A cost-effective alternative to water taxis.
Why choose the Vaporetto?
💰 Affordable
⏳ Convenient
🌅 Scenic rides
🏝️ Island access
The Vaporetto is Venice’s public water bus system, operated by ACTV (Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti Veneziano). It’s the city’s main mode of transport, connecting islands and navigating the canals. The name "Vaporetto" means "little steamer," a nod to early steam-powered boats. Locals may also call it "un batèlo" or "un vaporino." Whether you're commuting or sightseeing, the Vaporetto is the easiest way to explore Venice’s waterways.
Venice’s Vaporetto system has 23 active lines, connecting the city’s major landmarks and surrounding islands. Whether you’re cruising down the Grand Canal, heading to Murano’s glass factories, or exploring Burano’s colorful houses, here are the key routes you need to know:
The Vaporetto, Venice’s public water bus system, runs year-round with varying schedules depending on the time of day and season. Here’s what you need to know:
Operating hours: Most main lines run from 5am to 12am.
The best pass depends on your stay. A 24-hour pass (€25) or 48-hour pass (€35) is great for short visits, while longer stays may benefit from the 72-hour pass (€45) or 7-day pass (€65). The Venezia Unica card bundles transport with museum access.
It depends on the kind of experience you’re looking for. The Vaporetto is functional and affordable, covering all major routes, while gondolas are more for sightseeing and can be pricey.
Take the ACTV (Line 5) or ATVO express bus to Piazzale Roma or opt for the Alilaguna water bus for a scenic transfer to locations like St. Mark’s Square.
Water taxis are fast and private but cost around €120+. They’re worth it if you have heavy luggage or want a hassle-free transfer.
Yes! The Vaporetto runs 24/7, with Line N operating from 11:30pm – 5am for late-night travel.
You must always validate your ticket from the electronic ticket checkers before boarding a Venice water bus. Make sure that your luggage does not exceed the limit.
Since the waters do not create large waves, you do not have the chance of getting seasick. However, if you feel nauseous, inform the sailors and boatmen. They will help you through the journey.
A standard Vaporetto ticket is valid for 75 minutes, allowing unlimited transfers within that time. Multi-day passes remain valid until their expiry.
Yes, but keep it compact, especially during peak hours, to ensure a comfortable ride.
There are no toilets on a Venice water bus.
Kids under 6 travel free, and the Rolling Venice card offers discounted fares for ages 6-29 on transport and attractions.
If you lose your ticket before validation, you must buy a new one—lost tickets cannot be replaced or refunded once validated.
Everything is allright. Im very happy so i see Venice The paper ticket is Super and modern. It was use easy. I offen. For everybody.
Carefree use of the water bus all day long without having to buy tickets all the time. It's a very convenient way to explore the city. The ticket worked perfectly at every station. The first time we received the tickets via the code at the machine also went smoothly
Very well organised tour sonthat it's not that crowded
Simply beautiful - you MUST have seen it! Great with audioguide ! Also very moderate prices in the coffee house !
Very simple process. It was easy, minimal line and we were inside and were able to start walking around. Definitely worrh it.
Quick admission. Even without an audio guide, there was a lot of information in the Doge's Palace and it was easy to find your way around.
The ambiente was amazing and we got in so quickly and with no complication thanks to the online tickets. No waiting at all.
Doge’s Palace is an essential destination for visitors to Venice—melding drama, history, and visual splendor. The grandeur of its architecture and the emotional contrast between gilded state rooms and somber prisons craft a compelling narrative of power and justice. Guided tours bring hidden areas to life; self-led visits still impress, though reservation is recommended to avoid long waits.
The sheer magnitude of opulence, scale and Al frescoes were jaw dropping. The curation of the palace offered easy access and historical descriptions and displays made such a difference to the palace experience and it was such a memorable moment which we will never forget of our European summer holiday!
The experience started on a great note by being able to skip the long line and just go in and start going through the different rooms in the Palace. The explanations of the use of each rooms and of the art in them was also very helpful. Even though it was in July, it was not too crowded. I also enjoyed the views to the city from opened windows and the view from the Bridge of sighs was a highlight. Highly recommended visit when in Venice.
We can get on and off everywhere. We loved the bus stop shelters and the digital displays showing when the next vaporetto was coming.
Entry with the skip the line feature was wonderful-we just walked right in. The palace is a must see-it was beautiful and the legal history was so interesting
There was an additional charge for the ticket and then you had to book three tickets before you reached the machine that printed out the ticket. No longer up to date.
The ticket is good for traveling and you can ride everything. Simply check in. However, the purchase is cumbersome, buy online, go to some vending machine I know where and then print out the ticket. I understand that it has to be printed out, otherwise you can't ride the water bus, the barrier to the ride only opens when you put on the ticket
Skip the line tickets were great as we had no waiting, just walked straight in. Easy directions to follow inside the palace for our self guided tour. If you want to see the art gallery then you have to pay a discounted fee of 2 euro per person. Overall loved the Palace & would recommend this activity as a must do in Venice.
No line got in right away Nice also the exhibition that you could visit by adding 2 € special bonus to the low price since it is a supplement
Having these tickets made getting into the attraction really easy with little to no queuing. We had a lovely couple of hours going round the palace and found it interesting even without a formal guide taking us round.
At first I was worried about where I could redeem the ticket. It was all very easy at a ticket machine. The ships arrived on time.
The ticketing and entry process was easy! The Doges Palace is a hidden gem yet so very obvious! Really enjoyed the experience.
File cut appreciable. The Doges' Palace is a must-see in Venice. 30 euros is the entrance fee. Allow a minimum of 2 hours, or even 3. We recommend it.
The vaporettos are a great experience, as they take us everywhere for 48 hours, and the special tickets for the Doge's Palace allowed us to enjoy the visit without waiting.
The skip the line entry was great. The palace is magnificent.
Must leave lots of time to find meeting place are tickets redemption location, but there was so much to see.
Easy to register and very useful to have tickets in your pocket just on arrival.
It was a day to remember! The palace was grand from the beginig to the end.
Super saver Venice combo – 2-day unlimited Vaporetto & bus access, plus fast-track entry to top museums.
Inclusions Venice ACTV Water Bus Pass
2-day access to ACTV Vaporetti(Water-buses) in Venice, Lido and lagoon islands
2-day access to ACTV Buses in Mestre, Marghera and mainland
** Venice Museum Pass with Fast-Track Tickets to Doge's Palace**
Skip-the-line tickets to Doge’s Palace
Entry to Museo Correr
Entry to Archaeological Museum
Entry to Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Marciana
Venice ACTV Water Bus Pass
Venice Museum Pass with Fast-Track Tickets to Doge's Palace
Laila
Nelly
Craig
You can just get in and "ship" off without thinking twice. Unfortunately, the vaporettos were on strike when we arrived, so we had to walk everything with our suitcases 😬.
Very well organised tour sonthat it's not that crowded
Punctual, reliable and very friendly!
The ease of getting around Venice and its surroundings Murano, Lido.
Simply beautiful - you MUST have seen it! Great with audioguide ! Also very moderate prices in the coffee house !
I had a very pleasant experience with the vaporetto in Venice. It is the most practical and authentic way to get around the city, and the views from the Grand Canal are simply spectacular. I appreciated the punctuality, the frequency of the rides, and the fact that it is easy to understand even for tourists. It was also a special feeling to ride alongside the locals, feeling the real pulse of the city. I recommend anyone visiting Venice to try the vaporetto at least once – it is not just transportation, but part of the Venetian charm.
You need a ticket machine to get the ticket via QR code or manual entry. Is uncomplicated and simple
Very simple process. It was easy, minimal line and we were inside and were able to start walking around. Definitely worrh it.
Quick admission. Even without an audio guide, there was a lot of information in the Doge's Palace and it was easy to find your way around.
Considering the size of the crowds, our water bus arrived at our destinations in a timely. I did not take into account the numerous stops, but I planned ahead. It would also be nice to have more english sineage. Great service, thanks.
The ambiente was amazing and we got in so quickly and with no complication thanks to the online tickets. No waiting at all.
Skip the line was good (but not necessary on a Saturday in July). We did not have time to get our moneys worth out of the day boat pass. It would have been cheaper and easier to purchase single boat rides from the automated kiosks. But still beautiful!
Doge’s Palace is an essential destination for visitors to Venice—melding drama, history, and visual splendor. The grandeur of its architecture and the emotional contrast between gilded state rooms and somber prisons craft a compelling narrative of power and justice. Guided tours bring hidden areas to life; self-led visits still impress, though reservation is recommended to avoid long waits.
The sheer magnitude of opulence, scale and Al frescoes were jaw dropping. The curation of the palace offered easy access and historical descriptions and displays made such a difference to the palace experience and it was such a memorable moment which we will never forget of our European summer holiday!
The help from tha staff was excellent. I had the wrong ticket, and was offered to buy a ticket for only 19 euros. Thanks a lot to the kindest staff on board
It must be harder to use the vaporetto because you do not wann to walk around the city if you have ticket for all day :)
The experience started on a great note by being able to skip the long line and just go in and start going through the different rooms in the Palace. The explanations of the use of each rooms and of the art in them was also very helpful. Even though it was in July, it was not too crowded. I also enjoyed the views to the city from opened windows and the view from the Bridge of sighs was a highlight. Highly recommended visit when in Venice.
Entry with the skip the line feature was wonderful-we just walked right in. The palace is a must see-it was beautiful and the legal history was so interesting
easy access and more precision using Google maps for orientation and precise timetables when you can't find a nearby place to board.
Friendly staff, which ship goes where, could be better labeled, link to search for the exchange machines of the online ticket in bus ticket did not work in the PDF. Ship is very noisy otherwise great transportation system
Skip the line tickets were great as we had no waiting, just walked straight in. Easy directions to follow inside the palace for our self guided tour. If you want to see the art gallery then you have to pay a discounted fee of 2 euro per person. Overall loved the Palace & would recommend this activity as a must do in Venice.
Skip the line ticketing is the way to go, given the line up of people we saw purchasing tickets. The all day ACTV pass is handy. We had an issue with evening riding. The spot at P. De Roma not the same dock, and no indication to use another one. The return trip from san Marco at S. Zaccaria didn't go where we anticipated it to go, and fortunately it ended up at a stop near us. But we were planning on getting off near the Accademia and walking back. So, better directions would be helpful, or people around to guide you, since the signage wasn't easy to understand.
No line got in right away Nice also the exhibition that you could visit by adding 2 € special bonus to the low price since it is a supplement
Having these tickets made getting into the attraction really easy with little to no queuing. We had a lovely couple of hours going round the palace and found it interesting even without a formal guide taking us round.
The ticketing and entry process was easy! The Doges Palace is a hidden gem yet so very obvious! Really enjoyed the experience.
Unlimited travel across Venice's ACTV network all day, plus skip-the-line access to Venice’s seat of power & art.
Inclusions 1-Day ACTV Transport Pass
Doge's Palace Tickets
Exclusions
Laila
Nelly
Craig
Access over 30 monuments and activities across Venice!
Inclusions
1-7-day validity
Attractions: Doge’s Palace, Chiesa di San Sebastiano, Chiesa di San Polo & more
Museums: Leonardo Da Vinci Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, Archaeological National Museum, Museum Correr (Part of San Marco) & more
Guided tours: Venice City Tour
Boat tours: Gondola ride, Island tour of Murano, Burano, Torcello & more
Discounts with EatWith
Get complete details here
Exclusions
I loved how convenient and stress-free the 2-day Vaporetto ACTV pass made exploring Venice! Being able to hop on and off the water buses at any time allowed me to see so many beautiful areas, from the Grand Canal to the smaller islands, without worrying about buying separate tickets each time. One highlight was taking the boat out to Lido and spending time at the beach – such a relaxing change of pace from the busy canals. The views from the boat were incredible, the rides felt smooth, and it was also fun to be among both locals and travelers enjoying the city. This pass truly made the trip memorable and gave me the freedom to enjoy Venice at my own pace.
Everything is allright. Im very happy so i see Venice The paper ticket is Super and modern. It was use easy. I offen. For everybody.
Loved this option for getting to Venice! Just remember to print out your voucher. At the airport follow the signs for the water taxi. A gentle easing into your trip, it's about 2hrs from the airport to San Marco Giardinetti for €18.
Very easy to redeem at the machine and validate at the stands. With the ticket we were able to visit Lido and Murano on different days without stress. It was also nice to just drive around the island without having to pay extra for tour water buses.
the fact that you don't have to ask too many questions to optimize your trip is great, and even if you take the wrong vaporetto, you'll quickly find another one. It's not always easy to find the one you're looking for (Murano and Burano, for example), so not thinking you've paid for a trip for nothing is a big plus.
I loved being able to hop on a boat and go wherever I wanted without having to pay each time. It was very easy to tap on and you didn't have to tap off.
The booking was uncomplicated. The journeys all ran smoothly. The fact that you have to print out the tickets at the machine afterwards was not worth the five euro fee for the online booking. We could have gone straight to the ticket machine.
Carefree use of the water bus all day long without having to buy tickets all the time. It's a very convenient way to explore the city. The ticket worked perfectly at every station. The first time we received the tickets via the code at the machine also went smoothly
Steamboats punctual ,frequent and very comfortable . We walked around for 3 days . I recommend this cheap and very comfortable solution to everyone.
We loved being able to jump on and off the vaporetto system. Highlights were our use on Line 1 on the Grand Canal and trips out to Murano andd Burano.
You can just get in and "ship" off without thinking twice. Unfortunately, the vaporettos were on strike when we arrived, so we had to walk everything with our suitcases 😬.
The ticket could be booked online in advance. Picking it up at the designated machine with the assigned code worked well. The tickets always worked reliably. The individual lines have a good frequency and are very reliable.
Venice is always fascinating!!! It pulls you into the heart of its beauty
The best buy of our Italian program...fantastic to hop on & off ferry every day...
Ticket purchase quick and easy. Ships very full but on time
I find it very practical that the stations are also announced.
Everything! A perfect organization.
Punctual, reliable and very friendly!
just jump on vaporetto and out of vaporetto-perfecto
Venice is a great city. With very nice people. An all-round successful weekend.
The facility on the website, and in Venice when you had to walk a long way to get back, is to get on the nearest Vaporetto.
The ease of getting around Venice and its surroundings Murano, Lido.
We used lines 1-3. The 2-day ticket was well worth it.
Unique routes, must do ! Wonderful locations !
Very good connections but very crowded so very good
Complete and cost-effective Venice transport package—airport transfer with unlimited Vaporetto & buses.
Inclusions Alilaguna Water Bus Transfers
Vaporetto ACTV Water Bus Pass & Mainland Bus Tickets
Validity: 1/2/3/7 days
Unlimited use of ACTV Vaporetti (water buses) in Venice, Lido and lagoon islands
Unlimited use of ACTV Buses in Mestre, Marghera and mainland
Exclusions Vaporetto ACTV Water Bus Pass & Mainland Bus Tickets
Blue Line
Click here for the map route.
Red Line
Click here for the map route.
Orange Line
Click here for the map route.
Alilaguna Water Bus Transfers
Vaporetto ACTV Water Bus Pass & Mainland Bus Tickets
Szenderffy
Alojz
Ana
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
The Vaporetto Pass for 3 days was brilliant. Easy to use, many connections available. Made sightseeing between the Lido and Venice very easy.
Optimal means of transportation for Venice! A stop almost every few hundred meters along the large canals. Good connection to the neighboring islands. From early in the morning until late in the evening. Ideal for exploring Venice individually.
We used the one-day pass and the truth is that it is quite good for getting around if you are short of time.
No queue Ticket had to be printed out with code In the age of cell phones incomprehensible 😟
Vaporetto ride a great experience
Unlimited travel across Venice’s water and land transport—now with a multilingual city audio guide to explore as you go.
Inclusions
1/2/3/7-day validity
Access to unlimited ACTV Vaporetti (water buses) in Venice, Lido and lagoon islands
Access to unlimited ACTV buses in Mestre, Marghera and mainland
Access to Trenitalia regional (R & RV) trains within the Venice municipality.
Digital city audio guide
Exclusions
Petra
Marco
