Venice - seasickness using water taxis and vaporetto's

Hi daisy -

Much to my shame as someone living on a comparatively small island with a huge maritime history, I come from a family of possibly the worst sailors ever born. We can get seasick in a shallow bath. But the vaporettos in Venice were an absolute doddle and I never felt remotely queasy. We also took the boat to Murano without a problem and left Venice on the ferry to the airport one time (not sure I’d want to be on the latter for much longer than we were but it was OK). The other times we entered and exited Venice by forking out for an speedboat from the airport - expensive then, Lord knows what it would cost today, but if you can split the cost among a group, it’s well worth it and I recommend it. Again, not the least bit queasy. Our speed boat/launch pilot was dressed in shiny, pointy leather shoes, tight fitting jeans and a black leather jacket. Shades, although the weather didn’t require them, obligatory. Slicked back black hair. Was on his cell phone the entire journey. You don’t get more Italian than that in my book! The bus journey is simple and a deal cheaper though if not as exciting or entertaining.!

I can’t recall if we had AC in our hotels - didn’t really need it, but I’m sure we would have had a window open if only a little, and we weren’t beset with mozzies to the best of my recollection. As you rightly observe there are no window screens, but there maybe an additional set of mesh curtains, depending on location, which would perform a similar function.

I loved Venice and hope to return and I’m sure you’ll have a similarly great time. Don’t sweat the vaporetto stuff!

Ian

Mosquitos would only be a problem if there was an early hot spell, which isn't likely. Otherwise, windows would be closed, as weather should be around high 60's , in my recent experience, April 2025. Also, most cities mandate a date when the AC can be turned on. Recommendations here include Avon's Skin So Soft for the bugs, but I have never needed to use it in the spring. But you are correct, open windows do seem to draw the hungry bugs. Safe travels!

I suffer from seasickness at sea, but the canals are not like the sea.
When in Venice I spend a lot of time riding the boats, and never have a problem.
The only thing that I experienced the first time was a sort of balance issue for a day or two at the end of the holiday when sitting still.
I got that after a transatlantic crossing on the QE2 as well.
If worried, take a mild, non-drowsy pill like Stugeron.

There can be mossies. I don't like AC either. I take a plug in thing which vaporises an anti-m chemical.

I've not had any issues on boats around Venice, but I wouldn't classify my seasickness as "severe".

I think I remember reading a comment on the forum some ago about the floating platforms where you board the vaporetti. Someone found them an issue, and I can see how that could be the case. You will probably want to wait a little farther back from the boarding point, on the fixed part of the dock.

I do get seasick and I, also have never been bothered by the vaporettos OR the Alilaguna water bus from the airport to San Marco. I have NOT gone to Murano.

I will also say that I have looked out over the water from San Marco area across to San Giorgio Maggiore with some choppy water and thought....just no.

I would recommend you stay out of gondolas as they ride low in the water and they bother me more than the vaporettos.

It’s a little more choppy in the San Marco basin (the body of water in front of Piazza San Marco), but not much. The Grand Canal and also the ride to Murano is not that choppy, but there is a slight wave motion caused by other vessels.

You could get seasick riding a water taxi because they go fast and bounce around quite a bit. Vaporetti go slow and pretty smooth. I can’t imagine that one could get seasick, at least riding the canals. Maybe going to Burano?

I don’t believe that hotels can operate A/C in April. I recall it being around mid-May for the start

For forty years i have suffered from sea sickness and car sickness—it is terrible.

You may want to consider a prescription and should talk to your doctor about it. I keep prescription strength meclazine in my bag and if the situation escalates I also have zofran. My husband used scopolamine patches, but those rendered me unconscious. So as a long time seasickness/car sickness sufferer, I would suggest talking with your doctor and trying a prescription before you leave - especially to see if you suffer any side effects.

Again, I take meclazine, and with the meclazine I had NO issues on the vaporettos. I would not however, even with medication, entertain the thought of a gondola ride. The gondolas take a lot of wave action and for me the “rocking with the waves” is the type of motion that triggers a return of the last items I have consumed. We did not take a water taxi, but for me, again, properly medicated; I feel I would have been fine because a “bumpy” ride does not trigger “the return;” a “rocking ride” does.

You probably know these things, but additional suggestion are:

• ride where air can move around you, especially your face.
• keep looking forward; no matter how lovely the sites are to the sides.
• do not ride a gondola

Unfortunately I do not have any suggestion regarding a/c - we were there in June and our accommodations had a/c.

Safe travels - Venice is a lovely place and we hope to return again.

HI Daisy,
Just chiming in on the mosquito part of your question.
We were in Venice last April. It was warm enough that we wanted the windows open at night (don't like AC as a rule). I woke up with several good mosquito bites. The welts stayed with me for days. Will keep the windows closed next time.
Enjoy your visit :)

I get extremely sleepy (and fall asleep) on choppy boat rides which is a type of seasickness, but never had any problems during three trips to Venice. The vaporettos are a smooth ride.
It is doubtful that AC would be needed in April, and the use of it is regulated.

I rarely get seasick and my wife is very susceptible to seasickness. I got seasick on the water taxi ride from the airport and she was fine

Wow, such great responses! Thank you all for sharing! Very helpful!

I do use meclizine on airplanes and on bus or car trips if I'm a passenger as I get sick on them as well.

The other issue with the boats is that no one is wearing a life jacket...and here in the US where I live, anyone who goes on a boat trip wears a life jacket. So...I'm not a great swimmer and I do wonder if there have been any boats that collided and capsized.

Someone mentioned a floating dock. Yes, I've been on a floating dock and started feeling sick immediately and had to hurry to get off of it.

Hi Daisy. I love Venice and am returning for a fourth and fifth visit in September (flying in and out with Venice stay at each end). I get very motion sick. Just watching waves on TV makes me nauseous. I have no problems on Vaporetto or Alilaguna. I do wear sea bands if I go to the outer islands. Check out https://blisslets.com/ For cuter sea bands. If the weather is blustery my best friend is Dramamine Non-Drowsy.

Most of my visits have been in September. My go-to B&B has a/c so I close the windows at night. And usually turn the a/c off. Mosquitoes love me but I have not had a problem.

You will love Venice! Buon Viaggio!

PS I don’t swim and not having a life jacket on a bus had never bothered me.

The vaporetto ride from Fondamente Nove to the tip of Murano is 9 minutes long, and the lagoon is a very sheltered body of water. Walk to Fte. Nove and take the vaporetto from there to minimize time on water.

Daisy, vaporettos in Venice are equipped with life jackets in compliance with safety regulations. They are not required to be worn by passengers but they are available on board for emergencies.