Venice - Alilaguna or Vaporetto from Airport to San Marco

Well you'll pay less with the Alilaguna - 14 euros per person, I believe. They leave about every 30 minutes on the Blue Line. You might also catch the seasonal Red Line, but it doesn't run as late into the evening.

You do realize that the vaporettos do not run from the airport, right?

I think Valerie is comparing the Alilaguna price to a more expensive private water taxi. Since they run directly to San Marco, it's a simpler choice than a bus/vaporetto combination.

Ooops - my bad - you are correct, I was thinking they were referring to a private ride, somehow:)

As always, you have to define "best" (cheapest? fastest? easiest?). How many are in your party? How much luggage will you have?

There are three main ways:

1) Alilaguna from the airport to San Marco. Advantages: 1 seat ride with no changing; affordable. Disadvantage: slow. Note that the Alilaguna system is not the same as the vaporetto system; vaporetti do not go from the airport to Venice.

2) Private water taxi. Advantages: fast and scenic; can often get closer to your hotel than other methods (they can use any dock, not just the standard vaporetto or Alilaguna stops). Disadvantage: very expensive (over €100)

3) Bus to Piazzale Roma, then vaporetto to San Marco. Advantages: least expensive method (particularly if you're also getting a vaporetto pass; you can add the bus fare at a discount, then the pass covers the vaporetto); faster than Alilaguna. Disadvantages; not a 1 seat ride; you have to make your way from the bus to the vaporetto dock.

Rick's Italy and Venice books have details of all these options.

From personal experience, the Aliliguna was much more convenient to the other "affordable" option (the shuttle bus to Piazza Roma). Just make sure they run late enough on your day of travel before you purchase in advance ( Venezia Unica website). If there is any question (making tight connections, etc.), you might want to re-think your options.

Also, keep in mind that it's a bit of a walk to the Aliliguna dock at Marco Polo. If anyone in your group is mobility-challenged, you may want to take the bus (or euro100+ water taxi).

The only thing I was disappointed with IRT the Aliliguna, was that it wasn't quite as romantic or quaint as I had anticipated. There are no seats above deck and while seated inside, you really can't see out the windows. But it is kind of novel - where else can you transfer from a commercial airliner to a boat at the airport?

BTW - baggage claim at Marco Polo was faster than anticipated and passport control & customs was a breeze. within 30 minutes of deplaning, we were on our way.