Getting Around

Bicycle Hire

No bicycles or scooters are allowed in Venice.

Public Transport

The best ways to get around Venice are on foot or by water buses (vaporetti) which are operated by the local authority Azienda Consorziale Transporti Venezia (tel: 041 2424; www.actv.it). The vaporetti have set routes around Venice so your journey is dictated by their routes and sailing times. Bridges across the Grand Canal are limited so travellers can opt to use the traghetti (public ferries), a variation on the gondola. Crossings are cheap and short and there are numerous ferry points along the canal. Gondolas are a traditional form of transport, although they are usually reserved for sightseeing purposes. They can be hired at one of the stands located in Rialto, Piazzale Roma, and San Marco, as well as one of the occasional ‘unoffical’ stops dotted along the smaller canals.
 

Taxis

For a more direct service to a specific destination, the only option is to take a water taxi, but this is an expensive method of travel. Taxis run by the Consorzio Motoscafi Venezia (tel: 041 522 2303; www.motoscafivenezia.it) can be ordered in advance or by phone at the time needed. These are official taxis and display a black registration number on a yellow background. Taxi points are available at main locations including the Piazzale Roma, Rialto, San Marco and the Lido.

Driving in the City

No cars are allowed in the centre of Venice.

Car Hire

Car hire can be found at the Piazzale Roma, but cars can only be used for driving out of Venice. The minimum age for hiring a car is 23 years old and drivers must carry and EU licence or International Driving Permit. Recommended car hire companies include: Avis (tel: (041) 523 7377; www.avis.com); Hertz (tel: (041) 528 4091; www.hertz.com); Europcar (tel: (041) 523 8616; www.europcar.com); Thrifty (tel: (041) 541 6049; www.thrifty.com) and Budget (tel: (041) 269 8075; www.budget.com).