Pass ACTV Venice: how to use the vaporetto pass in Venice?

How do public transport in Venice work? Here is our complete guide to easily move to Venice using the different transport of the city.

Venice is an ideal city for walking, but even the most faithful walkers will probably want to use public transport in Venice at some point or another. It is on the water, after all, that we move in this city where we find no car or bus, and you will not regret a journey on a road vaporetto one of the famous boats of Venice.

To move to Venice, you first have to go there so here how to get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice . And if you happen to Trévise airport? No worries! This way.

The good news is that the Venice public transport system is really easy to use – there are very few lines to spot in Venice, and only a few places where you will have no choice but to take the boat. The bad news is that transport tickets seem more expensive than they should, so it is important to know all the transport possibilities in Venice to save money.

Here's what you need to know to use public transport in Venice (price, schedules, lines...)!

How to use public transport in Venice?

As you will understand, it is by boat that you will most often travel to Venice. There are different types of boats in Venice. The three main types of water transport in Venice are vaporettos, gondolas and traghettos. But do you know what they match?

Vaporetto

These are the big boats that have regular lines (see the map of the lines ) along the Grand Canal for example and from Venice to Murano and Burano. During your stay, you will necessarily borrow a vaporetto (des vaporetti Plural).

Map of vaporetto lines

It is obvious that losing yourself in the alleys of Venice can be part of the charm of your stay. Like vaporetti essentially only circulate along the Grand Canal and between the islands of the Venetian lagoon, you don’t really have to worry about your journeys through the network of lines. If you are close to the Grand Canal, it can be easier to go to the nearest vaporetto stop and watch the stops served by this line. And if you plan a trip to one of the other islands, you will need to find the correspondence.

To facilitate your organisation with the transports of Venice, we put below the map of the vaporetto lines of Venice.

Vaporetto: where to buy your tickets, at what price, the schedules...

A simple ticket valid for 75 minutes to take a vaporetto will cost you 7,50 € . If you’re just looking to cross a channel, it’s a high price to pay. At that point, we suggest you either take one ACTV which gives you access to all the transport in Venice for the duration of your choice (from 1 to 7 days), either to take a traghetto or to walk.

Ticket price for tickets vaporetti :

• 75 min: 7.5€
• 24h: 20€
• 48h: 30€
• 72h: 40€
• 7 days: 60€

Children under 6 travel for free! Once your ticket is purchased, do not forget to validate it in the machines available at each vaporetto station just before you go up there.

Gondoles

The gondolas are the most famous boats of Venice, symbols to themselves of the dolce vita Venetian. You can rent a private gondola for a cruise but it costs a small fortune. Learn more about gondola rides in Venice.

Map of the gondola lines

To visit Venice while taking advantage of a picturesque, folklore and romantic way of transport, it is a must! Gondola stations are numerous and disseminated throughout the city. Stops serve the most frequented tourist sites and routes. Let's celebrate Place Saint Marc , the Orseolo basin, the Rialto bridge, the Roma piazzale or the Campo San Moise. Know that gondolas are almost reserved for tourists: the inhabitants of the city never use them.

To facilitate your organisation with the transports of Venice, we put below the map of the gondola lines of Venice.

Gondoles: where to buy your tickets, at what price, the schedules...

The gondola tariff is strictly regulated. So you will not have any surprises when booking or boarding. The rate is fixed by gondola and not by the number of persons, it will be the same for one or five persons (the maximum possible).

To buy your tickets, go to a stop and find an empty gondola. The gondolier shouts "Gondola, gondola!" when his gondola is available. The embarcaders are indicated by the mention "Servizio Gondole". You can also book online. The gondoliers are active night and day!

Ticket price for gondolas:

On the day, a gondola costs 80 € 30 minutes and 40 € 20 extra minutes. At night (from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. in summer), a gondola costs 100 € 30 minutes and 50 € 20 extra minutes.

Traghetto

Traghetti resemble large gondolas used to cross the Grand Canal in various locations. This means of transport is less picturesque: the gondoliers are two, do not sing and do not wear the famous striped shirt. In addition, passengers (maximum number 14) do not sit down the time of the crossing.

Map of the lines of the traghetti

The traghetti cross the Grand Canal from one shore to the other in eight points of the city. To facilitate your organisation with the transports of Venice, we put below the map of the Traghetti lines of Venice.

Traghetti: where to buy your tickets, at what price, schedules...

Tickets can be purchased directly from the gondoliers. Just wait for the desired boat and climb on board. Departures take place every five minutes. Each line has different times and most are active only in the morning

• Ferrovia/San Simeone: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.;
• San Marcuola/Fondaco dei Turchi: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.;
• Santa Sofia/Mercato del Rialto : 7.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
• Riva del Vin/Riva del Carbon : 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.;
• San Tomà/San Stefano: 7.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
• San Samuele/Ca’ Rezzonico: 8.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.;
• Santa Maria del Giglio/Salute : 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
• Punta della dogana/San Marco-Giardinetti: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Ticket price for traghetti:

It will cost you 2 € by crossing if you do not live in Venice. For premises, the rate is 0.75 € .

In the photo of the Grand Canal below, you can see the three different types of boats mentioned in the article.

As mentioned above, most travellers simply walk in Venice for the duration of their stay. You can really walk everywhere and, in many ways, a walk is part of Things to do in Venice . But taking the boat, along the Grand Canal (especially at night), can be a great way to spend a good time. And if you plan to visit other islands of the lagoon, it is likely that you will borrow a vaporetto or two in Venice.

Pass ACTV Venice: what advantages?

Comeia Unica is the main public transport ticket salesman, and you can buy tickets for vaporetti in the cabins of most stations. Free hours and plans are also available. ♪ tickets can also be purchased in advance online .

Indeed, if you think you use vaporetto frequently (more than three trips), instead of spending 7,50 € for each single ticket, it is advisable to take a ACTV – that gives unlimited access (and for a specified period that starts when you validate your ticket to the yellow machine located at the vaporetto stops).

Pass your card every time you board, even if you have already validated it on your first trip. If you are checked without a valid ticket, you will have to pay an immediate fine 59 € (plus the price of 7,50 €). No exceptions.

Pass ACTV Venice – FAQ

How to remove the ACTV Pass?

To remove your ACTV reserved online, you need to exchange the voucher you receive by email to Vènezia Unica agencies or Vènezia Unica vending machines. Following your reservation, you will have the full list of all distributors by email.

Just scan it QR code on your voucher to yellow machines, which will deliver your ticket automatically, which will allow you to take the vaporetti for the duration chosen for your pass (1 to 7 days).

How to use the ACTV Pass?

The ACTV Pass is active on the first trip and not when the ticket is withdrawn. It is therefore no longer necessary to validate each boarding, then the ACTV Pass operates by packages 24, 48, 72 hours or 7 days. If on Monday at 12 o’clock, you validate the Pass 24 hours, it will only be valid until Tuesday at 12 o’clock.

What are the schedules for_vaporetto_ Venice?

♪ vaporetti It's between 5:00 and 11:30. The waiting time between two vaporetti varies between less than 10 minutes and 20 minutes.

How much luggage can we take on board?

The package includes a unique baggage, unless you come from the airport. ♪ vaporetti are equipped with a location where to lay business, located behind the cockpit. In addition to two luggage, you must pay the price of an extra ticket per baggage.

What is the main tourist line of vaporetto?

The main line of tourist vaporetto, which is recommended if you want a "travel" (without a guide and at a lower cost) on the Grand Canal, is the line of vaporetto #1.

The vaporetto #1 line borrows the Grand Canal and stops at every stop between the train station and Piazza San Marco. It takes between 45 minutes and an hour to move between these two points. If you are looking for a peaceful way to see the sights and the weather is favorable, it is an excellent way to relax for an hour.