Vaporetto Line 20 Venice: San Servolo and San Lazzaro degli Armeni
In brief: Vaporetto line 20 connects San Zaccaria with the small southern lagoon islands of San Servolo (a conference and university site) and San Lazzaro degli Armeni (the Armenian monastery with the Mekhitarist library). More of an insider tip — island visits must be booked in advance. Journey time from San Zaccaria about 20 minutes, included in the 24-hour pass. Important for September 2026: from 1 to 12 September a special timetable applies because of the Film Festival — details further down.
S. Servolo - S. Marco-San Zaccaria "B"
3 stops
- 21:30 S. Marco-San Zaccaria "B"
- 21:40 S. Servolo
- 21:50 S. Marco-San Zaccaria "B"
The two island destinations of line 20
San Servolo
A small island between the Lido and San Marco — a former island psychiatric hospital, closed in the 1970s and today a conference centre and home of the Venice International University (VIU). Open for visits during the day (park, former clinic buildings, a small museum on the history of Venetian psychiatry). Entry free, guided tours by appointment.
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.
San Lazzaro degli Armeni
One of Venice’s most extraordinary islands: since 1717 the seat of the Armenian Mekhitarist monks, with one of the oldest Armenian libraries outside Armenia (more than 150,000 volumes and manuscripts). Lord Byron studied Armenian here. Visits only with a guided tour, once daily at 15:25 from the vaporetto pier — advance booking recommended, entry approx. €10.
Timetable and practicalities
Line 20 runs every 30 to 60 minutes during the day between San Zaccaria, San Servolo and San Lazzaro. First trip in the morning around 8:00, last return from San Lazzaro around 17:00. For the San Lazzaro tour, vaporetto line 20 is the only public way to get there — the 15:25 tour start is tightly timed, so check the matching vaporetto in advance (live data in the table embedded above).
Special timetable for the Film Festival: 1 to 12 September 2026
For the 83rd Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica, ACTV strengthens the connections to the Lido, and line 20 is part of that special service. For these twelve days its departures run between San Zaccaria “B” and Lido Casinò, the pier right at the festival site. It is joined by the newly introduced line MC.
- 08:00 to 18:00: line 20 and line MC together bring the service to one departure every 10 minutes between San Zaccaria “B” and Lido Casinò.
- From 18:00: line MC moves its terminus to Piazzale Roma and runs through the night until the last screenings have finished.
- On the island: Lido bus lines V, A, B and CA connect the Piazzale Santa Maria Elisabetta terminal with the Palazzo del Cinema and the PalaBiennale from 06:00 to 03:00.
- Tickets: ordinary city tickets are valid on these services — boat, bus, tram and People Mover are integrated across the urban network. A discounted special fare applies only to accredited festival professionals.
What this means for your island plans: if you are heading for San Servolo or San Lazzaro degli Armeni during these days, do not rely on the regular timetable. Check departures shortly beforehand in the live table above or on the notice board at the San Zaccaria pier — the tightly scheduled 15:25 tour on San Lazzaro leaves no room for a miscalculation. If the Lido itself is your destination, say for the beach, you benefit: during daytime hours there is a boat every ten minutes throughout these twelve days.
Source: ACTV/AVM, announcement of 14 August 2026. Last updated: 30 August 2026.
Frequently asked questions about line 20
Is San Lazzaro degli Armeni worth it?
Yes — an extraordinary experience for culturally minded travellers. The Armenian library, a working monastery with its own printing press, atmospherically completely different from the rest of Venice. Plan half a day.
Do I need to register for San Servolo?
Not for a walk in the park. For museum visits or conference programmes yes — check the VIU website.
How much does the San Lazzaro tour cost?
Entry to the guided tour about €10, lasting approx. 90 minutes. Includes the library, printing press, church and refectory. Tours available in English and Italian.
Does line 20 run to the Lido during the Film Festival?
Yes. From 1 to 12 September 2026 its departures run between San Zaccaria “B” and Lido Casinò, together with the new line MC at a 10-minute frequency between 08:00 and 18:00. If you are travelling to San Servolo or San Lazzaro during these days, check the current departure times.