Operator
ACTV
Venice's public transport operator, on the water and on land.
- Vaporetti, car ferries and buses
- Around 160 boats on the lagoon
- Children under 6 travel free
- 3 bags up to 150 cm carried free
- Card payment only on board
About ACTV
Table of Contents
Who runs ACTV
ACTV is Venice's public transport operator. It is part of AVM, the municipal transport group controlled by the City of Venice. The group also includes Vela, which issues tickets and passes and runs the Venezia Unica platform.
The network on water and on land
On the water, ACTV links the historic centre with the islands of the lagoon, from Treporti and Punta Sabbioni in the north all the way to Chioggia in the south. That includes the vaporetti to Murano, Burano and Torcello and the car ferries on lines 17 and 11 to the Lido and Pellestrina. Which line goes where is covered on our Vaporetto in Venice and car ferry to the Lido pages.
On land, ACTV runs the tram in Mestre and Marghera, which connects with the historic centre, and four city bus networks: in Mestre and Marghera, on the Lido and Pellestrina, in Chioggia and in Spinea. Regional buses reach as far as the provinces of Padua, Treviso and Rovigo.
The fleet
ACTV has around 160 boats and about a hundred floating piers, the pontoons at each stop. The fleet includes vaporetti, motoscafi, high-capacity motonavi and the car ferries that take vehicles. On land, it also runs around 600 buses.
On the Grand Canal since 1881
In autumn 1881 the Regina Margherita became the first vaporetto to sail the Grand Canal. In 1903 the city took over the lagoon services through a company of its own. Today's ACTV began operating on 1 October 1978 and has been a joint-stock company since 1 January 2001.
What passengers need to know
- Children under 6 travel free.
- Three pieces of luggage up to 150 cm in combined dimensions travel free; beyond that you need an extra ticket.
- On board you can only pay by card.
- The ACTV ticket is not valid on lines 16 and 19, on the Casinò line, on Alilaguna or on the airport services.
The ticket types are explained on our Vaporetto in Venice page, and all fares are on the Prices page. To find out how to get from the lagoon to the ferries for Greece and Istria, see Ferry terminals in Venice.
ACTV FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who owns ACTV? +
ACTV S.p.A. is part of AVM S.p.A., Venice's municipal transport group, which is controlled by the City of Venice. The group also includes Vela, which sells the tickets.
What does ACTV operate? +
On the water, the vaporetti (water buses) and motonavi linking the historic centre with the islands, from Treporti and Punta Sabbioni in the north to Chioggia in the south, plus the car ferries on lines 17 and 11. On land, the tram in Mestre and Marghera, city buses in Mestre, on the Lido and Pellestrina, in Chioggia and in Spinea, and regional buses.
Where are ACTV tickets not valid? +
Not on lines 16 and 19, not on the Casinò line, not on Alilaguna boats and not on the airport services. Our Vaporetto page explains which ticket suits your day.
How much luggage can I bring? +
Under the conditions of carriage, three pieces of luggage with combined dimensions (length + width + height) of up to 150 cm travel free. For more or larger luggage you need an extra ticket.
Where do I buy ACTV tickets? +
Can I get to my ferry on ACTV? +
Line 2 runs from Piazzale Roma to the San Basilio catamaran terminal in about 20 minutes. Line 16 to Fusina is not covered by the ACTV ticket. Our Terminals page explains how to reach both ferry terminals.