Vaporetto Line 3 Venice: The Piazzale Roma Shuttle
In brief: Vaporetto line 3 is a short shuttle service at Piazzale Roma — it circulates between the various piers of P.le Roma and serves as a local shuttle for commuters and residents. Of little relevance to tourists, but good to know: if you step off at the bus terminal and find yourself at the wrong vaporetto pier, line 3 lets you switch piers quickly without the detour via the People Mover.
P.le Roma "D" - P.le Roma "E"
9 stops
- 06:21 P.le Roma "D"
- 06:25 Ferrovia "D"
- 06:42 Murano Colonna "A"
- 06:45 Murano Faro "B"
- 06:47 Murano Navagero
- 06:49 Murano Museo "A"
- 06:56 Murano Colonna "A"
- 07:14 Ferrovia "C"
- 07:18 P.le Roma "E"
What is line 3 for?
Piazzale Roma is the largest vaporetto hub on the main island — with five piers (A, B, C, D, E) serving different line directions. If you have arrived at the wrong pier area (say, because the bus terminal is by pier B but your vaporetto departs from pier E), line 3 takes you across the Piazzale area in 2–3 minutes. Useful above all for commuters and deliveries, less so for tourists.
For tourists, line 3 is usually not necessary: all the P.le Roma piers are within a 5-minute walk of each other. Except during acqua alta — then the shuttle can help, because some of the walkways between the piers may be under water.
Tickets and frequency
Line 3 is part of the normal ACTV fare (€9.50 single ride, included in the 24-hr pass). Daytime frequency about every 20 minutes. First departure around 6:00 in the morning, last around 22:00.
In practice
- Missed your bus connection? Better to walk along the Piazzale Roma promenade — in normal weather it is faster than waiting for the shuttle.
- With heavy luggage: If you step off the bus with a suitcase and need pier D or E, the shuttle pays off.
- People Mover as an alternative: A separate People Mover (mini metro) runs between Piazzale Roma and Tronchetto. NOT included in the normal ACTV pass — €1.50 separately.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need line 3 as a tourist?
Usually not — all the Piazzale Roma piers are within walking distance. Line 3 is primarily for local commuters.
What is the difference to line 6?
Line 6 runs from P.le Roma to the Lido (a long route). Line 3 only circulates within P.le Roma (a short hop between piers).
