Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) Flights & Flight Status

Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is one of the busiest airports in Italy and the busiest in the northeastern region of the country. Since Venice is connected to the mainland by bridge, many people arrive to the city by car or train, but air arrivals to the city have been growing by leaps and bounds as the airport continues to expand and make room for more aircraft while respecting the fragility of the surrounding environment and ecosystem. Venice, as a whole, has made this a priority to limit large cruise ships and tour groups while also supporting the important tourism sector. Here is what you need to know when flying in and out of VCE.

How to get to and from Venice Marco Polo Airport

The airport is around 8 miles from the heart of the city, but getting there (especially with large luggage) requires a bit of planning given the unique layout of Venice. There are numerous options, but take into account the weight and number of bags when deciding what is right for you.

Taxis and buses

Vehicles like taxis and buses reach Venice airport, and they can take travelers throughout the surrounding area. For a city made up of a network of water canals, however, they can only go as far as Piazzale Roma.

The ACTV public bus #5 runs from the airport to Piazzale Roma square and is cheaper than taking a taxi. The bus comes by each half hour during the day. A taxi stand is where you can find a car to go into Venice; it will take you to Piazzale Roma.

From here, travelers will have to navigate the countless bridges and cobblestoned walkways with their luggage. Alternatively, they can pick up a water taxi from here to get closer to their hotel or destination.

There is also a bus that goes from the airport to Venice Mestre train station for regional connections by rail.

Water taxis

This is the easiest way to get from VCE to your destination if visiting the city itself. Water taxis, whether scheduled in advance or hailed at the airport, pick up from a dock by the terminal. Follow signs for the water taxi dock where numerous motor boat taxis park.

Bargaining with the driver before boarding the water taxi is an option, and expect that they will request a big number (sometimes based on the caliber of your hotel if they figure you can pay more). There are taxi meters, but drivers do not always turn them on; request that they are used.

There is a surcharge for travel after dark, and travelers with a lot of luggage may also have to pay more.

Vaporetto

This ferry boat shuttle is my favorite way to travel into Venice as someone who just has a carry-on bag. While the journey takes an hour to reach the main tourist areas, you pass many interesting places. The vaporetto system is like a water subway system with various lines around town.

You can really see how daily life in the city operates as you pass different neighborhoods, a hospital and islands that surround Venice like Murano and Burano.

Look for signs that say Alilaguna, which is the name of the vaporetto from the airport, within the terminal. It is the cheapest way to get into town and makes numerous stops along its route like Piazza San Marco and Lido Island.

The Linea Blu goes to the airport. A popular stop on this line is San Marco, within walking distance to Piazza San Marco. To determine if the vaporetto stops near your hotel or destination, the company’s website has a route map.

Rental cars

The rental car counters are inside the car parking deck with most major brands operating at VCE. Just keep in mind cars are not allowed within central Venice so you would need to park it in a lot outside the city.

The airport is also accessible to major highways. If you want to have a car, hotels in the nearby city of Mestre have parking areas. From there, you can take the train into Venice.

Terminals

Divided between Schengen and non-Schengen departures, the airport’s main terminal offers numerous dining and shopping options. A recent extension has added more gates with air bridges, but many departures leave from bus gates taking passengers to planes waiting on the apron.

This means that you may want to allow extra time to board your flight as those that use buses to get to the plane may close the departure gate earlier than those leaving from a physical jet bridge.

Recent construction and additions to the terminal have improved the passenger flow. More than a decade ago, there were only a couple of long-haul flights departing from Venice.

Today, all three major U.S. carriers serve the airport as well as a number of other Asian airlines. This is in addition to all of the European airlines that serve VCE, which means the terminal can become busy.

Add to that the influx of low-cost airlines, and Venice airport can feel like a larger European hub, especially around midday when most of the transatlantic departures leave. Tip: traveling in winter means the airport is not as busy as summertime.

Those leaving the Schengen Zone have to pass through immigration lines before boarding the plane. Keep in mind that there are no lounges beyond passport control. However, when long-haul flights are boarding, queues can be long so be sure to leave the lounge with plenty of time.

Lounges

There is only one lounge, the Marco Polo Lounge, in the airport. It serves as the lounge for premium cabin passengers and elite status members departing from the airport. Remember that it is in the Schengen Zone of the terminal.

Priority Pass members can also access it, but the lounge often denies entry when it is full of other airline passengers. This lounge has an outdoor terrace where you can watch arriving and departing planes, my favorite feature at the airport.

You can buy lounge access online in advance of arriving. This can be a great option for those traveling in economy and without a Priority Pass card. If you reserve and pay in advance, the lounge staff will accept your entry no matter how busy it is.

The food and drink options are decent with a few local selections. Service can take awhile since many alcoholic drinks have to be poured by a staffmember.

As the terminal expansion continues, plans are in place to allow for additional lounge space.

Dining and shopping

More high-end stores continue to open within the airport terminal. Along with duty-free options, they provide plenty of things to do while waiting for departure. Keep in mind that once you pass immigration to the non-Schengen Zone, shopping and dining are limited.

Travelers can pre-purchase duty-free items in advance online so that they can save time for one last plate of piping-hot pasta or pizza before the flight. You can then pick up your duty-free items and be on your way.

Airport hotels

Venice airport is generally not a connecting hub for most passengers. But for those with an early-morning departure, a hotel close to the terminal can be convenient (especially since water taxis are expensive and other transport options can be hard with luggage).

My preferred hotel is the Courtyard by Marriott, which is easily reachable from the terminal on foot. Not having to wait for a shuttle bus before sunrise is a major plus.

By crossing the short-term parking area from the terminal, you can get to a pedestrian crossing path that goes in the direction of the hotel. But, and this is important for families with small children or big bags to know, the last part of the walk is on the shoulder of Via Triestina.

I do not recommend making this walk after dark since there is no sidewalk on that final section. The hotel does have a free shuttle, but as a regular, I always walk with my carry-on bag. Another option is Annia Park Hotel Venice airport, which is closer, but harder to reach on foot.

Plane spotting at VCE

While the Marco Polo Lounge has an outdoor terrace for plane spotting, that does not help travelers without access to the lounge. Luckily, there is another spot where people can watch planes taking off and landing.

Emporio del Grano restaurant on the airport’s first floor (before security) has views of passing aircraft, but it is only open to those dining there and has no outdoor area.

Most of the time, aircraft make their final approach with most of central Venice off to the right. I always choose to sit on the right side of the aircraft so that I can see an aerial view of the city from the window. It is a great way to understand the layout of the city with the Grand Canal passing through it.