Venice is built on 118 islands – the main waterways are canals
Pictures of Venice: A curved footbridge, houses along the canal and gondolas transport tourists along the canals
![[:en]A curved footbridge in Venice. Staircase in the foreground.[:]](https://www.landroutes.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Venetsia16-scaled.webp "Venice 1")
![[:en]Houses along the canal in Venice. The water is high on the wall of the house.[:]](https://www.landroutes.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Venetsia4-scaled.webp "Venice 2")
![[:en]Gondolas transport tourists along the canals[:]](https://www.landroutes.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Venetsia1-scaled.webp "Venice 3")
The main forms of public transport in Venice are vaporetto boat buses, water taxis and buses. The city of Venice itself consists of islands that are connected to each other by bridges and canals, so a traditional metro system is not necessary. But, if you are traveling to the mainland of Venice or its surroundings, there are bus services that provide transport links to towns and villages on the mainland.
Venice’s public transport is managed by an agency called ACTV (Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti Veneziano)
The Vaporetto is a waterbus that offers service in Venice’s canals and lagoon. Vaporettos run on several routes. They take you to main islands like Murano, Burano, and Lido. You can also reach key attractions such as the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square.
Water taxis cost more than vaporetto. But, they provide quick and private rides in Venice and the lagoon area. Water taxis can be a good option if you’re traveling with a larger group or need extra flexibility.
ACTV also offers bus services on the mainland of Venice and the surrounding areas. Buses connect cities on the mainland. They also link to the airport and Venice Mestre Station, the main station on the mainland.
There are also smaller private boats like gondolas and water taxis that serve tourists. These options are generally more expensive. You can purchase Venice public transport tickets, which are valid on both vaporetos and buses, at several points of sale, including ACTV ticket offices, newsstands, and vending machines. It is recommended to stamp the ticket on the device before the start of the trip.
Venice is the capital of the Veneto region and metropolitan area
Venice has a population of around 260,000, of which around 60,000 live in the old town. Together with Padua, the city forms the Padua-Venice metropolitan area with around 1.6 million inhabitants.
The capital of Veneto
Veneto is an administrative region in northeastern Italy. It is the eighth largest in Italy by area and the fifth largest in population.
Canals and gondolas
Traditional Venetian rowing boats, gondolas, are iconic and offer romantic transport on the canals. There are over 150 canals in the city.
Water threatens Venice
Rising sea levels caused by climate change are increasing the risk of flooding in Venice. In addition, Venice is slowly sinking, which is exacerbating the effects of flooding.
Metropolis city
The Metropolitan City of Venice is located in the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, bordering the Adriatic Sea. The metropolitan city consists of 44 municipalities, and its capital is Venice.
Connection to the mainland
A long road and rail bridge leads from the northern end of Venice's old town to the mainland. There is a train and bus station nearby.
Flood prevention system
The system consists of movable dams that rise and fall as needed to prevent seawater from entering the city.