Most visitors arrive at Venice Marco Polo (VCE), and most guides only tell you how to get from there to the island. If you're staying on the mainland, this is the leg you actually need — and it's the easy one.
Take the ATVO express bus. It runs directly from the airport to Mestre railway station in about 20–25 minutes, costs around €10 one way, and goes roughly 40 times a day. There is no train from the airport terminal itself, so a bus or taxi is always the first leg.
| Option | Time | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATVO express bus | ~20–25 min | ~€10 one way | Direct to Mestre station, luggage hold under the coach, free Wi-Fi, free for under-4s |
| Taxi | ~15–20 min | Considerably more | Worth it late at night, with small children, or with a lot of luggage |
| Train | — | — | Not available from the terminal; you'd bus to Mestre station first anyway |
The stop is easy to find: leave the arrivals hall and walk straight ahead. The first lane outside is the taxi rank; the bus lane is the next one, about twenty metres further on. Buy tickets from the machines or desk in the terminal, or on the ATVO app.
Bags go in the hold underneath — no wrestling a suitcase down a coach aisle, which is a real consideration if you've just come off a long flight.
If you were staying on the island, your journey wouldn't end at a station. You'd continue by vaporetto or on foot, over bridges, with your luggage, hunting for an address in a city with no street logic and no cars. That last half-hour is the part people remember for the wrong reasons.
Arriving in Mestre, the bus drops you at the station and you're a short taxi or walk from the door. Then Venice is about ten minutes away whenever you want it, for €1.50.
Allow more time than the journey needs on the way out — the same bus runs airport-bound from Mestre station, but coaches get busy in the morning peak and at the start of school holidays. As a rule of thumb, be at the station three hours before a long-haul departure and two before a short-haul one.
Fares and times last checked September 2026 — confirm current prices with ATVO before you travel.
How do I get from Venice airport to Mestre?
Take the ATVO express bus from outside the arrivals hall. It runs direct to Mestre railway station in about 20–25 minutes for roughly €10 one way, with around 40 departures a day.
Is there a train from Venice Marco Polo airport?
No. There is no rail service from the terminal itself, so the first leg is always a bus or a taxi. From Mestre station you can then reach anywhere in Italy by train.
How long does the airport bus to Mestre take?
About 20–25 minutes, depending on traffic on the approach to Mestre.
Can I take a taxi from the airport to Mestre?
Yes — the rank is immediately outside arrivals, and the trip takes around 15–20 minutes. It costs considerably more than the bus, but is worth it late at night or with small children and lots of luggage.