Venice is an exquisite and unique city that is built entirely on water with its canals being the equivalent of roads. There are several ways in which you can travel from place to place including by foot, public water bus (also known as vapporetos), ferry, water taxi (also known as motoscafo taxi acquei) and gondola. In this article, we are going to provide you with an insight of travelling in a water taxi to/and from the airport and around the city during the day and night. We can guarantee that it’s an experience that you won’t forget in a hurry! Keen to find out more? Read on and whiz through this article like the speedy motoscafi cruising down the Grand Canal!
Booking a taxi before or at the airport
There are a number of water taxi stands across Venice such as at Marco Polo Airport, Rialto and San Marco. If you decide to take a water taxi from Marco Polo Airport to your hotel (which is recommended), you can either pre-book a taxi (whether it be private or shared) with Viator or you can book one at the airport. If you decide to book one at the airport, the water taxi ticket booths are located facing the exit by the baggage claim. Whether booking in advance or upon arrival, you will have to walk from the airport on a moving sidewalk to the boat pier where you will be picked up by your taxi driver.
The standard boats are made of fiberglass and are white, whereas the more luxurious ones are made from wood and are white and brown. You should know that there may be a gap when you’re getting on and off the water taxi and access into the taxi may require a few steps in and out; the driver will, however, be there to give you a helping hand. We believe that water taxis are the fastest and easiest form of transportation in, around and out of Venice as they really do allow you to soak up the Venetian environment in comfort and style.
Spacious leather-upholstered cabins inside the taxi
The interior of the boats are gorgeous; they are spacious leather-upholstered cabins and even have a small open-air seating part in the stern. If you’re in a group, try and get one of the three seats in the stern as the views from it are spectacular. You are even allowed to stand up and enjoy the stunning surroundings. However, do be mindful that you may have to utilize your balancing skills due to the behavior of the waters, especially if you’re travelling from the airport as they can be sometimes quite choppy, contingent on the weather conditions. Unlike with a car, there are no seatbelts available so hold on tight to your companion and get ready for a memorable ride!
The number of individuals that can be carried per water taxi vary but it is usually around 10 persons (with one large suitcase each). Water taxis are used in the following circumstances: to and from the airport, to or from certain destinations within the city and/or for a special tour. It should be noted though that not all water taxis can take you to your exact destination as there has to be a public or private landing for them to stop; this means that you may have to walk for about five minutes before you reach the exact spot that you’re seeking. We would recommend that you speak to the taxi driver in advance to find out where they will drop you and how long you will have to walk.
A really wonderful experience in the daytime
The perfect way to learn about, appreciate and see the magic of Venice is to sail on its liquid streets where you can pass centuries of Venetian history. Choosing to take a water taxi in comparison to other forms of transportation means that you will cover more area at a much faster speed. For example, a gondola ride for 30 minutes to an 1 hour would not include as much as a water taxi which is a speed boat. The public water bus would also take a lot longer as you would have to wait for it and hope to be able to get a place to either stand or sit (as its heavily populated during the daytime).
If you’re seeking comfort, leisure and phenomenal unobstructed views, then a water taxi in the daytime has to be for you. You won’t have to worry about not getting a seat or having a chance to stand in a certain position so that you can get an amazing holiday snap as you have your own boat! You may even find that people are taking pictures of you from other boats or from the famous sights. You can book a water taxi to take you to a specific destination or to go up and down the Grand Canal so that you can see the sights. If you would like a tour guide to join you and would like to minimize costs by enjoying a water taxi ride (albeit with a group), then check out Viator for the tours that it offers in water taxis.
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
A romantic city at night where you can feel like a star
Travelling with a partner? The city of Venice is the perfect backdrop and nothing more than a water taxi ride in and around the city at night screams romance. The views of Venice at nighttime are completely and utterly beautiful. The Grand Canal and some of the smaller canals are surrounded by impressive and rich buildings which reflect Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Whilst the buildings are alluring in the daytime, they are awe-inspiring at night and are truly breathtaking. The splendor of Venice really must be embraced during both times of the day.
If you’re not travelling with your partner, then we would still recommend that you take a nighttime tour in a water taxi because it’s a real thrill to be cruising through the waterways with the surrounding buildings glowing. Water taxis are only allowed to travel at certain speeds in certain areas and are monitored by local police boats that are always out and about. The speed at which they travel though is still enough to give you a buzz and make you feel like a Hollywood star. Move over Angelina Jolie in The Tourist and hello to you!
What are the costs for such an amazing experience?
The cost for water taxis varies contingent on where you are going and when. If you’re looking at travelling for about 50 minutes from one part of the Grand Canal to another, then you’re looking at between 90 EUR–120 EUR (105 USD–140 USD). If you are travelling after 10.00 pm, there is likely to be a night surcharge between 10 EUR–20 EUR (12 USD–23 USD) contingent on the taxi company. Airport transfer from and to Marco Polo Airport costs around 100 EUR–150 EUR (117 USD–175 USD) dependent on where you’re being picked up or dropped off from. We would recommend that you take a shared private water taxi from (to keep costs down) and to the airport and consider taking a night tour of the Grand Canal by water taxi on your own instead. You should also make sure that you only sit in a water taxi that has a yellow stripe with a license number.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to