Venice Water Bus Tickets 2026: Vaporetto Prices, Passes & How to Buy

A single Venice Vaporetto ticket costs €9.50 and is valid for 75 minutes.

If you plan to use the water bus several times, ACTV also offers unlimited passes for 24 hours (€25), 48 hours (€35), 72 hours (€45), and 7 days (€65).

I have visited Venice twice and spent a total of 10 days in the city.

In this page, I explain the latest Vaporetto ticket prices for 2026, how to buy and validate tickets, and which pass offers the best value based on my experience.

Venice Vaporetto Ticket Prices in 2026

As of August 2026, there are five main types of Vaporetto tickets available.

If you plan to take the Vaporetto three or more times within 24 hours, the €25 day pass is cheaper than buying three €9.50 single tickets.

Can You Pay for the Venice Vaporetto by Credit Card?

As of 2026, you can pay for Venice Vaporetto rides directly with a contactless credit or debit card using ACTV’s Tap & Go system.

Instead of buying a physical ticket, simply tap your card or payment device at the ticket validator before boarding.

For example, three Vaporetto rides within 24 hours would normally cost is €9.50 × 3 rides = €28.50

With Best Fare, the total is capped at the equivalent €25 daily pass fare.

This makes Tap & Go especially convenient if you are unsure how many times you will use the Vaporetto during your stay.

For the latest information about Tap & Go and Best Fare, check the official ACTV website.

However, since the Tap & Go system is still relatively new, there is limited feedback from travelers about how reliably the Best Fare cap works in practice.

If you prefer to know exactly how much you will pay in advance, I recommend buying a regular Vaporetto ticket or travel pass instead.

Below, I’ll show you how to buy Venice water bus tickets, including the ticket machine process with photos.

How to Buy Venice Water Bus Tickets

You can buy Venice water bus tickets at ticket machines or ticket counters located at major Vaporetto stops.

As shown in the photo above, tickets are available both from ticket machines and staffed service counters.

In this section, we will walk through the step-by-step process of buying tickets using a ticket machine.

Change the Language to English

First, tap the British flag icon on the screen.

This will change the display language to English, making the process much easier to follow.

Select “Waterborne service”

On the next screen, tap “Waterborne service” in the top-left corner.

This option is for Vaporetto (Venice water bus) tickets.

Choose Your Ticket Type

Next, select the type of venice water bus ticket you want to buy from the list.

I recommend unlimited travel tickets for 24 hours or more.

Confirm Ticket and Number of Passengers

In this example, the 2 day ticket (48H) is selected. The screen will show the total price based on the ticket type and the number of passengers.

Make sure the ticket details and quantity are correct before continuing.

Choose Payment Method and Complete Payment

Finally, select your payment method: Cash or Credit cards.

Once the payment is completed, your venice water bus ticket will be issued.

How to Validate Venice Water Bus Tickets When Boarding

When boarding the Vaporetto, you only need to tap your venice water bus ticket on the validation machine located at each stop.

There is no need to show your ticket to staff when getting on the boat. Because there is usually no ticket check at boarding, it may seem possible to ride without a ticket.

However, this is considered fare evasion.

If you are caught riding without a valid venice water bus ticket, you will be asked to pay a €110 fine on the spot.

You Can Also Buy Tickets at Mestre Station

Hotels in Venice’s historic center are often very expensive, so many travelers choose to stay near Mestre Station, just one stop before Venice Island.

If you stay in Mestre, you can buy venice water bus tickets at the small shops (kiosks) inside Mestre Station.

Please note that cash payment only is accepted at these shops.

When tickets were purchased in April 2025, credit cards were not accepted, so make sure to prepare cash in advance.

Save on Transportation from Mestre to Venice

If you buy your Venice water bus ticket in Mestre, you can also use local land buses between Mestre and Venice Island without extra cost.

This helps reduce overall transportation expenses.

The bus stop in front of Mestre Station is shown below.

From this stop, take Bus No. 2 to Venice Island.
*The ride takes about 15 minutes.

You can return from Venice Island to Mestre Station using the same Bus No. 2.

Buses departing from Venice Island run approximately every 15 minutes, and the last bus leaves at 11:45 p.m.

This option is convenient and cost-effective for travelers staying in Mestre while using venice water bus tickets to explore Venice.

Tips From My Experience Using the Venice Vaporetto

I have visited Venice twice and spent a total of about 10 days in the city. During my stays, I used the Vaporetto regularly to get around Venice and visit nearby islands.

Based on my experience, here are a few practical tips that can make using the Venice water bus easier and more enjoyable.

These four points are based purely on my personal experience.

① Avoid the Crowds at Ferrovia by Walking to P.le Roma

The square in front of Santa Lucia Station is where the most tourists gather. The vaporetto stop (Ferrovia) right in front of the station is almost always crowded.

As a result, even if a boat arrives, you may not be able to get on and have to wait for the next one.
*The wait time alone could be more than 30 minutes.

The best solution to this problem is simple: walk to the previous Vaporetto stop, P.le Roma.

From the Ferrovia stop in front of Santa Lucia Station, it takes about 6 minutes on foot to reach P.le Roma.

By boarding at this earlier stop, you have a much better chance of getting on the boat without waiting.

② Take the Vaporetto in the Evening

In recent years, overtourism has become a serious issue in Venice. The problem is especially noticeable during the busy travel season from April to July, when large numbers of visitors flood the city.

To curb the flow of tourists, a Venice tourist tax was introduced from 2025.

However, after 4:00 p.m., the situation changes dramatically.

From personal experience, it feels as if the number of tourists drops to one-tenth of the daytime level.

Many day-trip visitors leave the city in the late afternoon, and Venice quickly becomes much quieter.

This time of day is perfect for using the water bus. With Venice water bus tickets, you can enjoy a relaxed ride and cruise through the canals without crowds.

As the sun begins to set, Venice is covered in soft, nostalgic light.

The canal views at dusk offer a completely different atmosphere compared to daytime, making an evening Vaporetto ride one of the most memorable experiences in Venice.

③ Use Your Pass to Visit Murano and Burano

If you travel a little outside Venice’s main island, you can visit two popular nearby islands: Murano and Burano.

With venice water bus tickets, especially unlimited passes, you can reach both islands without any extra cost.

You may want to avoid visiting these islands in the morning.

I once went to Murano early in the day to avoid crowds, but most glass shops were still closed. The island felt very quiet, and honestly, it felt like there was little to see at that time.

Most shops start opening around 11:00 a.m., so visiting after 12:00 p.m. is a much better option, especially for Murano.

How to Get There by Water Bus

Water buses to Murano depart from Ferrovia D, located near Santa Lucia Station.

• From Ferrovia D to Murano: about 20 minutes
• From Murano to Burano: transfer at Murano, then about 30–40 minutes

Venice Vaporetto Ticket FAQ

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Taka

Digital Nomad & Matcha Brand Founder

My name is Taka from Japan. I spent five years traveling across Europe as a digital nomad. Today, I run my own Japanese matcha brand and share practical knowledge about launching a matcha business.