Venice Cruise Port Guide - CruisePortWiki.com

Venice, Italy

Grand Canal, Venice

Introduction

With canals and bridges and no vehicle traffic, Venice is a very unique destination.

Where You're Docked

Sailing into Venice is truly one of the most scenic sail-ins of any port. You will pass St Mark's square heading towards Stazione Marittima at the western end of the island. Describing Venice as a fish, the port would be at the fish's mouth. Your cruise ship may offer a water shuttle service into St Marks Square. Smaller cruise ships dock at San Basilio Cruise Terminal on the southwest edge just before the main port.

Cruise schedule here http://www.vtp.it/

Cruise Terminal Map

Cruise Ships Docked in Venice

Marittima Basin

View Larger Map

Money and Tipping

Exchange Rates Live

Italy's currency is the Euro (EUR). ATM's are a plentiful, just look for a bank. In restaurants, a small tip is appreciated (5-10%) unless service charge is already included.

Local Transportation

To get from Stazione Marittima to the railway station and Piazzale Roma, you can walk or take a taxi. If walking, save some time by taking the People Mover, an elevated tram that goes directly to Piazzale Roma from a station outside the cruise terminal for only €1.50 (May 2019). It saves quite a bit of walking. There are elevators at the station. http://www.asmvenezia.it/

For a cheap "cruise" along the Grand Canal, you can take the ACTV vaporetto (water bus) service. It is €7.50 (May 2019) good for 75 min after validation, and €24 for a 24hr pass. Nearest stop to the cruise terminal is at Piazzale Roma. Lines 1 and 2 (plus N - night service) run along the Grand Canal with stops at Piazzale Roma, Rialto Bridge and St Mark's Square. http://actv.avmspa.it/en/content/vaporetto

You can also experience riding a gondola by taking the Traghetto service across the Grand Canal used by locals for €4.

To/From the Airport

Venice's Macro Polo airport (VCE) is located just north of Venice approx 13km away. ATVO runs express buses from the airport to Piazzale Roma. Tickets are €8 one way, €15 return (May 2019) and can be purchased at the ticket office at the airport or online. In Pizzale Roma, the ticket office is a couple doors down beside the People Mover entrance. Otherwise, you can take a taxi (€40-50, can go directly to cruise terminal instead) or Aerobus route 5 using the public ACTV service (€8 May 2019). The ACTV service has additional stops and you can buy tickets online and combo tickets with vaparetto service or Tourist Travel Cards. Remember to validate your bus tickets onboard when used.

ATVO - private express airport bus http://www.atvo.it
ACTV - public transportation including water buses http://www.actv.it
Venice Airport Transportation Info - http://www.veniceairport.it/page/servizi/trasporti/autobus?language=en

Hotels

With no roads for vehicles, lots of small bridges, and mazelike streets, you will need to determine how you will get to your hotel. You will spot many tired tourists rolling their luggage up and down the many bridges. Private water taxi service is very expensive. Search hotels in Venice here

Must See Sights

San Marco Basilica - free entry but head upstairs to the galleria (€5 entry, May 2019) for a view from the balcony and to see the Greek horses up close. You need to have covered shoulders and knees to visit ANY Italian church. http://www.basilicasanmarco.it
St Marks Square - If you come during rainy season, the square does flood and you'll have to walk on raised platforms. You can take an elevator up the adjacent bell tower. (€8 entry, May 2019)
Rialto Bridge - This is Italy's most famous bridge and the best way to see all the activity along the Grand Canal.
Gallerie dell'Accademia - A must for art lovers. The nearby Accademia bridge offers nice views of the Grand Canal. http://www.gallerieaccademia.org/

If you follow WC signs, you will be led to expensive public toilets €1.50. Use free washrooms when available or have a coffee at the counter inside a cafe or a gelato in any restaurant and use the washrooms there.

Shopping & Restaurants

The best by the slice pizza places are around Campo Santa Margherita. Head northwest from Accademia.

A top ranked restaurant on Tripadvisor is Dal Moro's - Fresh Pasta To Go. This is a small takeout restaurant close to the northeast corner of St Marks. It is marked on google maps https://goo.gl/maps/eMqo9

Cicchetti are small plate dishes served in local wine bars called bacari. Cantina Do Spade is a recommended one near the Rialto bridge.

For inexpensive small sandwiches and wine, check out Bacareto Da Lele located east of Piazzale Roma. https://goo.gl/maps/L8SuW

For pastries, Pasticceria Tonolo is recommended. https://goo.gl/maps/5IjVq

Supermarkets are hard to find. There is a Coop supermarket in Piazzale Roma. Head towards the pedestrian bridge for the train station but don't cross and instead turn left following the water and you should be able to find it. There is also a chain called Billa with several locations around Venice.

Post Offices

There is a post office beside the Coop supermarket in Pizzale Roma. There is another on the western side of St Marks Square.

Maps

Maps aren't too helpful since the streets are a bit of a maze. The trick is to follow the directional signs that will point to Per S.Marco (St Mark's), Per Rialto (Rialto Bridge), Piazzale Roma or All Accademia (Accademia Bridge).

Good maps here and here

The second map shows the vaporetto stops (with route number). The lines across the Grand Canal show the Traghetto routes.

ACTV Map (right-click to save)

2019 Route Map PDF can be downloaded here