From Marco Polo (VCE)

TLDR

For most travellers the Alilaguna Blue Line is the answer. Around 15 euros, 1 hour 15 minutes to San Marco, every 30 minutes from the dock outside Terminal arrivals. Book a water taxi (120 to 160 euros) if you are four adults with heavy luggage staying in San Polo or the Grand Canal. Take the ATVO bus (about 8 euros) only if you are happy to switch to a vaporetto at Piazzale Roma.

The four real options

Marco Polo sits on the edge of the lagoon, about 13km north of the historic centre. You can travel in by water (Alilaguna or private water taxi) or by land to Piazzale Roma (ATVO or ACTV bus, then vaporetto or walk). All four options work. Which one suits you depends on sestiere, luggage and arrival time.

Option	Price	Time to San Marco	Frequency	Best for
Alilaguna Blue Line	~15 euros	1h 15m	Every 30 min	Solo or couples, any sestiere on the south bank
Alilaguna Orange Line	~15 euros	1h (to Rialto)	Every 30 min	San Polo, Santa Croce, north Dorsoduro
Water taxi	120 to 160 euros flat	30 to 40 min	On demand	4 adults with luggage, late flights, palazzo hotels
ATVO or ACTV bus	~8 to 10 euros	~1h 20m total	Every 20 to 30 min	Piazzale Roma hotels, Santa Croce, budget travellers
Private transfer shuttle	25 to 35 euros pp	45 to 60 min	Pre-booked	Small groups who want door-to-dock without hassle

Alilaguna in detail

Alilaguna runs three routes from Marco Polo under the banner of the city council’s transport system, and you can check live timetables and routes on veneziaunica.it. Tickets are around 15 euros one way or 27 euros return, including one large case and one piece of hand luggage.

• Blue Line (Linea Blu). Marco Polo to Murano, Fondamente Nove, Lido, Arsenale, San Zaccaria (for San Marco), Zattere, Giudecca, Stucky. Slowest, widest coverage. Best default.
• Orange Line (Linea Arancio). Marco Polo to Madonna dell’Orto, Guglie, San Stae, Rialto, Sant’Angelo, Ca’ Rezzonico, Giglio, San Marco. Faster to Rialto and San Polo hotels.
• Red Line (Linea Rossa). Seasonal, runs April to October, goes to Murano and Lido. Only relevant if you are starting at the Lido.

What it actually feels like: a covered wooden boat that seats about 60, with a luggage rack at the stern. Expect to stand for the first 20 minutes if you land at peak hours (10:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 18:00). The 07:30 boats are usually calm. After 22:00 the boats are almost empty.

Water taxi: when it is worth 150 euros

A private water taxi takes 1 to 4 passengers (up to 8 for a bigger boat) straight from the airport dock to the nearest canal dropoff for your hotel. Expect 120 to 160 euros one way, depending on destination. The boat is a polished mahogany motor launch that seats you in a cabin. It takes 30 to 40 minutes direct. For a family of four with a suitcase each, the per-person cost lands near the Alilaguna fare, and you skip the wheeling through calli. For two adults with hand luggage, it is a luxury splash.

Pre-book online rather than negotiating at the dock. Ask the hotel to arrange it if they have a relationship with an operator. If you pre-book a water taxi for a 06:00 arrival, you skip the 35-minute wait for the first Alilaguna.

ATVO and ACTV bus to Piazzale Roma

ATVO runs an express coach from Marco Polo arrivals to Piazzale Roma. Around 10 euros one way, 20 minutes, every 20 to 30 minutes. ACTV bus 5 is the municipal service: around 8 euros, takes a little longer because it stops along the way. Both drop you at Piazzale Roma, which is the mainland edge of the historic centre and the terminus for every water bus.

Good choice if you are staying in Santa Croce (most hotels are 5 to 10 minutes walk from Piazzale Roma) or near the train station. Poor choice if you are booked in San Marco or Castello, because you will then need to buy a vaporetto ticket and spend 30 to 40 more minutes on the boat.

Which option fits your sestiere

Where you are staying	Best first option	Backup
San Marco	Alilaguna Blue to San Zaccaria	Water taxi for late flights
Castello	Alilaguna Blue to Arsenale	Water taxi for deep Castello addresses
Cannaregio	Alilaguna Orange to Guglie or Madonna dell’Orto	ATVO + 10 min walk
San Polo	Alilaguna Orange to Rialto or San Stae	Water taxi
Santa Croce	ATVO bus to Piazzale Roma	Alilaguna Orange to San Stae
Dorsoduro	Alilaguna Blue to Zattere or Ca’ Rezzonico	Orange to Accademia area
Giudecca	Alilaguna Blue direct	Water taxi
Lido	Alilaguna Blue direct	Alilaguna Red in season

Timing and luggage reality

Whatever you pick, the last leg is almost always on foot. If your hotel is in a deep calle three bridges from the nearest vaporetto, budget 10 to 20 extra minutes for wheeling a case up and down step bridges. A soft-sided duffel bag is more forgiving than a hard rigid case. If you arrive after 23:00 and your hotel is more than 15 minutes from a vaporetto stop, a water taxi is worth the money.

What to do before you leave home

Screenshot the walking directions from the nearest Alilaguna stop to your hotel. Save the offline Google map of the area. Take the hotel’s phone number on paper. Venice mobile data is fine in 2026, but you want a Plan B for the first night. If you are arriving at 02:00, email the hotel to confirm night reception or a key box.

Next step

Once you know how you will get in, read our vaporetto vs water taxi guide for the rest of the trip. Most stays need nothing more than one 48-hour vaporetto pass plus two of the best pairs of shoes you own.

Common questions

How much is a water taxi from Venice airport to San Marco?

Budget 120 to 160 euros one way for a private boat seating up to four passengers with luggage. Night surcharges may apply after 22:00. Pre-book through your hotel or a licensed operator rather than negotiating at the dock.

Does the Alilaguna run at night?

First boats from Marco Polo are around 06:15, last around 00:30. Outside those hours you need a water taxi or an ATVO bus to Piazzale Roma followed by a night bus or taxi if your hotel is on the mainland.

Is the Alilaguna or the ATVO bus faster to Venice?

ATVO is faster to Piazzale Roma, but the Alilaguna drops you closer to most historic-centre hotels without a transfer. Door-to-door, Alilaguna usually wins unless your hotel is right at Piazzale Roma or on the station side of the Grand Canal.

Can I buy an Alilaguna ticket on board?

Yes, but the airport kiosk is faster at busy times and accepts cards. Keep the ticket, you may be asked to show it when boarding on intermediate stops. Combined Alilaguna plus vaporetto passes are available through the Venezia Unica portal.

Is there Uber in Venice?

No. The car is only the first leg. From Piazzale Roma onwards, everything is boat or foot. Treviso airport (TSF) is the budget-airline gateway about 40km north and always needs a bus transfer.

What about arriving at Treviso airport instead?

ATVO runs an express coach from Treviso (TSF) to Piazzale Roma, around 12 to 15 euros and 70 minutes. There is no water transfer option from Treviso. It is fine for budget flights but Marco Polo is much more convenient for Venice proper.