If you want to visit Venice, I recommend you take the ACTV river bus service.
The waterbus in Venice is the most popular means of transporting locals and tourists from point A to point B.
In Venice, there are no roads, so boat-buses replace city buses.
Today, I'm going to tell you all about this type of transport.
ACTV bus in Venice: article summary
Learn more about ACTV river buses in Venice
Some vaporetto go in both directions. Other lines float in a sort of circle. As a tourist, you need to be careful not to take the wrong route. Some water buses run in both directions and use the same number.
The Venetian waterbus operator is ACTV. Airport water buses are operated by another company (Alilaguna). You need additional tickets to and from Marco Polo airport with the Alilaguna boat.
A busier summer
In summer, the water buses are packed to the rafters. They go back and forth along the Grand Canal. In summer, Venice is busy with holidaymakers. You often have to wait a long time before boarding a vaporetto. You can also sit outside or stand on the waterbus in Venice.
Fortunately, outside the summer vacations, it's not too crowded. In winter, it's pleasant to sit inside the boat-bus.
There are no toilets on a vaporetto. Smaller boat-buses have about 50 seats. The size of Venice's water buses is comparable to that of an ordinary bus, but there are more places to stand.
How much do water buses cost in Venice?
A regular Vaporetto ticket for 75 minutes costs €9.50 in the on-site vending machine.
I recommend buying a day ticket if you're staying two days or more in Venice. It's much cheaper.
Daily tickets are valid for the Venice water buses and for those of the Lido Islandsof Murano and Burano. In addition, the day pass gives free access to ACTV buses in Mestre and Marghera.
Note: The day pass does not include ACTV services to/from Marco Polo airport, routes 16, 19, 21, the Casino and the Alilaguna boat.
Day or multi-day tickets may seem expensive at first glance. For tourists, a 2 or 3-day ticket is advisable, because one-way tickets are expensive.
How do I pay for water buses in Venice?
The waterbus in Venice is very accessible. There are ticket machines and counters at the main vaporetto stops. But you can also buy tickets at Mestre station and at Venezia Santa Luciathe bus station, the parking lots of Piazzale Roma and Venice airport.
What time is the ACTV bus service in Venice?
It's not uncommon for water buses to be crowded at peak times in summer. You'll often only find standing room on longer trips to the islands. It's best to sail to the islands before 10:30 a.m. and return after 5 p.m.
The main lines operate from 5 a.m. to midnight. Night routes run from 11:30 pm to 5 am on the Grand Canal between Piazzale Roma and the Lido.
Take the river bus ACTV in Venice and an experience I recommend you make during your stay in the city. You'll discover a simple means of transport that will take you to the four corners of Venice. If you don't want to pay too much, I suggest you opt for a pass. These not only give you access to certain museums, but also offer you unlimited transportation in the various means of getting around Venice. Don't hesitate to book yours online before you leave. discover the old floating city.
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