Venice water taxi 2023 (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.

What is a water taxi in Venice?

The Venice water taxi is a private motorboat 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.

How do you use a Venice water taxi?

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

If you want to use the Venice water taxi service your options are:

• Go to the municipal taxi stations (see map above) and call the taxi (as you would do for a normal land taxi waving your hand);
• Go to any public and private jetty;
• Call or book online;
• Book your shared or private water taxi from/to Marco Polo airport in advance.

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.

What is the price of a water taxi in Venice?

The Municipality of Venice set the water taxi rates for all destinations in the historic centre and in the Venetian Lagoon. Prices vary according to the departure pier.

There are non-fixed urban routes, calculated with a taximeter at the following cost:

• Fixed starting fee: 15 euros
• Snap per minute: 2 euros
• Call service extra charge: 5 euros
• Night service supplement from 10 pm: 10 euros

These costs are valid for up to 4 people with luggage included. From the 5th person onwards, the prices increase as follows:

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.

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).

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.

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:

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

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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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