Two questions: best Venice map? and vaporetto passes?

You can purchase your vaporetto pass at the airport, either at a machine, or at a manned booth after you exit the baggage claim area. The time starts from the first time you scan it. You can also purchase the passes at a booth at larger stops such as Rialto Bridge, or St. Marks. Smaller stops don’t have ticket booths. I just used google maps on my phone for the most part, but I also purchased a museum pass, and it came with a good map, so maybe wait until you get there and see what the tourist info place has.

Most hotels in Venice will give you a folded paper map. But if you want one in advance, which is a good idea, I recommend either the Streetwise Venice map or the Red Map;

https://redmaps.com/products/map-venice-city-center-popular-attractions

These are sturdy tri-fold maps. The Red Map is larger format and has larger print, so it is easier to read, and worth the extra dollar over the Streetwise map. Both are available on Amazon.

Google maps does a good job of giving you walking paths that actually work with bridges if you're interested in getting around inside the city itself. It also does a decent job of vaporetto planning and schedules in the transit tab like it does with buses in regular cities.

That being said phone maps work less well in old cities with tight streets and position updates can be laggy. Also getting lost in Venice is part of the charm so use a map/walking plan when you have an appointment to keep and just wander the rest of the time.

Venice is amazing, enjoy,
=Tod

We purchased multi-day vaporetto card from manned booth outside the train station (which I know doesn't help you). we thought it included some attractions, (came with "venice card") but no one seemed to accept. I believe they started with our first swipe. that said, we used it frequently and found it the best way to see the city. we would've spent more on single tickets.

the paper map from our hotel was fairly useless...I found that the signs in venice are a bit inconsistent. we relied upon google maps on our phones and admit to laking many wrong turns. I did print out some maps from the RS book which we followed loosely around san zaccaria for self guided walking tour. I didn't carry the actual book.

In addition
The pass is a true 24 hour pass
So if first use at 10 am it is good thru 10 am next day

Be sure to validate all passes each and every time you board!

Hello!

As others have shared, the pass is 24 hours and the time starts when you first scan it. Yes, you can buy them ahead of time. We usually take a water taxi from the airport so have picked up multi-day vaporetto passes at the Rialto stop when we walk by. When we were in Venice last year, we bought three day passes and didn’t start using them until the next day.

Based on your post, it sounds like you will be in Venice for a few days before you need the passes. I anticipate you will likely pass by one of the larger stations, like Rialto, and will be able to pick the passes up then rather than having to make an extra trip to get them. Also, they are not vouchers, but are the actual tickets.

Enjoy!

Sounds like we can buy multi-day vaporetto passes at the airport when we arrive, or at the Rialto Bridge ticket place (which is not too far from where we are staying). Either way will save a long walk. So good to know!
And I am purchasing a map before we go. That way I can study it before the trip.
Thanks so much!

not to be repetitive - but yes validate EVERY time. ridiculously annoying fines otherwise - we saw multiple people get checked and fined for this despite having valid tickets.

I promise to validate! Thanks!

I wouldn't trust Google maps. We were there in May 2024, and it kept giving us some really odd walking routes and the vaporetto routes it suggested were confusing to understand.

Get the vaporetto app
Che Bateo?

In conjunction with the Che Bateo? app, this interactive vaporetto map is really useful: https://actv.avmspa.it/sites/default/files/avm/navigazione/MAP/interattiva.html

I have a map published by The Italian Touring Club. touringclub.it. I purchased mine through https://www.mapsworldwide.com/wishlist. Although not plasticized it is a ‘pocket’ map and excellent for finding your way.

Yes, as Christine says, the vaporetto map is very important. You can download it from the official site. It can be a little confusing at first. The vaporetto is useful for crossing the Grand Canal. Rick has a nice audio tour of the ride from the train station to St. Mark's square.

A compass can be very useful when you are using a map to find your way around. It is very easy to get turned around. Don't rely on Google on-line directions, much of Venice is narrow walkways among tall buildings - so satellite access comes and goes, mostly goes when you need it most.

One of the joys of Venice is getting lost and just wandering. You can't stay lost too long. There are signs to the vaporetto throughout the city.

to add to Chani's compass point (see what I did there?? HA) it is just as well to have an old school small compass because the narrow lanes and close high buildings can confuse an app compass on your phone.