Venice Marco Polo Airport to City Center: ATVO Express and ACTV AeroBus to Piazzale Roma, Alilaguna Boats and Taxi

The ATVO Express bus and the ACTV Line 5 AeroBus both reach Piazzale Roma in about 20 minutes from the airport, which sits at Tessera, about 8 miles (13 km) north of the city, and an AeroBus plus a 90-minute Rete Unica ticket costs €18. Airport trips have their own fare, separate from the regular city one, and tickets must be validated at the start of each journey and at every change of vehicle.

At a glance

• Fast bus lines: ATVO Express and ACTV Line 5 AeroBus
• Travel time: about 20 minutes to Piazzale Roma
• Fare: from €10 one way (ACTV), from €18 round trip (ACTV) or by Alilaguna boat
• ATVO departure point: Exit D, second lane, stop no. 3 for Venice and no. 4 for Mestre
• AeroBus departure point: bus lane near the arrivals exit (gate B)
• ATVO ticket office: arrivals hall, 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.

What is the best way to get from Venice Marco Polo Airport to the city center?

Venice has several ways in from the airport. The buses reach Piazzale Roma in about 20 minutes, the Alilaguna boats take 1 to 1.5 hours, and taxis run around the clock.

• ATVO Express bus: 20 minutes to Piazzale Roma, no intermediate stops, for most travelers
• ACTV Line 5 AeroBus: about 20 minutes to Piazzale Roma, ticket from €10 one way
• ACTV lines 15 and 45: to Mestre centre and Mestre railway station
• Alilaguna boat: 1 to 1.5 hours, from €18, to Venice and the islands of Murano, Burano and Lido
• Taxi: available 24 hours a day, for groups, heavy luggage or a late arrival

Budget travelers will want a bus. Travelers with luggage or in a group can take a taxi from the ground floor in front of the terminal. Those heading for the islands can take the boat. For a late arrival, the taxi is the service listed as running around the clock.

How do you take the metro or bus from Venice Marco Polo Airport?

Two buses go to Piazzale Roma. The ATVO Express runs direct with no intermediate stops. The ACTV Line 5 AeroBus also takes about 20 minutes. Lines 15 and 45 serve Mestre centre and Mestre railway station. From Piazzale Roma, the city’s urban navigation line leads on to points across Venice, including St Mark’s Square.

ACTV sells a one-way airport ticket (75 minutes) from €10 and a return ticket (2 bus journeys) from €18. The Alilaguna boat starts at €18.

The airport trip has a separate fare from the city one. The 75-minute AeroBus ticket allows route and vehicle transfers on the mainland road and tram networks. A ticket bought in the app is activated 3 minutes before boarding. Other tickets must be validated at the start of each journey and at each change of vehicle.

ATVO Express buses leave from Exit D, second lane. Stop no. 3 is for Venice and stop no. 4 is for Mestre. The main ATVO ticket office in the arrivals hall is open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. The ACTV AeroBus leaves from the bus lane near the arrivals exit (gate B).

• ATVO Express, Piazzale Roma: 20 minutes, no stops
• ACTV Line 5 AeroBus, Piazzale Roma: about 20 minutes, from €10
• ACTV lines 15 and 45, Mestre: for the centre and the railway station

How much is a taxi from Venice Marco Polo Airport to the city center?

Ask the driver for the price before getting in.

The bus takes about 20 minutes to Piazzale Roma from €10 per person.

Arriving late at Venice Marco Polo Airport: what are your options?

If you land near midnight, a transfer booked ahead or a room near the airport are sensible plans. For the trip back, the same ATVO and ACTV buses run from Piazzale Roma, about 30 minutes on Line 5, and Mestre station has the ATVO Mestre Express, which takes 20 to 25 minutes.

How do you get from Venice Marco Polo Airport to the ferry port?

Follow the light-blue Trasporti via d’acqua signs. The blue and orange lines connect lagoon points directly with the airport.

The standard 75-minute Rete Unica ticket excludes all Alilaguna services, so buy a separate boat ticket, from €18. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the crossing, and leave extra time before any sailing.

Renting a car at Venice Marco Polo Airport

The airport has over 6,000 official parking spaces near the terminal. Venice can be visited entirely on foot, so a car is useful mainly for onward trips. Authorities fine drivers without the proper permits in historic downtown areas of Italian cities. Cameras photograph license plates, and fines are sent to the driver’s home in the United States. Seat belt use is mandatory, and outside cities you must always use headlights. Rural roads are generally narrow and often have no guardrails. If stopped in a car registered abroad, be ready to pay a ticket in cash in local currency.