Chioggia to Venice Day Trip 2026: Vaporetto Line 11, Bus, Car — Little Venice in the Southern Lagoon
In a nutshell: There are three ways from Chioggia to Venice: (1) ACTV line 11 as an integrated bus/ferry/boat connection via Pellestrina to Lido S.M.E. (usually around 70 min to the Lido, then onwards by vaporetto), (2) a regional bus to Venezia Piazzale Roma (check operator, line number, frequency and journey time for your travel day — usually around 60–90 min) or (3) car via the SS309 Romea + parking in Mestre, Fusina or Tronchetto. The most scenic connection is line 11, the fastest is the overland bus. Chioggia sits at the southern tip of the lagoon and combines well with a Venice day.
Chioggia → Venice at a glance
| Connection | Journey time (approx.) | Availability | Ticket | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line 11 via Pellestrina + Lido | around 70 min to the Lido, then onwards by vaporetto | year-round, check frequency | usually ACTV 24-hour pass (guide value €25) | Most scenic approach, lagoon experience |
| Regional bus → Piazzale Roma | around 60–90 min | check operator/frequency | from the operator | Fastest overland connection |
| Car SS309 + parking | around 1 h + parking/change | year-round | parking of your choice | Flexible, good with luggage |
Which connection suits you?
| If … | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| … you want to maximise the lagoon experience | Line 11 via Pellestrina to the Lido, then vaporetto to San Marco |
| … you want to save time | Regional bus to Piazzale Roma — the fastest overland connection |
| … you have a car in Chioggia | Car + park & ride at Mestre or Fusina |
| … you travel very early or very late | Bus or car — line 11 has limited first/last sailings |
| … you travel with children and want the boat experience | Out by line 11 (experience), back by bus (fast) |
| … you want to combine Chioggia + Pellestrina + Venice | ACTV day pass + line 11 with a stopover in Pellestrina |
Option 1: ACTV line 11 via Pellestrina and the Lido
The ACTV line 11 is the most scenic connection between Chioggia and Venice — and a travel experience in its own right. It is an integrated bus/ferry/boat connection: from Chioggia via the island of Pellestrina to Lido S. Maria Elisabetta. The journey to the Lido usually takes about 70 minutes. From Lido S.M.E. you continue on a regular ACTV waterbus line towards San Zaccaria, San Marco or other stops in Venice — in total usually around 85–100 minutes to San Marco, depending on the connection.
- Journey time to the Lido: usually around 70 min, then onwards by vaporetto
- Frequency, first and last sailings: year-round, but check weekend/holiday schedules and seasonal extra sailings with ACTV/AVM before your travel day
- Ticket: For visitors, the ACTV 24-hour pass (guide value €25) is usually the simplest solution — it covers line 11 and the connecting vaporetti. Check with ACTV/Venezia Unica before buying whether a single ride or a local ticket option is available.
- Stops along the way: incl. Pellestrina, Santa Maria del Mare, Lido-Alberoni
Advantage: A unique lagoon experience through little-known islands, Pellestrina is worth a stopover, and one ticket covers all your vaporetto use. Disadvantage: Longer than the overland route, tied to frequencies and connections.
Option 2: Bus Chioggia → Venezia/Piazzale Roma
The fastest overland connection runs on regional bus lines from Chioggia to Venezia/Piazzale Roma. Operator, line number, frequency and journey time need to be checked at the time of travel — depending on the timetable, the trip takes around 60–90 minutes. Check tickets, prices and the last return directly with the operator.
- Journey time: around 60–90 min depending on the line and traffic
- Departure: usually from the central bus area in Chioggia
- Arrival: Venezia Piazzale Roma, at the entrance to the old town
- Ticket, frequency, last return: check with the respective operator
Advantage: The fastest option, straight to the entrance of the old town. Disadvantage: No lagoon experience, tied to the bus timetable.
Option 3: Car + parking
By car you drive from Chioggia along the SS309 Romea towards Venice (around 50 km, roughly 1 hour without traffic, toll-free). Instead of driving straight onto the bridge, park & ride is worthwhile.
- P+R Mestre/Marghera or Fusina: often cheaper than Tronchetto, but requires a tram, bus or boat connection — check prices, opening hours and the last return with the operator
- Tronchetto: more direct, currently around €29 per 24 hours, vaporetto connection — check prices with the operator
- Fusina: boat link to Zattere (Dorsoduro) — check the timetable
Advantage: Flexible times, toll-free route. Disadvantage: Finding and paying for parking, plus the change into the city.
Discovering Chioggia — a lagoon town with everyday life
Chioggia is a real town with its own identity — unlike the small lagoon islands. It feels much more like the lagoon’s everyday town: fishing, the market, residential quarters and local gastronomy shape the picture far more than in Venice’s touristy core. If you have booked an Adriatic package in Sottomarina or a hotel in the old town, the town combines well with a Venice day.
- Corso del Popolo — a broad pedestrian street in the middle of the old town with restaurants, cafés and a weekly market.
- Chioggia fish market — one of the most important fish markets of the northern Adriatic, especially worth seeing in the morning.
- Ponte Vigo — a historic marble bridge, the town’s landmark.
- Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta — the town’s cathedral.
- Sottomarina — Chioggia’s beach suburb with a wide sandy beach; check current water quality and award information each year.
Pellestrina as a stopover
If you take line 11, you can plan a stopover on the island of Pellestrina — the narrow lagoon island with colourful fishermen’s houses is quieter than Murano or Burano. Its historic Murazzi walls protect the lagoon from the Adriatic. In high summer it can get busy here too, especially at beaches and restaurants. Check well-known addresses such as Da Celeste or Da Memo in advance for opening hours, closing days and current quality; keep an eye on return and connection times.
Arriving in Venice
- Piazzale Roma (bus, car) — at the entrance to the old town, with direct connections to line 1 (Grand Canal) and line 2 (express towards San Marco).
- Lido S. Maria Elisabetta (line 11) — from there you continue on a suitable ACTV line towards San Zaccaria/San Marco, e.g. depending on the timetable with 5.1/5.2 or other lines. Check the connection for your travel day in the ACTV journey planner.
Your programme in Venice
For a day trip from Chioggia, a realistic programme matters more than a maximum list. A sensible plan is St Mark’s Square and its surroundings with one main ticketed sight — the Doge’s Palace or the interior of St Mark’s Basilica —, a walk to the Rialto Bridge and a Grand Canal ride. St Mark’s Basilica, the Pala d’Oro, the cathedral museum/loggia, the Campanile and the Doge’s Palace each have their own ticket and time-slot systems; check current prices and reservation rules officially. Booking the main sights in advance makes sense in high season. Adding Murano or further islands on a Chioggia day is very ambitious.
How much time do you get in Venice?
With an early outbound and a late return connection, around 8–11 hours in Venice are possible depending on the timetable. The exact key times — above all the last guaranteed return — determine how long the day really is, and should be checked in advance with ACTV or the bus operator.
| Time | Programme |
|---|---|
| Early | Outbound — line 11 via Pellestrina to the Lido, then vaporetto, or bus to Piazzale Roma |
| Morning | St Mark’s Square + one main ticketed sight (Doge’s Palace or St Mark’s Basilica, booked in advance) |
| Midday | Lunch in a bacaro in the Castello or San Polo district |
| Early afternoon | Walk to the Rialto Bridge + markets |
| Afternoon | Vaporetto line 1 along the Grand Canal |
| Early evening | Aperitivo in Cannaregio |
| Evening | Return — bus or the last guaranteed line 11 connection |
Frequently asked questions about the Chioggia → Venice day trip
Which connection from Chioggia to Venice is best?
It depends on your travel style. Most scenic: line 11 via Pellestrina and the Lido (around 70 min to the Lido, then onwards by vaporetto; usually with an ACTV 24-hour pass). Fastest: a regional bus to Piazzale Roma (around 60–90 min). A good combination: line 11 out (experience), bus back (fast).
How long does the journey from Chioggia to Venice take?
Line 11 to the Lido usually takes around 70 min, then the vaporetto to San Marco (around 85–100 min in total). Regional bus to Piazzale Roma: around 60–90 min. Car via the SS309: roughly 1 hour plus parking. All figures are guide values.
Do I need a special ticket for line 11?
For visitors, the ACTV 24-hour pass (guide value €25) is usually the simplest and most sensible solution, because it covers line 11 and the connecting vaporetti in Venice. Check with ACTV/Venezia Unica before buying whether a single ride or a local ticket option is available.
When do the first and last connections run?
Line 11 runs year-round, but the frequency and the first and last sailings vary by season, weekday and holiday — check with actv.avmspa.it or the AVM journey planner before your travel day. For the regional bus, the respective operator’s timetable applies. The last guaranteed return determines your Venice time window.
How much does the Chioggia → Venice day trip cost?
With line 11, an ACTV 24-hour pass (guide value €25) usually covers the return trip including the vaporetti. With the regional bus, the bus fare comes on top. Car: parking (Tronchetto currently around €29/24 h, P+R cheaper) + fuel. On CDA days, the access fee is added (€5 if paid no later than the fourth day before your visit, €10 after that).
Do I have to pay the 2026 access fee as a Chioggia holidaymaker?
Possibly yes. Chioggia is its own municipality and is not part of the municipality of Venice — so staying overnight in Chioggia does not exempt you. If your travel day is a CDA day (designated days between 3 April and 26 July 2026, 8:30am–4pm) and you enter the historic centre: €5 if paid no later than the fourth day before your visit, €10 after that. Children under 14 do not pay. The authoritative source is cda.ve.it.
How far is Chioggia from Venice?
By car via the SS309 Romea around 50 km, about 1 hour. As the crow flies only around 25 km — Chioggia sits right at the southern tip of the Venetian lagoon.
Is the Chioggia → Venice day trip worth it?
Yes — Chioggia is one of the closest larger towns to Venice and a practical base. If you are holidaying in Sottomarina and want to experience the lagoon, you get a great combination of town, beach and a Venice day.
What is there to see in Chioggia itself?
The Corso del Popolo, one of the most important fish markets of the northern Adriatic, the Ponte Vigo, the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta and the beach at Sottomarina. Half a day before or after your Venice visit is well spent here.
Can I add Pellestrina as a stopover?
Yes — with the ACTV day pass you can get off line 11 in Pellestrina, explore the island (Murazzi, San Pietro) and continue on the next boat. Allow 1–2 hours; then continue to Venice or back to Chioggia. Check connection times in advance.
Are dogs and pushchairs allowed?
Dogs, pushchairs and luggage are subject to the current rules of the respective bus operator and ACTV. A muzzle/lead or a carrier may be required; on crowded services, staff may impose restrictions.
What about storms or bad weather?
Bus and car are less wave-dependent than boat connections, but can be affected by storms, strikes, traffic disruption, fog or roadworks. Line 11 is a sheltered lagoon experience, but it can be adjusted in strong wind, high water, fog or ACTV service changes. During acqua alta, St Mark’s Square can be temporarily flooded — keep an eye on the live water levels.
Related topics
- Day trips from Venice — overview of all departure points
- Jesolo → Venice day trip
- Caorle → Venice day trip
- Bibione → Venice day trip
- Lignano → Venice day trip
- Punta Sabbioni → Venice day trip
- Vaporetto line 11 — Lido ↔ Pellestrina ↔ Chioggia
- Vaporetto Venice — all lines + ticket calculator
- Chioggia Sottomarina webcam
- Venice Access Fee 2026 — calendar and booking