour.
What happens if there's a strike?
If a strike occurs, certain lines always keep running so nobody gets stranded on the islands. If needed, you can also fall back on the water taxi.
Until what time does the vaporetto run?
Inner-city lines run until around midnight, and there are also night services to the islands.
How long is a vaporetto ticket valid?
A single ticket is valid for 75 minutes from the moment you validate it — and it covers transfers to buses within the city limits too.
Is the vaporetto accessible for wheelchairs and strollers?
Yes! You can easily board with a stroller, wheelchair, or luggage — the vaporetto is well set up for it.
Can I bring my suitcase on the vaporetto?
Yes, each passenger is allowed to bring up to three pieces of luggage on board.
