Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) 2026: Transfers, Connections & Tips
In short: Venice Marco Polo Airport (IATA: VCE) is Venice’s main airport, located in Tessera on the mainland about 8 km north-east of the island city. It handles scheduled traffic from most German-speaking hubs (Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Stuttgart, Hanover) with direct flights of 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. There are four ways from the terminal into the city: the Alilaguna water bus straight to St Mark’s Square (75–90 min., €18) with lagoon views, the ATVO bus or ACTV line 5 to Piazzale Roma (20 min., €10) as the fastest public connection, a water taxi to your hotel’s landing stage (€130–180) for premium comfort, or a rental car for Veneto road trips. Modern architecture (the SAVE terminal from 2002), full self check-in facilities and rental desks from all the big providers make the airport easy to use.
At a glance — Marco Polo in brief
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Official name | Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo |
| IATA code | VCE |
| Location | Tessera, approx. 8 km north-east of the island city of Venice |
| Address | Viale Galileo Galilei 30/1, 30173 Venezia |
| Operator | SAVE — Società Aeroporto di Venezia |
| Passengers 2024 | approx. 12 million passengers/year — Italy’s third-largest airport after Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa |
| Main connections from German-speaking countries | Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Cologne, Hanover |
| Transfer time to the city | Bus 20 min., Alilaguna 75–90 min., water taxi 30–45 min. |
| Rental cars | All major providers at the terminal (Hertz, Sixt, Avis, Europcar, Budget, Maggiore) |
| Wi-Fi | Free, with no time limit |
Which transfer suits your trip?
| If you … | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| … are in Venice for the first time | Alilaguna water bus — the lagoon view as a first impression, 75–90 min., €18 |
| … want to get to the hotel quickly | ATVO bus to Piazzale Roma (20 min., €10) — then continue by vaporetto or on foot |
| … travel with a lot of luggage | Water taxi straight to your hotel’s landing stage (€130–180) — no vaporetto changes with suitcases |
| … travel with family and children | Bus to Piazzale Roma + vaporetto — cheap, fast, child-friendly |
| … are doing a Veneto road trip | Rental car from Marco Polo + parking in Mestre/Tronchetto |
| … have a hotel on the Lido | Alilaguna Blue Line straight to the Lido — about 70 min., the most convenient connection |
| … arrive during Acqua Alta | Bus to Piazzale Roma — water taxis and Alilaguna can be cancelled at water levels above 130 cm |
| … land late at night | ATVO bus or taxi — Alilaguna only runs during the day until about 11 p.m. |
From the terminal into the city — the four options in detail
1. Alilaguna — the water bus with lagoon views
Alilaguna is the most spectacular way to arrive — a public water bus that takes you from the airport landing stage (a 5-minute walk from the terminal) straight across the lagoon to the island city. Three main lines, each with its own stops:
- Blue Line (Linea Blu): airport → Murano → Lido → San Marco — the main connection for hotels in San Marco and on the Lido. Journey time 75–90 min.
- Orange Line (Linea Arancio): airport → Madonna dell’Orto → Sant’Alvise → Rialto → S. Angelo → S. Tomà → S. Marco — the variant via the Grand Canal. Journey time 75–80 min.
- Red Line (Linea Rossa): seasonal only, April–October, airport → Murano → Lido → San Marco with fewer stops. Journey time approx. 70 min.
- Price: single €18, return €32. Children under 6 travel free.
- Frequency: every 30 minutes during the day, from about 6:30 a.m. until about 11 p.m. (seasonal variation)
- Tickets: directly at the airport landing stage, in the arrivals hall or online (alilaguna.it)
- Advantage: a spectacular entrance across the lagoon, direct connection to hotel landing stages in San Marco, and a leisurely pace after a long flight
- Disadvantage: a longer journey than bus + vaporetto. Occasionally suspended in storms/Acqua Alta.
2. ATVO bus or ACTV line 5 — the fastest public connection
Two competing bus operators run from the terminal forecourt straight to Piazzale Roma — the car entrance to the city at the western end of the island. From Piazzale Roma continue by vaporetto, by train (Calatrava Bridge to Santa Lucia station) or on foot.
- ATVO express bus: direct to Piazzale Roma, 20 min. journey, approx. €10 one way, €18 return. Runs every 20–30 minutes, timed to match the big arrival waves.
- ACTV line 5: a public city bus line to Piazzale Roma, 25 min. journey, €1.55 per trip. Stops several times in Mestre — cheaper, but a little longer.
- Bus stop: right at the terminal exit, clear signage
- Advantage: the fastest ground connection, inexpensive, runs almost 24/7
- Disadvantage: ends at Piazzale Roma — for hotels further east (San Marco, Castello) you have to change to a vaporetto
3. Water taxi — premium comfort straight to the hotel
The fastest but also the most expensive option — a private motorboat takes you from the airport landing stage directly to a water landing near your hotel. Journey time 30–45 minutes depending on the hotel’s location. In good weather it is an elegant, almost classic way to arrive in Venice.
- Price: standard rate €130–180 for up to 4 people plus luggage. Surcharge for night trips (after 10 p.m.).
- Booking: directly at the airport terminal (Consorzio Motoscafi Venezia desk) or online in advance (motoscafivenezia.it)
- Advantage: right to your hotel’s door, no vaporetto changes with suitcases, the best experience for premium travellers
- Disadvantage: the price. Per person with 4 people about €35–45 — worthwhile for families or couples with a lot of luggage.
- Trade-off: compared with bus + vaporetto (about €13 per person) it is a significant extra cost; with 1–2 travellers it is usually not worth it.
4. Rental car — for Veneto road trips
If you combine Venice with a Veneto road trip (Verona, Padua, Lake Garda, the Dolomites), it is best to rent a car directly at the Marco Polo terminal. All the big providers (Hertz, Sixt, Avis, Europcar, Budget, Maggiore) are on the ground floor of the terminal — pick-up in 10–15 minutes, with no shuttle bus to an external site.
- Prices 2026: from approx. €35/day for a small car, €50/day for a compact, from €70/day for an SUV or premium car.
- Insurance: fully comprehensive cover is clearly recommended — Italian city traffic is demanding and parking spaces are tight.
- Note: do NOT drive the rental car onto the island city — parking is compulsory at Tronchetto, Piazzale Roma or Mestre. See our parking guide.
- Recommendation: a rental car only makes sense for a Veneto road trip with further stops. For a Venice-only stay, bus + vaporetto is much more practical and cheaper.
Arriving from Germany, Austria and Switzerland: parking at your home airport
If you drive your own car to your home airport and fly on from there, you should book the parking space online in advance. The saving logic: walk-up day rates directly at the airport car park often cost €25–35/day — booking online through third-party providers with park-and-ride sites near the airport brings €8–18/day plus free cancellation.
- Frankfurt: walk-up €28/day (official terminal parking), online from €7/day (P&R with shuttle)
- Munich: walk-up €25/day, online from €6/day
- Vienna: walk-up €24/day, online from €7/day
- Zurich: walk-up CHF 35/day, online from CHF 12/day
- Berlin (BER), Hamburg, Düsseldorf: online rates from €6–10/day
On a 5-day Venice trip the savings quickly add up to €80–150 per car.
Services and facilities at Marco Polo
- Terminal: a modern terminal building (built in 2002, extended several times), clearly laid out. Schengen area for flights from German-speaking countries — no passport control, quick transfer into the city.
- Wi-Fi: free and with no time limit. Registration by email or social login.
- Lounges: Plaza Premium Lounge (for Priority Pass, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Aspire Lounge card) — a high standard with buffet and drinks. Day pass from approx. €35.
- Shopping: duty free (mainly for non-EU connections), Italian brands (Versace, Furla, Bottega Veneta), a bookshop, Murano glass souvenirs. Prices are mostly higher than in the city — buy real souvenirs on Murano instead.
- Food and drink: several Italian restaurants, bars, snack counters. Much less choice after security than before.
- Families: a childcare area, nursing room, changing rooms. Pushchair rental at the desk.
- Accessibility: all routes are wheelchair-accessible, with an assistance service from SAVE on advance notice (at least 48 hours beforehand via the SAVE hotline or online form).
Parking at Marco Polo Airport
If you leave your own car directly at the airport, you can choose from several car parks. Since most travellers from German-speaking countries come by plane rather than driving to the Marco Polo car park, this section is for special situations — for example if you drive up from southern Germany and change at Marco Polo to a connecting flight, or if you park when returning a rental car.
- P1 (short stay): from €4/hour, max. 1 day — for drop-offs and pick-ups
- P2 (long stay): from €22/day, multi-day discount from 5 days
- Park&Stay: off-site car parks near Marco Polo with a shuttle (5 min.) — from €8/day, book in advance online via Parclick, ParkVia or directly with the provider
- Tip: do not confuse rental car return with your own parking — rental cars are returned in a separate area, while P2 parking is for privately owned vehicles.
History: from lagoon airfield to Italy’s third-largest airport
Marco Polo opened in 1960 — at the time a comparatively small regional airport with one runway and a wooden-hut terminal. In the early 1980s the first major expansion followed (asphalt runways, a concrete terminal), and in 2002 today’s large terminal complex was added under the architect Marcello Tabai. With about 12 million passengers a year, VCE is now Italy’s third-largest airport after Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa and northern Italy’s most important tourist airport.
It is named after the Venetian merchant and Asian traveller Marco Polo (1254–1324), who travelled through China and Asia from 1271 to 1295 with his father and uncle and documented his experiences in “Il Milione” (The Description of the World). An iconic choice, because it links Venice’s tradition as a global trading city with modern air travel.
Special tips for travellers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- Schengen advantage: for all flights from Germany, Austria and Switzerland there is no passport control, and the walk from gate to baggage reclaim is quick (approx. 10–15 min.).
- Euro: accepted throughout Italy, ATMs at the terminal.
- Electricity: type F sockets (the German Schuko standard) — no adapters needed.
- Languages: main signage in Italian + English. The information desk mostly speaks Italian and English, sometimes French/German.
- Mobile phone: no more roaming charges in the EU — your home contract works as it does at home.
- Planning your arrival time: with the bus to Piazzale Roma, allow about 90 minutes from touchdown to hotel check-in (15 min. baggage, 5 min. waiting for the bus, 20 min. ride, 30 min. to reach the hotel). With Alilaguna more like 2.5–3 hours.
- Card fees: with German, Austrian or Swiss debit/credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) there is often no foreign-use surcharge at the airport machines (depending on your contract). Cash withdrawals at an ATM usually cost a €2–5 fee.
Marco Polo during Acqua Alta
The airport is on raised mainland and is not directly affected by Acqua Alta. The journey after landing can, however, be affected depending on your means of transport:
- ATVO bus + Piazzale Roma: in stronger Acqua Alta above 120 cm Piazzale Roma can be temporarily inaccessible — the bus then ends on the mainland or is diverted. Rare, but possible.
- Alilaguna water bus: in storms or at water levels above 130 cm the service is suspended at short notice. Current information at the airport landing stage or online (alilaguna.it).
- Water taxi: similar to Alilaguna — temporarily suspended at very high levels or in storms.
- Rental car: driving to the mainland car park (Mestre/Tronchetto) is usually unproblematic during Acqua Alta.
If you travel during the Acqua Alta season (October–March), check the water level on our Acqua Alta hub before you set off — with a forecast above 110 cm, plan the bus + Piazzale Roma as a safe plan B.
Guided arrival tours and welcome service
If you want to book Marco Polo + a city welcome tour from a single source, our affiliate partners offer various options combining an airport transfer with sightseeing — a relaxed option especially for first-time visitors with little time:
Transfer and welcome tours in Venice
Angebote über Affiliate-Partner Viator. Bei Buchung erhalten wir eine Provision — für Sie ohne Mehrkosten.
Frequently asked questions about Marco Polo Airport
Which airport is closer to Venice — Marco Polo or Treviso?
Marco Polo (VCE) is much closer, 8 km north-east of the island city, compared with 30 km for Treviso (TSF). Marco Polo also has more direct connections from German-speaking countries and a faster journey into the city (bus 20 min. versus a 70-minute bus from Treviso). Treviso only makes sense if the difference in flight price is more than €30.
How do I get from Marco Polo Airport into the city?
Four options: 1) ATVO bus to Piazzale Roma — 20 min., €10 (the fastest public connection). 2) Alilaguna water bus straight to St Mark’s Square — 75–90 min., €18 (the most spectacular way to arrive). 3) Water taxi straight to your hotel’s landing stage — 30–45 min., €130–180 (premium). 4) Rental car + parking in Mestre/Tronchetto (for Veneto road trips).
How much does the Alilaguna water bus cost?
Single €18 (2026), return €32. Children under 6 travel free. Three lines: Blue (main connection Murano → Lido → San Marco), Orange (via the Grand Canal), Red (seasonal April–October). Journey time 70–90 min. depending on the line. Tickets at the airport landing stage or online (alilaguna.it).
How long does it take to get from Marco Polo to St Mark’s Square?
With bus + vaporetto: about 45–60 min. (20 min. bus to Piazzale Roma + 5 min. waiting + 30 min. vaporetto line 2 to St Mark’s Square). With the Alilaguna water bus: 75–90 min. direct. With a water taxi: 30–45 min. directly to your hotel’s landing stage. With the bus to Piazzale Roma + on foot: about 1 hour in total.
Do I need a passport if I come from Germany, Austria or Switzerland?
No. Italy is a Schengen member — Germans, Austrians and Swiss enter with an ID card. A passport is only recommended for travellers who fly on to further non-Schengen destinations during the trip.
Is the water taxi from the airport worth it?
For 1–2 people usually not — bus + vaporetto together cost about €13 per person, a water taxi €130–180 per boat. Per person with 4 travellers it is about €35–45, which puts the comfort surcharge into perspective. Recommendation: for families with a lot of luggage or travellers with a premium hotel right on a water landing stage. For standard trips bus + vaporetto is much more practical.
Is there Wi-Fi at Marco Polo Airport?
Yes, free and with no time limit. Registration by email or social login. Recommendation: connect at the baggage belt or in the arrivals area — then booking Alilaguna tickets or a water taxi online goes smoothly.
Which rental car providers are at the airport?
All the big providers directly at the terminal: Hertz, Sixt, Avis, Europcar, Budget, Maggiore, Goldcar. Pick-up within 10–15 minutes with no shuttle. Prices from approx. €35/day for a small car, from €70/day for an SUV/premium car. Recommendation: fully comprehensive cover with a €0 excess — Italian city traffic and tight parking spaces are demanding.
Can I park at the airport if I come by car from southern Germany?
Yes. P1 (short stay) from €4/hour for drop-offs/pick-ups, P2 (long stay) from €22/day. Off-site Park&Stay with a shuttle from €8/day (book online via Parclick or ParkVia). For longer stays (5+ days) off-site parking is clearly worthwhile. Directly at the airport terminal: P2 is the standard long-stay option.
When does the last bus to Piazzale Roma leave?
The ATVO express bus runs from about 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. (hourly night buses), matched to the last scheduled flights. ACTV line 5 runs from about 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. For late-landing flights there is therefore almost always a bus connection — a water taxi only if the bus is too late.
Can the airport be reached during Acqua Alta?
Yes, the airport itself is on raised ground and can always be reached. The journey after landing can be affected depending on your means of transport: Alilaguna is cancelled at water levels above 130 cm, the bus to Piazzale Roma almost always runs (occasionally diverted), and the water taxi is similar to Alilaguna. With an Acqua Alta warning above 110 cm, plan the bus as plan B.
Are there lounges at the airport?
Yes, the Plaza Premium Lounge (for Priority Pass, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status, Aspire card holders). A high-standard buffet, drinks and quiet seating areas. Day pass from €35 on the spot. Free for frequent flyers with Priority Pass — highly recommended before a long flight.