Marco Polo Airport to Venice

The least expensive but fairly fast method is to take a bus from the front of the terminal to the Piazzale Roma. There are two bus lines. One is the city bus (ACTV) and the other is the ATVO. About 20 minutes for the ride and about 3E for the bus fare. Once at the Piazzale Roma, you can buy an individual ticket or a pass. Then, get on the #1 vaporetto to Lido (local) or the #2 vaporetto to Lido (express) and get off at the Rialto stop. According to my 2-year old vaporetto schedule, these are the only two vaporetto runs that stop there aside from the N (night) waterbus. Please don't fret about not knowing what to do when you get to the Piazzale Roma. Once there, you will look into the Grand Canal and see everything in motion. It will be everything you expected but nothing you really understand. Once on the vaporetto a couple of times and you'll see how easy it is (aside from the crowded buses). It's a wonderful experience.

"Once there, you will look into the Grand Canal and see everything in motion. It will be everything you expected but nothing you really understand." That is an absolutely perfect description of the first time. Never saw it put into words so well!

If you're going to be several days in Venice, a multiday pass can be bought at the tourist office inside the train station, across from Piazzale Roma.

Jim What the others didn't tell you it is the Rialto Market stop to get off at. Go straight ahead under the arch turn right. Go down two lanes that they call streets and turn left. There is the pension. The pension will give you directions when you book also. It was really central. We bought our passes at the airport for the vaporetto. There is a tourist office when you get just inside in the terminal. Then head outside there are the two different bus companies you can buy a ticket from them or the ticket dispenser. I would advise getting your pass at the airport as it is confusing at the Piazza Roma. It is really busy there and not at the airport. We took the bus from the airport only 3 euros. The pension is basic and an OK continental breakfast but the market in down stairs to get fresh fruit for the day. It was cold when we were there in Nov. so dress warm or layer.
Have a great trip.

Kim is right - I forgot about buying the pass at the airport...

Larry, Michael, Diane, & Kim, Thanks so much for the information!
Jim

If you can afford to, take a private water taxi. It was a splurge on our first trip to Venice. Nothing like it.

Which side of the Rialto Bridge? If your hotel is on the Rialto market side, you need to take the number 1 and your stop is "Rialto Mercato". The number 2 does not stop there. If it is on the other side, the San Marco side, either the 1 or 2 will stop there and your stop is "Rialto".

We'll stop at Silvestro, the stop past Rialto. Thanks.

Note that my 2-year old vaporetto map shows that only the #1 vaporetto stops at San Silvestro. The #1 is the local and makes every stop. From the Piazzale Roma, you want the #1 vaporetto going to Lido.

Thanks again everybody. We're off to Italy this morning!!!