Getting in and out of Venice

Posted by Don (San Diego, CA, USA) on 04/02/24 06:22 AM

We're going to be visiting Venice in June. I'm trying to figure out how to get to our hotel from the airport, and then from our hotel to Santa Lucia train station on the way out. We're on a two week trip through Italy, so we'll have luggage.

I gather we can take the alilaguna from the airport to our hotel (near St. Marks square), but how can we get to the train station with our luggage...I imagine we'll have too much to take on the vaporetto. Can we take the alilaguna to the train station? I Google mapped it from our hotel to the train station, and 2.4km is way too far to lug our bags on foot.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Posted by Nigel

Northamptonshire, England

04/02/24 08:46 AM

32795 posts

how many is we?

You'd have to have a loooot of luggage not to get a couple of bags per person onto a vaporetto.

If you have so much that it is difficult to move (for just a couple of weeks) you could spend the money and get a water taxi. It costs but goes nearly door to door.

If you can't easily move luggage on and off vaporettos you may well find that trains are more difficult.

I won't criticise you for whatever you want to carry, but just warn you that such decisions have consequences, both to your wallet and your convenience.

Does the place you are staying in Venice have large elevators? Most Venice places don't.

Posted by Nigel

Northamptonshire, England

04/02/24 08:47 AM

32795 posts

The Alilaguna is only for transport to and from the airport - it doesn't go within Venice or to the train station.

Posted by lnbsig 🌍

North Carolina

04/02/24 08:48 AM

2454 posts

You may not like this advice, but I strongly recommend that you pare down the amount you’re packing as much as possible. This website has a section on packing light: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light/packing-smart

Posted by Aussie

Bendigo, Australia

04/02/24 09:17 PM

1225 posts

Just take the No 1 vaporetto.

Posted by Don OP

San Diego, CA, USA

04/02/24 09:31 PM

7 posts

Thanks for the replies. It'll be my wife and i, and we'll each have a full size suitcase and a carry-on. I'll have two carry on bags because I'm a photographer and one bag is my photo gear. I was under the impression you can't take large suitcases on the vaporetto.

Posted by ChristineH

Gettysburg PA

04/02/24 09:37 PM

6088 posts

There are no restrictions as to what size and number of suitcases but you might try to pare down to at least just one regular size bag each. If your trip is only 2 weeks you should actually be able to get by with just a carry on and a small knapsack. You can do laundry and you can wear outfits multiple times.

Getting on/off trains with all that luggage will be more of a problem than boarding a vaporetto.

Be sure to validate your vaporetto ticket.

Posted by Dick

Olympia, WA, USA

04/02/24 10:06 PM

6522 posts

From the airport you can get a bus (ACTV or ATVO) to Piazzale Roma, the only place in Venice itself where vehicles are allowed, on the Grand Canal. From there a vaporetto (ACTV) to the stop nearest your hotel. You can get a bus-vaporetto combo ticket at the airport for a slight discount. The vaporetto can also take you back to the Santa Lucia train station, which is right on the Grand Canal. From your description it doesn't seem like you'll have too much trouble with your bags. You can certainly take them on the bus and vaporetto.

If your hotel is a long walk from a vaporetto stop, you might want to spring for a water taxi at Piazzale Roma (not at the airport, way too expensive) to get you as close to the door as possible.