Venice water taxi 2026 (booking + prices)

Welcome to this guide that covers how to move around Venice by water taxi.

Venice’s waterways are crossed every single day by hundreds of water buses, water taxis, gondolas and private motorboats.

Exactly in the same way cars, buses and trams do on normal roads. Meaning, there are different ways to travel around Venice to suit every budget and need.

The water taxi in Venice is one of the most expensive transport options for moving around the city and also the fastest and most comfortable for most people.

You can easily get around the city’s canals, reach your hotel and specific locations in and around the historic centre as well as some of the other islands this way.

Venice Water Taxi Guide

This guide has been designed to explain what a water taxi in Venice is and how you can use it, costs and extra charges to be able to use this service.

As well as covering the above, I will also show you how to get from the airport and train station to your preferred locations by using this luxury transport option.

Let’s now look at the Venice water taxi as a way to travel around Venice.

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Quick Facts: Venice Water Taxi at a Glance

• Average cost: €140–€160 for a private water taxi ride from Marco Polo Airport to Venice (for up to 4 people). €30-40 per person for a shared water taxi ride.
• Travel time: Around 25–30 minutes from airport to city centre.
• Booking: Can be pre-booked online or arranged on arrival at the airport pier.
• Capacity: Usually up to 8 people with luggage.
• Best for: Travellers with heavy luggage, groups, or anyone wanting direct access to their hotel.
• Pick-up points: Marco Polo Airport, Piazzale Roma, and most hotel jetties.
• Operating hours: 24 hours a day (night surcharge after 20:00 or 22:00, every company applies different rules).

What is a water taxi in Venice?

The Venice water taxi is a private speedboat that can be reserved or boarded from specific docking pontoons, some of them known as municipal taxi stations.

The private taxi stops are scattered in a couple of locations around the historic centre and you can find one in Lido of Venice and one in Murano.

If you are thinking of traveling to Murano and Burano from Venice then going with a private water taxi is a great idea, especially if you have very limited time in the city.

As I mentioned earlier, the water taxi is known as the most expensive yet most comfortable way to move around Venice’s historic centre. Especially for those travelling from Venice to other islands or to get to Venice from Marco Polo airport.

In fact, it is only the water taxis can drop you at your accommodation so you don’t have to walk around the city with any heavy or bulky luggage.

A private taxi in Venice also saves you from queues and other common public transport inconveniences. Finally, it’s worth knowing that the water taxi can transport up to 8 people and for up to 4 people, the ride cost doesn’t vary.

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Is the water taxi in Venice worth it?

To help you decide when a water taxi is worth it, the table below compares water taxis, water buses, and land buses side by side.

What is the price of a water taxi in Venice?

Water taxi prices in Venice vary depending on the company (private or public), distance, and number of passengers.

From Marco Polo Airport to central Venice, expect to pay around €140–€160.

If you’re travelling from Santa Lucia train station or Piazzale Roma, prices range between €40 and €100, depending on your destination within the city or other islands such as Lido and to hotels like the JW Marriott and Kempinski San Clemente.

Source: Tariffe taxi acqueo (Comune di Venezia)

For residents of the Municipality of Venice and people with disabilities a 20% discount is applied to the total fare of the Venice water taxi.

There are set fixed prices for urban and islands routes, from some municipal taxi stations and more specifically, if you leave from:

• Piazzale Roma;
• Venice Santa Lucia railway station;
• Tronchetto car park.

Note that there may also be a surcharge depending on how difficult to access and the distance of your hotel.

I suggest learning some Italian before arriving in Venice to help you out when exchanging pleasantries with your driver. This Italian phrase book is my favourite.

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How to use a Venice Water Taxi (step-by-step)

Now I’ll show you how to get a private taxi in Venice so you can travel in style:

1. Decide if you want to pre-book or hire on the spot

If you’re arriving by plane, pre-booking a private water taxi or shared water taxi guarantees a member of staff waiting for you at a meeting point at the airport or in case of shared water taxi a wait between 20 to 45 minutes max.

Otherwise, you can follow the signs for “Water Transport” on the 1st floor inside the airport Marco Polo Airport and book at the official desk.

2. Walk to the water-transport pier

From the arrivals hall, follow the moving walkway to the pier (about 7 minutes). You’ll find both private water taxis and shared boats here.

3. Confirm your destination and fare

Tell the driver (or desk attendant) the name of your hotel or drop-off point. Agree on the total fare, including any night or luggage surcharge. Payment is usually by card or cash before departure.

4. Board and enjoy the ride

Your luggage is loaded in the back section. The journey gives you one of the best first views of Venice, especially if you enter via the Grand Canal.

Here’s a list of water taxi companies operating in Venice:

Each of these offers Venice water taxi services to/from the airport and from/to the lagoon islands and your hotel in Venice can usually call them up for you.

Getting a water taxi in Venice

Up to now this guide has covered the nuts and bolts of getting a private taxi in Venice. So let’s now look at how to get a water taxi from Marco Polo airport, then after, I’ll cover how to get a water taxi from Venice train station (Santa Lucia).

1. Getting a water taxi from Venice airport

The Venice water taxi is a great mode of transport for travellers that arrive in Venice by plane and land at Marco Polo airport.

The service runs 24 hours a day and the water taxi will be waiting for you at the dock pier, even if your flight is delayed. The taxi driver monitors the flights’ status so they know exactly when your flight will land.

To get to the water taxi pier, go to the first floor of the airport and follow the sign ‘Trasporti via acqua’. You’ll get there after crossing the moving walkway.

The water taxi service is available for both outward and return journeys and allows you to get to your accommodation fast and comfortably.

During the journey you can sit back and relax knowing everything is taken care of. You’ll literally only have to think about enjoying Venice’s beauty from the water.

You can either book a private water taxi, for an exclusive arrival (in style) with which you’ll share only with the people you want (it’s perfect if you’re a small group of friends, or a family), or a shared water taxi, that allows you to save some money.

2. Getting a water taxi from Venice train station

Near the Venice Santa Lucia railway station there are 2 water taxi piers. They are both on the Grand Canal, one is in front of the Chiesa degli Scalzi, and the second next to the pier of vaporetto line 2.

From Santa Lucia train station, you can reach various locations in the historic centre and popular islands such as Murano, Burano, Torcello and Venice Lido.

You can go directly to the pier to get a taxi. I recommend buying the ticket before departure, to avoid queuing at the piers and other unpleasant inconveniences.

To book you ticket right now: you can purchase your shared water taxi here or even get the private transfer from the train station to get to your accommodation.

Water taxi prices urban routes from Venice Santa Lucia station to:

Source: Tariffe taxi acqueo (Comune di Venezia)

Water taxi prices from Venice Santa Lucia station to the islands:

Source: Tariffe taxi acqueo (Comune di Venezia)

Venice Water Taxi Guide

Travelling by water taxi in Venice, if you’ve never used the service before, is much more straightforward than what you think or looks like.

Hopefully this transport guide has helped you clarify a few points and feel more reassured with using this great service whilst in Venice.

Do you want to learn about other ways to move around Venice? If so, read my complete Venice transport guide that covers the other transport options you have.

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