Venice vaporetto line 2 ACTV (vaporetto is the Venetian word for motor boat) is one of the most frequently used by tourists to move around the city and reach the major attractions quickly.
Vaporetto line 2 is one of the gira città lines, which travel along the Grand Canal through the historic center of Venice. This Line stops at the Giudecca Island as well.
In this article you will find information on timetables, stops and fares for Venice vaporetto line 2 tickets and practical advice on what to visit at each stop of the ride.
Venice Vaporetto line 2 ACTV
Venice vaporetto line 2 ACTV travels through the venetian old town and historic center.
This line begins its route at St. Mark’s Square, and sets off towards the bus and railway stations (stops P.le Roma and Ferrovia). Along the way the vaporetto makes all the stops in the Giudecca island and enters the Grand Canal to reach Rialto bridge and St. Mark’s Square where it starts the same journey counterclockwise.
By taking vaporetto line 2 you can arrive to Venice’s main points of interest in a short amount of time: the complete itinerary of vaporetto line 2 is in fact only 30 minutes long.
This line is therefore ideal for those who wish to reach the main attractions quickly, and then descover the rest of the city by foot.
Venice vaporetto Line 2 routes and stops
Venice vaporetto line 2 ACTV travels through the Venetian historic center rapidly and reaches Venice’s landmarks – such as St. Mark’s Square, Rialto bridge and Giudecca Island – within minutes.
Please note that the busiest stops (usually those closest to the main attractions) have more than one platform, and all are located close to one another. Each pier is indicated by the name of the stop and then a letter in progression.
Let’s see them in detail:
- S. MARCO – SAN ZACCARIA “B”
- SAN GIORGIO
- ZITELLE
- REDENTORE
- GIUDECCA PALANCA “B”
- ZATTERE “A”
- SAN BASILIO “A”
- SACCA FISOLA “B”
- TRONCHETTO “B”
- TRONCHETTO mercato
- P.LE ROMA
- FERROVIA
- SAN MARCUOLA – CASINÒ “B”
- RIALTO “D”
- SAN TOMÀ “A”
- SAN SAMUELE
- ACCADEMIA “A”
- SAN MARCO GIARDINETTI “A”
Bear in mind that the stops to and from the Lido (the last stop) are on the same platform, not on the opposite sides of the canal. Be careful which direction the boat you are about to board travels to.
Vaporetto Line 2 stops and attractions
Venice vaporetto line 2 ACTV is the best alternative for those tourists who wish to reach the venetian attractions within a few minutes and prefer to observe the city walking though the tight calli intead of admiring the city by boat from the Grand Canal.
This line makes only some of the stops located on the shore of the Grand Canal and stops at Giudecca Island as well. You can find numerous points of interest not far from each stop.
Here are some of the main attractions near the stops of Venice vaporetto line 2:
San Marco
- San Marco/San Zaccaria “B” this stop is located few steps from St. Mark’s Square, Palazzo Ducale and from the Bridge of Sighs. You can admire the beauty of this bridge for free by standing on the Ponte della Paglia and if you want to visit it from the inside and discover the story surrounding its name, tickets are usually included if you visit Palazzo ducale
- Rialto “D” : by stopping here you will find youself next to the famous Rialto Bridge, where you can browse small shops located on the Bridge or visit the Goldoni Theater, which is located not far from the bridge. The Goldoni Theater is the oldest theater in Venice: it is still in business, so if you have the opportunity we recommend watching a theater performance not only for the quality of the works that are played there but also for the beauty of the decors.
- San Giorgio: this stop is located on St George’s Island, few steps from the Vatican Chapels: in this part of the island you can admie 10 chapels designed and built by comtemporary achitects in the middle of a little wood. Walking around these peculiar buildings is a calming and spiritual experience which we highly recommend.
- San Samuele: here you will find yourself near Palazzo Malipiero, an ancient building where the famous Giacomo Casanova lived. Currently the palace is one of the pavillions of the Biennale of Venice. We strongly suggest you pay a brief visit to this building not only to admire the beautiful gothic and bizantine architecture, but also the magnificent interiors.
Isola della Giudecca
- Zittelle “B” this stop is not far from the Casa dei Tre Oci, we recommend you both observe this building from the outside and visit the inside since Casa dei Tre Oci is a venue for stunning photographic exhibitions.
- Redentore: near this stop you will find Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore. In case you find yourself in Venice during the festivity of Festa del Redentore (July 17th) you can admire the so called “ponte di barche” (bridge of boats), a line of small boats that cross the canal similarly to a bridge.
- Giudecca Palanca “B”: not far from the vaporetto stop you will find Chiesa di Sant’Eufemia, which can be visited for free. It is therefore an interesting addition to your itinerary at the Giudecca Island.
- Sacca Fisola “B” this stop is located at the extremity of the Giudecca Island, so it is the ideal spot to stop at and begin an itinerary of the island on foot.
Santa Croce
- Tronchetto “B”: a parking lot and camper parking are located not far from the vaporetto stop. If you come to Venice by car you can park at the Tronchetto parking and discover the rest of the city on foot
- Tronchetto Mercato: at this stop you can find the new commercial hub equipped with restrooms, kiosks and a parking lot for those who arrive to Venice by car.
Connections to the mainland
- P.le Roma: it is the bust station where you can take transfers to and from the airport. It is located a few steps away from Giardino di Papadopoli, a little quiet park, usually popular with students. We suggest you take a break there since it is one of the rare shaded areas in Venice.
- Ferrovia: it is the stop across Saint Lucia’s Train Station. It is located on the opposite side of the canal to San Simeon Piccolo’s Church, the main building that you can spot when you first arrive in Venice by train. If you choose to pay a visit, we recommend checking out the crypt.
Cannaregio
- San Marcuola – Casinò “B” this stop is located few steps away from the Jewish Ghetto. The ghetto is located in a particularly quiet part of Venice, and there you can visit luxurious synagogues, the Jewish Museum and have a meal at the typical venetian bacari and at jewish restaurants.
San Polo
- San Tomà “A” close to the stop you can find the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, the biggest church in Venice. It is one of the must-see attractions of the city. Inside the church tombs of famous venetian people such as the painter Tiziano and some of the Dogi (the heads of Venice during the medieval and renaissance periods) are preserved. Here you can also find the heart of the famous sculptor Canova.
Dorsoduro
- Zattere by stopping here you will find yourself at walking distance from the Squero di San Trovaso (a typical rowing court in Venice) you can see how gondolas are built and repaired. You can observe the Squero and the artisans at work for free by standing on the opposite side of the canal. you will find yourself next to a typical venetian pub, a bacaro, so we suggest you enjoy a spritz and some cicchetti in the meantime.
- San Basilio: here you can take a long walk along the laguna and stop at the Squero di San Trovaso, which is the oldest shipyard in Venice. It is a unique experience to be able to observe local artisans repair gondolas, so we advise you to add this stop to your itinerary!
- Accademia “A”: if you stop here you can visit the Gallerie dell’Accademia, an art museum which holds the biggest collection of Venetian art. The museum displays paintings by great artists such as Tintoretto, Giorgione and Canova. Please note that the Gallerie dell’Accademia is a state museum, therefore you can visit it for free every first Sunday of the month.
- San Marco Giardinetti “A”: this stop is located next to the Giardini Reali (which translates to Royal Gardens). It is a small park which ows its name to having been commissioned by Napoleon. This park is truly a peaceful oasis located next to the chaotic St. Mark’s square. It is accessible for free and during the sujmmer here you can enjoy shaded tree-lined avenues and admire the variety of exhotic plants and flowers that were planted here.
Venice vaporetto line 2 timetables
Venice vaporetto line 2 ACTV is active every day during daytime.
In Venice vaporetto timetables are subject to change and seasonal variation.
Although the changes are minor, we recommend always checking the official ACTV site – Line 2 and/or the timetables indicated on the displays next to the piers for up-to-date information.
You can enjoy the complete itinerary of vaporetto line 2 starting from 8:40 a.m. and the last ride complete of all the stops starts at 7 p.m.
From around 5 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and then from 7:15 p.m. to 11.15 p.m. this vaporetto line is limited to the route that starts at San Marco-San Zaccaria to Piazzale Roma or Rialto.
After arriving to these last stops, the vaporetto line 2 travels starts the reverse route.
Vaporetto line 2 offers very frequent rides, at intervals of around 10 minutes.
Vaporetto line 2 tickets and fares
Venice vaporettos are operated by ACTV: the local transit authority . To travel on the Venetian water-buses, you’ll need either a single-fare ticket (valid for 75 minutes), an all-day or multi-day ticket (available up to 7 days).
ACTV vaporetto tickets allow unlimited travel on public water during the validity period of the ticket you purchased.
In the following paragraph we’ll look into fare prices, the difference among the travel tickets and where it is more convenient to buy them.
Vaporetto ticket prices
Vaporetto ticket prices are generally fixed by ACTV, therefore you will find the same prices both at the ticket office and online.
Considering the relatively high prices, we suggest you organize your schedule to make the most efficient use of your vaporetto tickets in order to save up on transport money.
Available vaporetto tickets are valid for 75 minutes, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days or 7 days at the following prices:
- single fare ticket (75′): 9,50€
- 1 day ticket: 25 €
- 2 days ticket: 35 €
- 3 days ticket: 45 €
- 7 days ticket: 65 €
Venice vaporetto Line 2 Tickets
Here you can buy your vaporetto tickets commission free!
Online tickets and physical tickets are the same price!
75′: 9.50€; 1 day: 25€; 2 days: 35€; 3 days: 45€; 7 days: 65€
Buy line 2 vaporetto tickets
Vaporetto line 2 ACTV tickets are available both at the box offices located next to the vaporetto platforms in Venice and online.
The online and in-person prices are the same, however there are some advantages that only purchasing your tickets online can offer.
Buy vaporetto line 2 tickets online
By purchasing your vaporetto line 2 tickets from online websites, you can download them directly on your smartphone, so you can skip the long queues in front of the box offices and go to the vaporetto platforms straight away.
You can buy your vaporetto line 2 tickets ahead of time, because their validity is calculated upon the first validation. You’ll have your tickets on your phone, and won’t risk losing or demagnetizing them by accident.
The possibility of buying tickets online tends to be very useful even when you’re alrealy discovering the city. Tourists often risk missing their water-bus because of the long lines at the box offices or find themselves at stops with no ticket stands.
Buy water-boat tickets at physical ticket offices
You can buy Venice vaporetto line 2 tickets in person at the ticket offices (usually located next to the platforms) or in authorized retailers in the old town (recognizable by the ACTV logo).
Although it is the classic way of purchasing tickets, in Venice it can prove to be quite impractical.
Buying tickets from a physical vendor can be useful if you need to ask for directions and information, however be aware that some sellers might not speak English.
ACTV ticket offices in Venice are located outdoors, and especially during high season can have very long queues of tourists waiting in front of them.
The space in front of the ticket offices is not covered, so you might find yourself waiting in line, exposed to the elements. It is certainly really uncomfortable, especially if travelling with children, elders or people with disabilities.
For these reasons, for the same price, buying tickets online tends to be more cost-effective.
Which ticket is more convenient
Clearly the convenience of each vaporetto ticket depends on some variables such as your itinerary, period of stay and frequency of use of public tranport.
If you plan on walking to discover the venetian historic center, and use public transports to reach only the more distant areas of Venice (depending on where you are), then a 75 minutes ticket for each travel should be the most cost-effective choice.
On the contrary, if you’ll stay in Venice for a couple of days and perhaps you decide to pay a visit to the islands of the Venetian archipelago, then you will probably take the water bus multiple times. In this case if you use public transport at least three times during the day, then you should consider purchasing either a daily or multi-day pass.
Our suggestion is to consider the distance of your destinations and decide how to reach them ahead of time in order to choose the most suitable ticket for your needs.
Venice vaporetto Line 2 Tickets
Here you can buy your vaporetto tickets commission free!
Online tickets and physical tickets are the same price!
75′: 9.50€; 1 day: 25€; 2 days: 35€; 3 days: 45€; 7 days: 65€
Vaporetto line 2 ACTV tickets: discounts and reductions
Here are some reductions available for vaporetto Line 2 ACTV:
- Children under the age of 6 ride for free
- Young people between age 6 and 26 can buy discounted 3-day tickets.
- Passengers in a wheelchair can purchae single-fare tickets at a significant discount. If accompanied, the other person does not pay.
Vaporetto line 2 ACTV tickets are not refundable and cannot be exchanged.
You must validate tickets before boarding. Look for the white electronic card reader near the vaporetto platform.
Services in the event of fog or high tide
If you plan on visiting Venice during fall or winter, you are likely to face the very typical phenomenon of high tide. In order to be fully prepared and equipped, we suggest checking the tidal flow since the vaporetto routes can sometimes vary depending on the water level.
If water reaches 95 cm, the vaporetto line 2 service undergoes some temporary variations.
Rides are limited to the route between San Zaccaria “B” and Tronchetto and then between San Marco Giardinetti and P.le Roma.
From October to March, fog covering the canals is also very frequent. Whenever visibility is lower than 150 meters, the itinerary of vaporetto line 2 could be modified. For up-to-date information we suggest checking the official ACTV site since measure may vary.
These phenomena occur yearly, therefore our suggestion is to organize a flexible itinerary including a number of alternative destinations in case of bad weather and high tide.
Lastly, please note that the vporetto line 2 is completely accessible to wheelchair users and strollers.
