best way to get from Venice (VCE) airport to mainland hotel in Venice?

If you’re not on a budget, a water taxi is an amazing way to get into Venice, take in some sights, and basically be delivered right to your hotel. It’s about 120€.

Where is your hotel? If it's near Piazzale Roma (where buses and cars can go in Venice) or even near the nearby train station, I'd just take a bus from from the airport directly there. (There are two different bus companies operating buses for the same price I believe; one is an express, one isn't.) If your hotel is somewhere not near Piazzale Roma or the train station, a water bus (Alilaguna) from the airport might get you there quicker.

https://www.alilaguna.it/en

Not sure a water taxi is feasible for a 'mainland hotel'

What hotel are you going to?

Knowing a destination will help others identify what your options are

Ahhh... It really depends where your hotel is. Near the Santa Lucia train station in town? Near St. Mark's Square? Somewhere else? It would be best to ask them directly if there will be a Vaporetto ride involved. Rick covers it quite well in his guidebook, but if you want websites try:

https://www.venice-information.com/Transportation-in-Venice.html

or

https://www.veneziaunica.it/en/content/public-transport

I have used water taxi's (which leave from behind the airport and go around the city; 90 minutes to St Mark's Square) and buses to the Venice Mestre train station where you can catch trains going out from Venice without having to go into the city... Or into the Santa Lucia station from which you can get on all of the Vaporetto routes very easily.

hey hey amckiszka
where in venice is your hotel? always keep name and address of hotel in your paper work, phone or money belt. so easy and no time wasting looking for it.
my best for you and your family is a private water taxi, about 120E from airport, best way to arrive in venice.
motoscafivenezia.it
your family and luggage all together and they take you as close as they can to hotel location. we have done it 5 times and love it. after you settle in your place then you can ride the vaporetta or alilaguna.com thru the grand canal or roam around getting lost on an adventure. have fun and enjoy
aloha

If your hotel is indeed on the mainland, a water taxi is unlikely to be helpful. A city bus or land taxi would be your best option.

OP, your question is a bit confusing. Venice proper is not on the mainland. It is an island. The mainland area is Venice Mestre. So where, exactly is your hotel? Providing the name of your hotel would help immensely in answering your questions.

Assuming you are staying in Venice proper and not the real "mainland", there are three main ways to get from the airport to your hotel.

First: You can take a water taxi but it is the most expensive. A private one cost about 100-120 Euros. There is a cheaper shared water taxi system now but we haven't used it and can't comment.

Second: There is the Alilaguna boat. It takes longer, and it's not scenic, but it is less expensive.

Third: The least expensive is a combination bus and vaporetto (vap.). It takes longer still, but it will give you a trip on at least part of the Grand Canal and be easy on the budget as well.

There are two bus lines serve the airport. One is ATVO and is NOT affiliated with the vap. system. The other is ACTV and IS affiliated with the vap. system. At the airport you can get a vap. pass for various periods and can have a one or two way bus fare added to it A good site maintained by the ACTV system has current prices and such. Don't remember the url so just Google it.

If you take the third option, take the # 5 ACTV bus from the airport to Piazzale Roma. Then take vap. #1 or #2 (depending on where your hotel is in relation to the vap. stops) down the Grand Canal . We've made that trip many times. Easy peasy.

Be sure to validate the vap. pass on the bus. Do not wait until you get on the vap. Also, validate the pass each time you use the vap.

There is a site called veniceforvisitors.com that has a lot of good info. that you might want to check out .

Thank you all for the great info! I can't believe I forgot to add the name of the hotel -- it's the Pensione Guerrato.
I think we'll do the combination bus and vaporetto (vap).

The public transport (Alilaguna- not sure of the spelling) works well enough during normal business hours. If you have a super early or late flight you might consider Motoscafi for a private taxi. I have used the private taxi many times and it is great to be dropped off close to your hotel.

Easy peasy way to get to your hotel. From Piazzale Roma, take the # 1 vaporetto and get off at the Mercato (or Rialto Mercato) stop. It will be on the "right" side of the canal, and is the stop after Ca' d Oro which is on the "left" side of the canal. Do not go all the way to Rialto Bridge -- you will have cross over the bridge and have a much longer walk to the hotel.

When you get off the vaporetto at the Mercato stop, walk straight ahead through an arched doorway. There will be a small plaza slightly to your left and right. Turn right and walk straight. If there are a lot of vendors in the walking area, be sure they are all on your right side so you do not miss the next turn. Just before you get to the place where the building juts out in front of you, turn left on a small street named Calle drio la Scimia and look for the your hotel's sign up and on the left.

You may be able to use Google Maps Street View to "walk" the route before you leave home. It takes a bit of practice to make the images show you the way, but it is definitely worth it. Hope this helps.