Once you land, you will, of course, need transportation into the city. The most romantic way to arrive in Venice is by motorboat. The ride takes just a while longer, but is well worth it to see St. mark’s Square from the water. The boating service has hourly departures and the trip itself takes around an hour. If, however, you would rather arrive in Venice via land, the airbus leaves every 20 minutes, and this trip takes only 20 minutes to have you in the heart of Venice. There is also a public bus service that runs every 30 minutes, and can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to transport you to Venice.

 You can also arrive in Venice completely by water. Passenger ferries operate out of the Venice passenger Terminal. You can call Port Authority for more information about scheduling, availability, and rates at (041) 533-4281.  Minoan Lines also offers ferry service to the Patras on the Greek mainland. The ferry port is within walking distance of Venice’s main transport hub and is connected to the city centre by water buses. There are free shuttle buses available on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. 

 Trains also travel to and from Venice. Venice is linked directly to Bologna by rail. The trip to Bologna takes approximately 1 ½ hours. From Bologna, you can head off to Florence, Rome, and Milan. Smaller towns are also accessible by rail from Bologna, such as Padua and Verona. International departures to Germany, Austria, and Ljubljana are available, as well as regular travels to Paris and London. From the rail station, it is a quick 30 minute walk to St. Mark’s Square, however, most people will thoroughly enjoy a ride on a water bus. 

 If you are planning to drive into Venice, you will be taking the A1, which links Milan and Reggio Calabria. Keep in mind that these motorways are tolled. If you prefer a toll free road, the strade stately offers fast multi lane traveling. Parking in Venice is fairly expensive, however, and once you cross the Ponte della Liberta bridge, you must leave your car at a car park. Your better option would be to leave your car at the San Giulano car park in Mestre and ride the train into Venice. 

 While in Venice, you will find that you are not allowed a car. Cars are prohibited in the city. Even the emergency vehicles are boats, so you will be riding public transportation or walking to get around the city. Walking is very much recommended, although riding a water bus is a wonderful way to view the city. You can call (041) 528-7886 for more information about the bus schedules and fares. 

 Public ferries are also available and are used by many of the locals to cross the Grand Canal. Although these can be fairly expensive, they are a wonderful way to view Venice just as Marco Polo did centuries ago. Water taxis are also very expensive. There is a set charge of EUR 15.50 and the maximum trip takes only seven minutes. If you do decide that the expense is worth it, be sure that you are hiring an official taxi. Illegal taxi operators can often be found, and will charge an even more outrageous price. 

 Probably the most clichéd and romantic way to view Venice is via Gondola. There are currently about 400 gondolas navigating the waters around Venice. All gondolas can carry up to six people at once, and if the cost of EUR 62 for 50 minutes seems a bit too much, consider riding and sharing the cost with other sightseers. There truly is no other way to fully experience Venice than by riding in a gondola.