Vaporetti (Water Buses)

Cruise the canals

Word to the wise: The ACTV vaporetti tickets do not include transport to and from the airport. For this, you need to use 'Alilaguna' vaporetti.
In car-free Venice, the canals are streets, and the state-run water buses are its subway system. Vaporetti operate on a comprehensive network of routes, at most hours of the day and night, stopping at 'stations' dotted about the quaysides. Tickets can be bought at official ACTV ticket desks, various self-service machines, designated retail outlets, or onboard. They can also be purchased online.

Single tickets are valid for 60 minutes from stamping, permitting any number of stops within that time, as long as the journey is 'outward'. A separate ticket has to be purchased for return journeys. The best value is a Tourist Travel Card, valid for anything between 12 hours and seven days, which really is worth the investment if you're keen to see as much of the city as possible.