Venice Cruise Port to Venice: People Mover, boat, taxi
Since August 2021 ships over 25,000 gross tons may not sail past San Marco, so many lines now dock at Marghera or Fusina on the mainland, and some use Chioggia, Ravenna or Trieste with their own coaches. Smaller ships still use Marittima and San Basilio, which is the case covered here. From Marittima the People Mover reaches Piazzale Roma in three minutes for 1.50 euros, and that beats every other option unless you are going to the airport or the mainland.
- Cheapest
- €1.50People Mover to Piazzale Roma · 20 min
- Fastest
- 15 minLand taxi to Piazzale Roma · €20
- Taxi
- €20Land taxi to Piazzale Roma · 15 min
People Mover to Piazzale Roma: €3 for the group, about 20 min. No booking needed.
Metro
People Mover to Piazzale Roma
20 min
For the group€3
People Mover to Piazzale Roma
ACTV automated shuttle · 3 minutes · 1.50 euros
- Per person
- €1.50
- Door to door
- 20 min
- Runs
- 07:12–22:52
- Frequency
- every 10 min
- Board at
- People Mover station in front of the Marittima port entrance
- Suitcases
- Fine
Taxi
Land taxi to Piazzale Roma
15 min
For the group€20estimate
Land taxi to Piazzale Roma
Radiotaxi · about 20 euros fixed · cars stop at Piazzale Roma
- Per person
- €20 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 15 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Rank at the terminal
- Board at
- Taxi rank outside the terminal building
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Taxi
Private water taxi
25 min
For the group€40estimate
Private water taxi
Licensed boat · priced per boat · from about 40 euros
- Per person
- €40 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 25 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Pre-booked or at the terminal
- Board at
- Water taxi stand at the quay
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Bus
Vaporetto line 2 from San Basilio
45 min
For the group€19
Vaporetto line 2 from San Basilio
ACTV water bus · 9.50 euros · direct to San Zaccaria
- Per person
- €9.50
- Door to door
- 45 min
- Runs
- 05:23–00:10
- Frequency
- every 12 min
- Board at
- San Basilio landing, a walk of roughly 10 to 15 minutes from Marittima
- Suitcases
- Awkward
Private car
Pre-booked private car
25 min
For the group€50estimateCheck price
Pre-booked private car
Meet at the terminal · price fixed when you book
- Per person
- €50 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 25 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Pre-booked
- Board at
- Driver waits at the terminal
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Every option in detail
MetroPeople Mover to Piazzale Roma
- €1.50
- 20 min
- 07:12–22:52
- → Piazzale Roma (road reference)
The station sits outside the Marittima entrance and runs to Piazzale Roma in under three minutes. The fare is the ACTV 75-minute road network ticket at 1.50 euros, bought at the station machines and validated at the gate. On weekdays the first car leaves Marittima at 07:12 and the last at 22:52. At weekends the first is at 08:12. From Piazzale Roma the railway station is a short walk over the bridge, and Grand Canal boats leave from the same square.
BusVaporetto line 2 from San Basilio
- €9.50
- 45 min
- 05:23–00:10
- → San Zaccaria, a few minutes from San Marco (water reference)
Line 2 runs from San Basilio along the Giudecca to San Zaccaria in about 17 minutes, with the first boat at 05:23 and the last at 00:10 on the timetable valid from 14 September 2026. The 75-minute ticket costs 9.50 euros and must be validated before boarding. Boats are crowded at midday and boarding involves a step, so a large case is awkward. The walk from your terminal to the landing is an estimate, so check the distance for your berth.
TaxiLand taxi to Piazzale Roma
- €20 per vehicle (estimate)
- 15 min
- 24 hours
- → Piazzale Roma (road reference)
A fixed fare of 20 euros between Piazzale Roma and the cruise terminals was listed in September 2026. The figure comes from a travel guide and not from the city's taxi tariff, so treat it as an estimate. The ride is about two minutes, which is why most passengers use the People Mover instead. A taxi earns its price when you are going onward by road, for example to the airport at a fixed 45 euros, or to a hotel in Mestre.
TaxiPrivate water taxi
- €40 per vehicle (estimate)
- 25 min
- 24 hours
- → San Marco or the canal landing nearest your hotel (water reference)
A water taxi within the historic centre costs at least about 40 euros for the boat, and often 50 or more depending on the destination and the number of bags, so the figure here is a starting estimate. Agree the total before boarding. It is the only way to reach a hotel with a canal entrance without walking, and it takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes to the San Marco area.
Private carPre-booked private car
- €50 per vehicle (estimate)
- 25 min
- 24 hours
- → Piazzale Roma, or Mestre and the airport (road reference)
A pre-booked sedan from the cruise port to Piazzale Roma starts at about 50 euros for up to three passengers, and about 56 euros to the airport. Cars cannot enter the historic centre. This is poor value for the short trip into Venice and sensible only for the mainland, the airport or a hotel in Mestre.
The same trip in a different situation
Arriving late at night
Count back from the all-aboard time on your cruise app. The People Mover leaves Marittima until 22:52 on weekdays, and vaporetto line 2 leaves San Basilio until 00:10. Allow 45 minutes from San Zaccaria to the gangway, and more if your berth is at the far end of the port. Walking from Piazzale Roma takes about 15 minutes. Taxis wait at the terminal at all hours, so a taxi is the safe fallback if you run late.
See the comparison →4 people, 4 suitcasesTravelling as a group of four
Four people on the People Mover pay 6 euros in total. A land taxi to Piazzale Roma at about 20 euros is 5 euros each and saves carrying bags to the station. A water taxi from about 40 euros, shared four ways, is 10 euros each for a ride that ends at the hotel door. For the airport, a fixed 45 euro taxi shared four ways is just over 11 euros each, which is about what each person pays on the bus.
See the comparison →Practical tips
- Check which port your ship uses before anything else. If it docks at Marghera or Fusina the People Mover is not in reach, and your cruise line's coach or boat transfer is the practical way to Piazzale Roma or the airport.
- From Marittima to the airport: take the People Mover to Piazzale Roma, then ACTV bus 5 at 10 euros or the ATVO coach at 12 euros, about 11.50 to 13.50 euros in all and roughly an hour. A taxi to the airport is a fixed 45 euros.
- Marittima is a short walk from the People Mover, but the distance varies by terminal. Ask the port staff which direction to the station.
- The railway station is within a few minutes of Piazzale Roma on foot. The bridge has steps, so cases are easier on the water.
- Alilaguna does not list a stop at the cruise terminals on its 2026 timetable, so do not plan an airport boat from Marittima.
- Chioggia, Ravenna and Trieste calls sold as Venice are long coach transfers arranged by the cruise line, not city transport.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get from the Venice cruise terminal to Piazzale Roma?
Take the People Mover from the station in front of the Marittima entrance. It takes under three minutes, costs 1.50 euros, runs from 07:12 to 22:52 on weekdays and reaches Piazzale Roma. Walking takes about 15 minutes.
Which cruise ships still dock in Venice?
Ships over 25,000 gross tons have not been allowed past San Marco since August 2021. Smaller ships still use Marittima and San Basilio, while larger ones dock at Marghera or Fusina, and some lines use Chioggia, Ravenna or Trieste.
What happens if my ship docks at Marghera or Fusina?
The People Mover and the Marittima timings above do not apply. Your cruise line normally provides a shuttle or coach to central Venice, so confirm the drop-off point and the return time before you leave the ship.
How do I get from the Venice cruise port to the airport?
Take the People Mover to Piazzale Roma (1.50 euros), then ACTV bus 5 at 10 euros or the ATVO coach at 12 euros, about an hour in total. A taxi to Marco Polo airport is a fixed 45 euros and takes 20 to 30 minutes.
How much is a water taxi from the Venice cruise terminal?
Expect at least 40 euros for a ride inside the historic centre, and more for a hotel across the city, priced per boat. Agree the fare before boarding.
