Venice’s vaporetto (Italian term for water-bus) line 1 ACTV is the most frequently used line to reach Rialto bridge and St. Mark’s Square.
Line 1 navigates along the Grand Canal and stops at some of the most famous attraction in the old town of Venice before reaching the Lido. In this article you will find information on timetables, stops and points of interest located near each stop along the itinerary of vaporetto line 1.
This way you will be able to organize your next trip to Venice easily and explore the city without worries.
Vaporetto Line 1 ACTV
Vaporetto line 1 ACTV starts its route at the stop near the bus station (called Piazzale Roma), and begins its itinerary towards Venice’s Lido.
During its itinerary, vaporetto line 1 navigates the internal part of the historic center of Venice through the city’s main water road: the Grand Canal. Travelling with this particular line you can reach a number of attractions such as Rialto, Saint Mark’s Square, Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Arsenale.
Line 1 is a very practical and popular line, perfect to calmly reach Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square and to be able to admire the city from a priviledged point of view. The perspective from below, from the canal, is the best to fully appreciate the Venetian aristocratic palaces and churches built facing the Grand Canal.
Vaporetto Line 1 ACTV reaches the Lido in about an hour and then returns to Piazzale Roma doing the same itinerary.
To reach Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s square in the shortest amount of time, we suggest you consider taking Line 2, which reaches those destinations without making every stop, as Line 1 does.
Vaporetto Line 1 ACTV route and stops
Vaporetto line 1 cruises the historic center of Venice and makes all the stops located on the Grand Canal. Let’s see them in detail.
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.
Along the route, vaporetto line 1 will stop off at:
- PIAZZALE ROMA “F”
- FERROVIA “B”
- RIVA DE BIASIO “B”
- SAN MARCUOLA “B”
- SAN STAE
- CA’ D’ORO
- RIALTO MERCATO
- RIALTO “B”
- SAN SILVESTRO
- SANT’ANGELO
- SAN TOMÀ “A”
- CA’ REZZONICO
- ACCADEMIA “A”
- GIGLIO
- SALUTE
- S.MARCO VALLARESSO “B”
- SAN MARCO SAN ZACCARIA “D”
- ARSENALE “B”
- GIARDINI “B”
- SANT’ELENA “C”
- LIDO SANTA MARIA ELISABETTA “D”
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.
Venice vaporetto Line 1 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 1 timetables
Vaporetto line 1 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 1 and/or the timetables indicated on the displays next to the piers for up-to-date information.
Generally the vaporetto Line 1 operates every day of the week from 5 am to midnight. During the day the water-bus runs at intervals of about 10 to 20 minutes.
Venice vaporetto line 1 night service
If you want to continue your visit of the Venetian historic center in the evening or at night by vaporetto it is possible to do so.
Vaporetto Line 1 starts its last trip at midnight. From that moment on, an almost equivalent line is in service: line N which runs from 11:30 pm to 4 am.
Vaporetto line N makes the same stops as vaporetto Line 1, the only difference is that it stops at Giudecca island, St. Basilio and Zattere as well. For more information about timetables and stops of the nocturnal line, consult the official ACTV site – Line N.
Vaporetto line 1 stops and attractions
Venice vaporetto line 1 is a very popular, touristic line which is ideal for all those tourists who are looking for a peaceful panoramic trip on the most famous water road in Venice: the Grand Canal. This line makes all the stops located in the internal part of the city, at each of them it is possible to visit a number of points of interest of the city.
Here are some suggestions on what to visit in the historic center of Venice when travelling with vaporetto line 1:
Connections to the mainland
- P.LE ROMA “F”: 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“B”: 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..
Santa Croce
- RIVA DE BIASIO “B” : here you can visit the Museum of Natural History of Venice, which could be an interesting visit to add to your itinerary, especially if you travel with children. The Museum organizes a number of activities involving parents and children such as interactive visits with games, hidden clues, stories and legends.
- SAN STAE : few steps away from this stop you will find Ca’Pesaro Museum, inside this building is located the Internationa Gallery of modern art. In this magnific building of the 17th Century you can find a permanent exhibition of Oriental Art, which deserves to be added in your itinerary around the main attractions of Venice.
Cannaregio
- SAN MARCUOLA “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.
- CA’ D’ORO : if you decide to make a stop here you will find tourself close to the Giorgio Franchetti Gallery in Ca’ D’Oro Palace. It is one of the state museums of the city, which can be visited for free every first Sunday of the month. Numerous fine works are stored in this palace, and it’s worth paying a visit especially if you apreciate the works of the painters Mantegna and Tiziano
San Polo
- RIALTO MERCATO this stop is located next to the distric market of Rialto. if you decide to stop here, you will have the opportunity visit a local market and feel the authentic venetian athmosphere, listen to the vendors speak the Venetian dialect and even purchase fresh local products, such as fish from the laguna.
- SAN SILVESTRO : here you can visit the Church of San Silvestro, where you can admire some of the most famous works of the venetian painter Tintoretto: Baptism of Christ. We suggest you take advantge of the free entry to pay a quick visit to this church.
- 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.
- CA’ REZZONICO : not far from this stop you can find the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum, which is located inside the church of San Barnaba. This exhibition is addressed to all, both children and adults. There you can discover Leonardo’s inventive mind through the experimental and interactive exhibition and admire the digital reproductions of his most famous paintings.
San Marco
- RIALTO “B” e “D” : by stopping here you will find youself next to the famous Rialto Bridge, where you can browse the 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.
- SANT’ANGELO : near this stop you will find the Fortuny Museum, an house-museum seemingly unknown to the tourists. Here are preserved most of the the creations of the landlord’s atelier and peculiar pieces of forniture. Most visitors recommend the palace for a tour, a visit of which is about an hour long.
- GIGLIO : at this stop you will find the church of Santa Maria del Giglio. it is commonly considered one of the most beautiful churches of the city, which deserves to be enjoyed both from the outside and the inside. This building contains a number of works of art such as paintings and statues, but also gorgeous marmorean stairs.
- S.MARCO VALLARESSO “B” : The Royal Gardens (Musei Reali in Italian) are located not far from this stop. This small park is an authentic oasis of tranquillity located next to the chaotic St. Mark’s Square. It is accessible freely and here, especially during the summer, you can enjoy the tree-lined avenues and the beautiul shade they create. A variety of local and exotic plants are preserved here.
- SAN MARCO – SAN ZACCARIA “D” : this stop is located few steps away from the St. Mark’s Basilica, Palazzo Ducale and the Bridge of Sighs, which you can enjoy for free from the Paglia Bridge. If you visit Palazzo Ducale, the ticket often includes a guided tour of the Bridge of Sighs.
Dorsoduro
- 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.
- SALUTE : here you will find the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (in English: St. Mary of Health) If you happen to visit Venice around the period of the celebration of the Festa della salute (on November 21st), we suggest paying a visit to this area of Venice since it is the heart of this typical celebration. In all of the city, but especially around the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute are organized a number of charity and cultural events in this occasion.
Castello
- ARSENALE “B” : here you can visit the Venetian arsenal and the Naval History Museum of Venice in which you can admire how gondole are built. We recommend a visit to this museum especially if you are plan to visit the city with children.
- GIARDINI “B” : the stop is located next to the Giardini della Biennale which houses the foreign pavillions of the exhibition. It is an evocative place which deserves to be visited especially during the opening period of the Biennale exhibition.
- SANT’ELENA “C” : this stop is located few minutes away by foot from St. Elena’s Church with its beautiful architecture and tranquillity of its gardens. It is possible to rest there especially after a long visit of the rest of the city.
Lido di Venezia
- LIDO SANTA MARIA ELISABETTA “D” : this is the last stop of vaporetto line 1. Here you can enjoy a bycicle ride around the venetian lido to discover the naturalistic and historical beauty of this area of Venice.
Vaporetto line 1 ACTV tickets and fares
Venice vaporettos are operated by the local transit authority ACTV. To travel on the water-buses, you’ll need either a single-fare ticket (valid for 75 minutes), 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
Based on the number of days of your stay in Venice, you can choose among a variety of tickets sold by the public transit agency ACTV.
Since the fares are fixed by ACTV, you will find the same prices both at the ticket office and online.
In order to save up on transport money, we suggest you organize your schedule to make the most efficient use of your vaporetto tickets.
Vaporetto tickets available 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 1 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 1 ACTV tickets: discounts and reductions
Here are some reductions available for vaporetto Line 1 ACTV:
- Children under the age of 6 ride free
- Young people between 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.
The vaporetto line 1 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.
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. Vaporetto line 1 offers a panoramic route along the Grand Canal, and one can discover the city on foot by getting off at the preferred stops. It is therefore possible to spend an entire day visiting the major points of interest of the city located on the banks of the Grand Canal both by vaporetto and walking.
Therefore, we’d suggest considering the distance of your destinations and how to reach them ahead of time, in order to choose the most suitable ticket for your needs. If you plan on travelling mainly by vaporetto to visit the historic center, perhaps adding a visit to the islands of the Venetian archipelago to your itinerary, you will probably take the water bus multiple times during the day. In this case if you use public transport at least three times during your stay, then you should consider purchasing either a daily or multi-day pass.
On the contrary, if you plan on walking to discover the old city, and decide to use public transports to reach only the more distant areas of Venice (depending on where you are) or to come back to your hotel, then a 75 minutes ticket for each travel should be the most cost effective choice.
Buy vaporetto line 1 tickets
Vaporetto line 1 ACTV tickets are available both online and at the box offices located next to the vaporetto platforms in Venice.
The online and in-person prices are the same, however there are some advantages that only purchasing your tickets online can offer.
Buy tickets online
Most online websites allow you to purchase your vaporetto line 1 tickets 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 tickets ahead of time, because their validity is calculated upon the first validation.
The opportunity to buy tickets online can prove very useful even when you’re alrealy discovering Venice. 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.
For this reason buying online is practical. Moreover, you’ll have your tickets on your phone, so you won’t risk losing or demagnetizing them by accident.
By purchasing your vaporetto line 1 tickets online you can keep them on your mobile or use the PNR code on the voucher to pick up your physical ticket at the machines displaying the Venezia Unica logo.
Buy tickets at physical ticket offices
You can buy vaporetto line 1 tickets in person at the ticket offices in Venice (usually located next to the platforms) or in authorized retailers in the old town (recognizable by the ACTV logo)
Buying tickets at the box offices can be useful if you need to ask for directions and information, however be aware that some sellers might not speak English.
Many are the instances in which purchasing tickets in person is impractical.
ACTV ticket offices in Venice are small box-offices located outdoors, and of course 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.
Waiting under the sun or the rain is certainly really uncomfortable, especially when travelling with children, elders or people with disabilities.
Services in the event of fog or high tide
If you visit 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. If water reaches 140 cm, then the vaporetto line 1 rides will be temporarily suspended.
From October to March, fog covering the canals is also very frequent. Whenever visibility is lower than 150 meters, the itinerary of vaporetto line 1 could be limited to the Island of Sant’Elena, where you will find means of transport to reach the Venetian Lido.
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 vaporetto line 1 is completely accessible to wheelchair users and strollers.
