Traghetti and other Venice, Italy Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: If you want to cross the Grand Canal and you're nowhere near a bridge then your best option is the traghetti which act as ferries across the canal (traghetto means ferry in Italian I think). The Traghetti are a fleet of retired Gondolas, stripped of their finery and down to the bare essentials. They cross the Grand Canal at seven points (all usually shown on any good street map) for a fee of around 40cents or 0.4Euros....pay as you get off if memory serves me correctly?

Small yellow Traghetto signs direct you to a crossing point (a small wooden pier) and the boats run pretty much continuously. Sometimes a route will be taken out of service so if you can't see any of the traghetti going to/from the landing then you know to go find a bridge or jump on the number 1 waterbus which goes alternately to opposite banks of the canal each stop.

If you're brave then make the crossing standing up like the locals....personally I'm a bit worried about falling in the canal :o( You can sit if you want to.

They are obviously not suitable for babies in pushchairs or big suitcases etc.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: Posh way of travelling around Venice. ALWAYS agree a price before you get in as there is no meter.

We had a water taxi to go from the Savoia and Jolanda hotel to Palazzo Pisani-Moretta to a ball - not a great distance - and when we got out I thought the skipper said 16 Euros and what he actually said was 60 Euros! I nearly fell in the canal with shock as I hadn't checked the price beforehand.

It's a nice way to pull up at a waterside hotel though

Leave a Comment

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: The nicest airport to arrive at Venice. The best value way to get to the main island is the Alilaguna (see my transport tip).

The first time, on my return, I couldn't find Departures for love nor money! After 10 minutes of wandering around aimlessly I located Departures on the upper level (accessed either via the escalator in the main entrance or the lifts, either side of the man entrance just inside).

There is a quick self check-in kiosk for Lufthansa (I think it was). I didn't see any others but to be honest I only noticed this one because we were early for check in and so sat on the floor next to it!

As you fly in, the views on a clear day are spectacular; you fly over the Dolomites, the Adriatic, and the Venetian Lagoon and you also get your first view of the city itself, with the Campanile and the Grand Canal! The Captain of our BMIbaby flight pointed out the Matterhorn and Lake Geneva during our flight. We were flying over the mountains for ages and it was a beautifully clear day.

You can still see the Campanile on a clear day while you sit and wait to board your plane.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 041 541 5133
Website: http://www.veniceairport.it/core/index.jsp?m=01

'Mode': TO
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: Catch this boat to the main island having arrived at VCE Marco Polo airport. You can buy your ticket from the Alilaguna stall in the airport or pay on the boat. Cost 10Euros one way.

You locate the landing stage as follows:
Go out of the front entrance and look for the shuttle bus OR
Go out of the front entrance and turn left, go along the pavement inside the covered walkway, you will come across an opening in the canopy on your left, go out here and cross the road. Carry on almost straight ahead, with the short edge of the car park on your left. Follow the path all the way round and after a couple of minutes you will see the water up ahead (the water taxis are straight infront of you) and the landing stage for the Alilaguna is to your right. You'll find shelter and refreshments in the building on the left. I have walked this route twice with all my luggage and it's quite manageable - 5 minutes walk at the most.

The Alilaguna has two routes - blue line and red line - each run every hour so there is a boat every half an hour. There are boards showing the routes but they both stop at the main points such as Lido and San Marco. The boat takes an hour to get to St Marks (San Marco) and is a nice way to get to the main island.

The chaps who run the boats will load all the cases on the upper area and all the passengers sit lower down at the front and back. You need to know where you're getting off as they will shout the name of the stop a few times but if you're not concentrating it doesn't wait for long. The seats are a bit cramped (especially when you're clutching a giant gown cover bag with your carnival costume in) and although there are lots of windows it's not easy to take photographs.

Leave a Comment

Website: http://www.alilaguna.it/?lang=en