Being a relatively small and compact city (it takes 45-minute to walk from North to South) and whose main points of interest are situated just a short distance from each other, visiting Venice on foot is the ideal solution. However, other means of transportation are available:
- VAPORETTOS/WATERBOATS
First of all, what is a vaporetto? An efficient network of water bus routes covers the entire city and includes transportation to the islands. The service is active 24/24h but runs less frequently between 9.30pm and 6am.
Where to buy your ticket: Although paper tickets are available at the main boarding points and from authorized resellers displaying the ACTV logo, electronic tickets can also be pre-purchased online at www actv.it.
What kind of ticket? There are 6 different types of tickets ranging from hourly tickets to a weekly pass for unlimited travel on almost all lines. Although passes allow you to save on official rates, they are only recommended for long-term visits.
2. GONDOLA
A must and a dream: These traditional means of transport are among the best-known tourist attractions for those wishing to experience a view of Venice that is anything but pedestrian. They are used almost exclusively by tourists, and by Venetians on their wedding days.
What kind of gondola? The only official organisation of Gondoliers “Associazione Gondolieri” offers 10 standard city tours on the so-called da nolo gondolas (the most elegant ones, symbol of the city), covering the area from the main train station to St. Mark’s Square. Gondole traghetto (ferry gondolas) are less elegant but more useful: they are used by passengers to go to and from each side of the Grand Canal, mostly on transport strike days.
3. INTERNATIONAL LIMOUSINE SERVICE
A limo in Venice is called a motoscafo (motorboat) or luxury water taxi. An elegant motorized motorboat service is the best choice to move faster than the iconic gondolas and avoid the crowds of public ferries.
International Limousine Service is a company providing luxury means of transportation and excursion with exclusive comfort both in Venice and to the islands. The destinations it covers are: Marco Polo Airport, the most important hotels in Venice, the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello, and the Fenice Opera House. Upon request, International Limousine Service can organise guided tours of the main monuments, churches and museums in Venice, accompanied by licensed guides.
