Vaporetto Venice 2026: All 23 Lines, Tickets, Timetables and Insider Tips
In brief: The vaporetto (plural: vaporetti) are Venice’s public water buses — operated by ACTV and complemented by land buses on the Lido and the mainland. 23 lines connect all sestieri, the lagoon islands (Murano, Burano, Torcello, Lido, Giudecca) and the Adriatic seaside resorts (Punta Sabbioni, Treporti). A single ride costs €9.50, a 24-hour pass €25 — if you plan more than two rides per day, the pass works out cheaper. This overview shows all lines, their routes, live timetable data and the tips that really help us on the ground.
Without the vaporetto, Venice is a walking city — which works surprisingly well for the main island, but becomes difficult as soon as the lagoon islands, the Lido or the eastern sestieri (Castello, Sant’Elena) come into play. The vaporetti are not a tourist attraction but Venice’s public transport: 23 regular lines plus night lines, running year-round, with intervals of 10 to 30 minutes depending on route and time of day.
We use them on every research trip and know the timetable quirks of the individual lines. Each line detail page shows the real stops with real journey times.
Which vaporetto line goes where?
Instead of juggling route maps, here are the lines grouped by what visitors actually need — city centre, island trips, the Lido and night services.
Main lines on the Grand Canal (relevant for most travellers)
| Line | Route | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P.le Roma → Lido (along the entire Grand Canal) | approx. 60 min | First-time visitors, St Mark’s Square, Rialto, Accademia, Salute |
| 2 / 2/ | Express: P.le Roma → Rialto (fast station link) and St Mark’s loop | approx. 22 min | Fast route without all the stops |
| 3 | Piazzale Roma shuttle | 2–3 min | Changing piers at P.le Roma |
Tip: book your water-bus ticket before you travel — at the same price
Securing the ACTV ticket in advance makes for a more relaxed trip: identical official price, booked at your leisure and with a guaranteed place. You immediately receive a voucher with a barcode that is exchanged for your real ticket at the ACTV machine in seconds — faster than the queue at the staffed counter. Booking ahead pays off especially in high season.
Island days — Murano, Burano, Torcello, Sant’Erasmo, Punta Sabbioni
| Line | Route | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 / 4.2 | P.le Roma ↔ Murano (ring around the main island) | approx. 45 min | Murano day trip without Burano |
| 7Seasonal | San Marco-San Zaccaria → Murano (express, no intermediate stops) | approx. 30 min | Fast link St Mark’s → Murano, summer only |
| 9 | Burano ↔ Torcello (shuttle) | approx. 5 min | Connecting the two lagoon highlights |
| 12 | F.te Nove → Murano → Burano → Torcello → Punta Sabbioni | approx. 90 min | Complete island tour, longest route |
| 13 | F.te Nove → Murano → Vignole → Sant’Erasmo → Treporti | approx. 50 min | Northern-lagoon insiders, small islands and Sant’Erasmo |
| 14 | San Marco-San Zaccaria → Punta Sabbioni → Burano | approx. 75 min | Burano from San Marco without changing at Murano |
| 15 | San Marco-San Zaccaria → Punta Sabbioni | approx. 35 min | Adriatic beach resorts from San Marco |
| 18 | Murano (Faro) → Sant’Erasmo → Treporti | approx. 30 min | Direct link to the garden island of Sant’Erasmo |
| 22Seasonal | Punta Sabbioni → Burano → Treporti (direct) | approx. 30 min | Summer direct link without the Murano detour |
Lido and mainland connections
| Line | Route | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 / 5.2 | Lido ↔ F.te Nove (ring around Castello) | approx. 45 min | Lido visitors, beach day, the film festival |
| 6 | P.le Roma → Lido (direct, not via the Grand Canal) | approx. 25 min | Fastest way P.le Roma ↔ Lido |
| 8Seasonal | San Zaccaria → Giudecca (Zitelle) → Lido S. Maria Elisabetta | approx. 25 min | Summer direct link San Marco ↔ Lido (April–October) |
| 10 | Lido S.M.E. → Zattere | approx. 20 min | Direct link Lido ↔ Dorsoduro |
| 11 | Lido S.M.E. → Alberoni → Pellestrina → Chioggia (combined with bus) | approx. 75 min | Pellestrina/Chioggia insiders, the southern lagoon |
| 16 | Fusina (mainland car park) ↔ Zattere | approx. 25 min | Arriving by car via the Fusina terminal, park-and-ride alternative to Tronchetto |
| 17 | Tronchetto ↔ Lido S. Nicolò (car ferry) | approx. 35 min | Taking a car to the Lido, the only vaporetto line for cars |
Special and night lines
| Line | Route | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | San Zaccaria → San Servolo → San Lazzaro degli Armeni | San Servolo (conference/university site), the Armenian island |
| N | Night line: Lido → San Marco → Grand Canal → P.le Roma → Tronchetto → Giudecca → Lido | Main night line 23:30–04:30, every 60 min |
| NLN | Northern lagoon night line: F.te Nove → Murano → Burano → Treporti → Punta Sabbioni | Late return from Burano/Punta Sabbioni |
| NMU | Murano night ring: F.te Nove ↔ Murano | Overnight guests on Murano, short night shuttle |
Vaporetto tickets: which pass suits your trip?
Rule of thumb: from three rides on the same day, the 24-hour pass is cheaper than single tickets. If you stay several days and visit the islands, the 48-hour, 72-hour or 7-day pass is considerably better value. Tickets are sold at the ACTV machines on site — or online in advance as a voucher at the same official fare, exchanged for the real ACTV ticket at the machine in a few seconds.
Book your vaporetto pass right here — at the official ACTV fare
Identical original fare, no surcharge — booked in advance at your leisure, place guaranteed, and exchanged for the real ACTV ticket at the machine in seconds via barcode scan (no queue at the counter).
Our interactive calculator shows you exactly which pass is cheapest for you, based on the length of your stay and your planned rides:
Which vaporetto ticket pays off?
For 3 days in Venice with 4 vaporetto rides per day.
Recommendation
1 × 72 h
45.00 €
You save 69.00 € compared with single rides.
| Option | Total cost |
|---|---|
| 12 single rides | 114.00 € |
| 3 × 24-hour pass | 75.00 € |
| 1 × 48 h + 1 × 24 h | 60.00 € |
| 1 × 72 h | 45.00 € |
Official ACTV fares as of spring 2026 — short-notice changes by ACTV possible.
Where to buy — and where not
- Online in advance as a voucher — multi-day passes by email with a booking code at the official ACTV fare (no surcharge), booked at your leisure and with a guaranteed place. Before your first ride, exchange it for the real ACTV ticket at the machine via barcode scan — self-service, no queueing at the staffed counter. → Book your vaporetto pass online.
- Official ACTV machines at every larger stop (Ferrovia, P.le Roma, Rialto, San Marco, Lido) — official fare, card and cash, multilingual. Convenient if you are at the pier anyway; in high season, however, expect 15–30 minutes of queueing. To avoid that, secure your pass online in advance (see above).
- Tabacchi shops with the AVM sticker — single tickets and 24-hr passes at the official fare, good for a quick single ride on the go.
- AVM Venezia Official app (iOS/Android) — tickets directly from ACTV, practical above all for spontaneous single rides on site.
- NOT from hotel concierges or unclear third-party sellers with high surcharges — prices there are often 15–30% above the official fares, with no recognisable added value.
In practice: what matters on site
Don’t forget to validate
Every ACTV ticket must be validated at one of the yellow Imob readers at the pier before boarding — including the 7-day pass (only once, at the very first boarding). If you forget, you risk a €60 fine at inspections, which do take place regularly. If you booked online in advance, exchange the voucher for the real ticket at the ACTV machine before your first ride and then validate it as usual at the Imob reader.
Piers have letters
Most larger stops have several piers, marked with letters (A, B, C, D, E, F). “San Marco-San Zaccaria” alone has six piers — each serving different lines in different directions. When boarding, check the letter on the pier and the line display on the vaporetto itself. If unsure, ask the crew — they are happy to help.
Avoid peak times
Line 1 is regularly overcrowded between 10:00 and 12:00 and between 16:00 and 19:00 — above all between Ferrovia and San Marco. Travelling early (before 9:00) or late (after 20:00) often even gets you a seat on the coveted open stern deck. During acqua alta, services can be suspended on some sections — check the live tide update shortly before travelling.
Pushchairs, luggage, dogs
Pushchairs are no problem (stern area with low railing). Luggage likewise — there is no surcharge as on some private boats. Dogs on a lead travel free of charge; larger dogs officially need a muzzle (hardly anyone checks, but it is the rule). Bicycles are only allowed on a few lines (notably line 17, the car ferry).
From Marco Polo Airport to the vaporetto
Marco Polo Airport (VCE) has no direct vaporetto connection — the boats run on the water, the airport sits 1.5 km inland. The Alilaguna water boats (not ACTV) run from the airport directly to the main island. If you want to continue on ACTV vaporetti, take bus line 5 (ACTV or ATVO) to P.le Roma (approx. 25 min, €8) and join the vaporetto network there. Details and tickets in our getting-to-Venice overview.
Frequently asked questions about the vaporetto
How much does a vaporetto ride cost in 2026?
A single ride costs €9.50 and is valid for 75 minutes (changing allowed, city centre only). 24-hour pass: €25, 48-hour pass: €35, 72-hour pass: €45, 7-day pass: €65. Online advance booking via our partner at the same official fare without surcharge, with a voucher by email (exchanged for the real ACTV ticket at the machine on site via barcode scan).
Which vaporetto line runs along the Grand Canal?
How do I get to Murano and Burano?
Murano: line 4.1/4.2 from P.le Roma or Ferrovia (45 min). Burano: line 12 from Fondamente Nove (40 min). Both combine with line 9 for the Torcello shuttle.
Are vaporetti included in the 24-hour pass?
Yes — the 24-hour ACTV pass is valid on all vaporetto lines and the Lido bus lines. Not included: Alilaguna (separate operator, separate tickets), the People Mover P.le Roma–Tronchetto and ACTV mainland buses outside the Lido.
How late does the last vaporetto run?
Most lines finish between 23:00 and midnight. After that, night lines N, NLN and NMU take over until about 04:30 — though every 60 minutes instead of the usual 10–30 minutes during the day.
What happens during acqua alta?
At water levels above 110 cm, individual piers can be closed — ACTV then sets up replacement stops or reroutes lines. A live tide check before each ride is recommended, especially between October and February.
Can I buy tickets in the app?
Yes, in the official AVM Venezia Official app (iOS/Android) at the official fare — practical for spontaneous single rides on site. For multi-day passes, booking online in advance via our partner is more convenient: same official fare without surcharge, voucher by email, exchanged for the real ACTV ticket at the machine via barcode scan.
Data source
The timetable data on this page comes from the official open-data service of ACTV S.p.A. In the event of short-notice timetable changes or strikes there may be deviations — the ACTV hotline 041 24 24 or the official website will help.