Venice Airport Transfers

If you arrive in Venice by plane, you have several options to reach the city center (by sea or by road): here are some of them and how much they cost

Alex Grande

Alex Grande

6 min read

Venice Airport Transfers

Aircraft landing at Venice airport | ©Colin Brown Photography

If you are traveling to beautiful Venice you will most likely arrive at its main airport, Marco Polo. Located just 8 kilometers from the city, you can take a bus, a water cab to get to your hotel or get a transport card for a single ticket to move freely around the city.

How to get from the Venice airport to your hotel

Runways emerging from the lagoon at Marco Polo Airport| ©Hindol Bhattacharya
Runways emerging from the lagoon at Marco Polo Airport| ©Hindol Bhattacharya

Transfers from the airport to the city center are often a concern for many travelers. With the many ways to get from the Venice airport to the center you will have no problems, and you can also make your reservation in advance. I show you the best transfers:

Water Taxi between Venice airport and Venice city

Water cab along the canals of Venice| ©marysalome
Water cab along the canals of Venice| ©marysalome

Since you are traveling to 'the city of canals' par excellence, maybe you feel like or even more convenient to move from the airport to Venice and vice versa by water and aboard one of its water cab to go from Venice airport to the city center, the fastest way to move. You will arrive at your destination between 20 and 45 minutes later, depending on the number of stops the cab has to make, as it will drop off all passengers at the piers closest to their accommodation.

For all means of transportation, but especially for this one, I recommend that you book your ticket in advance. Water cabs are a very popular means of transport in Venice and very much in demand by tourists and have a capacity of 10 people per boat, with a medium-sized travel bag per passenger and a minimum of two people per boat. You can take your water cab there or back:

How this service works

To get from the airport to the city by water cab you will need to arrive at the airport pier, located 500 meters from the arrivals area. However, once you land and with a maximum of one hour from disembarkation, you must go to the counter of the company Albatravel 69. There the staff will give you all the indications on how to get to the boarding pier and will suggest the nearest stop to get off the boat and get to your accommodation.

Return water cab service from your hotel to the airport

You can also use this water cab service to go from the center of Venice to the airport to catch your flight. In this case you will have to indicate the address and name of your accommodation so that the driver will meet you at a stop near your hotel. In order to know how to get to the stop, the company will fax a map to the hotel where you are staying together with the exact time of departure, which you will have to confirm with the company 24 to 48 hours before departure to the airport.

Book your transfer from the airport to Venice city center

Shuttle bus between Venice airport and Venice city center

Access Venice from the bus stop across the Calatrava Bridge.| ©Gord Webster
Access Venice from the bus stop across the Calatrava Bridge.| ©Gord Webster

With this shuttle bus service you will reach the city of Venice from the airport in just over 1 hour. It is the least fast service of all, but if you do not have special needs or are not in a hurry, I recommend it as it is the cheapest of all. This transfer is done in a shared bus with air conditioning and transportation of your luggage (the sum of its length, width and height should not exceed 150 cm).

Available bus lines

  • Aerobus line 5 from and to Venice Piazzale Roma
  • Bus line 15 from and to Mestre train station
  • Bus line 45 from and to Favaro Veneto

How this service works

Tickets for this service are also valid for travel on all Actv water services (except routes 16, 19, 21 and the Alilaguna or Casinò lines) for 75 minutes after the first activation, which takes place on board the buses themselves.

Please note that, once purchased, this ticket is non-refundable and that children under 6 years of age travel free of charge. These vehicles are adapted to travel with assistance animals, baby strollers and wheelchair users, although the latter must pay an extra 1.50 euros.

Book a shuttle bus transfer from Venice to the airport

The best way to get around Venice: the Transport Card

Vaporetto in Venice| ©ulli_essen
Vaporetto in Venice| ©ulli_essen

A good way to explore Venice is with the city transport card. With this single ticket you can use both the vaporetto and the public buses. But when you make your reservation you can also include the bus to the airport. More comfortable impossible.

It is a card valid for the duration of your trip in Venice, you can book the ticket for 24, 48 or 72 hours or you also have available one that expires 7 days after its activation.

With the unlimited use of the Venice vaporetto you will be able to travel very comfortably through the canals and while you move from one corner of the city to another you will be contemplating the most emblematic monuments.

Book the Venice Transport Card

Private transfer between the airport and the port of Venice

The port of Venice| ©Jean-Pierre Dalbéra
The port of Venice| ©Jean-Pierre Dalbéra

It is very likely that you are traveling to Venice to board one of the many, many Mediterranean and Adriatic cruises departing from its port, one of the most important. The most comfortable and fastest way to get directly to the port terminal upon your arrival in Venice is through this private minivan transfer between the airport and the port. You will reach the Venice sea terminal, located between the island of Tronchetto and the San Basilio area, in about half an hour.

How this service works

Upon arrival, a private driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals area with an identifying sign with your name on it. Please note that the driver will wait for you for a maximum of 1 hour after your plane has landed, taking into account of course possible incidents or delays with your flight. The vehicle will drop you off at the port terminal from where your ship departs and allows a maximum of 20 kilograms of luggage per passenger (no extra luggage accepted).

Private transfer between the airport and the port

For the return, once you disembark from your cruise and want to go to the airport to catch your flight, this private transfer service to go from the port of Venice to the airport of the city works the same way, as the driver will be waiting for you at the terminal outside the terminal of your ship with a sign with your identification.

Some interesting activities in Venice

Typical Murano houses| ©kevin charit
Typical Murano houses| ©kevin charit

So, do you know what you are going to do when you are there? Venice is an amazing city where you won't get tired of walking around, but you can't miss some of its main attractions, such as the Doge's Palace. Here is a practical guide on how to visit one of the most emblematic points of the city: Doge's Palace Tickets in Venice: how to buy, prices and schedules.

And if you feel like leaving the city center a bit to visit the mythical islands of Burano and Murano, don't worry because there are different organized excursions that take you there and back in the same day, so you can continue your trip without much worry. I leave you here my article about it: Murano and Burano Day Trips from Venice.

Frequently asked questions

  • How far is Marco Polo Airport from Venice?

    Located just 14 km (8.6 miles) north of Venice, Marco Polo Airport is a short 25-minute drive from Venice.

  • Are there really boats to Venice from Marco Polo airport?

    There are some luxury transfers available, where you can ride a boat (water cab) to Venice. Although not specified in the title of the experience, private transfers to Venice are usually by water cab and are quite a spectacular way to enter the city.

  • How far in advance should I arrive at Marco Polo airport before my flight?

    Compared to more modern airports, Marco Polo airport is quite modest, and queues and waiting times often reflect this fact. For this reason, you should arrive at least 2.5 hours before your flight, and 3 hours if it is a weekend, high season or transatlantic flight.