From Venice to Marco Polo in the Early Morning

I can tell you what not to do. We were in that situation in 2003 only our flight left at 6 AM to Frankfurt. In the post 9/11 era, we were told to get to the airport 2 hours early and couldn't get any info on transfers to the airport at 4AM so headed to the airport by water taxi at 9 PM and spent the night in the airport. We seemed to be the only travelers in the airport. It virtually shut down at night except for security who checked our passports all night long. Slept in chairs. So I would say, don't get there the night before!!! People started streaming into the terminal about 5 and it was plenty of time to check in since the TSA people were arriving at the same time.

I don't know if this is the same situation now but at least your flight is leaving a little later than ours did. I know there will be more current info on this from others in this forum

Never flew out of there but seems to be pretty much the standard that they open the check in counter for flights about an hour before take off in Italia. Used to fly out of Bologna a lot and got there a couple hours early first few times and was a waste of time. I would check to see what times the buses start to run out of Piazzale Roma. About a 20 min ride to the airport and a heck of a lot cheaper.

Carol, we have seen this questions dozens and dozens of times. In general, the airport check-in counters open about 5:00am. If you get there at 6:00am, you are easily fine for check-in. It's an inter-EU flight which makes it easier. As for how to get there early enough, you have several options. 1) There are two bus lines that depart the Piazalle Roma for the airport. The ACTV bus No 5 departs at 4:35am and the ATVO departs at 5:00am. See www.actv.it or www.atvo.it to make sure of the schedules. Trip to the airport takes about 25 minutes. About 7Euro. The next ACTV and ATVO buses both depart at 5:40am.

2) The fun part. Regular vaporetto service begins at about 5:00am. According to the ACTV schedule that I am looking at, the first water bus (vaporetto) is scheduled at Ca'd'Oro at 5:01. You arrive at Piazzale Roma at 5:14. That's early enough to make either of the 5:40 airport buses. You are fortunate here. Many travelers have flights at 6:00am and 6:30am.

3) The water taxi. You can arrange with your hotel to have a water taxi waiting for you at your hotel. Fare is usually about 90Euro-110Euro for up to 8 people with luggage. It's a private boat.

4) Spending your last night near the airport. Not advisable for this situation. Courtyard by Marriott and Titian Inn are two nice hotels that are in very close proximity to the airport and have early morning shuttles. But, you miss your last night in Venice for this option.

5) Sleeping in the airport. People do this. From what I understand, the lock you in from about midnight to 4:30am or so. You can read more about this at www.sleepinginairports.com

Thanks for all the information. We are 2 seniors, 2 adults, 2 children, 10 and 12 and this was a last minute trip, just booked 2 days ago. 1) Thanks for the sleeping in the airport info - at least you got an interesting story out of it. We will definitely NOT sleep in the airport. 2) Don't plan to change hotels as it would take up a good part of the day. 3)Will check with the airport to see what time we need to arrive and with the vaporetto schedule to confirm the schedule. Hopefully the timing will work out.
Thanks again!

Adding to Larry's post, there is all night vaporetto service. There is an "N" boat at the Ca' D'Oro dock at 4:19 and 4:38 stops at Piazzale Roma (bus station) 11 to 12 minutes later. The combination boat/bus ticket is 12 euro per person, so it will run you 72 euro (seniors and children don't get a break), vs about 100 euro of a water taxi, but slower and more involved.

I agree with Sam. With six people, you are in the range of a very convenient water taxi.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Now we just have to decide!

Thanks again.

Since this question has been referred to others for useful information, I thought I should update it. We have checked with Venice Water Taxi. FYI there is a 10E extra charge between the hours of 9pm and 7am. So for 6 people with small suitcases leaving before 7am, as we are, the cost will be 130Euro. This is about 60E more than vaporetto/bus combo or about $90 more. Motoscafi Taxi quoted 115E. We still have not decided which mode we will use, but I thought this info might be helpful to others.

Carol, thank you for the useful information. I haven't seen actual fares in awhile and this is helpful.

Larry I have a question to add onto this, our flight is at 6:30 am and it is back to the U.S. from Venice. Since it looks like you said the regular Vaporetto is not open until 5:00 AM, so is our only option to hire a private water taxi service?

@whitneyanneeaston

read Larry's description of the 4:35 bus, and Sam's description of the "N" boat which you catch at 4:19 to arrive at P. Roma at 4:30 or 4:31 so you need to catch the bus at 4:35 and can't dawdle.

The first Linea Blu (Blue Line) Alilaguna boat is at 04:21 from Fondamente Nove on the north shore of the islands - a reasonably short and direct walk from places served by Ca D'Oro on the Grand Canal. It may be a choice for you. It arrives at the airport at 04:59. There are no Orange Line Alilaguna boats on the Grand Canal until after 5:00.

I am curious though: didn't you wonder when you made reservations for 6:30 in the morning across the lagoon from the city you are staying in how you would ever get there in the middle of the night? This isn't blame - I'm trying to understand. We get a lot a questions here after people have done that and I just don't understand...

Here's a very nice schedule for the express (20 minute) shuttle between Piazzale Roma and Marco Polo. My daughter and I will be making an early morning run to the airport in March.