Venice - 1 day only

[cadboll]

Hi all. We're about to embark on our cruise this Saturday, and our final stop is Venice - next Friday. I have been trying to find out information about to how get into Venice from the ship terminal (where I'm guessing we will be docked?) Some people have said you can walk, others that you need to take the shuttle, whilst others have said water buses are the answer. As I've never been to Venice before, I'm not sure which one is correct. Could anyone advise? Also is it worth getting a 12hr pass for the water buses, or is it better to spend the time walking around Venice and exploring that way?

 

Many thanks.

[kuldalai]

I assume you are going to park your bags somewhere for the day once alighting the cruise and before departing Venezia later in the day .

 

If you are travelling on a medium to larger size boat you will dock at the Main Cruise Terminal . To get from there to Piazzale de Roma you can walk (20 mins) or the best way is the new overhead People Mover which costs around 1 Euro per person .

 

From Piazzale de Roma take the # 1 Vaporetto down the Grand Canal to St. Marks Square . Then walk back through all the narrow streets and get lost, and discover the magic that is Venice . To maximize your time pre-purchase your admission tickets on line to the major Venice attractions - Behind the Scenes Doges Palace Tour & Peggy Guggenheim Collection .

 

# 1 Vaporetto does the Grand Canal both ways from Piazzale de Roma, via St.Lucia railway station, to St. Marks Square.

 

If you are departing Venice by air you take a land taxi from Piazzale de Roma to the Airport. If you are departing by train walk over the new bridge from Piazzale de Roma to Venezia St.Lucia station .

[TheBestIsYetToCome]

The answer to this is more dependent on your destination, how much "stuff" you are lugging, your personal preference, and your budget. Only you know the answer to that. :) In general...

 

You can certainly walk to P. Roma, the large transportation hub for busses, water taxi, land taxi, etc. From there, you can go on to your destination by private water taxi, vaporetto/water bus, or on foot. This link explains the walk from the pier into Venice (scroll down):

http://www.mediterranean-cruise-ports-easy.com/walk-venice.html

 

You can take the ship's shuttle to P. Roma, if one is offered and the schedule and price suits your needs.

 

You can take a land taxi to P. Roma, although they may be a bit harder to locate as many passengers disembark at once.

 

You can take the PeopleMover from a stop very near the cruise terminal to P. Roma. This link will explain the PeopleMover:

http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/venice-people-mover.htm

 

You can take a private water taxi or Alilaguna blue line from a dock very near the cruise terminal to many destinations (docks) within Venice. Here is an Alilaguna route map and schedule and contact information to arrange a water taxi:

http://www.alilaguna.it/pdf/alilaguna_routes2011.pdf

http://www.motoscafivenezia.it/eng/?gclid=CMehhYScs6oCFcOs7QodqT8g8g

 

Here is the vaporetto information for getting around Venice after you reach P. Roma or another destination in Venice:

http://www.actv.it/en/movinginvenice/waterbusservicestimetable

[RonLankshear]

As was said walk the narrow streets... Get to Piazza San Marco. St Marks square. Enjoy the crowds - watch the pigeons - have a coffee - listen to an orchestra. Look out on the water... And just take off walking the alleys from the Square. It is so entrancing. Look in some the churches in the back ways.... Come out on the Grand Canal.. And then pop back in the maze.

Been there twice and I've been inside the Doges Palace....

Just enjoy the ambience

[Captain Canuck]

if you are stuck with your luggage you can leave it for a fee at the train station while you enjoy your day...water bus is a good idea..just cool to ride the canals

[kkollwitz]

I posted at my blog about spending one day in Venice starting from a cruise ship. We were there in July:

 

http://platytera.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-your-turn-to-marry-zsa-zsa.html

[cruisintwinsmom]

We took the people mover to P. Roma. Then walked. When walking through Venice, the building are painted with directions to San Marco and Rialto Bridge. On the return, look for directions to P. Roma. Get a good map...we purchased on at an info center for 2,50 Euro.

 

If your ship offers a free water bus to San Marco, then you can start from there.

 

The saying "get lost in Venice" is to make us feel better because there is no way NOT to get lost in Venice. It adds to the ambience.

 

As to purchasing a 12 hour pass, it would depend on how many times you plan to ride the vaporetto (it is part of the Venice experience).

 

Happy Sailing!