Confused how to arrive at our hotel from train station Venice via waterbus

Have you tried Google Maps? I simply input the name of your hotel, then I hit the arrow for directions and input “train station, Venice.” Google Maps shows how to walk there in 13 mInutes or that you can take the vaporetto (waterbus) two stops to San Marcuola and walk 6 minutes.

Will you be there a few days? A vaporetto pass may benefit you as individual rides are expensive. There is a kiosk outside the train station, canal side, where you can buy tickets and passes.

Did they provide any directions other than a point on a map? I would try to get better directions from the hotel.

From a quick look, you have several choices: the #1 or #2 to S. Marcuola/Casino stop, or the #4.1 or #5.1 to either S. Alvise or Orto. The 4.1/5.1 option to Orto looks like the quickest on the map, but, well ... one never knows in Venice.

Google Maps suggests walking the whole route (11 minute walk), or taking the #1 or #2 to S. Marcuola/Casino (15 minutes + the waiting time for a vaporetto).

There is a well-marked ACTV (vaporetto) booth just outside the train station. I would strongly recommend getting a vaporetto pass for however many days you are there. Single fares are outrageously expensive. Just go ahead and get the pass as soon as you arrive, regardless of whether you walk or ride to the hotel.

It's hard to miss he kiosks for the vaporetto (water bus) in Venice as you exit the train station and see the crowds and lines in front of you with the grand canal beyond (it's a stunning introduction to Venice). You can try to buy tickets from machines and pay with your credit card or wait in a line and buy from a person.

Whether or not you buy a vaporetto pass depends on how much you love to walk. The pass is probably worth it if you will be there a few days. But, it's not impossible just to walk to your hotel from the station. I'd probably do it now if going back. But, I usually have only carry-on bags when I travel and am used to carrying them a ways. Some people have a lot of bags so that's not really practical.

I second the recommendation of Google Maps - on your smart phone if you have one. It will help you navigate in real time to anywhere from anywhere - by walking and/or varporetto. (It will guide you to the fastest way; sometimes walking is the fastest.) I've been to Venice a few times and navigated with a paper map and a smart phone - and greatly prefer the phone. If people tell you you need to "get lost in Venice to have a true experience," go ahead and do that...once. But it's not as much fun when it's late at night and you are tired and just want to get back to your hotel as quickly as possible.

Just to clarify, your hotel is the one in the Cannareggio district, in the far north of Venice? If so, it looks like you can take the 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, or 5.2 vaporetto from the train station, and get off at either the S. Alvise or Orto stop, followed by a short walk. You can buy your tickets (or passes for 1, 2, 3, or 7 days) at the vaporetto stop in front of the train station. With tickets being 7.5 euros a pop, the multi-day passes can be a good deal. Looks like a nice location where you're staying - have fun!

One more thing, if you have a smartphone, a good map app is a godsend in Venice. I always use MapsWithMe because I can use it without a data connection. When I first visited Venice about 5 years ago, MapsWithMe was also considerably more accurate in showing bridges and walkways than Google Maps.

You can pre-download to Google Maps nowadays, I think, and I suspect that Google Maps' accuracy has improved as well.

And yet one more thing ...
When I looked up your hotel on Google Maps, I noticed that you are really close to Row Venice (rowvenice.org), one of my favorite things to do in Venice. Basically, they teach you how to row in the Venetian style. It's a non-profit organization, and the instructors are super passionate about both rowing and Venice. If you have time, it's worth doing. You do have to make reservations, though.

You can pre-download to Google Maps nowadays, I think, and I suspect that Google Maps' accuracy has improved as well.

Yes, but without a data connection, you can use Google Maps "offline" only for driving directions. In Venice, obviously it's not of much use. With data, Google Maps gives you not only walking directions but vaporetto options too. Just tell it where you want to go from where you are now, and it will tell you which vaporetto to walk to right now, how to walk there, etc.

A couple more things from me - with either a ticket or a pass, you need to validate before getting on the vaporetto platform, by holding it up to the circular thingy until it beeps (you need to do this each time with the passes). Also, you'll be very close to where you get the vaporetto to visit the islands of the lagoon (Murano, Burano, Torcello), and you will need passes in order to do that.

Hello. We will be there from 6 December to 11 December. We hadn't planned on visiting any of the islands outside of Venice at this point, preferring to stay put in Venice. Would a vaporetto pass still be beneficial for us? I read that Venice is extremely walkable, hadn't really thought about getting a pass at this point. Would depend on the price if we would find it worth our while. Considering we will be arriving in the afternoon on the 6th, we would most likely have four full days of use. The hotel gave me very good directions once we get off the vaporetto. My confusion is what vaporetto to take from S. Lucia and what stop to get off at? Yes, our hotel is in the Cannareggio district. Had heard it would probably be the best district for us to stay in. Row Venice sounds interesting, but not so sure the weather would cooperate. The only app I currently have on my phone is Google maps, which to be honest, hasn't been that great in navigating me around other European cities. Out of the major sites, is there anything that we should be pre-booking for instead of just walking up to visit? Such as Saint Marks Basilica and Doge's Palace? Thanks in advance.

A seven-day vaporetto pass costs 60 euros, the equivalent of eight individual fares. In other words, if you expect to take more than eight rides while you're in Venice, the pass will save you money. It will also save you time buying individual tickets, and maybe save you energy by encouraging you to take the vaporetto instead of walking when you're tired. I got way more than my money's worth with a three-day pass last month -- admittedly, some of that was because of getting on the wrong boat, or the right boat going the wrong way, mistakes that would have been painful at 7.50 euros a pop but were merely entertaining with the pass.

A trip to any of the islands will be two rides. A trip along the length of the Grand Canal -- certainly a worthwhile part of any visit -- will be at least one more. Your trips from the station to near your hotel and back, with luggage, will be two more. So that's five trips minimum and you'll certainly appreciate the vaporetto at other times. I probably rode it ten times in three days -- though admittedly I'm a boat-ride junkie.

candi,

One important point to mention with Vaporetti tickets. You must validate these on the electronic reader prior to boarding the boat or you'll risk hefty fines, which will be collected on the spot. You may find this helpful - https://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/venice-vaporetto-fares.htm .

When you exit Venezia S. Lucia station through the front doors, walk down the steps towards the boats and you should see a ticket office on the left side.

This gives the directions and shows an overhead map:

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Venezia-Santa-Lucia-Station/Ai-Mori-d-Oriente-Venice

You can move the map with your fingers to enlarge it to show all of the street names.

Another set of directions: https://europeforvisitors.com/venice/directions/ai-mori-d-oriente.htm

I'd just walk it. Assuming you don't have awkward luggage and are capable, it looks to be very straight forward on the map (and only 2 bridges).

Candi, even though Venice is very walkable, I would still get a vaporetto pass -- maybe a 3-day pass. Your hotel is a good distance from St. Mark's and the main attractions. Walking it twice a day every day might get tiresome. If you want to visit the Accademia or Dorsoduro, you are in for a substantial hike. Also, if it's raining or cold, you will be glad to have the pass. The pass gives you a lot of options.

If you think you will ride the vaporetto more than 5 times, which is very likely, a 3-day pass makes sense.

Just to give you an idea, on our last trip I was averaging 14,000 - 20,000 steps a day (~6-10 miles) from our base in San Polo with a vaporetto pass. Without the vaporetto pass, I would add at least 50% to those numbers. I don't know how much walking you are accustomed to doing.

In addition to the previous comments about a pass making sense financially after only a few trips, I'd also suggest that riding the water buses around Venice is, for us anyway, one of the top "sights" in itself. So even if you don't use them too often simply to get from "A to B" (& you may do more than you antcipate, the crowds can make walking wearisome), you might well want to hop on one just for the journey. Such as a night trip along the Grand Canal or a photogenic "cruise" between the islands. One of my favourite things, for example, isn't St Mark's square (though that is beautiful), but relaxing whilst crossing over and back to the Lido with the great views and pretending to be a modern day doge.

Candi, I have to agree with the comments that suggest walking from S. Lucia. It looks like about a 13 minute walk according to Googlemaps, so even with a backpack (which I highly suggest for Venice) you should be able to make it in under 20 minutes. And it will be a beautiful walk. Email the hotel back, tell them that you want to walk and ask for detailed walking directions. It looks like a great location.

Here are the direction that I would note for myself (I'd memorize and have printed) if I were walking from the train stn to hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente: Get to Ponte della Guglie and cross, continue straight, left at the Y to Rio tera S Leonardo, over the bridge take a Right, next is Left at Calle del Forno, one more bridge to Fondementa della Sensa and take another Right. Hotel has flags, an awning, and red striped poles, easy to spot from that last bridge.
There is a coffee shop after going over the Guglie bridge, Goppion, along the way that has wi-fi in case it's needed. And if you get turned around, don't be shy about popping into a shop and asking for the next "milestone".
I've done vaporetto passes, individual tickets, water taxis, and no vaporetto at all just walking. It all just depends on how much you want to walk, and of course budget. Have a great time in Venice!!!

Hello. Yes, the walk does look relatively easy and takes approximately the same amount of time as the water bus does. My concerns are becoming lost and dragging our suitcases for 13 minutes. Venice is our fourth stop during a three week jaunt through Europe. Both adults will have one average size suitcase and one carry one, each. We have decided on purchasing a three day pass. Are there other areas throughout Venice that we can purchase the Vaporetto pass, or does it need to be purchased at one main area? Thank you.

You can buy the passes at almost any vaporetto stop out of the vending machine with a credit card, although it might require a 4-digit PIN. But as was previously described, in front of the train station has manned ticket windows, so that will be most obvious place to buy them. Here is a photo from Google street view,
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4410258,12.3219131,3a,75y,91.93h,79.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-xPf_tTSBB-isFCrnABmew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Rotate that view 180 deg and you will see the steps and exit from the train station.

Speaking of that. Google street view has Venice well covered. You can "walk" from the vaporetto dock to your hotel. Heck, you can even ride through the canals with it too.

Candi, it looks like you've got your directions and transportation covered.
For the vaporetto, be prepared to pay a little extra for the suitcases once you board. They may or may not charge you, but there is an advertised charge for more than one bag per person. Also, keep your luggage locks on. You will probably be asked to store your larger suitcases in a separate area, for safety purposes. You can stand close to that designated area to keep your eye on your luggage, but then you won't get the great views. Save that for another vaporetto trip.
But I can't let this go by without commenting on the baggage. Have you considered packing lighter to travel in carry-on size bags only? It can easily be done for a 3 week trip, and with several stops, you will have so much less to lug around with you. I just returned from a trip to Italy with a lady who has to travel with her c-pap machine and she was able to do it in just a carry-on rolling backpack and small personal bag. My husband is a 'big and tall" guy, at 6'5" 300lbs, we went last year for a month long trip to both hot and cool climates. If he can do it in a carry-on, anyone can! Just my 2 cents. Have an awesome trip!!

We found the person at the vaporetto ticket sales to be very helpful. We arrived at the train station and were dazzled by the activity as we walked to the docks... I was feeling lazy and unadventurous, so I approached a water taxi operator to inquire about the fee to get to our hotel. He said it'd be 50 euros. The vaporetto ticket office is hard to miss when you walk out of the train station, so we inquired there about the location of our hotel and the cost of the water boat ticket... Turns out the hotel was just ONE stop away and the three-day pass was a HUGE bargain compared to the water taxi. We wound up riding the vaporetto boats exclusively -- and enjoyed it tremendously. So just walk out of the station and have a look... The ticket office will be very obvious.