Getting to San Marco Dream
Getting to San Marco Dream
Navigating to and around a city with no roads can seem daunting, but Venice's transportation system is well-organized and efficient. From the San Marco Vallaresso Vaporetto stop, the apartment is a convenient 3-minute walk with no bridges, ideal for those with luggage. Enter the "Sottoportego" (passage), turn right, and the apartment is on the first floor, at the first door.
How to Get to Venice
Arriving by Air – Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
Most travelers arrive at VCE, just outside the city. Here are your best options to reach the apartment near San Marco:
Alilaguna Water Bus: Scenic & Direct
- Public ferry with luggage space, departs every ~30–45 minutes
- Lines:
- Orange Line (year-round) – slower but scenic
- Red Line (April–November) – faster
- Stop: San Marco Vallaresso or San Marco Giardinetti
- Walk to Apartment: ~3 min, flat path, no bridges
- Time: ~1 hour / Cost: ~€18 per person
ATVO Express Bus – Fast & Inexpensive
- Non-stop coach to Piazzale Roma (Venice’s road entrance)
- From Piazzale Roma:
- Take vaporetto Line 1 to San Marco Vallaresso
- Or Line 2 to Rialto, then walk ~7 min
- Time: ~25 min bus + 30 min vaporetto
- Cost: €10 bus + ~€9.50 vaporetto
ACTV City Bus (Line 5) – Budget Option
- Local city bus to Piazzale Roma
- Same transfer options as ATVO above
Private Water Taxi – Fastest, Most Direct, and for some, a Must Do Experience
- Picks you up at the airport dock, drops you ~50 meters from the apartment with an open air scenic view of Venice as you cruise on the water
- Cost: ~€100–150 total (can be shared with others)
- Time: ~30–40 minutes
Treviso Airport (TSF) – Budget Airline Hub
- 70-minute ATVO bus to Piazzale Roma
- Then follow vaporetto options above
Arriving by Train – Venezia Santa Lucia Station
- Located right on the Grand Canal
- Options from the station:
- Vaporetto Line 1 to San Marco Vallaresso (~45 min, scenic)
- Line 2 to Rialto, then ~7 min walk
- Walk 25–30 min, a beautiful but winding route through the city
Driving to Venice
Cars are not allowed in the historic center. Park outside and continue by water or foot.
- Closest options:
- Piazzale Roma – expensive, ~€35/day
- Tronchetto – larger, slightly cheaper
- Park5 – offsite with shuttle, ~€13/day (recommended)
- From any parking, take a vaporetto to San Marco Vallaresso
Navigating Venice: Tickets, Passes, and Discounts
Once in Venice, your primary modes of transport will be your own two feet and the Vaporetto (water bus) network, managed by ACTV.
- Single Tickets: A standard one-way vaporetto ticket is quite expensive (currently €9.50) and is valid for 75 minutes from validation. This is not economical for multiple journeys.
- ACTV Travel Cards: The most cost-effective option for tourists is a timed travel card, which offers unlimited travel on all vaporetto lines (excluding Alilaguna and airport routes) and local buses in Mestre and Lido.
- 1 Day Ticket: €25
- 2 Day Ticket: €35
- 3 Day Ticket: €45
- 7 Day Ticket: €65
- Prices are subject to change and should be verified on the official website.
- Venezia Unica City Pass: This is the official customizable tourist pass for Venice. You can build your own pass online, pre-loading it with transport, museum entries, church access, and more. This can offer significant savings and allows you to skip ticket lines. It is highly recommended to plan your itinerary and purchase this pass online before your trip. (Venezia Unica Website)
- Discounts:
- Rolling Venice Card: Visitors aged 6 to 29 can purchase the Rolling Venice Card for €6. This card then entitles them to buy a 3-day travel pass for a significantly reduced price (currently €27 instead of €45) and offers other discounts on attractions and shops.
- Chorus Pass: If you plan to visit multiple churches, the Chorus Pass is an excellent investment. For a single fee (currently around €12), it grants access to 15 of Venice’s most important churches, saving you money on individual entry fees. (Chorus Pass Website)
- Museum Passes: The museums managed by the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (MUVE), including the Doge’s Palace and Museo Correr, offer a single “Museum Pass” that provides entry to all their sites for one price, valid for 6 months. This is often included as an option in the Venezia Unica Pass.
TAXI services
- +39 041-5229040 Venice Water taxi (operating 24 h)
- +39 041-5964 Radio Taxi Venice
- +39 041-2609260 Venice Airport