Venice has no single cruise dock any more: small ships use Marittima in the city, big ships use industrial Marghera or Fusina on the mainland. From Marittima, ride the People Mover to Piazzale Roma, then a vaporetto (water bus) to St. Mark's. On set days from April to July 2026, day visitors had to pay a 5-10 euro access fee to enter the old city.
Where Venice lies
VeniceRavennaTriesteAmalfi and PositanoBariDubrovnikHvarKoperKorčulaKotorNaplesPulaRovinjSalernoŠibenikSorrentoSplitZadarWhere your ship docks
Where you dock depends on ship size. Since Italy's 2021 law (Law-Decree 103/2021), only small ships (up to 25,000 gross tons) may sail past St. Mark's to Venice Marittima (the old cruise port at the west end of the city) or San Basilio. Larger ships dock at Marghera (Liguria and Lombardia quays, industrial mainland, ships up to 300 m) or Fusina (mainland, ships up to 250 m at pier FU4 and 210 m at FU3). Some small ships may also use Chioggia (Isola dei Saloni, south end of the lagoon). Many 'Venice' cruises on big ships actually call at Trieste or Ravenna instead. Check the exact terminal on your cruise documents.
Shuttle. Depends on terminal. Marittima: no shuttle needed (People Mover). Marghera and Fusina: lines usually run their own bus or boat shuttle; price and drop-off point are set by the line. Some lines land passengers by boat near Riva degli Schiavoni, beside St. Mark's.
Getting to the sights
| The way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| People Mover (small raised rail shuttle) to Piazzale Roma (from Marittima) | Under 3 minutes; trains about every 8 minutes | 1.50 euros single (75-minute ticket); also covered by the 9.50-euro water-bus ticket and day passes (ACTV/AVM, approximate) |
| Vaporetto (ACTV water bus) line 1 or line 2 to St. Mark's Square (from Piazzale Roma) | Line 1 is the slow Grand Canal boat, roughly 40-45 minutes; line 2 is faster (approximate, not verified) | 9.50 euros single (75 minutes); 25 euros for a 24-hour pass; 35 euros 48 hours; 45 euros 72 hours (AVM, approximate) |
| Walk to St. Mark's Square (from Piazzale Roma) | About 45-60 minutes (approximate, not verified) | Free |
| Cruise line shuttle bus to Venice city (from Marghera) | Varies | Set by your cruise line |
| Boat to Zattere (Terminal Fusina line) or ship's own shuttle boat to Venice city (from Fusina) | About 25 minutes to Zattere (Wikivoyage; not verified) | Not verified on the operator's site; check terminalfusina.it |
| Vaporetto to Murano / Burano | Several hours round trip with both islands | Use a day pass |
People Mover (small raised rail shuttle) to Piazzale Roma (from Marittima)
- Walk out of your terminal to the People Mover station in front of the port entrance.
- Ride one stop to Piazzale Roma.
- Validate (tap) your ticket at the gate before you board.
Runs 7:00 am to 11:00 pm on weekdays; shorter hours on holidays (AVM).
Vaporetto (ACTV water bus) line 1 or line 2 to St. Mark's Square (from Piazzale Roma)
- Buy a ticket at the ACTV machines or booth at Piazzale Roma.
- Tap the ticket on the reader before you board.
- Take line 1 (or 2) toward San Marco; get off at San Marco (Vallaresso) or San Zaccaria.
Two single rides (19 euros) cost almost as much as a 24-hour pass (25 euros); buy the pass if you will ride more than twice.
Walk to St. Mark's Square (from Piazzale Roma)
- Follow the yellow signs 'Per Rialto' and then 'Per San Marco'.
- Cross the Rialto Bridge on the way.
Many bridges with steps; hard with a walker, wheelchair or stroller.
Cruise line shuttle bus to Venice city (from Marghera)
- Follow your ship's instructions.
- Most lines bus you to Marittima/Piazzale Roma; from there use the People Mover or vaporetto.
VTP says Marghera passengers check in at Marittima and ride free dedicated shuttles between Marittima and the ship (boarding days).
Boat to Zattere (Terminal Fusina line) or ship's own shuttle boat to Venice city (from Fusina)
- Ask your ship whether it runs its own boat to the St. Mark's area.
- If not, use the Fusina: Zattere line, then walk about 20 minutes or take a vaporetto to St. Mark's.
Fusina is far from everything on foot.
Vaporetto to Murano / Burano
- From Fondamente Nove, line 12 goes to Murano and Burano (Wikivoyage).
Murano and Burano are outside the access-fee zone.
What to see
St. Mark's Square and Basilica
Venice's main square and its gold-mosaic church.
- How
- Vaporetto to San Marco, or walk.
- Time
- 1-1.5 hours
- Tickets
- Buy timed tickets on the official site (tickets.basilicasanmarco.it); price not verified. Lines are long in summer.
Doge's Palace
Seat of Venice's rulers; Bridge of Sighs and prisons.
- How
- On St. Mark's Square, by the water.
- Time
- 1.5-2 hours
- Tickets
- Book ahead online; price and hours not verified.
Grand Canal by vaporetto line 1
The cheapest 'canal tour' in Venice, past palaces and the Rialto.
- How
- Line 1 from Piazzale Roma to San Marco.
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Tickets
- 9.50 euros single or a day pass (AVM).
Rialto Bridge and market
Famous bridge; fish and produce market in the morning.
- How
- Vaporetto line 1 or 2 to Rialto, or walk.
- Time
- 45 minutes
- Tickets
- Free.
Murano and Burano
Glass-making island and the colorful houses of Burano.
- How
- Vaporetto line 12 from Fondamente Nove.
- Time
- 3-4 hours for both
- Tickets
- Covered by a day pass.
Your day, hour by hour
Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.
- Marittima example; adjust if you are bused from Marghera or boated from Fusina.
- 8:00 Off the ship. Walk to the People Mover; ride to Piazzale Roma.
- 8:15 Buy a 24-hour ACTV pass (25 euros). On a fee day, have your access-fee QR code ready.
- 8:30 Vaporetto line 1 down the Grand Canal to San Marco.
- 9:15 St. Mark's Basilica (timed ticket booked ahead).
- 10:30 Doge's Palace (booked ahead).
- 12:30 Lunch away from the square (prices on the square are very high).
- 13:30 Walk to the Rialto Bridge (about 15-20 minutes).
- 14:30 Vaporetto from Rialto back to Piazzale Roma.
- 15:00 People Mover to Marittima. Be on board at least 1 hour before all-aboard.
What goes wrong, and how to avoid it
Beware
- Your 'Venice' cruise may dock at Marghera or Fusina on the mainland, or even at Trieste or Ravenna, 2 hours away. Read the exact port name.
- Many bridges with steps; lots of walking.
- Very crowded from late morning in summer; vaporetti can be full.
- Marghera and Fusina depend on your line's shuttle timing.
- Acqua alta (high water) can flood St. Mark's Square, mainly in autumn and winter.
- Italy has frequent announced transport strikes (trains, buses, ferries), often on Fridays. Check the Italian Ministry of Transport strike list (scioperi.mit.gov.it) the week before your port day.
Do this
- Book St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace online before you sail.
- On a fee day, buy the access fee at least 4 days ahead to pay 5 euros instead of 10.
- If your ship is at Marghera or Fusina, find out the last shuttle time back before you leave the ship.
- Ride the Grand Canal on line 1 instead of paying for a gondola if you are on a budget.
Fees, money and access
Rules & fees
- Big-ship ban: since 2021, ships over 25,000 gross tons may not pass St. Mark's basin and the Giudecca Canal (Law-Decree 103/2021, cited by VTP).
- Access fee 2026: day visitors age 14+ paid 5 euros if booked at least 4 days ahead, or 10 euros later, from 8:30 am to 4 pm on set days: April 3-6, 10-12, 17-19, 24-30; May 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31; June 1-7, 12-14, 19-21, 26-28; July 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26 (The Local; official site cda.ve.it). No fee from August to March in 2026.
- Cruise passengers: a day-visit cruise passenger who is not sleeping in a Venice hotel is not on the exemption list, so on a fee day you must buy the fee (QR code) before entering the old city. The fee is not due if you only stay in Stazione Marittima, Piazzale Roma, Tronchetto, Santa Lucia station or San Basilio, or the minor islands such as Murano, Burano and Lido. In 2026 the city also exempted 'the area facing the landing stages dedicated to large cruise ships at Riva degli Schiavoni' (cda.veneziaunica.it).
- Exempt: children under 14, people with a disability card plus a companion, and guests in Venice accommodation (from arrival to departure day, but they must register). Most exempt groups must still request a QR code (cda.veneziaunica.it).
- Fines for entering without a valid QR code were 25 to 150 euros in 2025 (The Local).
- 2027: the city's FAQ page already lists a new trial period from March 26 to August 15, 2027; rules for 2027 are not yet published (cda.ve.it FAQ).
Accessibility
Hard. Marittima itself is accessible and the People Mover has lifts, but central Venice has hundreds of stepped bridges. Vaporetti take wheelchairs on most lines. People with a disability card and a companion are exempt from the access fee (they must request it).
Money
Euro (EUR). Visa and Mastercard work in most shops, restaurants and museums; tap-to-pay is common. Carry 20-40 euros in cash for small cafes, toilets, markets and some buses. Use a bank ATM (inside or at a bank) and always choose to be charged in euros, not dollars, when a card machine or ATM asks.
More of the The Adriatic
Sources & what we could not confirm · 10 sources · checked 2026-11
- VTP: Venezia Terminal Passeggeri (berths, ship size limits, People Mover)
- VTP: How to reach us
- City of Venice: Access Fee (what it is, excluded areas)
- City of Venice: Access Fee exemptions
- City of Venice: Access Fee FAQ (2027 trial dates)
- The Local Italy: Venice access fee calendar 2026
- AVM/ACTV: Venice urban services fares
- AVM: People Mover fares and hours
- MSC Cruises: Venice (Marghera)
- Wikivoyage: Venice (community travel guide, secondary source)
- Vaporetto trip times (line 1 about 40-45 minutes).
- Walking time Piazzale Roma to St. Mark's.
- Fusina: Zattere boat fare and schedule (Wikivoyage lists 8 euros one way; not confirmed on terminalfusina.it).
- Whether a cruise line that lands passengers at Riva degli Schiavoni also needs passengers to pay when they walk further into the city.
- Reports that some lines (such as MSC) include the access fee in their own Venice excursions.
- St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace prices and hours.