Boats of Venice

THE BOATS OF VENICE

(This material is adapted from Venice for Visitors)
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How to Ride a Venice Airport Boat

If your hotel is on the Lido or near the Piazza San Marco, the Alilaguna airport boat is the easiest (and most scenic) way to reach the city.

Difficulty Level: Easy. Time Required: 40-50 minutes

Here's How:

  • After claiming your luggage, go into the Arrivals lounge.
  • If needed, purchase Euros at the exchange counter, or at the ATM in the Departures lounge.
  • In the Arrivals lounge, go to the "Water Bus" ticket booth and buy a ticket for Murano, the Lido, or the Piazza San Marco. (The counter is open from 8 a.m. to midnight.)
  • Or, just show the location of your hotel on a map, and let the ticket clerk determine the best boat for you to take..
  • Step outside and walk the short distance to the boat pier.
  • Here's a link to the Venice Airport Boat article with a photo.
  • Board the boat when the boatman is ready to embark passengers.
  • When the boat reaches your destination, get off. (The Lido is the second stop; the Piazza San Marco is the third and final stop.)

    • Tips:

  • The boat has no luggage racks, so park heavy bags near the front.
  • There's no need to tip the boatman.

    • How to Ride a Gondola in Venice, Italy

    A gondola ride on the Grand Canal or one of the city's quieter waterways is enjoyable, but many tourists dislike being gouged by greedy gondoliers. Use our advice to avoid hassles and unhappy memories.

    Time Required: 50 minutes

    Here's How:

  • Find a gondola in the area where you'd like to take a ride. (This is easy--gondoliers often beckon as you walk past.)
  • Negotiate a price. (See "Gondolas and Gondola Rides" article for details.)
  • After 8 p.m., the base rate goes up. Actual rates may be double (or more) in high season, depending on supply and demand.
  • Make sure that you and the gondolier have agreed on the length of the ride.
  • When you've concluded your negotiations, board the gondola and enjoy your ride.
  • At the end of the ride, pay and thank the gondolier. (There's no need to tip, although the gondolier certainly won't mind if you do.)

    • Tips:
  • Gondolas normally hold up to five passengers, although the gondolier may agree to six (especially if some are children and the price is right).
  • The Grand Canal can be busy and choppy. Select the quieter back canals if you want a smooth ride or a romantic experience.
  • Don't expect the gondolier to sing.

    • How to Ride a Traghetto in Venice

    "Traghetto" means "ferry" in Italian, but in Venice the word refers to a large gondola rowed by two oarsmen. The city's eight traghetto routes provide an easy, inexpensive way to cross the Grand Canal when you aren't near one of the canal's three bridges.

    Difficulty Level: Easy. Time Required: 5 minutes (approx.)

    Here's How:

  • Find a traghetto landing. Routes are shown on most city maps, and signs are usually posted in streets nearby.
  • When you reach the landing, board the boat.
  • Hand 700 lire to the oarsman. Exact change is preferred but not required.
  • Enjoy a low-cost gondola ride across the Grand Canal.
  • Disembark with a "Grazie" to the boatman. (No tip is necessary or expected.)

    • Tips:

  • Most Venetians stand during a traghetto crossing, but feel free to sit if you have poor balance or aren't comfortable in bobbing boats.
  • The traghetto is a cheap and enjoyable substitute for a gondola ride, so try it just for fun.
  • Traghetto fares go up from time to time. Look for a fare placard on the traghetto landing before counting out your coins

    • How to Ride a Vaporetto in Venice, Italy

    The vaporetto, or water bus, is the most practical way to get around Venice when you don't want to go on foot. (Avoid water taxis unless you're in a group or have money to burn.)

    Difficulty Level: Easy. Time Required: Varies

    Here's How:

  • Buy a ticket at the booth near the stop. (Not all stops have booths, but the larger ones do.) Single tickets are 6,000 lire.
  • Use the gangway to reach the floating platform (If there's more than one platform, make sure you're boarding the platform for the correct line and direction.)
  • Go to the platform's waiting area, not to to the exit area.
  • Stay behind the painted line that separates the waiting area from the exit area.
  • When the boat comes, let the passengers exit. Check the placards on the boat to make sure it's going in the right direction (e.g., toward the Piazzale Roma or the Piazza San Marco and Lido).
  • Step aboard the vaporetto and move out of the way so other passengers can get on.
  • For the best views on Grand Canal vaporetti, head for the open seating in the bow or stern.
  • If you have luggage, try to park it out of the way. On the Grand Canal vaporetti, the best place is on or under the wooden storage shelf in the boarding area.
  • When you reach your stop, follow other passengers off the boat.

    • Tips:

  • If you board the vaporetto at a stop that doesn't have a ticket booth, immediately ask the boatman for a biglietto (ticket). Otherwise, you'll be subject to a fine.
  • Each passenger is entitled to one suitcase and carry-on items. If you're carrying a second large suitcase, you may be required to buy a ticket for it.