Getting around Venice

S.Marco Some people come to Venice for work, for business, others as simple tourists, and some people even live there (!) and all of them have different needs as regards getting around.
The length of time one is staying or the panorama may be determining factors in the choice of itinerary or means of transports (click on the index at the top for the respective descriptions)

Venice is not only unique, it is also complex and consequently so is getting around the city. You have to find your way out of squares and street mazes, canals and bridges and new arrivals are sure to be lost without a good map. (see our maps).

There are two distinct ways of moving around the city: on foot or using boats of some kind.
Only those who know Venice well know how to mix gondola crossings (traghetto), with boat crossings or intricate walks through streets and squares to get to their destination as quickly as possible.
One example should suffice: if you take the boat from Rialto to S.Marco it takes 20 minutes whereas on foot it only takes approximately five!
In the near future we will be publishing some "fast" itineraries".

If anybody thinks they will be able to use their bicycle or skates, they are going to be greatly disappointed: it is strictly forbidden in the historic city centre.

piattaforma mobile per il superamento dei ponti The numerous steps all over the city are certainly not very inviting for those with problems of mobility. A small map of the city that the local tourist board of Venice supplies free of charge may be of great use since it indicates the more suitable routes for people with motoric difficulties.
The web site of the Comune di Venezia.