Curate Your Voyage

Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)

Venice is iconic — filled with history & romance. Join us in crossing the Rialto Bridge, glide down the Grand Canal & witness the beginning of our next chapter.

Direct flights to Venice in October are only possible from JFK (Delta Airlines Alliance). Venice is a smooth airport to navigate & worth flying out of at least 1 way to simplify your journey.

Flying from the West Coast does involve 1 connecting flight & typically takes 14-16 hours (approximately 2 hour layover at another airport).

A travel tip: flying overnight can aid in minimizing jet lag, as the time difference from West Coast time to Italy during this season is 9 hours.

Also do note getting from airport to Venice island involves a water bus or taxi as the best transportation option & boat dock area is a 10 minute walk from terminal, assisted by moving conveyer belt.

Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)

Milan is closest metropolitan city —absolutely worth even a single day visit to walk the fashion avenue of Montenapoleone & visit the Duomo. Consider flying in or out of MXP only in the case you have at least 7 days for entire trip.

Direct Flight options to Milano - from JFK, EWR, ATL, MIA, ORD & BOS (but none from the West Coast).

Milan does not have any direct flights to Venice, however, a train ride is only a 2.5 hours and approximately €50.

Rome - Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

Rome’s Colosseum & Vatican demand reverence, certainly worth the stopover. (Yet, we would be remiss in not stating — our truest sanctuary remains Oakland’s Coliseum, with the A’s ending an era victoriously.)

Direct flights to Rome are available from 16 major airports in USA in October. Including SFO, LAX & SEA airports on the West Coast.

Flying direct reduces jet lag & eliminates possible complications of connecting flights. Only consider flying in or out of FCO if you have at least 8 days for entire trip.

Direct flights from Rome to Venice exist & take 1 hour and 10 minutes. However, high-speed trains are still the preferred method, taking 3 hours and 45 minutes. Average cost for either plane or train is €70.

Venezia Santa Lucia

Venezia S. Lucia Station is the train station of Venice & passengers disembark at the Grand Canal.

Once you arrive in Venice, trains are not relevant, but in the case you wish to explore other cities for a leg of your trip, here is some context to consider.

Trenitalia & Italia Train both provide high-speed trains to Venice.

• Milan (Milano Centrale Station) - 2.25 hours, €52.

• Florence (Firenze S. M. Novella Station) - 2.25 hours, €60.

• Rome (Roma Termini) - 4 hours, €99.

Venezia Mestre Station is NOT in the area of wedding events, rather it is on the “mainland” & a 10-minute train ride to Venezia S. Lucia station. Be cautious to select Venezia S. Luca when booking a train.

Travel to Accommodations from Venezia Santa Lucia Train Station

Options to consider:

• Walking - bridges & staircases to contend with, so just consider your stamina & walk time by consulting a map app. Do note cell service for GPS direction apps may work while leaving phone on airplane mode & avoiding roaming, but it can be slow & Venice streets are complicated so consider have at least 1 person in your group plan to incur cell costs or check out a more economical esim option like Holafly (note your phone must be paid off for cell carrier to allow esim to function).

• Porter Service - Schedule a porter service (whats app message while on train) or alternatively porters are available for hire just outside the station. Costs range from €50 - €150, depending on number of bags & distance to accommodation.

• Vaporetto Water Boats (ACTV) or Motoscafi Private Water Taxis ‍- Both options located directly outside the Veneiza S. Lucia station. Details below on the “boats” tab.

Alilaguna Water Bus

• Alilaguna only operates the water bus between Venice & Marco Polo Airport (VCE).

• One-way ticket is €18 per person with ticket machines at airport or purchase on website.

• Review Alilguna water bus map to select closest line to your accommodations:

  • Blue Line

  • Orange Line

  • Red Line

Vaporetto Water Boats

• Vaporetto has a robust system of water boats throughout Venice, Murano, Burano & surrounding islands.

  • Tickets can be purchased via credit card at any station:

    • 75 min pass - €9,50

    • 24 hour pass - € 25

    • 48 hour pass - €35

    • 72 hour pass- €45

    • 7 days - €65 - best option for most guests

  • Passes must be “tapped” to pay:

    • Employees of Vaporetto circulate water busses for proof you paid by tapping again on portable card reader, so be sure to follow this step.

    • Some stations require also tapping out at station to be allowed to exit, so plan a space that is easily accessible yet safe as you’ll find yourself reaching for the pass often.

    o   Download the AVM app for live routes, schedules & timings.

Motoscafi Water Taxis

• Private water taxis are more expensive than shared option, which are less readily available unless going to particular locations such as the airport.

  • Ten guests maximum on water taxi.

  • Four guests maximum if carrying luggage.

  • Can easily dock directly at hotels, restaurants & main attractions.

  • Cost from airport to accommodations in Venice are about €125-140.

  • Moving between closer locations on the island still costs at least €39 per passenger.

  • Easily accessed at main hub locations or concierges arrange for them.

Gondolas

• Venetian Gondolas are an engineering marvel & a special experience. Consider gathering a small group & taking turns posing for photos around the canals.

  • Gondola launch points can be found at various points of internal canals:

    • Passengers - 5 people is maximum for a standard gondola, with larger models allowing up to 12 people.

    • Investment - 30 minute ride during daytime for €90 & price rises to €110 after 7 pm.

Pro-Tip for the Docks: Venice regulates its water transit very carefully. Gondola rides & private water taxis operate on fixed, city-wide tariffs, therefore rates are standard and non-negotiable. For a seamless trip, simply confirm the total with your captain before stepping aboard.

Piazzale Roma

Piazzale Roma is where vehicle access ends. Bus hub & car parking, as no cars are allowed on the island of Venice.

Bus Station

Itabus or Flixbus provide bus service from other Italian cities.

• Bus travel is generally not preferred for Venice due to trains having a similar cost structure & quicker arrival times.

  • Milan’s Lampugnano Bus Station to Venice takes about 3.5 hours & costs €10 - 45.

Car Rental

• If you choose to explore other cities by car on either end of the Venice leg of your trip, we recommend renting a car one way to your destination.

• Car rental is possible through Sixt, Hertz & Europcar - if traveling to Lake Como or Alps it could make sense to book a way rental.

• Ensure you have your International Driving Permit (IDP) - it is simple & quick to get before you leave states (cannot do it once you are abroad). Book a same day appointment, bring your valid state driver’s license and a fee of $25-50 will be required (dependent on AAA membership status -which is not required). IDP is valid for 1 year.

Parking Cars

• It is not recommended to park a car due to cost, availability of spaces & cars not being applicable in Venice.

  • Parking is €35 a day & most spots are reserved for cruise boat passengers.