6 Best Ways to Get to Venice from Marco Polo Airport

Marco Polo Airport to Venice is easier than you might think, but choosing the best transportation option depends on your budget, schedule, and comfort level. As someone who has traveled this route multiple times, I can tell you there are several efficient ways to reach Venice’s historic center, each with its own perks.

The most iconic way is the Alilaguna water bus, which offers a scenic ride across the Venetian Lagoon to key stops like San Marco and Rialto. If you prefer speed and convenience, an airport water taxi—though pricey—is the most direct and luxurious way to arrive. For those on a budget, the ACTV public bus (Line 5) or the ATVO express bus will get you to Piazzale Roma, Venice’s main transport hub, in about 20 minutes. From there, you can walk or take a vaporetto (water bus) to your final destination.

If you're staying outside the main islands, renting a car or using a private airport transfer to nearby areas like Mestre may be the best option. No matter your choice, knowing your options in advance can save you time, money, and unnecessary stress. In this guide, I’ll break down each method in detail so you can start your Venetian adventure smoothly.

How to get to Venice from Marco Polo Airport

From buses to boats, there are many and varied ways to get from the airport to Venice.

1. Airport Shuttle (ATVO Venezia Express)

One of the best options is to take the ATVO Airport Shuttle bus , which you will find right in front of the exit gate (exit D, second lane, stop n. 3). It will drop you off at Piazzale Roma in about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic (it is the fastest way to get to Venice ).

From Piazzale Roma you will have to take a vaporetto (Venice boats) or walk to get to your accommodation. To Rialto, for example, it is a 20-minute walk.

The ticket costs €10 (€18 round trip). Where can you buy it? On the website, or at the airport in the ATVO vending machines located at the baggage claim exit, in the arrivals hall or in front of the bus stop. Regardless of where you buy it, the tickets are "open" so they are not tied to a specific timetable or day.

If you return to the same airport, it is best to buy a return ticket, as this will save you a bit of money. But if you want to buy one in Venice, in Piazzale Roma itself they sell tickets at the newsstand and at the tobacconist's, for example.

2. Aerobus (ACTV line 5)

ACTV is the main public transport company in Venice and its metropolitan area, which operates vaporettos (boats that connect the islands of Venice), city buses, trams and the People Mover. In this case, with its Aerobus line 5 (very similar to the previous one) you can get to Piazzale Roma for €10 or €18 round trip .

But beware, it also offers a ticket for €18 that allows you to use the Aerobus to Piazzale Roma and from there the vaporetto service in Venice for 90 minutes from the time you validate it at the airport. This company also offers daily transportation packages , which include the journeys from the airport. Here you can find more information .

You can buy your ticket at Venezia Unica sales points , on the website, at the vending machines or on the AVM Venezia Official App. Both the ACTV bus and the ATVO bus stop next to each other on the bus lane, located just a few metres outside the airport as soon as you walk through the gate.

3. City bus, a very cheap option but not entirely recommended

This is the cheapest option to get to Venice from Marco Polo Airport, but also the most uncomfortable: you will have to walk to the first stop outside the airport, which in this case is Triestina Tessera , 1 km away, and take it there (line 5). The price in this case is €1.50 and you can buy the ticket at the ACTV counter at the airport itself.

Honestly, unless you absolutely need to save that money, we don't think this is the best option, as you'll have to walk through the airport car parks, get to the main road, cross it and finally walk to the bus stop.

4. Taxi

The taxi fare to Piazzale Roma is €45 , which can be an interesting option if you are travelling in a group of 2-4 people, especially if you don't want to wait for buses or arrive at an unsociable hour. But remember that from Piazzale Roma you will have to walk to the hotel or take a water taxi or vaporetto, which increases the total price of the trip significantly.

Remember to bring your Revolut card and/or N26 card so that you are not charged commissions when paying and withdrawing money abroad.

5. Private transfer

Similar to a taxi but with a more personalized service : if you decide to hire a private transfer service, you will have someone waiting for you to arrive and who will take you wherever you want (remember that if you are staying in Venice, they can take you as far as Piazzale Roma).

6. Taxi boat, the most original way to get to Venice from the airport

There are not many airports that allow you to get to your accommodation directly by taxi boat . So this is definitely an original option and it is not as expensive as you might think… Well, there are VERY expensive private boats, it must be said! But in this case we are going to recommend a shared boat service.

The public transport company Alilaguna , for example, operates a service of boats similar to vaporettos, which in this case connect the airport with several key points in Venice, and make stops at: San Marco, Rialto, Fondamenta Nuove, Guglie . The ticket costs €15 one way , if you also want a return ticket it will be €27 and you can get them on their website or at authorized Points of Sale (as well as at newsstands and tobacconists located throughout Venice).

Where do you catch the boat at Venice airport? If you are interested, you will have to follow the blue signs that say “ trasporti via d'acqua ”, which will take you to the Moving Walkaway , an elevated walkway that leads to the Darsena. There you board the boat and after about an hour you will be in the most romantic city in Italy.

These are all the options you have to get to Venice from Marco Polo Airport . If you ask us which way we would choose, we have a pretty clear idea: we would go with the Atvo Venezia Express bus , but it's all a matter of taste.

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