Marco Polo Airport to Venice: Palazzo-la-Scala

I would take the No 5 bus from the airport to Piazzale Roma, then the No 1 vaporetto to Rialto and walk. A combined Aerobus + Vaporetto ticket is 18 EUR. It is a short walk from the Rialto dock to your hotel.

Least expensive would be the bus to Piazzale Roma, then a vaporetto to the Rialto stop, followed by a 3-5 minute walk.

You could also consider the Alilaguna Arancio (Orange) line boat from the airport to the fourth stop at Rialto and walk from there.
That would be 18e and take just about an hour.

https://www.alilaguna.it/en/lines/linea-arancio/mappa

Venice is amazing - enjoy,
=Tod

If you're going to take multiple trips on vaporetti, consider a vaporetto pass so you avoid paying €9.50 per ride. Pass prices are as follows:

24 hours: €25
48 hours: €35
72 hours: €45
168 hours (7 days): €65

You must always tap you pass or ticket on the validator before walking onto the boarding platform.

If you do decide on a multiday vaporetto pass, you can add a 1-way Aerobus ticket for 7 EUR. It is normally 10 EUR.

Been to Venice several times and we always do the bus / vap. combination Sam suggested. Fairly quick and about the cheapest way to do it. Also very easy. Just be sure to validate your bus / vap. card / ticket each time you board.

Is it obvious how to get to the bus once exiting the airport? Do you recommend buying tickets in advance or just once we get there? Can’t seem to find a good map of the Vap. Is Rialto bridge vap 1 or 2?

Is it obvious how to get to the bus once exiting the airport?

You will find numerous videos on YouTube showing the various means of transit for getting into Venice proper.

The No 5 bus is right outside the airport exit door. You will want to take the No 1 vaporetto to Rialto and walk straight back on Calle Bembo to your hotel.
No need to buy in advance, you can buy at the airport, either from a vending machine or at a desk..

Vaporetto map: https://avm.avmspa.it/sites/default/files/attachments/pdf/ES/mappa_linee_di_navigazione_febbraio2025.pdf

the number 1 and number 2 both stop at Rialto but at different docks, and the travel time isn't much different.

The number 1 is a little closer to your hotel.

Just take the number 1. It is the most popular and will have the biggest crowds, and is frequent. The stop before Rialto is across the Canal at Rialto Mercato, the fish market. Then it crosses the Canal, goes under the famous Rialto bridge and calls at the Rialto stop where you get off and walk a very short distance to the hotel.

Getting to Venice from Marco Polo Airport. [Make sure you have seats on the right/starboard side of the aircraft, for a view of Venice as you fly into Marco Polo.]

A paper map of Venice is the best three euro you will ever spend. Sure, people say that getting lost in Venice is fun. Getting lost, hauling your luggage and not being able to find your hotel is nobody’s idea of fun. Buy that map at the Tabac or bookshop at Marco Polo.

Do take a look at your hotel website – there may be info there. Otherwise,
Water taxi will get you close, maybe to, the door of your hotel. Can carry about ten people, will cost about €140 for the boat. No need to book, taxis are waiting at the Marco Polo dock.

Shared water taxi. Minimum of two people. Book in advance, wait at the desk in the terminal for the others sharing the taxi. Costs about €30 per person. Google “shared water taxi Venice”, use the venicelink dot com web site. Will get you to a vaporetto stop near your hotel.

Alilaguna ferry, as per below.

Bus to Piazale Roma, then walk to your hotel, or take vaporetto to the nearest stop. Buses leave from the outside the terminal, tickets at the machine.

Water transport in Venice.
Gondolas. Only for pleasure, not for transport. 90 euro for half an hour for the boat, more for evenings.
Traghetto – big gondolas, two oarsmen, about ten passengers, for crossing the Grand Canal. Found at Rialto, San Toma and a couple of other places. Cost 2 euro per trip, can save a heap of walking.
Water taxis, which are like a floating limo, costs to match.
Vaporettos - ACTV. Are like a floating bus, operate on a bunch of routes. Get the app Chebateo for routes and schedules. Vaps do not service the airport. Vaps are not water taxis.
Alilaguna ferries, service the airport, run from Marco Polo via a bunch of stops to the main part of Venice, Murano and Lido. They stop at some, but by no means all, vaporetto stops.

I always use Alilaguna. You're in Venice, so hop right into the maritime culture and use a boat to cross the lagoon to your location.

The bus to Piazzale Roma is such a generic experience, you might as well be in any mid-size European city, and Piazzale Roma itself is about the least charming place you can imagine going.