Fares & passes
Vaporetto tickets and prices
A single ride costs €9.50. A 24-hour pass costs €25. The only real question is how many times you will actually move — and whether you are counting rides or days.
01 — The fares
What you pay in 2026
Published tourist rates for ACTV water buses. Residents pay less.
| Ticket | Validity | Price | Effective cost per ride* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 75 minutes | €9.50 | €9.50 |
| 24-hour pass | 24 hours | €25 | €8.33 at 3 rides |
| 48-hour pass | 48 hours | €35 | €5.83 at 6 rides |
| 72-hour pass Best value | 72 hours | €45 | €5.00 at 9 rides |
| 7-day pass | 7 days | €65 | €3.25 at 20 rides |
*Assuming the number of rides you would plausibly take in that window. Under-6s travel free. Prices are for visitors; ACTV can change them, so confirm before buying.
02 — The maths
When a pass pays for itself
A single ticket is valid for 75 minutes of travel, transfers included. That is enough for one journey, or for a short hop and a connection. It is not enough for a day of sightseeing.
The break-even points are simple. A 24-hour pass equals 2.6 singles, so it wins from the third ride onward. A 48-hour pass equals 3.7 singles; a 72-hour pass equals 4.7. A seven-day pass equals 6.8 singles, which is a low bar if you are staying a week.
The practical rule: if you will ride three times in 24 hours, buy the 24-hour pass. If you are in Venice for a long weekend and plan to visit Murano or Burano, the 72-hour pass is almost always the right answer.
A weekend of three days
Plan: airport bus to Piazzale Roma, Line 1 to San Marco, an evening trip to Giudecca, a day out to Burano, and a final ride back to the station.
Singles: 5 × €9.50 = €47.50.
72-hour pass: €45, unlimited rides, no ticket-buying at each stop.
The pass saves €2.50 and a lot of queuing. The real saving comes when you add the unplanned trips every Venice visit produces.
03 — Buying
Where to buy, and how validation works
Tickets and passes are sold at ACTV ticket offices (Piazzale Roma, the railway station, San Marco and other major stops), at self-service machines, at tobacco shops, through the official AVM Venezia app, and at contactless readers on the gates. Ticket offices have the longest queues; machines are faster if you have a card.
Whatever you buy, validate it before boarding. Tap the ticket or pass on the reader at the gate. The clock starts at validation, not at purchase, which matters if you buy a 24-hour pass the evening before you plan to use it.
Contactless payment is convenient for one or two rides: tap a bank card or phone at the gate and go. If you plan to ride repeatedly, compare the total with a travel pass — a pass is easier to budget, covers every ACTV line and does not depend on how the reader rounds your fare. Contactless does not cover Alilaguna.
04 — Inclusions
What the ticket covers — and what it doesn't
ACTV water and land services
All ACTV water bus lines in the Venice municipality, including the Grand Canal, the Giudecca, the Lido and the lagoon islands. Transfers within the ticket's validity are included. ACTV land buses in the same area are generally covered too.
Separate services
Alilaguna airport boats, private water taxis, gondolas and traghetto crossings are all separate. The airport land bus is a separate ticket as well. None of these accept an ACTV vaporetto pass.
Getting to and from Marco Polo Airport
There are three common options. The Alilaguna boat runs from the airport to Venice and takes about an hour to San Marco; it is the most atmospheric and costs around €15 one way. The land bus to Piazzale Roma takes about 20 minutes and costs around €10, after which you buy a vaporetto ticket or use your pass. A water taxi is door-to-door and fast, but expect €100 or more.
If you already hold an ACTV pass, the bus-plus-vaporetto route is usually the cheapest way into the city. The Alilaguna is not covered, even if it uses the same stops.
Full guide: Marco Polo Airport to Venice by boat, bus or water taxi →
05 — Rules
The fine print that actually matters
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Validate before boarding | Tap at the gate. The ticket is not active until you do. |
| Passes run in clock hours | A 24-hour pass lasts 24 hours from first validation, not until midnight. |
| Under-6s travel free | No ticket needed. From age 6, the full fare applies. |
| One ticket, one person | Tickets are not transferable and cannot be shared. |
| Dogs and bikes | Dogs are generally allowed on a leash and muzzled; bikes are restricted. Ask at the ticket office. |
06 — FAQ
Ticket questions
Is a 24-hour vaporetto pass worth it?
If you take three or more rides within 24 hours, yes. Three singles cost €28.50; the pass costs €25 and covers unlimited travel, including transfers and sightseeing detours.
Can I use the same ticket for two people?
No. Each passenger needs their own ticket or pass, including children aged six and over. Under-sixes travel free without a ticket.
Does the pass include the airport boat?
No. Alilaguna is a separate company with separate tickets. An ACTV pass covers the water buses and land buses in Venice, not the airport shuttle boats.
What happens if I forget to validate?
You are traveling without a valid ticket, even if you paid for one. Inspectors can issue a fine on the spot. Validate every time you start a new journey, and again at transfer stops where readers are provided.
Can I buy a ticket with a contactless card?
Yes, at the readers on many gates. It is quick and useful for a single ride. For a full day of travel, compare the total with a 24-hour pass; the pass is usually simpler and often cheaper once you take more than two rides.
Got the ticket? Now board.
The step-by-step routine, from the platform to the stern seat.