Getting Around Venice: Vaporetto, Water Taxi, or On Foot?

Venice doesn’t offer you the usual travel choices—no Ubers, no traffic jams (except maybe on the Grand Canal), and no car horns. Here, how you move is part of the experience. But the truth is, many visitors underestimate how different navigating Venice really is. Whether you’re arriving for the first time or returning for another taste of La Serenissima, here’s what you need to know—not just the basics, but what actually matters.

🚤 Vaporetto: Venice’s Floating Metro

Vaporetti are public water buses that zigzag through Venice’s canals and to the outlying islands like Murano, Burano, and Lido.
They’re not romantic—but they are efficient.

• Lines to know: Line 1 is slow but scenic (perfect for your first ride down the Grand Canal), Line 2 is quicker and skips some stops.

• Tickets: A single ride is expensive (€9.50), so get a 1-3 day ACTV pass if you’ll ride more than twice.

• Timing: They’re reliable but often crowded. Early mornings and late evenings are the best for space and views.

Local tip: Stand in the front (when allowed) for iconic photos—but keep an eye on the spray!

🛥️ Water Taxis: Glamorous, Fast, and Pricey

There’s no better way to arrive in Venice than by private water taxi. Gliding across the lagoon, city unfolding in front of you, it feels like a movie scene—and it often is (Hollywood loves them).

• Cost: Around €120–€150 from the airport to central Venice. Yes, it’s steep. But if you’re traveling with luggage, or just want the wow factor, it’s worth it.

• Shared options: Many companies now offer shared water taxis for ~€35–45 per person, a good middle ground.

When to use it: Arrival day, special occasions, or anytime you want a dramatic entrance.

🚶 Walking: The Only Way to Really See Venice

Venice is a city made for walking—and getting lost is part of the charm. No matter how good your map app is, you’ll turn a corner and find yourself in a different world. That’s not a bug. It’s a feature.

• Distances: Despite the maze-like layout, most places are 15–30 minutes apart by foot.

• Footwear: Leave the heels at home. Cobblestones + bridges = regret.

• Bridges: There are over 400 of them. You will cross several. Take your time—many have stunning views most tourists miss.

Photographer’s tip: Early morning and blue hour are magical. Venice empties out and the reflections on the canals are pure poetry.

✨ Want More Than Just a Walk?

If you’d like to turn a simple stroll into something deeper—seeing beyond the postcard—consider joining me on a private photo walk. Whether you carry a camera or just your phone, we’ll explore hidden corners, observe the rhythm of daily life, and capture Venice in a way most never notice.

👉 Explore my Venice walks and tours

20 Things to do in Venice 11/20 – Take a tour of the Grand Canal

Take a tour of the Grand Canal

A wonderful way to take in the Grand Canal is on board a vaporetto (a rounded 230-passenger boat). I have talked before about them here and here .The canal may no longer be teeming with merchandise-laden cargo boats, but it is still the main thoroughfare of Venice, and only a little imagination is needed to understand its historical importance. The three and a half kilometre (two-mile) trip from the railway station to San Marco provides a superb introduction to the city, telling you more about the way Venice works – and has always worked – than any historical tome.

Every family of note had to have a palazzo here, and this was not just for reasons of social snobbery. The palazzi are undeniably splendid but they were first and foremost solid commercial enterprises, and their designs are as practical as they are eye-catching.

Vaporetto tickets can be purchased at most stops, at tabacchi (tobacconists, identified by a white T on a black or blue background) and at Hellovenezia offices On board, you can only buy single tickets. The fare for a shuttle journey (ie one stop across the Grand Canal, the hop across to the Giudecca, or from Sant’Elena to the Lido) is €2.

Venice Vaporetto Map

I have been asked few times the best place to find a Waterbus - Vaporetto map, I have blogged before here about the vaporetti, prices and new numbers but here is a map, if you click you will get an PDF Hi Res map and info taken from ACTV! Or you can buy a printable Tourist Version from our friend Nan of Living Venice here

SEASONAL LINES Seasonal lines are largely dedicated to tourists and are activated on particular occasions, such as during the Venice Carnival or in the spring and summer to facilitate the mobility of large numbers of visitors. These seasonal lines provide rapid, direct backup to the city centre lines down the Canal Grande and Giudecca Canal. Line 5 on the other hand directly links the island of Murano with Piazza San Marco and the city centre of Venice, taking an external route.

CITY CENTER LINES These are the lines which crisscross the "heart" of the city, exploiting the two largest inner canals, the Canal Grande, probably the world's most famous canal, and ....the Giudecca Canal, large and deep enough to allow even the arrival of cruise ships. The city centre lines connect a number of access points such as Tronchetto, Piazzale Roma and the railway station with the Venice of shops, monuments and museums, passing through the San Marco Basin as far as Lido di Venezia, famous for the beauty of its beaches and its nature reserves.

CIRCULAR LINES These lines with a roughly circular route connect the perimeter of the city touching points of great cultural and commercial interest throughout the area. With the circular lines, you can easily reach the islands of Lido and Murano (famous for its glass products), passing through or starting from the railway station, Piazzale Roma and near Piazza San Marco. With the circular, you can also get off and reach Venice City Hospital after a short walk along a route free from architectural barriers.

LAGOON LINES These lines connect Venice with the most important islands in the lagoon, both in the north lagoon (Mazzorbo, Burano, Torcello, Sant’Erasmo) and the south lagoon. The lagoon lines also link transport nodes on the mainland and in Venice province with the city centre. You can in fact reach Venice directly from Punta Sabbioni, Treporti and Chioggia. The lagoon lines also include the ferry-boat line no. 17 connecting Lido di Venezia and the Tronchetto terminal and the bus line no. 11 linking Lido di Venezia with the island of Pellestrina. The San Lazzaro - Lido Casinò section of line no. 20 is seasonal, to verify availability contact the Hellovenezia Call Center (+39)-041-2424.

TERMINAL LINES The terminal lines are a group of rapid lines with few stops which rapidly connect Venice with the mainland terminals managed by companies in the ACTV group. They consist largely of the Alilaguna group of lines and the line 16.