Ferry travel time from Venice airport to designated stop in Venice

Those mentioned all work. The quickest, albeit most expensive (something around $100 euro) is a water taxi. You can reserve them online at https://www.motoscafivenezia.it/en/ticket/choose-destination.php?gclid=CjwKCAiA9efgBRAYEiwAUT-jtOsIlvtAY0BnJ4nhpJkDEEth9_eAxDstrCQIjwA3DGnNbB_InWCbrRoCiDEQAvD_BwE

Thanks for the link to the water taxis Gordon. I'll look into that as well. I just went to that website and entered the date of arrival, Sunday, May 5, 2019, and got the message that water taxis are not available that day due to some "public event." Oh well.

I thought it would be difficult, but we took the ACTV bus line #5 till the end and then took the vaporetto and it was very easy. At the airport, they have an ACTV location inside the airport outside of the baggage claim area. We had pre-purchased a three day pass online before our trip so they told us to cross the street and go to the machine right beside the ACTV bus stop. We just had to enter the code we received when we pre-purchased our pass and we got our tickets. You can also purchase your ticket at the machine when you get there and, I think, you can purchase them inside the airport at their window. There were machines by baggage claim for buses to Venice and a lot of people were getting them but they were a different company and I'm not sure how they work. It totally confused me seeing them but I would wait and get the ACTV tickets. You need to scan your ticket every time you enter the bus or a vaporetto or you can be fined. You stay on the bus till the very end and you will be at the vaporetto stop where you would need to board for your hotel. We just went up to the window and they told us where to go but there are signs for vaporetto Line #1 and #2. The three day pass was well worth it so I recommend it if you will be in Venice for a few days. There are maps of the route on the vaporetto so you can see where your stop falls. I hope you have a fantastic time on your trip!

I think I would try to find out what "event" is so big on May 5th that the water taxis aren't running!
Are you sure about that?
If it's a boating event, anywhere you go by boat might be difficult.
I'd take the bus in to P. Le Roma, then at least you're in Venice.
I tried looking for you, but can't find anything that might be on that day.

Arriving the day the Tour starts is really a sub-optimal plan.

Strongly suggest you plan to arrive no later than May 4th ( assuming you are coming from US)

I see that the taxi site has the whole week blocked off. Maybe they're waiting for some event schedules to be finalized that won't really take up the whole week. For instance, last year, the Festa della Sensa closed some boat traffic around these events, but they were about a week later: http://events.veneziaunica.it/feast-ascension-venice-2018. Check again in a few months with the various service, including ACTV: http://actv.avmspa.it/en.

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll look into the ACTV bus line venue more just to be more informed. I can view all of the various travel venue routes on the Google map for Venice. I'm guessing it could take up to 1 hour to get from the airport to my stop at San Zaccaria no matter which option I use.

This website has good info about the bus/vaporetto vs. Alilaguna choice, both affordable and fast enough for your purposes. Based on advice from this forum, I took the ACTV #5 bus to Piazzale Roma and the #1 vaporetto to my location near the Rialto Market. I think the Alilaguna direct water service (not a taxi) would have worked as well if I'd been staying closer to one of its stops, as you will be.

How "fast" a conveyance is includes how long you have to wait to get started, and you won't know that till you're off the plane and through immigration. ACTV is super easy and includes a vaporetto ride down the whole length of the Grand Canal. But Alilaguna is direct on one conveyance and takes you through the lagoon, itself an adventure. Good problem to have.

Thank you Dick for that excellent link to the website describing in detail the differences between using Alilaguna boats vs the bus and vaporetto connection at the Piazzale Roma station. I'm leaning now towards the Alilaguna Blue line boat only because it is one boarding and it does approach Venice entirely from the water. Thanks.

I've looked carefully and can't find any reason that the taxis would not operate that week. There are at least 2 big events every year in May but not around the days you are looking at. It is a mystery to me.

The only thing wrong with the concept that the Alilaguna takes you across the lagoon and that would be an adventure in itself is that the Alilaguna boats are abysmal for that result - the cabin is very low down in the water and the windows - what windows there are - are up high with salt crust all around them and visibility is very poor. You can look up and see the poles of the channel, and perhaps parts of some taxis nearby but there is little or no opportunity to see any of the city - certainly no Kate Winslet moment. I took it once despite the warnings and decided that once was plenty.

The bus to P Roma is quick, cheap, and the most convenient (no long trek to the boats at the airport - the bus stop is directly outside the arrivals hall) and then you get the fabulous vaporetto ride right down the Grand Canal to your stop.

San Zaccaria is one of the San Marco stops, just beyond the Doge's Palace. You will get the full tour.

Sorry to be down on the Alilaguna but it really isn't all that you might hope it to be. The change at P Roma isn't difficult.

approach Venice entirely from the water

I have taken the boat sevaral times, but my experience is that the windows are so covered in salt from the water, that you can't actually see anything.

Now we take the bus.

Agree about the Alilaguna Service.
It's convenient, but you can't see a darn thing out of the windows, and sometimes you are actually below the water line when inside the boats.
You can't sit outside.
Last year the driver was a real b__, and deliberately went fast and swerved a lot, so that every single suitcase was soaked through with lagoon water splashed on it.
The luggage is stored on the open deck.
Had to wash everything in my case when I got to my apartment. Grr.
Take the bus.

"Venice is best approached from the sea" - - - a quote attributed to Henry James.

We followed this on our first visit to Venice ( honeymoon in 2003) and were quite disappointed with the Alilaguna. It was cold, noisy, and as noted the windows so dirty one could not see anything. You must be seated and are not allowed outside. So I do not recommend it.

Instead, take the regular bus to Piazzale Roma, and take the #1 or 2 vaporetto from there to the San Zaccaria stop. Younwill have a nice "cruise" the length of the Grand Canal, and even if you stand the whole way it is not uncomfortable. At this stop, you will be the first to board. If there are nomseats outside, to score a standing place on the rail, but not so close to the boarding gate that you could be pushed away.

Make sure you purchase tickets before boarding, and validate them on the little machine.

Further on this, you would take the Alilaguna Blue line from the airport, and it takes 1 hour and 24 minutes to get to San Zaccaria. Many stops along the way, including Murano and Lido.

There is a combined "bus + boat" ticket available at the airport for 12 EUR. That includes both the No 5 ACTV bus to Piazzale Roma, and vaporetto to your Venice destination. If you take the No 1 boat to San Zaccaria, you will have a beautiful ride down the length of the Grand Canal. validate the ticket first on the bus, then again when get on the boat dock. Total time may be similar to the Alilaguna, but as others have said, much more pleasant journey.

You may want to download Rick's tour narration to your device and listen as you travel down the canal. Go to the "Watch, Read, Listen" section of this website under Audio Tours.

Well, I took Nigel's advice last fall, the bus + vaporetto. It worked fine for me, but I saw a lot of Alilaguna boats in the canals later and didn't observe the salt-encrusted windows, they looked pretty good. But, full disclosure, I never rode one or experienced the personality of a driver. Bus + vaporetto is the safe bet. Certainly would have more frequent departures from the airport.