Airport transfer
Vaporetto from Marco Polo Airport
There is no ACTV vaporetto at Marco Polo. Your realistic choices are the Alilaguna airport boat, a bus to Piazzale Roma followed by a water bus, or a water taxi. Here is what each one costs and when it makes sense.
Take the Alilaguna boat for the simplest one-step transfer (about €15, 60–75 minutes). Take the bus to Piazzale Roma and then an ACTV vaporetto if you already have a travel pass. Take a water taxi if you have luggage, a group, or a late arrival and the budget allows.
Marco Polo Airport sits on the mainland at Tessera, about 13 kilometres from Venice. The lagoon is close, but the airport has no ACTV water-bus stop. Alilaguna runs passenger boats from its own dock; ACTV runs land buses to Piazzale Roma, where the water network begins.
That is the whole geography of the decision. Everything else is time, luggage and money.
01 — Compare
The three options side by side
| Option | Cost | Time to San Marco | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alilaguna boat | ~€15 | 60–75 min | One-step transfer; first-time visitors |
| Bus + vaporetto | ~€19.50 | 60–90 min | Travel-pass holders; station hotels |
| Water taxi | €110+ | 30–40 min | Luggage, groups, late arrivals |
Bus + vaporetto assumes a €10 airport bus and a €9.50 single. If you buy a 24-hour ACTV pass (€25) instead, the water-bus leg is covered for the rest of the day.
02 — Alilaguna
The boat from the airport dock
The closest thing to a direct vaporetto — but it is a separate service.
Alilaguna boats leave from a dock a short covered walk from arrivals. Follow the Alilaguna signs; the walk takes about ten minutes with luggage. Tickets are sold at the desk and machines at the dock, and on board in some cases.
The orange line (Arancio) is the usual choice for Murano, Fondamente Nove, Rialto and San Marco. The blue line (Blu) runs via the Lido to San Marco. Both take roughly an hour to the city, with the exact time depending on the stops and the traffic in the lagoon.
Boats run about every 30 minutes during the day, less often early and late. The service is comfortable enough, with luggage space near the entrance, but it is not fast: if you are staying near the station, the bus will beat it.
03 — Bus
Bus to Piazzale Roma, then vaporetto
The cheapest route if you already hold an ACTV pass — and the fastest to the station.
ACTV's Aerobus 5 and ATVO's Venezia Express both run from outside arrivals to Piazzale Roma in about 20–25 minutes. Tickets cost around €10 and are sold at the airport desks and machines; validate on board.
From Piazzale Roma it is a short walk to the ACTV vaporetto docks. Line 1 takes about 40 minutes to San Marco; Line 2 is faster. If your hotel is near the station or Piazzale Roma, you may not need a boat at all.
This is the route that rewards a travel pass. A 24-hour ACTV pass costs €25 and covers the water buses for the rest of the day; the airport bus is a separate ticket. If you are staying several days, buy the pass at the airport or at Piazzale Roma and validate it on your first boat.
04 — Water taxi
When a water taxi is worth it
A water taxi takes you from the airport dock directly to your hotel's landing stage. The trip to San Marco takes about 30–40 minutes and costs €110 or more, depending on the destination, the time and the amount of luggage. It is the only option that is genuinely door-to-door.
For a group of four to six, the cost per person can land close to a bus-plus-vaporetto journey, with none of the crowding. For a solo traveler on a budget, it is hard to justify. Book ahead in high season, and agree the price and destination before you board.
Alilaguna
One step from arrivals to the boat, and a stop within walking distance of most hotels in the San Marco area. About €15.
Bus + vaporetto
Fastest to Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia, and the natural choice if you already have an ACTV pass.
Water taxi
Direct to the hotel dock, no crowds, no steps with a suitcase. Expensive for one, sensible for a group.
05 — FAQ
Airport questions
Is there a vaporetto from Marco Polo Airport?
No. ACTV vaporetti run inside Venice and the lagoon, not from the airport. The Alilaguna boat is the closest equivalent, but it is a separate service with its own ticket. Otherwise take a bus or taxi to Piazzale Roma and board there.
Can I use an ACTV travel pass on the Alilaguna?
No. Alilaguna is a separate company and does not accept ACTV tickets or passes. Buy an Alilaguna ticket separately, or take the bus to Piazzale Roma and use your pass from there.
How much is the cheapest way into Venice?
The airport bus (about €10) plus a single vaporetto ticket (€9.50) is the cheapest combination, at roughly €19.50. If you already have an ACTV pass, the bus is the only extra cost.
What if my flight lands late?
Buses and Alilaguna boats meet most late arrivals, but the last departures are worth checking before you book. A water taxi is the reliable option after midnight, at a higher price.
How long does the Alilaguna take to San Marco?
About 60–75 minutes, depending on the line and the number of stops. The bus plus Line 2 can be similar door-to-door, but involves a change at Piazzale Roma.
Which option is best with children?
The Alilaguna is straightforward: one boat, luggage space and no change. A water taxi is easier still if the budget allows. The bus-plus-vaporetto route involves stairs, crowds and a walk with bags.
Arriving by train instead?
Line 1 starts at the station and runs the length of the Grand Canal.