To get from Venice Marco Polo Airport to your hotel, choose between bus, water bus, or taxi to Venice then walk or ride a vaporetto.
Plenty of visitors land at Venice Marco Polo, walk out of arrivals, and type “how do you get from venice airport to hotel?” into their phone. Once you know the layout of the city and the main transport options, the route feels clear and manageable.
This guide sets out the practical ways to reach your hotel, what each one costs, and how much walking you can expect along the way.
How Do You Get From Venice Airport To Hotel? Main Transport Choices
Most travelers fly into Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). From there, you reach your hotel by combining one or more of these services: airport bus, vaporetto water bus, Alilaguna water bus, private water taxi, land taxi, or a prebooked transfer. Hotels on the mainland or near the road terminal at Piazzale Roma are reachable by road, while hotels in the historic center and on the islands need a boat at some stage.
Before you pick a route, think about three things: your budget, how much luggage you carry, and where your hotel sits on the map. Your answers on those points lead you toward the best mix of speed, comfort, and cost.
| Option | Typical Time To Central Venice | Approx One-Way Cost |
|---|---|---|
| ACTV Line 5 Aerobus + Vaporetto | 20–25 min bus + 10–30 min boat | From €10 bus, from €9.50 vaporetto |
| ATVO Express Bus + Vaporetto | 15–20 min bus + 10–30 min boat | About €10 bus, from €9.50 vaporetto |
| Alilaguna Water Bus | 60–90 min | About €18 one way |
| Private Water Taxi | 25–40 min, often hotel pier to pier | Roughly €120–€150 per boat |
| Shared Boat Shuttle | 40–70 min, several stops | From €35–€40 per person |
| Land Taxi To Piazzale Roma | 20–25 min | About €40–€50 per car |
| Land Taxi Or Bus To Mestre Hotel | 15–25 min | About €10–€35 depending on service |
Getting From Venice Airport To Your Hotel: Step-By-Step Plan
To choose the right combination, start with your hotel address, then work backward toward the airport. That simple habit saves time and reduces the number of bridges you cross with bags.
Step 1: Work Out Where Your Hotel Sits
Hotels in Venice fall into a few main zones. Some sit in the historic center on islands such as San Marco, Cannaregio, or Dorsoduro. Others are on the Lido beach strip or nearby islands like Murano. Plenty of budget places sit in Mestre or Marghera on the mainland, and a smaller number stand right by the airport itself.
Open your hotel confirmation, copy the address into a map, and zoom out until you see whether the street touches a canal, a road, or both. If you see cars and a street grid, a bus or land taxi will likely get you close. If you see only canals and footpaths, plan for a water bus or water taxi.
Option 1: Bus To Piazzale Roma Then Vaporetto Or On Foot
For guests staying in the historic center, the classic route from Venice airport to hotel is bus first, boat or walking second. Two bus companies run direct services from Marco Polo to Piazzale Roma, the main road and bus terminal at the edge of the car-free zone: ACTV Line 5 and the ATVO express bus.
The official Venice Marco Polo Airport transport page lists both bus options, with stops just outside the arrivals hall. Buses run through most of the day, with frequent departures and space for luggage in the hold.
How To Do It, Step By Step
Here is a straightforward version of the bus plus vaporetto route.
- Buy your bus ticket inside the terminal or at the machine near the bus stops. Many visitors choose a combined bus plus vaporetto pass if they plan to ride boats through their stay.
- Walk outside following the signs for buses and stand at the correct stop for ACTV Line 5 or ATVO.
- Ride the bus to Piazzale Roma. The ride takes roughly 20 minutes and drops you beside the Grand Canal.
- From Piazzale Roma, follow signs to the vaporetto platforms and buy or validate your water bus ticket.
- Check which vaporetto line stops closest to your hotel, ride there, and follow the walking directions from your hotel confirmation.
For hotels close to Piazzale Roma or the nearby Santa Lucia train station, the bus may be enough. A short walk or a single bridge crossing can finish the trip.
Option 2: Alilaguna Water Bus Straight To The Lagoon
The Alilaguna water bus links Venice airport to main stops along the lagoon, including San Marco, Zattere, and the cruise terminal. It runs on fixed routes and fares are sold per person. This route skips the road terminal and drops you on the water near many hotels.
The official Alilaguna water bus site lists current routes and standard fares. At the airport, follow signs for water transport; ticket desks sit in arrivals and near the pier. The walk from the terminal to the Alilaguna pier takes around 7–10 minutes along a covered walkway.
Guests with hotels near San Marco, Rialto, or along the southern waterfront often like this option. You sit on the boat longer than on a bus, yet you avoid changing at Piazzale Roma.
Option 3: Private Water Taxi To Your Hotel Door
A private water taxi from Venice airport to hotel is the most direct route for many addresses in the historic center. The sleek wooden boats pick you up at the airport pier and, if your hotel has a private dock, drop you at the entrance. Even without a dock, you usually stop just a short walk away.
Prices run higher than any other mode, though the fare covers the whole boat, not each person. Groups who can split the cost often find that the per-person price approaches that of a shared shuttle, with less waiting and less walking.
Option 4: Land Taxi Or Car Transfer
If your hotel sits in Mestre, Marghera, or near the road side of Venice at Piazzale Roma, a land taxi or private car transfer from the airport is direct and simple. The ride follows the causeway from the mainland to Venice and bypasses the need to change to a boat.
How Do You Get From Venice Airport To Hotel With Kids Or Heavy Luggage?
Traveling with children, older relatives, or bulky luggage changes the way you think about distance in Venice. A ten-minute walk on the map can feel longer when you add stairs, narrow alleys, and crowds after a flight.
In these cases, many families choose Alilaguna or a private water taxi. Both options keep you seated with your bags stored on the boat and reduce the number of changes between vehicles. If the budget points you toward the bus option, try to book a hotel with straightforward walking directions from the vaporetto stop.
Time, Comfort And Budget: Choosing The Right Route
Every route from Venice airport to hotel trades cost against time and comfort. Rather than chasing a single cheapest or quickest answer, think about what matters most on this trip and pick the mix that fits.
If you want to spend as little as possible and feel fine rolling a suitcase over bridges, the bus plus vaporetto route works well. If you prefer a soft landing after the flight and do not mind a higher fare, Alilaguna or a shared boat brings you closer to your hotel with fewer changes. When comfort sits at the top of your list, a private water taxi gives you a direct ride and keeps stress low.
| Hotel Area | Main Route From Airport | Rough Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| San Marco | Alilaguna water bus to San Marco stop | 60–75 min |
| Rialto | Bus to Piazzale Roma + vaporetto Line 1 | 45–60 min |
| Cannaregio | Bus to Piazzale Roma + vaporetto Line 1 or 5.2 | 45–65 min |
| Dorsoduro | Bus to Piazzale Roma + vaporetto Lines 1 or 2 | 45–60 min |
| Lido | Alilaguna water bus to Lido stop | 70–90 min |
| Giudecca | Alilaguna to Zattere + short vaporetto hop | 70–90 min |
| Mestre | Land taxi or local bus from airport | 20–30 min |
Practical Tips For A Smooth Arrival At Venice Airport
A few small habits make the first hour in Venice easier. Have your hotel address written down, not just stored on your phone, in case your battery runs low. Keep a small coin purse or contactless card handy for ticket machines.
Check the time of your landing against the last bus, Alilaguna departure, or shared shuttle slot. Night arrivals still have options, yet you may find fewer departures and slightly higher prices. In that case a prebooked water taxi or car transfer can remove uncertainty.
What About Treviso Airport?
Some low-cost airlines use Treviso Airport, about 40 kilometers from Venice. If your ticket lists TSF instead of VCE, you still finish the last part of the trip in the same way; the only difference is the first leg into the city. From Treviso, dedicated buses run to Piazzale Roma and Mestre.
Final Thoughts On Getting From Venice Airport To Your Hotel
So, when someone asks “how do you get from venice airport to hotel?”, you start with your hotel location, look at your budget and luggage, then pick one of three main paths: bus plus vaporetto, Alilaguna or shared boat, or a private transfer by water or road.
Whichever route you choose, buying tickets from official desks or machines at the airport and leaving a little extra time for the first walk from the stop to your front door will help the trip from runway to room feel calm rather than rushed.