Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) Flights & Information

Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is the main airport serving Venice and the surrounding Veneto region of Northeastern Italy. It is also the closest airport to the city’s world-famous historical city center.

In 2023, VCE handled 11.3 million passengers, with 4 low-cost airlines – Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air and Volotea – taking the lion’s share. Since it is the gateway to one of Europe’s top tourist destinations as well as one of Italy’s richest and most industrialized regions, VCE is also served by pretty much all major European flag carriers as well as some airlines from North America and the Middle East.

It’s also important to note that there is another international airport, Treviso (TSF), which is marketed by some airlines as “Venice” but is located some 20 miles further inland. Both airports are managed by the same company.

Getting to and from VCE by public transportation

VCE is one of the few major airports in the world that you can reach by fast boat.

VCE is located right on the shores of the Venetian lagoon, where boats have been the preferred means of transportation since time immemorial. The airport has, thus, its own small port area with several piers that allow passengers to reach the airport directly from the water. The pier area is linked to the terminal through an indoor corridor.

Transferring from the Grand Canal to the airport in a fast water taxi was, in fact, one of the highlights of a recent trip to Venice. It is more expensive than taking the slower vaporetto – the boats that fulfill the role of buses within the Venetian archipelago – but it is, without any doubt, the fastest and most exhilarating way to reach the airport from any of the islands in the lagoon.

If prone to seasickness, you can also take one of the buses connecting the airport to Piazzale Roma, which is at the end of the isthmus connecting the historical city to the mainland. There is no rail transportation.

The fastest bus is the 35, which is direct. The journey takes 20 minutes. There are other urban bus lines, such as the 5 and 10, that will also take you there, but these are slower because they stop multiple times along the way. Ticket price is the same in any case, although it is slightly cheaper if you buy a return ticket.

ACTV, which is the Venice public transportation operator, also offers tickets that combine airport transfers and the use of boats within the city and the adjacent islands. These can be purchased online.

To find the airport bus stop, just turn to the right at the arrivals halls and take the exit next to the cafeteria. The bus stop is just in front and there are always staff there ready to assist travelers and sell them tickets. They take card payments on the spot, but you can also buy tickets at the machines next to the bus stop or via the ACTV app.

Getting to and from VCE by car

VCE is located very close to the intersection of two of Italy’s most important motorways: the E70 route axis, which connects the Po Valley to Slovenia and the Balkans, and the A13, which links Northeastern Italy to Rome.

And while you won’t need a car if your final destination is the city of Venice itself, I have sometimes used VCE as a gateway to many other interesting destinations in northern Italy – the Alps and even as far as the Croatian coast.

If you rent a car, though, check whether your rental company is located right next to the terminal or at one of the satellite locations surrounding the airport. These run shuttle services to and from the terminal, but you should factor in the additional transfer time, as I found out at my expense on one occasion in which I almost missed my flight.

There are several public parking areas located all around the terminal building. Conditions vary a bit, but they all charge pretty much the same amount per day for long-term parking. There is also a short-term parking area for drop-offs and pick-ups. There, the first 20 minutes are free with an hourly rate after.

Minimal electric vehicle charging stations are available in the airport parking areas.

VCE security and size

My own experience with lines at VCE has always been positive. I have neither experienced long lines there, nor have I experienced any serious hindrance. All my flights out of VCE have tended to be late in the evening (off peak hours), though, and within the Schengen area (no passport control required), so you can’t always depend on this unless your flights are the same.

If you are flying direct to the US from Venice, you must use a dedicated security line for additional security checks. All 3 major US carriers operate at VCE during the summer season. Still, VCE has just 1, rather compact terminal so you won’t need to walk large distances. Once I even made it from the street to my boarding gate in less than 20 minutes.

The longest you can expect to walk is if you arrive by sea, since the aforementioned boat terminal is located at the western end of the airport’s perimeter. Even in this case, though, we are talking about 600 feet, and there are moving walkways that speed you up.

By the way, one more thing to take into consideration: VCE is a silent airport, so don’t expect to hear flight announcements.

Lounges and other premium services

There is only one airside lounge at VCE, the Marco Polo Club lounge, which is shared by all airlines that offer this service. Independent access to the lounge has a fixed cost per person.

Additionally, the airport offers some premium services, including access to a dedicated lounge landside and fast-track check-in, to members of its own loyalty program, which is called Il Milione Club.

Access to this program is through the payment of an annual fee and the actual range of benefits you get depends on which of the 3 membership tiers you are in. Even if you don’t have the Il Milione card, you can purchase some of these premium services and advantages piecemeal.

Shops and amenities at VCE

When it comes to shopping and eating options, there are a couple dozen establishments in total, the majority of which are airside.

Besides the typical duty-free you can find at any airports, there are a few shops with a more local, Italian flavor. These include a number of fashion outlets, plus some shops selling Italian specialties and a store that sells Venice-themed merchandise like Murano glass and carnival masks.

Eating options, just as with shopping, are a bit limited, which is kind of expected in an airport the size of VCE. This being Italy, though, you can't really go wrong with the food. Most of the airside establishments serve Italian fare and there is even a gelato shop.

Landside, on the right side of the arrivals hall, there is a rather well stocked cafeteria with plenty of assorted pastries, panini and, of course, real Italian coffee – ideal to replenish your energy after a long flight and get ready for an intense day ahead in the city of canals.

VCE also offers free Wi-Fi without a time limitation. It is easy and straightforward to access and I am happy to confirm that it works at pretty fast speeds too.

Passengers with hidden disabilities

Venice Airport pays particular attention to passengers with autism and other sometimes hidden disabilities.

VCE has partnered with Italian foundation Oltre il Labirinto to offer a number of services for passengers with autism. In this regard, there is the possibility of booking a familiarization visit to get acquainted with the inner workings of the airport in advance, so later experiences don't become as challenging as they can potentially be.

What's more, VCE participates in the Sunflower program that allows people with hidden disabilities to be discretely recognized by staff for accommodations and additional considerations throughout their visits.