Venice’s Vaporetto Ferries: prices, routes, and guidebook for using them

Gondolas may be the quintessential symbol of Venice, but they are also expensive. Fortunately, there is a way to see the floating city from the water without paying a fortune, simply by hopping on a vaporetto.

In this post you'll learn how to get around Venice by vaporetto, the routes to consider, how you can save with the transport card and the transport pass and various tips with useful information that will surely help you on your trip.

The most complete option

Venice Transport Card: Vaporetto Pass with Airport Transfer

Travel along the canals with the vaporetto and save on transport costs

The most convenient and flexible way to get around the city of Venice is to buy a transport card which allows you to travel by vaporetto and bus and includes an airport bus.

From £11 at Hellotickets

With the Venice transport card you can make unlimited use of the vaporetto with a single ticket valid for 1, 2, 3, 4 or even up to 7 days. You only need to activate it with the first use at the vaporetto machines or directly on board any bus.

You can also use the buses of the region. If you want to reach your accommodation in comfort or return to the airport for your return flight in peace and quiet, you can also book a 75-minute ticket valid for a bus transfer to or from Marco Polo airport.

Recommended if... You are stressed about getting around in the cities you visit, especially considering the peculiarity of Venice.

The option without transfers

Vaporetto Pass: Venice Transports Pass

Unlimited use of public transport in Venice

An economical and convenient way to get around the city of canals by vaporetto, bus, tram and even train. This ticket does not include airport transfers.

From £11 at Hellotickets

With the Venice Transport Pass, you'll be able to get around the city without any hassle, as you'll have all means of public transport at your fingertips, from vaporettos or water buses to land buses and trains. However, it does not include the bus to or from the airport.

To do this, you only have to choose the duration of the ticket according to your stay: 75 minutes, 1, 2, 3 or 7 full days and, like the transport card, you can activate it when you get on the first means of transport. From then on, the validity time will be calculated in calendar hours according to the ticket you have chosen. Super easy!

Recommended if... You want unlimited use of public transport and want to plan your journey efficiently, but you already have transport to and from the airport covered.

Although cheaper than a gondola, public transport in Venice is quite expensive compared to many other major cities. A single vaporetto ticket costs about 12 euros and is valid for 75 minutes. Children under the age of six travel free and people with reduced mobility get discounts.

However, if you are going to use the vaporetto all day to get around the city, a 1-day pass is worth it. Also, when you book your Venice public transport card you will get a return transfer from the airport to the city centre included. If you don't need airport transfers, you can book a transport pass, which is a bit cheaper.

If you're in Venice for two or three days, buy a card valid for 24 or 48 hours and you 'll save a lot more than with single tickets, as it's very common to use the vaporetto. Your card can also save you money if you're in the city for seven days.

The best way to buy vaporetto tickets is to buy your transport card online in advance. You will forget about having to calculate your journeys once you are there. On the Hellotickets website you can book the Venice Transport Pass Remember: you have many options for the duration, so choose the one that best suits your trip.

If you prefer to do it "on the spot", tickets are also available for purchase in many of the main areas of Venice, not just at the water bus stops. Look out for places displaying the Actv logo including kiosks and supermarkets.

However, be aware that some small shops only accept cash, so make sure you have some coins. You can also buy vaporetto tickets at tourist offices (such as those in Piazzale Roma), online or even via the official AVM Venezia app.

You're in the city of canals! This means you only have two ways to get around Venice: on foot or by water bus. Of course, as much as you might like the idea of walking, constantly moving from island to island is bound to exhaust you, especially if you're determined to explore the more remote corners of Venice.

And if you want to reach the splendid San Giorgio Maggiore or other Venetian islands, you 'll have no choice but to use the vaporetto services. The most cost-effective way to do this is to book a Venice Transport Card.

The vaporetto is the basis of the city' s water bus network. The word itself means 'little steamer', although nowadays the vaporetti do not run on steam, but on diesel. You'll see them all over the city, cruising the Grand Canal, travelling from island to island and stopping at certain points to allow passengers to hop on and off.

Before you book your Venice Transport Pass and set off to explore the city, it's important to be clear about the different routes:

• Vaporetto lines 1 and 2 are very touristy, as they stop along the Grand Canal. However, they are very busy during the tourist season. Vaporetto line 1 stops at almost every stop along its route, while line 2 is more of an express. Both terminate at the Lido and both pass under the Rialto Bridge, one of Venice's most important bridges.

• Lines 4.1 and 4.2 cover the same terrain as the other lines, but run counter-clockwise and clockwise respectively. They are ideal for getting around the main islands of Venice including the interesting island of Murano.

• Lines 5.1 and 5.2 are similar to 4.1 and 4.2 with the exception that the former do not go to Murano. It should also be noted that the (5) lines are faster than the (4) lines. In fact, the latter are perfect for a tour of Venice by vaporetto, as they tend to have fewer tourists than line 1.

• Line 7 runs directly from S. Marco S. Zaccaria to the north of Murano. However, it only runs during the tourist season.

• Line 10 is a short ride between the Lido, St Marks and Zattere.

• Lines 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20 and 22 are all local vaporetti used between the eastern area of the lagoon and northeast of the city and are therefore more for residents than tourists.

These two lines run along the Grand Canal for a distance of 4 kilometres, and are the lines you will use the most and the most used by tourists if you book a Venice Transport Pass.

Waterbus line 1 stops about 15 times and the journey time on the Grand Canal is about 45 minutes. Line 2 is a sort of direct line, only stopping about 7 times on the same route. Travel time is only 30 minutes. If you want to enjoy the ride take line 1 and if you want to get ahead quickly, take the vaporetto line 2.

A vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal is one of the tourist highlights of Venice. The most important stops on these two lines are Ferrovia (the train station) and Piazzale Roma (bus area, trams, car parks). These lines also stop at places of great interest, such as the famous Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square. In addition, vaporetto lines 1 and 2 have the advantage of being very frequent, every few minutes.

To avoid getting lost on your vaporetto routes, review these tips before boarding:

• Vaporetto routes can go in both directions except for the lines with a dot, for example 4.1 and 4.2, as they are specific. Therefore, I recommend you look at the final destination displayed on the vaporetto or, if in doubt, ask before boarding.
• Carry your backpack in your arms on the vaporetto, never on your back. Locals hate this and even have signs telling people how to do it.
• Beware of rush hour, especially in summer. Sometimes, especially in the busy tourist season, the vaporetti are full and crowded. Be especially careful if you have a specific train to catch - be calculating.
• At night in Venice, all routes change, with fewer routes than in the morning. Not all stops are included in the nighttime vaporetto routes, so be sure to choose the right stops after 11pm.
• The N night vaporetto service starts at around 11pm and runs until around 5.30am.
• You can tell whether your vaporetto will stop at a pier or not by checking the map. If the route line passes over the stop, the vaporetto will not stop there.
• It's a good idea to book your Venice Transport Pass in advance to make the most of your stay, especially if you're only going for a few days.

The water bus system covers numerous routes on a fixed schedule. Most lines start running at 5am and end at 11pm, with an average frequency of about 20 minutes between trips.

Here are some other recommendations and practical tips for using Venice's public boats:

• Single tickets are valid for an hour and a quarter journey and cost around €15 including the airbus transfer. If you are in Venice for one day or you are in Venice for two days, buy the 24 or 48 hour card, it will be more cost effective.
• Remember that regardless of when you buy the Venice Transport Card, tickets only start to work once they are validated, so you only need to validate long-term tickets when it suits you, otherwise you will be losing money.
• It is very important that you validate your vaporetto tickets before boarding, otherwise you will be committing fraud. To validate your tickets, simply wave them near one of the small validation machines.
• Not all vaporetto stops have ticket booths, but they all have validation machines.
• Another thing to note is that you will not be asked to show your ticket every time you board a vaporetto, unless there is an inspector on board.

While tourists are always welcome, Venetians would be much happier if everyone respected their city (hence the tourism campaign, #EnjoyRespectVenezia). While the city may seem like a paradise on earth, its residents tend to live a normal, routine life.

Before you book a Venice transport pass and take a vaporetto, be aware that most of the recommendations or rules you'll see on the vaporettos are the same as those you might see on other local transport. Among the rules are: Don't push, remove backpacks, be mindful of other people, don't get in the way of the vaporetto and, above all, be courteous and grateful.

My personal recommendation is not to lean too far over the railing while trying to take that perfect photo as falling into the canals is not a great way to start your Venice holiday.