AIR: TO/ FROM
THE AIRPORT
Most visitors will land at Marco Polo airport, 12km
from Venice. To get there catch bus 5 from Piazzale
Roma (€2.60). A few charter flights land at Treviso's
tiny airport, about 35km (21.5mi) north of Venice.
TRAIN
Trains leave Venice for Padua, Verona, Trieste, Milan,
Bologna, Florence and Rome, plus other destinations
like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France
(Paris-Venice takes 9.5 hours including the change at
Milan) and the former Yugoslavia. Trains from the east
(Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary etc) require a change at
Trieste. The Orient Express runs between Venice and
London via Verona, Zurich and Paris twice weekly from
March to November.
Venezia - Santa Lucia
is the main train station, don't
get off at Venezia Mestre unless you want to see the
suburbs on the mainland. Venice does not have a
suburban train system. However day trips are possible
to Ferrara (1.5 hours), Mestre, Padua and Ravenna.
Check the TrenItalia site www.trenitalia.it
for more details or phone the Stazione Santa Lucia
tel. 041 147 88 80 88. Venice is linked to major
cities around Italy.
BUS
From Piazzale Roma ACTV buses (across the canal from
Santa Lucia Train Station) leave for Mestre, Chioggia,
Padua and other places like London (30 hours). There
is an office in the piazza with tickets and more
information. For major destinations however train is
probably a better option. Tel. 041 528 7886
DRIVING
Driving into Italy, the main points of entry are the
Mont Blanc tunnel from France at Chamonix (currently
closed following the March 1999 fire), the Grand St
Bernard tunnel from Switzerland and the Brenner Pass
from Austria. Once in Italy, the A4 is the quickest
way to reach Venice from east or west, connecting
Turin with Trieste, and passing through Milan and
Mestre. No driving is permitted on any of the Venetian
islands so once over the Ponte della Libertà from
Mestre, cars must be left at one of the expensive car
parks in Piazzale Roma or on the island of Tronchetto.
Cars can be left in the car park after you cross the
bridge from Mestre (there is a daily rate of more than
10 Euros). The cheapest option is to park at Fusina,
near Mestre and get a vaporetto (take no. 16 to
Zattere, and then No. 82 to Piazza San Marco or the
train station).
VAPORETTO
This is the best, if not only, means of getting around
Venice and its islands.
Some useful numbers to remember:
No. 1: Piazzale Roma - Grand Canal - San Marco - Lido
No. 82: As above but faster
No. 12: Fondamenta Nuove - Murano - Burano - Torcello
No. 16: Mestre - Zattere.
GONDOLAS
This is the quintessential romantic Venetian
experience but be prepared to pay for it. Some of the
gondola men will bargain but it is usually about 50
Euros (some gondolas will allow several people in for
that price).
BOAT
Fares are subject to the season with low, high and mid ranges. High season
this year from Italy is July 4 to August 10.
Ferries leave Venice for Croatia (summer) and Greece (year round).
Kompas Italia (tel. 041 528 6548) goes to Croatia, and day trips to the
Istrian peninsula.
Minoan Lines (tel. 041 271 2345), Porto Venezia, has ferries leaving for
Greece. www.minoan.gr
Stazione Maritima is where you can catch ferries to the Adriatic ports in
Albania, Croatia and Greece.
Ustica Lines http://www.ustica.it leaves from Venice for Croatia. (Tel.
+39-041-2712646).
From Venice (Italy) to Parenzo (Croatia)
seasonal departure with catamaran (pax
only) (Tue/Wed/Fri). From Venice (Italy)
to Rovinj (Croatia) seasonal departure
with catamaran (only pax) (Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat)
Adriatica - www.adriatica.it
- goes to Croazia, Albania and the former
Yugoslavia.
Venice is not a good city to hitch to or from because it is a series of
islands and you can not actually access the central points of the city
except by ferry or train. You would be best to make your way across to
Mestre first by train and see if you can hitch on the mainland to your next
port of call.
TAXI
The Venice version of a taxi is the water taxi, but
they are expensive. Stick to the public Vaporetti.
CAR/MOTORCYCLE
No driving is permitted on any of the Venetian
islands. Cars can be left in the car park after you
cross the bridge from Mestre (there is a daily rate of
more than 10 Euros), on the island ofTronchetto or at
Piazzale Roma. The cheapest option is to park at
Fusina, near Mestre and get a vaporetto (take no. 16
to Zattere, and then No. 82 to Piazza San Marco or the
train station).
HITCH-HIKING
The closest point you can hitch into Venice is Mestre.
From there get a train or boat across. Vaporetto no.
16 goes to Zattere, then take No. 82 to Piazza San
Marco or the train station.
TICKETS
Vaporetto tickets can be purchased either as a single trip, day pass, or 3
day pass for varying amounts. The day or 3-day passes have unlimited
journeys and are the most economic means of travelling. These passes can
only be bought at ticket offices. You need a ticket before you get onboard.
Ticket inspectors will issue you a ticket but may also fine you (so be
careful even if you arrive early in the morning).
