Transportation passes in Venice

There are different vaporetto pass options. You can buy a single/ one trip fare. Then, there are passes for various time periods. For example, we had the 72 hour pass which gave us unlimited transportation for 3 days from first use. You need to decide how many days you will be in Venice and get the best pass for your needs. Venice is quite walkable. It is possible to just walk everywhere. Of course, your level of fitness is a factor. So, we need a bit more info. from you to advise you on passes.

While some say they walk all over Venice and hardly ever take a vaporetto, for me it's both. I walk a lot and take a lot of vaporetti. So for me, the pass is a no-brainer. Remember that each individual vaporetto ticket is €7, so the passes pay off quickly. Even if you aren't getting a pass for your whole stay (usually the best deal), definitely get one if you're going to Murano, Burano, and Torcello.

Although Venice is walkable, I find it really nice to have a pass throughout my stay so I can hop on -- when I'm tired at the end of long day of exploring, when it's really hot or raining hard, when it saves me time vs walking, etc. I also really enjoy purposeless rides -- for scenery in the day and for the experience of the canals after dark. All the passes are for a certain number of hours from 1st use. Don't pay extra for the art-boat passes or ones that include tour narration. There is a booth right outside the train station, and I once bought the pass at the airport (probably shorter lines if still done).

I also get the multi-day vaporetto pass and use it for entertainment as well as transportation. I take aimless rides whenever I want.

One recommendation: take the elevator to the top of the bell tower in Piazza San Marco for a great perspective of this geat city.

To piggyback on Zoe's recommendation to take the elevator up the bell tower - I know with the lines you can't really time it, but it you get up there before the top of the hour, don't leave until the bells ring! We went up the bell tower on one of our trips and I think got to the top maybe 10min before the top of the hour. Didn't know anything about the bells ringing. I noticed them start to sway...some people didn't and had a shock when they started tolling. It was loud and amazing. I have a nice video of it somewhere. One of my unexpected and fav memories.

And I think the vaporetto passes are a great deal. A 36 hour pass is 25euro, so if you are going to take more then 4 rides in a day and a half, it pays for itself. Make sure to scan the pass before getting on the vap each time - there is a machine there that you tap the pass on to validate the ride.

We bought the 72 hour pass - we wanted to just be able to hop on and off whenever we wanted - with four of us, I didn't want to be like, well... should we do this now for 28 euro!?

Just outside the train station, the vaporetto ticket booth is just to the right - the line wasn't long when we were there - there was also a machine, but we just went for the live person. Depending on what boat you need... we had a hard time finding the dock for the #1 toward San Marco driection... It was actually a bit to the right and kind of behind the ticket booth, kind of hidden by it!

Remember to validate your passes when you use them on the little box on the dock - we did have a guy come by and check them once.

Enjoy Venice!! My favorite city of our trip!!
Kim

Thank you so much for all your advice. I have a much better idea of how we can approach this - and the bell tower tip is perfect.

I bought a 72 hour pass when I arrived by train at Santa Lucia station. Great value - because I used it to go to Burano , Murano, The cemetery island, and countless Vaporetto rides - it also gave discount to a couple of museums. ( ride the central canal as recommended in Rick's book)
I would recommend going to the top of the town in the AM before the crowds arrive - I think we were up there by about 9:30 - no lines and we had perfect views of all over Venice.
Hope you have a wonderful visit to Venice.

Thanks, all.

Add on a Grand Canal ride at night. Very romantic and free within your pass time limits.