To get around Venice, it's important to know the Vaporetto timetable.
This little boat is based on the city's original steam-powered boat system.
Today, these famously punctual ships are diesel-powered, and are wide and flat to ensure the best views from their bow.
Vaporetto timetable in Venice: article summary
What are the timetables for the Venice Vaporetto?
The main lines operate from 5 a.m. to midnight, and three night lines operate from 11:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the Grand Canal between Piazzale Roma and the Lido.
Expect limited service during periods of "acqua alta" (high tide).
Vaporetto tickets and rates
Visit vaporetto tickets are available at a single price, regardless of the length of the journey. If you want to save money, flexible travel packages are highly recommended.
A 75-minute ticket costs 7.50 euros. It entitles you to an unlimited number of journeys during this period, from the time of validation. If you plan to use the vaporetti, it's a good idea to buy a 1-day (20 euros), 2-day (30 euros) or 3-day (40 euros) pass.
Weekly passes cost 60 euros each. These economical tickets offer flexibility and ease of use.
The children of under six years of age travel free of charge.
How to buy your tickets
You can buy tickets online or at the ticket offices in Piazzale Roma, Ferrovia, Rialto and San Marco. You can also buy them at tobacconists or wherever the ACTV logo is displayed.
Some basic information about Vaporetti
Quiet Route 1 on the Grand Canal is the main road, running from one end of the iconic waterway to the other, with its parade of historic palaces.
The line stops in the six districts (sestiere) before exiting at the Lido.
No. 2 runs in a loop on the Grand Canal, connecting the Tronchetto at Santa Lucia station, Piazzale Romathe Lido and Guidecca.
Route N is the night boat, which follows the route of No. 2, but skips the Giardini stop.
Routes 4.1 and 4.2 describe a circle around the outside of Venice (Giracitta), stopping at the railway station, Piazzale Roma, Guidecca, then at Murano.
Routes 5.1 and 5.2 are just like the other Giracittas, except that they go to Lido instead of Murano.
Route 12 takes you on the Murano and Burano from Fondamente Nuove.
Separate tickets must be purchased to and from Marco Polo airport (line Alilaguna), from Chioggia à San Zaccaria (no. 19) and Le Zattere to Fusina (no. 16). For more information on bus routes, timetables and an interactive map, visit ACTV website.
What are your other transport options?
Walking is by far the best way to discover Venice's evocative alleys and lanes. However, there are other ways to get around this waterlogged municipality.
Water cab
If you have a little money to spend, the fastest way to get from A to B is by water cab. There are more than a dozen cab ranks scattered around, including one at the airport and another at the Lido.
Traghettos
Less reliable than vaporetti but still affordable, the traghettos allow passengers tocome and go quickly on the Grand Canal.
The Gondolas
On the list of things to do in Venice, everyone should have a ride in the gondola romantic, driven by a gondolier in its traditional black-and-white striped shirt. You'll pay around 80 euros for a 30-40 minute ride (100 euros after 7 p.m.).
Note that you can share the cost by sharing a boat with other passengers. Although most gondoliers speak a little English, don't expect them to be super chatty, as they'll need to focus their attention on maneuvering their flat-bottomed boats through the narrowest of passages.
While Venice's Vaporetto timetables are strict, they give you access to a reliable transport system that travels the length and breadth of Venice. What you need discover the city quickly.
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