Top Venice Water Transfers

Travelers on a budget rate the shared Link shuttle, which costs from around US$45 per person for arrival and departure. Travelers looking for their own water taxi praise these private arrival and departure services: Both cost around US$300 for a group of up to six.

Water taxis to and from the Venice airport start at about US$45 per person for a shared shuttle, which has specific pickup and drop-off points and may involve a wait. The price can reach upwards of US$800 for a deluxe private motorboat that picks your group up according to your needs, but typically hovers around US$200–US$400 per boat.

No—many Venice water taxis will take contactless payments nowadays, although a few pilots may still insist on euro cash. If you prebook your Venice airport water taxi online, you don’t need to worry about carrying large sums in cash: Prebooking online can also save you from foreign exchange charges, as you can usually pay in the currency you choose.

It depends. Tipping isn’t required or expected in Venice, whether you received excellent service or not. Having said that, tips are always appreciated. If you felt the service of your water taxi driver was noteworthy, you can throw in a 5–10 percent tip. If not, don’t feel guilty about not tipping.

Yes, you can book water taxis in Venice and hybrid and electric taxis anywhere in Italy with AppTaxi. Let drivers know where you are by entering your address or using GPS. You’ll get a price estimate before paying, and after the ride, you can rate your driver. Meanwhile, the app CheBateo—Venetian slang for “Which water bus?”—will help you navigate the public water bus network.

As the crow flies—or the water taxi drives—the distance from the airport to Venice is slightly less than 4 miles (6 kilometers), and the trip takes about 30 minutes. If you go by car or bus, it’s more than 8 miles (13 kilometers). Depending on traffic, a car can get to Venice’s Piazzale Roma in 15 minutes, while a bus takes closer to 30 minutes.

You have several options. The cheapest and slowest option is the Alilaguna waterbus, which operates several different lines. The popular Link transfer gets you a seat in a shared motorboat, which drops travelers at the closest dock to their hotel from a fixed list. A private water taxi is the fastest and most expensive option, whisking you straight to the nearest dock to your hotel.

The cheapest Venice water transfer from the airport is the Alilaguna water bus, which has a choice of three lines: Tickets cost around US$20. Next cheapest are the Link shared shuttles: Both arrival transfers and departure transfers cost around US$45 per person.

The first thing you should know before booking a Venice water transfer is what dock you need: Waterbuses and Link shuttles stop at a list of specified docks, while private motorboats and water taxis can stop at any dock. You should also be aware of how much luggage you plan to have, as many services restrict the number of bags they will carry. When booking a private transfer, it’s often more cost-effective to choose a service that’s priced per boat than one that’s priced per person. And for some destinations, such as far-off cruise ports, water transfers include a road component.

It depends on your budget, your route, and your schedule. Private water taxis are faster but more expensive, and will stop at the nearest dock to your hotel: Prices start at less than US$200 for a group of up to six. The Link shared shuttles are slower but cheaper: Arrival transfers and departure transfers cost around US$45 per person. The public vaporetto is cheapest—at around US$20 per person with no minimum number of travelers—but also slowest.

The best time to book Venice water transfers is in the off-peak months of spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) when the weather is pleasant and the city is less crowded. Avoid peak tourist seasons in July and August if possible, as these months tend to be hotter and busier, leading to longer wait times.

It depends on the transfer and your hotel. Shared shuttles and waterbuses stop at a set list of public docks, from which you usually need to walk some distance to your hotel. Some Venice hotels have their own dock and private water taxi transfers can bring you directly to it so porters can help with your luggage. Others are set back from the canals, which means a water taxi will bring you to the nearest dock and you’ll need to walk a short distance.

Yes. Venice Santa Lucia Station is right on the Grand Canal and there’s a water taxi dock near the station: You can also prebook a water taxi transfer online to avoid waiting in line. Before you book, check your destination’s location on the map as it may be possible to walk or take a vaporetto (waterbus).

It depends on the port: If your cruise is arriving in Trieste, Ravenna, Chioggia, or Fusina your water transfer will include a road component. If your ship is docking at one of the cruise ports in Venice (San Basilio or Marittima), you can book a private water taxi with no need to transfer via road.

Yes: You can book a Venice water taxi at any time of day or night, although you’ll often pay a premium for early-morning and late-night services. Note that the Link shared shuttle service only operates between 9am and 10pm, and the Alilaguna waterbus service also operates restricted hours (which vary by season).

It depends on the size of the water taxi. Many water taxis have capacity for just six people with one hold bag and one carry-on bag per person, but a few boats have space for as many as 12 travelers plus luggage. Check the passenger and luggage limits under the “Additional Info” tab before you book.