Beyond the Classics
Vaporetto – Venice's Waterbus System
How to use public water transport
Venice has no road network, so public transport is provided by water buses called vaporetti.
The system is operated by ACTV and consists of around twenty numbered, color-coded routes that run mainly along Venice's outer waterways and the Grand Canal.
These water bus lines connect key areas across the city, including Venice Train Station and St. Mark's Square.
Stops are floating platforms located along the waterfront. Many major stations include ticket gates or turnstiles, especially in busy areas.
Vaporetto line 2 approaching the floating Accademia stop
When to take the vaporetto
While Venice is highly walkable and most of it can be explored without ever boarding a boat, you will need the vaporetto to reach the islands of the Venetian Lagoon, including Murano and Burano, as well as San Giorgio Maggiore and Giudecca.
The vaporetto is also worth considering if you want to move quickly between distant parts of the city or are traveling with children who will appreciate a break on the water. It is also useful if you have limited mobility or prefer to avoid Venice's many bridges and steps.
In many cases, the vaporetto is also the most convenient way to cross the Grand Canal, especially in stretches without nearby bridges or traghetto crossings.
Even if you don't rely on the vaporetto for transportation, a ride along the Grand Canal is an attraction in itself, especially magical after sunset.
Vaporetto line 1 passing under Rialto Bridge
Main vaporetto routes
These water bus lines are the most important for getting around Venice as a visitor:
- Line 1 runs along the Grand Canal and is the main route through the city, taking around 45 minutes from the train station to St. Mark's Square.
- Lines 4 and 5 travel around the perimeter of Venice with 4.1 & 5.1 running counterclockwise and 4.2 & 5.2 running clockwise.
- To Murano: 3, 4 and 7 (seasonal).
- To Burano: 12 and continue on 9 for Torcello.
- To Venice Lido: 1, 5, 6 and 14.
Vaporetto timetables
ACTV does not provide a single unified timetable for all vaporetto routes. Instead, each line has its own schedule, which you can check individually depending on your journey.
For planning your journey, Google Maps is a useful starting point.
For more detailed navigation, you can also use Chebateo, a dedicated app for Venice's water transport system based on ACTV open data.
Vaporetto tickets
A single ticket costs €9.50 and is valid for 75 minutes from the moment it is validated, including transfers across the entire vaporetto network.
Single-day and multi-day passes
These travel passes offer cost-effective unlimited travel for one or more days.
They are valid across the ACTV network, including vaporettos in Venice and buses and trams serving the mainland areas of Mestre and Marghera.
Validity begins from the moment of first use and lasts for the specified time interval.
For example, if you start using a 1-day pass at 11:00, it will remain valid until 10:59 the following day.
- 1-day pass: €25
- 2-day pass: €35
- 3-day pass: €45
- 7-day pass: €65
Note that these passes are transport-only. For sightseeing city passes covering attractions, see our dedicated guide comparing the available official tourist passes.
Purchase tickets on the go
You can use your bank card or mobile device to buy tickets with the tap-to-pay (EMV) system.
Simply hold your card or device near the validator for a few seconds until you hear a beep and the screen turns green.
You can pay for up to five passengers with the same card or device, but each person must be tapped in within 60 seconds of the previous one.
For buses and trams, tapping out is mandatory when you get off, but this does not apply to vaporettos.
Purchase tickets online
You can conveniently buy ACTV tickets and passes online before your trip.
Online purchases must be exchanged at a ticket machine before use.
The process is straightforward: simply scan the QR code you received when booking online, and the machine will immediately issue your physical ACTV pass or ticket.
Good to know
- Children under 6 travel for free.
- The boats do not navigate Venice's smaller inner canals. They operate along the Grand Canal, the perimeter of the city, and routes connecting the islands.
- Up to 3 pieces of baggage are included free of charge, provided one piece's combined length, width, and height does not exceed 150 cm (60 inches) and the other two do not exceed 120 cm (47 inches). Extra luggage incurs an additional charge of one ticket per piece.
View complete baggage policies - All tickets must be validated before boarding. Hold the ticket close to the stop's card reader until you see a green light and hear a beep.
- All tickets also provide access to the road bus network and trams traveling to and from Mestre and Marghera.
- Alilaguna lines to the airport (A,B and R) are not part of the water bus network and require different tickets.
View airport transfers
Your questions, answered
Below, you'll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the vaporetto.
What should I do if there's no working validator when I board?
If you have a regular paper ticket, manually write the date and time of boarding on the ticket. If you're using a day pass, no action is needed. Tap-to-pay won't be available in this case, so you'll need to rely on a previously validated ticket or a valid day pass.
Does tap-to-pay automatically calculate the best fare?
Yes. Since April 2025, the system will automatically calculate the best fare, charging you the most advantageous ticket or day pass based on the rides you take. For now, only one passenger per card or device is supported, although support for up to five passengers with regular tap-to-go is expected soon. Charges may appear on your card a couple of days later, or you may see a temporary authorization first.
Do the water buses stop running at night?
Yes, most lines stop at night, but there are a few nocturnal options. The "N" (Notturno) line runs all night along a route similar to Line 1, every 30 minutes. Additionally, the NMU line (Fondamente Nove - Murano) runs hourly, and the NLN line (Fondamente Nove - Burano - Punta Sabbioni) runs on a sparser schedule.
Q: Can I use my vaporetto day pass to get to the airport?
A: No. The Alilaguna boats to Marco Polo Airport are operated by a private company, so your ACTV vaporetto day pass doesn't cover them. If you want to use your pass partially, take Line 5 "AeroBus" (a land bus) and pay an additional airport surcharge of €7.
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