Vaporetto Line 1 Venice — Grand Canal Route, All Stops & Tips

In brief: Vaporetto line 1 is Venice’s classic Grand Canal route — the only line that serves every stop on the Grand Canal and runs all the way from Piazzale Roma to the Lido. End-to-end time: around 60 minutes for 21 stops. For first-time visitors it is the most important line of all: it connects the railway station (Ferrovia), the Rialto Bridge, Accademia, Santa Maria della Salute and St Mark’s Square, and continues via Castello to the Lido. Single ride €9.50, included in the 24-hour pass.

P.le Roma "F" - Lido S.M.E. "D"

21 stops

05:21 P.le Roma "F"
05:24 Ferrovia "E"
05:27 Riva de Biasio "B"
05:30 S. Marcuola-Casino' "B"
05:32 S. Stae
05:34 Ca' d'Oro
05:37 Rialto Mercato
05:40 Rialto "B"
05:43 S. Silvestro
05:45 S. Angelo
05:47 S. Toma' "A"
05:50 Ca' Rezzonico
05:52 Accademia "A"
05:55 S. Maria del Giglio
05:57 Salute
06:00 S. Marco Vallaresso "B"
06:04 S. Marco-San Zaccaria "F"
06:07 Arsenale "B"
06:10 Giardini "B"
06:14 S.Elena-Stadio Penzo "C"
06:19 Lido S.M.E. "D"

Why line 1 is the most important vaporetto line for visitors

Line 1 serves the entire Grand Canal with all 13 stops, from the city gateway at Piazzale Roma via Ferrovia (the main station), the Rialto Bridge, Accademia, Salute and San Marco-Vallaresso to its eastern terminus on the Lido. Line 2 is faster (express, fewer stops), but line 1 is the line for everyone staying on the Grand Canal, planning a sightseeing trip by water, or simply not yet sure where to get off — because every major sight has its own stop here.

At the same time, line 1 is the busiest line in the city. Between 10:00 and 12:00 in the morning and between 16:00 and 19:00 in the afternoon it is regularly overcrowded from Ferrovia onwards — seats on the famous open stern deck with its view of the palazzi are hotly contested then. If you want a quieter ride, travel before 9:00 or after 20:00.

The key stops along the route

Piazzale Roma “F”

Terminus of the route and gateway to the mainland — buses, the rail link from Mestre station and the car parks all arrive here. If you come by bus from the airport (ATVO line 35 or ACTV 5), this is where you join the vaporetto network.

Ferrovia “B” (Santa Lucia main station)

Right in front of the station building — the most important boarding point for rail travellers (ÖBB Nightjet, EuroCity via Verona). Several piers (A, B, C, D, E); line 1 departs from pier B. Note: lines 1 and 2 set off in opposite directions, so check the line display on the boat when boarding.

Riva de Biasio “B”

Not very touristy, but convenient for stays in Cannaregio near the Ghetto Vecchio. Authentic sestiere life, less bustle.

S. Marcuola-Casino’ “B”

Casino di Venezia (Palazzo Vendramin) and overland access to the Ca’ d’Oro. One of the traghetto stations (gondola crossing for €2) is here too.

S. Stae

Entrance to San Polo and the Frari church (10-minute walk). Also close to Ca’ Pesaro (museum of modern art).

Ca’ d’Oro

Probably the most beautiful palazzo on the Grand Canal — today the Galleria Giorgio Franchetti museum. €6, a must for art lovers.

Rialto Mercato

If you want to visit the famous market (daily except Sunday, 7:00–13:00), get off here — not at the Rialto stop. Direct exit in front of the fish stalls at the Mercato del Pesce.

Rialto “D”

The most important stop for first-time visitors: right at the Rialto Bridge, the entrance to San Polo and San Marco. Busiest at midday — for photos, come in the morning before 9:00.

S. Silvestro, S. Angelo, S. Tomà “A”

The three “middle” stops before Accademia. S. Tomà is the starting point for the Scuola Grande di San Rocco (the Tintoretto cycle) and Palazzo Bembo.

Ca’ Rezzonico

Museum of the 18th century in the Palazzo Rezzonico — one of the finest Settecento interiors in Venice. €10.

Accademia “A”

Direct exit for the Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Accademia Bridge. Also the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (5-minute walk).

S. Maria del Giglio

Entrance to the San Marco sestiere — narrow lanes, less tourist flow, near the Hotel Gritti Palace.

Salute

Right in front of the basilica of Santa Maria della Salute — one of Venice’s most iconic views. Also the entrance to Punta della Dogana and the Pinault Collection.

S. Marco Vallaresso “B”

The western St Mark’s Square stop. From here it is a 3-minute walk to St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Caffè Florian and Harry’s Bar are nearby.

S. Marco-San Zaccaria “F”

The eastern St Mark’s Square stop and one of the busiest piers in the city. Six piers (A to F); line 1 calls at pier F. Direct access to the Riva degli Schiavoni and the Bridge of Sighs.

Arsenale “B”, Giardini “B”, S. Elena

Eastern Castello, far fewer tourists. Arsenale = the shipyards and Biennale pavilions, Giardini = the main site of the art Biennale, S. Elena = Venice’s only large park.

Lido S.M.E. “D”

Terminus on the Lido — beach, film festival (early September), a district with cars. Change here to bus 11 for onward Lido connections or to line 17 (the car ferry to Tronchetto).

Timetable and frequency

Line 1 runs every 10 minutes at peak times (8:00–11:00, 15:00–19:00) and every 20 minutes off-peak. First vaporetto in the morning around 05:01, last departure from P.le Roma around 23:41. At night, the night line N (Notturno) — together with the NLN — covers the Grand Canal into the early hours.

The live table embedded above draws its data directly from the official ACTV feed and shows the real stop sequence including journey times. The table is updated automatically every Monday at 04:00 UTC.

Tickets for line 1

Line 1 is part of the regular ACTV fare system — all standard tickets are valid:

Single ride €9.50 (valid 75 min incl. changing)
24-hour pass €25 (worth it from 3 rides)
48-hour pass €35
72-hour pass €45
7-day pass €65

Children under 6 travel free. Older children and adults pay the same price (no discount for seniors or students in the standard fare). Always validate your ticket at the yellow Imob readers before boarding — the fine at inspections is €60.

Practical tips for the ride

Seat on the stern: The most sought-after seats are on the open stern deck — palazzo views throughout the ride. To get one, travel early or board at P.le Roma (before Ferrovia, where the crowds get on).
Photos at the Rialto: From the vaporetto the Rialto Bridge is especially photogenic — best in mid-passage, just before the boat passes under the bridge.
Salute at sunset: The final stretch S. Maria del Giglio → Salute → San Marco-Vallaresso is an experience of its own in the evening, with the sunset over the lagoon.
Get to know the stops: On your first Grand Canal trip, simply ride the whole route from P.le Roma to the Lido (60 min, like a sightseeing tour) — many first-time visitors know the whole geography of the city afterwards.

Frequently asked questions about line 1

How long does line 1 take from the station to St Mark’s Square?

From the Ferrovia pier to San Marco-Vallaresso about 35–40 minutes. To San Marco-San Zaccaria (the eastern St Mark’s stop) about 45 minutes. If you want to be quicker, take line 2 (express, approx. 22 min to Rialto).

Where do I get off for the Rialto Bridge?

Pier “Rialto D” — right at the bridge, on the eastern (San Marco) side. If you want to visit the market, get off one stop earlier: “Rialto Mercato”.

Which stop is right for St Mark’s Square?

“S. Marco Vallaresso” for the direct western entrance (3 min to the basilica). “S. Marco-San Zaccaria” for the eastern entrance (Riva degli Schiavoni, Bridge of Sighs).

Does line 1 run at night?

Last departure from P.le Roma around 23:41. After that, the night line N (Notturno) — together with the NLN — covers the Grand Canal into the early hours (until around 04:30–05:00).

Is line 1 included in the 24-hour pass?

Yes — all vaporetto lines are included in the ACTV 24-hr pass (€25). Including lines 2, 4.1/4.2, 5.1/5.2 and all island routes.

Is there a version of line 1 with fewer stops?

Yes: line 2 is the express without all the Grand Canal stops — roughly half the time. Line 1 calls at all of them, line 2 at about half.