Umag to Venice Ferry 2026 — Day Trip with Adriatic Lines (Timetable, Prices, Practical Tips)
In a nutshell: In 2026, seasonal fast catamarans run from Umag in northern Istria to Venice — operated mainly by Kompas / Adriatic Lines, usually with a few weekly departures in high summer. The crossing typically takes around 3.5 hours each way, depending on the route and sea conditions. Be sure to check the day of the week, departure time, arrival terminal and return trip in the specific booking offer. Prices often start at around €84–89 per adult, depending on date and booking channel. Practical for Istria holidaymakers who want to experience Venice for a day without a car and without parking stress.
“Breakfast with a view of the Adriatic in the morning, Venice by midday.”
If you are on holiday in Istria — in Umag, Novigrad or Savudrija — you can experience Venice as a day trip by fast catamaran: no car, no long drive around the northern Adriatic and no hunting for parking in Venice. This page covers what matters for the timetable, prices, day plan and practicalities — and which details you should verify yourself before booking, as they vary by date and operator.
Facts at a glance (guide values — check before booking)
Adriatic Lines
Timetable and price — what to check in advance
The Umag–Venice connection is offered seasonally in 2026 by Kompas / Adriatic Lines, expected to run on selected weekly dates in high summer. A typical day trip departs Umag in the morning, arrives in Venice around midday and returns in the late afternoon — however, the exact times, day of the week, arrival terminal and return trip are only confirmed in the specific booking offer and should be checked there.
Price: often from around €84–89 per adult, depending on date, availability, booking channel and fees. Child discounts, infant rules as well as cancellation, rebooking and name changes depend on the chosen operator and fare — check the conditions of the specific offer before booking.
Ferry ticket there & back
Day ticket Umag → Venice with return on the same day. Check the day of the week, departure times, arrival terminal and cancellation conditions for your date. Voucher by e-mail, show it at check-in in Umag.
Check & book Umag → Venice →Vaporetto only if needed
Arriving at San Basilio with a Dorsoduro route, you often do not need a vaporetto at all. The ACTV 24-hour pass (guide value €25) is only worth it if you plan several rides or a Grand Canal/island route; otherwise walking plus perhaps a single ticket is enough.
View vaporetto pass →Typical itinerary (example — times vary by date)
The following schedule is an example of a typical day trip, not a fixed 2026 timetable. The actual times are stated in your booking offer.
- Check-in at Umag harbour — around 45–60 min before departure, have your identity card/passport ready
- Departure from Umag in the morning — outside deck or indoor area, depending on the vessel
- Arrival in Venice in the late morning, depending on the operator at the San Basilio terminal (Dorsoduro) or in the Stazione Marittima area — check the exact pier on your ticket
- Free time in Venice — around 5–6 hours for a focused programme
- Return to the terminal in good time before departure, allow for the boarding queue
- Return crossing to Umag in the late afternoon
Arrival in Venice: San Basilio or Marittima
Many Istria catamarans arrive at the San Basilio terminal in Dorsoduro, or depending on the operator in the Stazione Marittima / Porto di Venezia area. Be sure to check the exact pier on your ticket.
San Basilio is ideally located for Dorsoduro, the Accademia, Peggy Guggenheim and Santa Maria della Salute — usually a 10–20 minute walk. St Mark’s Square is more like 30–40 minutes on foot; the vaporetto can be quicker, but allow for the walk to the stop, waiting times and crowds.
What you can fit into 5–6 hours in Venice
San Marco, focused
From San Basilio towards San Marco. St Mark’s Square from the outside plus one main ticketed sight — the Doge’s Palace or an interior visit to St Mark’s Basilica. Lunch in a bacaro, stroll towards the Rialto. The Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica together are very tight within the catamaran time window.
Dorsoduro without stress
Directly on foot from San Basilio: the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the Salute church, the Accademia Bridge with its Grand Canal view. A cicchetti lunch in a bacaro. Fewer crowds than at St Mark’s Square, no vaporetto needed.
Islands only for repeat visitors
With only five hours on site, Murano + Burano are not recommended for first-time visitors — almost everything in Venice itself would be missed, and the risk of missing the return boat increases. Better suited to repeat visitors.
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 rules. Booking ahead is highly advisable in high season; check current prices, time slots and cancellation rules officially.
Keep an eye on your valuables
⚠️ Venice access fee 2026 — does not apply on every ferry day
Umag day visitors only have to pay the Contributo di Accesso if their specific travel date is an official CDA day and they enter Venice’s historic centre between 8:30am and 4pm. In 2026, the fee applies on designated days between 3 April and 26 July. It is €5 if paid no later than the fourth day before your visit; after that €10. Children under 14 do not pay.
Important: The CDA days do not automatically fall on every ferry day. Before booking, check whether your specific Umag–Venice date is marked red in the official calendar. Without proof of payment or exemption, administrative fines and back payments are possible; the authoritative source is always the official portal cda.ve.it. You can find the full calendar on our entry fee page.
What to bring
- Original identity card or passport — Croatia and Italy are both in the Schengen area; scheduled border checks are not normally to be expected. A valid travel document is still mandatory for boarding, identity checks and emergencies. Children need their own document.
- Catamaran booking voucher (printout or on your smartphone).
- Venice CDA voucher with QR code, if your travel date is a designated day.
- Some cash in euros for small bars, tips, toilets or kiosks; larger payments are usually possible by card.
- Comfortable shoes — lots of bridges, no car traffic, plenty of walking.
- Sun protection and a water bottle — in high summer; the city has free drinking fountains.
Frequently asked questions about the Umag → Venice ferry
When does the Umag → Venice ferry run?
Seasonally in 2026, mainly in high summer, with selected weekly dates. The day of the week, departure and return times vary by date — check with the operator (Kompas / Adriatic Lines) or in the specific booking offer before booking. Outside the season there is no direct connection; in that case use the car or other Istrian ports, some of which have a longer season.
How much does the day trip cost?
Often from around €84–89 per adult for the crossing, depending on date, operator and fees. Child discounts and infant rules depend on the fare. Add a vaporetto ticket in Venice if needed and, on designated CDA days, the access fee (€5 if paid no later than the fourth day before your visit, after that €10). Calculate your actual daily costs separately based on your programme.
How long does the crossing take?
Depending on the operator, route and sea conditions, usually around 3.5 hours, longer in unfavourable conditions. If you are prone to seasickness, check with a pharmacy or doctor in advance which remedies are suitable and when to take them.
Where does the ferry dock in Venice?
Depending on the operator, at the San Basilio terminal in Dorsoduro or in the Stazione Marittima / Porto di Venezia area. Check the exact pier on your ticket. From San Basilio it is usually a 10–20 minute walk to the Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim, more like 30–40 minutes to St Mark’s Square.
Do I need a passport?
Croatia and Italy are both in the Schengen area; scheduled border checks are not normally to be expected. A valid original identity card or passport is still mandatory for boarding and identity checks. Children need their own travel document.
Can I manage St Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica in one day?
With 5–6 hours on site, a focused plan is better: San Marco from the outside plus one main ticketed sight, or Dorsoduro/Accademia/Salute plus the Rialto. The Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica together are very tight within the catamaran time window. St Mark’s Basilica, the Pala d’Oro, the Campanile and the Doge’s Palace have their own ticket and time-slot rules; booking ahead in high season makes sense, check the current rules officially.
What happens in a storm or bad weather?
The connection crosses the open Adriatic on a high-speed catamaran. In the event of bora, sirocco, thunderstorms, rough seas, technical or operational reasons, the sailing may be delayed, changed or cancelled. Rebooking and refunds depend on the fare and operator — check the conditions in the specific offer.
Are tickets transferable or refundable?
Cancellation, rebooking and name changes depend on the chosen operator and fare. Check the conditions of the specific offer before booking. It is safer to enter names correctly straight away.
Are there also connections from other Istrian ports?
Yes — Poreč, Rovinj, Pula and Piran also have seasonal Venice connections. Season, frequency, crossing time and price differ by port and operator; take the specific figures directly from the operators’ current timetables. Overview of all ports → Catamaran from Istria — complete guide.