Venice’s Vaporetto Ferries: prices, routes, and guidebook for using them

Gondolas may be the quintessential symbol of Venice, but they are also expensive. Fortunately, there is a way to see the floating city from the water without paying a fortune, simply by hopping on a vaporetto.

In this post you will learn how to get around Venice by vaporetto, the routes to take into account, how you can save with the transport card and the transport pass and several tips with useful information that will surely help you on your trip.

A good choice

Venice Transport Card

Travel along the canals with the vaporetto or get around Venice by bus and save with this transport ticket

The most convenient and flexible way to get around the city of Venice is to buy a transport card that allows you to travel by vaporetto or bus and includes airport bus.

From $17 at Hellotickets

Using the vaporetto for your travels in the city of Venice is highly recommended, as it has a real network of practical boats that take you from one point to another in a very comfortable way. If you also get this transport pass it will be even easier.

With the Venice transport card you can make unlimited use of the vaporetto with a single ticket valid for 24, 48, 72 hours or even up to 7 days. In addition, you can also use the buses including the airport bus. However, it does not include train transportation.

Recommended if... You are stressed by the transfers in the cities you visit, even more considering the peculiarity of Venice. Moreover, by booking in advance you will forget about having to look for a way to get to your accommodation, as you can also include the airport shuttle bus.

The most complete option

Venice Transports Pass

Unlimited use of public transport in Venice

An economical and comfortable way to move around the city of canals by vaporetto, bus, water bus and even train if you check this additional option.

From $13 at Hellotickets

With the Venice Transport Pass you will be able to move around the city without any complications as you will have at your fingertips all means of public transport, from vaporettis, water buses, land buses and trains. However, it does not include the bus to or from the airport.

To do so, you only have to choose the duration of the ticket: 75 minutes, 1, 2, 3 or 7 full days. Get ready to navigate the canals while taking the best pictures.

Recommended if... You want unlimited use of public transportation and plan your trip efficiently, but you already have transportation to and from the airport covered.

Although cheaper than a gondola, public transportation in Venice is quite expensive compared to that of many other major cities. A single vaporetto ticket costs about 7 euros and is valid for 75 minutes. However, children under the age of six travel free and people with reduced mobility have discounts.

However, if you are going to use the vaporetto for the whole day to get around the city, a day pass is worth it. Also, when you book your Venice public transport card you can add the transfer to and from the airport to the city center.

If you are in Venice for two or three days, buy the card valid for 24 or 48 hours and you will save much more than with single tickets, as it is very common to use the vaporetto. With your pass you can also save if you are in the city for seven days.

The best way to buy vaporetto tickets is to buy your transport card online in advance. You will forget about having to calculate the trips once you are there. On the Hellotickets website you can book the Venice transport pass. Remember: you have many options, choose the one that best suits your trip.

If you prefer to do it "on the spot", tickets are also available for purchase in many of the main areas of Venice, not only at the water bus stops. Look for places displaying the Actv logo including kiosks and supermarkets.

However, be aware that some small shops only accept cash, so make sure you have some coins. You can also buy vaporetto tickets at tourist offices (such as those in Piazzale Roma), online or even through the official AVM Venezia app.

You are in the city of canals! This means you only have two ways to get around Venice: on foot or by boat. Of course, as much as you might like the idea of walking, constantly moving from island to island is something that will exhaust you, especially if you are determined to explore the more remote corners of Venice.

Moreover, if you want to reach the splendid San Giorgio Maggiore or other islands of Venice , you will have no choice but to use the vaporetto services. And, for this, the most cost-effective way is to book the Venice Transport Card.

The vaporetto is the basis of the city' s water bus network. The word itself means "small steamer", although nowadays vaporetti are not steam-powered, but diesel-powered. You'll see them all over the city, cruising the Grand Canal, traveling from island to island and stopping at a few points to allow passengers to hop on and off.

Before you book your Venice transport pass and start touring the city it is important to be clear about the different routes:

• Vaporetto lines 1 and 2 are very touristy, as they stop along the Grand Canal. However, they are very busy during the tourist season. Vaporetto line 1 stops at almost every stop along its route, while line 2 is more of an express. Both terminate at the Lido and both pass under the Rialto Bridge, one of Venice's most important bridges.

• Lines 4.1 and 4.2 cover the same terrain as the other lines, but counterclockwise and clockwise, respectively. They are ideal for touring the main islands of Venice including the interesting island of Murano.

• Lines 5.1 and 5.2 are similar to 4.1 and 4.2 with the exception that the former do not go to Murano. It should also be said that lines (5) are faster than (4). In fact, the latter are perfect for a tour of Venice by vaporetto, since, in addition, they usually accommodate fewer tourists than line 1.

• Line 7 runs directly from S. Marco S. Zaccaria to the north of Murano. However, it only operates during the tourist season.

• Line 10 is a short ride between the Lido, St Marks and Zattere.

• Lines 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20 and 22 are all local vaporetti used between the area east of the lagoon and northeast of the city and are therefore more for residents than tourists.

These two lines run along the Grand Canal on a 4-kilometer route, and are the lines you will use the most and that tourists use the most if you book the Venice Transport Card.

Waterbus line 1 stops about 15 times and the travel time on the Grand Canal is about 45 minutes. Line 2 is a kind of direct line, it only stops about 7 times on the same route. Travel time is only 30 minutes. If you want to enjoy the ride take line 1 and if you want to get ahead quickly, take the vaporetto line 2.

A vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal is one of the tourist highlights of Venice. The most important stops on these two lines are Ferrovia (the train station) and Piazzale Roma (bus area, streetcars, parking lots). These lines also stop at places of great interest, such as the famous Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square. In addition, vaporetto lines 1 and 2 have the advantage of being very frequent, every few minutes.

To avoid confusion on your vaporetto routes, review these tips before boarding:

• Vaporetto routes can go both ways except for the lines that carry a dot, e.g. 4.1 and 4.2, as they are specific. Therefore, I recommend you look at the final destination shown on the vaporetto or, if in doubt, ask before boarding.
• Carry your backpack in your arms on the vaporetto, never on your back. The locals hate this and even have signs telling people how to do it.
• Watch out for rush hour, especially in the summer. Sometimes, especially in the busy tourist season, the vaporetti are full and crowded. Be especially careful if you have a specific train to catch, be calculating.
• At night in Venice, all routes change, with fewer routes than in the morning. Not all stops are included in the night vaporetto routes, so be sure to choose the right stops after 11pm.
• The N night vaporetto service starts around 11pm and runs until around 5:30am.
• You can tell if your vaporetto will stop at a pier or not by checking the map. If the route line passes over the stop, the vaporetto will not stop there.
• It's a good idea to book your Venice transport pass in advance to make the most of your stay, especially if you're only going for a few days.

The water bus system covers numerous routes with a fixed schedule. Most lines start running at 5 a.m. and end at 11 p.m., with an average frequency of about 20 minutes between each trip.

Here are some other recommendations and practical tips for using the public boats in Venice:

• Single tickets are valid for an hour and a quarter trip and cost around 15 € with the airbus transfer included. If you are in Venice for one day or you are in Venice for two days, buy the 24 or 48 hour card, it will be more cost effective.
• Remember that regardless of when you buy the Venice transportation card, the tickets only start to work once they are validated, so you only have to validate the long term tickets when it is convenient for you, otherwise you will be losing money.
• It is very important that you validate your vaporetto tickets before boarding, otherwise you will be committing fraud. To validate your tickets just wave them near one of the small validation machines.
• Not all vaporetto stops have ticket booths, but they all have validation machines.
• Another detail to note is that you will not be asked to show your ticket every time you board a vaporetto, unless there is an inspector on board.

While tourists are always welcome, Venetians would be much happier if everyone respected their city (hence the tourism campaign, #EnjoyRespectVenezia). While the city may seem like a paradise on earth, its residents generally live a normal, routine life.

Before you book your Venice transport pass and take a vaporetto, keep in mind most of the recommendations or rules you'll see on the vaporettos are the same ones you might see on other local modes of transportation. Among the rules are: Don't push, remove backpacks, be mindful of other people, don't get in the way of the vaporetto and, above all, be courteous and appreciative.

My personal recommendation is not to lean too far over the railing while trying to take that perfect photo as falling into the canals is not a great way to start your Venice vacation.