Venice Italy Cruise Port Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Chantelle KincyWondering about the Venice Italy Cruise Port?
You’ve come to the right place! As a travel advisor, who specializes in cruise travel, I have taken many hours of courses on cruise ports, and have booked numerous clients on cruises with stops at the Venice Italy Cruise Port.
Nestled within the Venetian Lagoon is Venice, an Italian city famed for its numerous scenic canals and beautiful historical architecture. It’s one of the most romantic cities in the world and a popular destination for cruisers.
In this article, I will delve into everything you need to know about Venice Cruise Port including tips and recommendations for shore excursions.
Where is Venice Cruise Port Located?
The official Cruise Port of Venice, also known as Terminal Venezia Passeggeri, is located to the west of the historic city, 4 km south of the causeway that links historical Venice to the mainland.
The cruise terminal consists of two parts: the Stazione Marittima cruise terminal which houses the largest cruise ships and the San Basilio cruise terminal.
However, as of 2021, the Italian government has placed a ban on large cruise ships which weigh over 25,000 tonnes, docking inside the Venetian Lagoon. Only smaller ships below this weight can dock in the official Venice Cruise Port.
Large cruise ships are being rerouted and instructed to dock in the industrial port of Marghera which is on the mainland, just below the causeway to Venice.
However, some large cruise ships are now stopping in Ravenna Cruise Port (a 2-hour drive south of Venice) and cruisers are journeying by bus to Venice.
Despite cruise ships docking in Marghera industrial port, cruise passengers will still be shuttled to and from the main Venice Cruise Port for both logistical health and safety reasons, as Marghera does not have the infrastructure to act as an official cruise port.
As the majority of cruise ships will be docking in Marghera industrial port, this will be the focus of our article rather than Ravenna Cruise Port.
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Venice Italy Cruise Port
Getting Around Venice from the Cruise Port
Although your cruise ship will dock at Marghera industrial port, shuttle services will likely be provided by your cruise liner from the passenger terminals to the official Venice Cruise Port.
This could be via bus or private water taxi.
If shuttle services are not available, Marghera Port is conveniently located beside a train station. It’s a quick 7-minute train journey from this station to Santa Lucia station, nestled in the heart of Venice. Trains are frequent, several journeying each hour, and cost €2,90 per person each way.
Another way to reach Venice from the cruise port is via bus. The bus stop in Marghera is right beside the train station. The journey takes 8 minutes and will drop you at Venice Piazzale Roma. You can book a day pass online in advance of your visit.
There are also water buses available that travel between Venice and the cruise port. This service is offered by ACTV. If you wish to travel by water bus, then I’d recommend booking your day pass online in advance.
Private water taxis are also available. They’re significantly more expensive than the waterbuses (around €90) but you will have the boat all to yourself.
Alternatively, it’s an 8-minute taxi ride to journey from Marghera Cruise Port to the center of Venice.
Are There Free Shuttles From Venice Cruise Port?
Your cruise liner should offer you a free shuttle service to and from the cruise ship in Marghera to Venice Cruise Port which is on the edge of Venice.
I’d recommend checking with your cruise ship in advance to clarify if they offer this service.
If your cruise ship doesn’t offer this service, trains, buses, and water buses are all available between Marghera and Venice.
✅ You can book a private water taxi from Venice to the cruise port here
Can You Walk into Venice from Your Cruise Ship?
It’s very easy to walk into Venice from Venice Cruise Port (which is where your cruise liner should drop you) as it is perched on the edge of the city. It will take just a few minutes for you to be engulfed by the beautiful city.
If your cruise liner doesn’t offer a shuttle service to Venice Cruise Port, Marghera Port (where your cruise ship will be based) is too far away from Venice for you to easily walk into the city.
It’s located on the other side of a lengthy causeway which, although does have a pavement, isn’t convenient.
It would take over an hour to walk from the cruise terminal into Venice, and that doesn’t include all the further walking you will then complete around the city.
I’d recommend taking public transport or a taxi instead.
Are there Taxis Available from Venice Cruise Port?
Yes, you can grab a taxi from Venice Cruise Port which you can take to Venice Marco Polo Airport.
A taxi isn’t necessary to journey between Venice Cruise Port and Venice City as the cruise port is so close to the city and the city doesn’t have any roads for motor vehicles beyond Piazzale Roma.
✅ Book a shuttle from Venice to the airport
Venice Italy Cruise Port
Best Shore Excursions from the Venice Cruise Port
There are a number of fantastic things to see and do during your time in Venice. Below are some of my favorite Venice shore excursions.
1. Gondola Ride
By far one of the most popular and unique ways to view Venice is by gondola. These charming small boats without a motor are able to navigate down quiet canals, allowing you the opportunity to soak up the fantastic architecture from the comfort of your traditional boat.
Being one of the more popular activities in Venice, there are a host of gondola tours available, from private to small group tours. Your excursion can be booked in advance online or you can just turn up on the day.
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2. Basilica San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica)
Nestled in the heart of St. Mark’s Square is a magnificent cathedral called St. Mark’s Basilica. It’s one of the most famous and iconic landmarks in the city, as well as a prime example of Byzantine architecture.
The cathedral is incredible to marvel at from afar. It’s also worth paying a visit inside. In order to beat the queues, I’d recommend booking a tour which includes skip-the-line tickets, such as this one.
If you’d like to visit several of Venice’s key attractions then it may be worth booking a walking tour that visits St Mark’s Basilica as well as other magnificent sights.
➡️ This is a great skip the line tour!
3. Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square)
No visit to Venice would be complete without soaking up the vast historical monuments which call St Mark’s Square home. As well as housing the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, this vast square is also the refuge of St Mark’s Campanile, a 16th-century cathedral tower.
The corner of Doge’s Palace is also visible from this beautiful square.
Within the square, you can find a number of cafes and restaurants, the perfect place to enjoy a coffee or some lunch whilst enjoying fantastic views of the square.
4. Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace)
Doge’s Palace is a magnificent palace located in St. Mark’s Square. It served as the residence of the Doge, the chief magistrate and ruler of the Venetian Republic, as well as the seat of the government for close to 1000 years.
Today this historically significant landmark is a museum. You can visit Doge’s Palace along with the neighboring St Mark’s Basilica as part of a skip-the-line walking tour.
➡️ See Doges Palace, St Marks and a Gondola Ride with this incredible tour!
5. Food & Wine Walking Tour
Italy is a country renowned for its delicious cuisine and locally-produced wines. One of the best ways to try the local dishes is to take a food and wine tour.
This food and wine tour has exceptional online reviews and specializes in allowing you to sample Venetian appetizers known as Cicchetti.
Alternatively, this tour allows you to sample some lovely sweet treats such as traditional Venetian cookies and homemade gelato.
6. Rialto Bridge
Spanning the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge is the oldest and most renowned bridge in the city. Designed by Antonio da Ponte, it features a single stone arch that spans the Grand Canal, supported by two inclined ramps on either side.
Rialto Bridge can be viewed either from the water on a boat tour or you can walk over the top of it. The bridge is so large that it even houses shops! Alternatively, you can admire the bridge from the streets on either side of the canal.
7. Teatro la Fenice (Opera House)
Teatro La Fenice is an internationally renowned opera house that’s nestled in the heart of Venice. It’s in fact considered one of the most prestigious and historic theaters in the world. The original opera house sadly burnt down in 1996 and has since been rebuilt.
Teatro la Fenice is an active opera theater. You can book tickets to view operas that are performed there. If you would like to view a performance, I’d recommend booking in advance as tickets can quickly sell out.
Even if you don’t plan on viewing an opera, Teatro La Fenice is still worth viewing from the exterior.
8. Grand Canal
The largest canal in Venice, the 4-kilometer (1.5 mile) Grand Canal cuts through the city of Venice and houses some of the city’s most beautiful buildings.
With barely any walkways beside the canal, the best way to view it and absorb the colorful atmosphere is to take to the water.
This wide waterway is a little too big for gondola rides to take you the whole way but there are plenty of other boat tours available, which journey down this long and majestic canal, passing under the canal’s 4 bridges, including the famous Rialto Bridge.
Getting From Venice Airport to the Cruise Port
There are a number of ways to journey from Venice Marco Polo Airport to Venice Cruise Port.
The quickest and easiest way to journey to the Venice cruise terminal is via water taxi. Being located right on the water, taxi boats are conveniently available just outside the airport. Although this is the quickest way to reach the cruise terminal, it’s also the most expensive way.
You can alternatively take a land taxi between Venice Marco Polo Airport and Venice Cruise Port. The journey is typically between 15 and 20 minutes in length.
Finally, you can journey by bus to Piazzale Roma which is just a short walk away from the cruise terminal.
Places to Stay Near Venice Cruise Port
There are a number of fabulous hotels that are located in Venice’s city center, just a stone’s throw away from the cruise terminal.
Cinqueteste Luxury Home is one of the best-reviewed hotels in the area. It’s a 25-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square and a 20-minute walk from Venice Cruise Port. The hotel is perched right on the canal so if you choose a canal-facing room you will have exceptional views.
Another fantastic option is Hotel Cipriani, a luxurious hotel on an island to the south of the main city which looks across the waterway to Doge’s Palace.
Hotel Moresco is one of the closer hotels to the cruise port, only a 20-minute walk from it. It’s a charming boutique hotel and rooms are dressed in a combination of 19th-century and modern design.
Venice Quick Facts
Best Time to Visit Venice
The best time to visit Venice in terms of weather is between May and October.
Venice is an extremely popular city and so during the holiday season, you will no doubt be contending with crowds.
In order to get the best balance between beating the crowds and having lovely weather, May, September, and October are the best times to visit.
What kind of currency is used in Venice?
The currency accepted in Venice is the Euro. It was previously the Italian Lira, but is no longer in circulation.
Cruise Liners that Visit Venice Cruise Port
As of the 2021 changes to Venice Cruise Port, which doesn’t allow large cruise ships to dock in the port, a reduced number of cruise liners now dock in Venice at Marghera industrial port.
Some of the cruise ships that still stop in Venice are:
- ● MSC Cruises
- ● Norwegian Cruise Line
- ● Silversea Cruises
- ● Seabourne
- ● Azamara Cruises
- ● Fred Olsen
- ● Viking Ocean
Other cruise ships such as Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises now dock in nearby cities such as Ravenna.
Venice Cruise Port FAQS
Where do the cruise ships dock in Venice?
Cruise ships to Venice now must dock in Marghera industrial port, on the mainland, across the lagoon from Venice. This is a result of a 2021 ban on large cruise ships from docking in Venice.
Cruise passengers however will be shuttled by their cruise liner to and from the official Venice Cruise Port which is right next to the city of Venice.
Why is Venice closed to cruise ships?
The reason for closing Venice to cruise ships is to preserve the Venetian lagoon. Venice had been put on the UNESCO World Heritage’s blacklist as a Heritage Site in danger and the large numbers of cruise ships that visit the fragile city were listed as part of the reason for this.
How long does it take to get from the Venice cruise terminal to the airport?
It takes between 15 and 20 minutes to journey between Venice Cruise Port and Marco Polo Airport via taxi. Journeying by water taxi boat takes a similar amount of time.
Final Thoughts on the Venice Cruise Port
Venice is a very beautiful city that’s unlike anywhere else in the world. Famed for its picturesque canals lined by historic buildings, a day spent in this Italian city is never anything short of magical.
The new regulations for cruise liners do make a cruise visit to Venice a little more complicated than it used to be. Different cruise liners now dock at different cruise ports so it’s important you check with your cruise line exactly where you will be docking and if a free shuttle service to Venice city center is included.
If you need any help at all planning your European Cruise, please reach out! I help at no additional cost to you!
