A warning about water taxis

Tips:

• For detailed advice on hiring water taxis, see our Venice Water Taxis article at Venice for Visitors.

• If you have questions about Venice travel in general, please go to Venice for Visitors, where you'll find hundreds of pages on topics that range from our No. 1 Warning and Top 11 Tourist Mistakes to practical advice on where to stay, local transportation, and sightseeing.

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Water taxis are often the quickest and most convenient way to reach a hotel or vacation apartment in the historic center of Venice, especially if you're coming from the airport. They can be expensive (a ride from Venice Marco Polo Airport can easily set you back 100 euros or more), but because water taxis hold more passengers than a land taxi does, the cost per person  isn't too bad if you can split the fare with friends or a small group.

However, there are several caveats that you need to know about, especially if you've lost some of the spring from your step or if  you aren't used to small boats:

• Depending on where the water taxi drops you off, you may need to stretch or jump across a large gap between the boat and the pier or fondamenta. The boat pilot will extend a hand to help you, but you may not be ready or able to make such a leap of faith.

• If you arrive during a high tide, you may be required to step down a foot or more when disembarking. (This can be painful or even dangerous for people with bad knees.) At low tide, you may need to step up from the boat's gunwales to the pavement, or you may have to climb several mossy and potentially slippery stone steps along the edge of the canal.

• The water-taxi pilot isn't allowed to leave his boat, so if your luggage is large or heavy, you may need to lift your bags from the fondamenta or pier into his waiting hands (and vice versa when you reach your destination).

• You may have to walk a reasonable distance between the water-taxi landing and your hotel. Most hotels don't have private boat landings, and many canals aren't navigable by water taxis.

• Finally, think twice before arranging a water taxi in advance through your local travel agent. We've had multiple reports of American and British travel agents charging 150 or 160 euros for a transfer between the airport and the city, which is at least 50 percent more than you'd pay at the water-taxi cooperative's desk in the arrivals area of Venice Marco Polo Airport.

For more information about taxi acquei, see our Venice Water Taxis article at Veniceforvisitors.com, where you'll also find detailed advice on less expensive types of Venice airport transportation and local transportation in Venice.

Comments

[Alina]

How much should a land taxi cost from the Marcopolo airport to a hotel downtown in the historic area??

[Durant Imboden]

A land taxi can't get you to most hotels in the historic center. The end of the line for road traffic is the Piazzale Roma, which could be called the land gateway to Venice. The fare is in the 30-euro range, or about 10 times what you'd way to take the ATVO airport coach to the Piazzale Roma.

[amanda robinson]

I think your advice is excellent and i thank you for offering it. i can see that the water taxi is the most convenient and one just has to bite the bullet as they say on the cost!

Thanks again
amanda

[Len]

We are planning to stay at The Hilton in Venice,before going on a cruise.Our cases will be heavy--2cases 23 Kg each.Is it practical to use a water taxi from airport to hotel and from hotel to port.

[Sue]

Any idea how long the current water taxi strike will last?

[Durant Imboden]

I wasn't aware of a water-taxi strike, but there is a strike of public transportation in Venice today. Fortunately, it will be over in a matter of hours (as is usually the case with Italian transportation strikes, which generally are for a scheduled period instead of a U.S.-style "until we negotiate a new contract").

[Arnie]

going to venice an plan on using water taxi any limit to size of bag

[Durant Imboden]

I'm not aware of any specific limit. Water taxis are fairly large and have plenty of room for luggage. Just remember that you've got to lift the bag up or down to the driver from the pier (he'll stay on the boat), often with a gap between the boat and the pier.

[John Eskildsen]

My wife, two adult daughters and I are spending three nights in Venice before boarding Oceania for a cruise. we'll be arriving mid-week and wish to take a water taxi to our hotel, the Locanda Orseolo, which has a boat landing on a side canal. what is the best way to make arrangements before we go next July?

[Durant Imboden]

Mr. Eskildsen, see our Venice Water Taxis article: http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/water-taxis.htm

[Caron Buckman]

Hello, I will be dropped off at the Plus camping jolly campsite/hostel at: Via G.de Marchi 7 30175 Marghera Venice; and have to find my way to: Ramo delle Moschette, Castello 6604, 30125 Venice.

Could you please tell me how to get there. Much appreciated
Caron

[Durant Imboden]

Sorry, but we don't research transit connections. That's something you'll need to do yourself. You'll find bus and vaporetto timetables at http://www.actv.it. If you'd rather just get directions from someone, your best bet would be to ask the campground manager after your arrival in Venice or e-mail the person or business at the Castello address.

[Susan Dexter]

We are taking the train from Milan to Venice. About how much will it cost to take a water taxi from the train station into the historic dist. of Venice? Thank You, Susan D.

[Durant Imboden]

Susan D: The Venice Santa Lucia station is in the historic center. If you stay near the station, you won't need a water taxi (which could easily cost 40 to 50 euros for a short ride to a landing point in the general vicinity of your hotel). See our articles at Venice for Visitors:

Venice Water Taxis
http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/water-taxis.htm

Hotels near Venice Railway Station
http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/venice-railroad-station-hotels.htm

If you're a first-time visitor, I'd strongly suggest reading our new "Introducing Venice" article, which will help you get your bearings:

http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/introducing-venice.htm