Venice is a city straight out of a fairy tale. When you hear the name Venice, images of the city's famous canals, gondolas, and carnival masks immediately come to mind. But there is so much more to this stunning city. Venice is the capital of the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, and is made up of an archipelago of 118 small islands located in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea.
The historic center of Venice has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is connected by 455 bridges. The majority of the city's population lives on the mainland, in six districts or "municipalità". The insular center of Venice is home to around 60,000 inhabitants, while the mainland is home to 200,000.
Unlike most cities, Venice is completely pedestrian, with no cars, buses, taxis, or trucks. The only mode of transportation is by boat, specifically the well-known vaporettos, which serve as the city's public transportation.
Venice's unique foundation is a fascinating aspect of the city's history. The city is built on millions of logs because the land it is built on is swampy. In order to construct buildings in such an environment, it was necessary to reinforce the foundations with the technique of stilt houses. Millions of thick logs were buried in the mud at the bottom of the lagoon until a hard area called caranto was reached. The weight of the buildings could then be supported on this area.
Unfortunately, the geography of Venice is not very accommodating to those with mobility issues. However, there are circuits designed for mobility devices and the administration is working to make the city more accessible to all. Despite this, Venice is still one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, attracting 19 million visitors in 2019, prior to the pandemic.
Starting from January 16, 2023, Venice will charge an entrance fee for visitors. The fee, ranging from 3 to 10 euros per person, must be reserved a couple of months in advance through the Venice City Hall's official website. Travelers must fill out a form indicating the date of arrival, length of stay, and accommodation arrangements.
In the following sections, we will provide further information on Venice, including accessibility for those with mobility or functional difficulties.
Venice is home to several tourist offices, all staffed by multilingual employees who are trained to assist visitors at any time.
These offices offer practical information on navigating the city, and can also help visitors find accommodations, museums, and various tourist activities.
When you arrive in Venice, we recommend visiting a tourist office and asking for a map of accessible itineraries. You can also inquire about the key to access the stair lifts, though it should be noted that these lifts may not always be functioning properly.
We leave you the link to the accessible itineraries:
http://www.venecia.es/moverse-en-ciudad/itinerarios-accesibles.htm
As previously mentioned, Venice can be challenging for individuals with mobility issues, so it is advisable to have someone to assist you in overcoming architectural barriers during your trip.
We recommend purchasing the "Venice Única CITY PASS," as it offers significant discounts and access to public transportation. This pass can be purchased online or at tourist offices. The price varies depending on the services included. To secure discounts, we recommend visiting the official website and purchasing the pass in advance.
https://www.veneziaunica.it/en/content/how-it-works
Next, we show you the most important tourist offices in the city:
San Marco Square Office:
This is the main tourist office in Venice, and it is the largest in the city. The office is accessible for individuals with disabilities and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. seven days a week.
At this office, you can receive assistance in planning your visit to Venice, book hotels, purchase tickets for museums or shows, and access all other tourist-related services.
Address and contact:
- Piazza San Marco 71/f 30124 Venice
- Telephone: (+39) 0415298711
- Email: info@turismovenezia.it
- Web: www.turismovenezia.it
Piazzale Roma office:
This office is conveniently located for travelers arriving by bus from the airport or the nearby town of Mestre. Visitors can find assistance in planning their trip to Venice, booking hotels, purchasing tickets for museums or shows, and accessing all other tourist-related services.
Address and contact:
- Piazzale Roma Garage. 30135 Venice
- Telephone: (+39) 0415298711
- Email: info@turismovenezia.it
- Web: www.turismovenezia.it
Marco Polo Airport office:
This office, which is accessible for people with mobility difficulties, is located in the national and international arrivals terminal of Marco Polo Airport. The multilingual staff can assist with all types of services related to your visit to Venice.
Address and Contact:
- National and international arrivals terminal. Tessera. 39939
- Telephone: (+39) 0415298711
- Email: info@turismovenezia.it
- Web: www.turismovenezia.it
Mestre Tourist Office:
This office is strategically located for travelers arriving by bus from the airport to the town of Mestre. In this office we can find assistance to schedule our visit to Venice, book hotels, buy tickets for museums or shows and all kinds of services related to tourism.
Address and Contact:
- Corso del Popolo 65. 30170 Venice.
- Telephone: (+39) 0415298711
- Email: info@turismovenezia.it
- Web: www.turismovenezia.it
Tourist Office of the Santa Lucía Station
Office located inside the Santa Lucía train station, it is also partially accessible to people with mobility problems, its staff speaks several languages and in it you can find all kinds of information about hotels, places of interest and other information related to tourism in Venice.
Address and Contact:
- Santa Lucia Railway Station 30121. Venice.
- Telephone: (+39) 0415298711
- Email: info@turismovenezia.it
- Web: www.turismovenezia.it
Likewise, if you need to get in touch before traveling or have any questions, you can always contact the Hellovenezia Call Center on the phone (+39) 0412424 (every day from 07:30 to 19:00 or via Email writing to info @veneziaunica.it
Airport:
Venice can be reached by flying to two airports: Marco Polo International Airport and Treviso Antonio Canova Airport. In this text, we will be focusing on Marco Polo airport, as it is the most significant and the one that most visitors arrive in Venice through.
The Marco Polo airport is situated in the city of Tessera, a district of the Venice municipality, close to Mestre. This airport is the third-largest in Northern Italy and is served by most airlines.
Like most large airports, there is a service available for people with reduced mobility. This service must be requested from the airline or travel agency 48 hours in advance to ensure that everything is prepared upon arrival. There are PMR points available at the airport, from where you can call for assistance or directly at the check-in counter. It is recommended to arrive at the airport 3 hours before your flight.
The PMR contact points within Marco Polo airport can be found at:
- PBus parking
- Short Stay Parking
- Parking P1: one in front of the box and another on the 3rd floor next to the car rental
- At the Darsena (pier for water vehicles): one in front of the Alilaguna ticket office and another at the beginning of the mobile walkway
- Outside the terminal, in correspondence with the doors: one for departures on the 1st floor and one for arrivals on the ground floor.
The assistance service is provided based on the passenger's needs and is guaranteed until the moment of boarding. The airport also offers:
- A mobile jetty at the dock
- Special means of transport
- Exclusive and free parking for PMR with ID
- An "Amica" room located inside the Departures area.
Special assistance is directed towards:
- Visually impaired or blind passengers (code BLND)
- Passengers with motor disabilities
- People who cannot walk long distances and can move independently (code WCHR)
- People who cannot walk long distances and cannot go up and down stairs, but are autonomous on board the aircraft (WCHS code)
- Deaf and hearing-impaired passengers (DEAF code)
- Passengers with intellectual or behavioral disabilities (DPNA code).
Marco Polo airport contacts:
- Telephone (+39) 0412609260
- Email: quality@veneziaairport.it
How to get from the airport to the center:
To reach the city center of Venice from Marco Polo Airport, you have several options: land-based or water-based.
Land-based options:
- Bus: You can take the ACTV urban bus number 5, which is accessible to people with reduced mobility or in wheelchairs. The bus connects the airport to Piazzale Roma and makes several stops along the way. Alternatively, you can take the ATVO express bus service, which is also accessible to people with reduced mobility, but runs directly between the airport and Piazzale Roma without any intermediate stops. Note that this option is more expensive.
Water-based options:
- Alilaguna Line: Alilaguna is a water transport company that provides service between the airport and the center of Venice. The service is accessible to people in wheelchairs, but only one chair can be accommodated per boat. The company has three lines that are accessible, including the blue line, orange line, and red line (seasonal).
- Water Taxi: A water taxi is another option for getting from the airport to the center of Venice. However, most water taxis are not accessible to people with reduced mobility. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes and the price ranges from €100 to €160, on average, to be divided among 4 passengers. Each extra person will pay an additional €10 to €20. The maximum number of passengers is 10 per boat.
Remember to inform the company of your special needs in advance so they can prepare accordingly.
Venezia Turismo Società Consortile s.r.l.
- Telephone: (+39) 041 2770563 or (+39) 041 2402711
- Email: veneziaturismo@veneziaturismo.net
- Web: www.veneziaturismo.net
Consorzio Venice Water Taxi
- Telephone: (+39) 041 5229040
- Email: info@venicewatertaxi.it - airport@venicewatertaxi.it
- Web: www.venicewatertaxi.it
Port / Cruise:
Arriving in Venice by boat is a unique and unforgettable experience, the port of Venice is one of the most important in Italy and one that receives the most cruise ships in the country.
If your ship is too large to dock in the port of Venice, it will anchor in the lagoon and passengers will be transferred to the city by tender boats, which are usually provided by the cruise company. In this case, you will usually arrive at a dock near Piazzale Roma, from where you can easily access the public transport system to get to the center of Venice.
Once you arrive at Piazzale Roma, you can take the water bus or water taxi to reach your final destination in the city. To reach the historic center, you can take a water bus or take a water taxi to the San Marco area, which is considered the heart of Venice.
It is always advisable to plan ahead and check the information available on the websites of the shipping companies or the tourist information offices to get the latest information on the transfer options from the port of Venice to the city center.
People Mover:
The People Mover is an accessible elevated train line for people with reduced mobility, which was inaugurated in 2010. It connects the Tronchetto area, where cruise ships arrive in Venice, to Piazzale Roma, located near the Constitution Bridge in the San Marco car park.
With the People Mover, travelers can reach their destination in just 4 minutes. The train runs every 7 minutes and costs €1.50, operating from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Private Transfer:
This option offers the most comfort but comes with a higher cost. It must be booked in advance and is available 24/7. To make a reservation, you must provide the details of your cruise and the desired hotel. A direct link to a private company that offers this service is available here: https://waterwaysvenice.com.
Transportation within Venice:
Vaporetto:
The Vaporetto is the most commonly used mode of transportation in Venice and is accessible for people with reduced mobility. It offers an affordable price, with a single trip costing €1.5 for people with mobility issues, and their companion traveling for free. In this case, purchasing a Vaporetto pass may not be necessary.
The most famous Vaporetto line is number 1, which travels along the Grand Canal and stops at popular tourist destinations such as St. Mark's Square. During the day, boats usually run every 10 to 20 minutes on the main lines, with night services also available.
Gondola:
Gondolas are a classic image of Venice, but most are not accessible for people in wheelchairs. However, there is a company called Gondolas4all (www.gondolas4all.com) that offers adapted gondola rides. They have a special pier with a crane for wheelchair access and the gondola is also adapted to accommodate manual wheelchairs.
Enjoy a romantic tour with a professional gondolier who will share the fascinating secrets of this city of canals.
Address and contact:
- Fondamenta Cossetti 30133, Venice, Italy
- Telephone: (+39) 3282431382
- Email: info@gondolas4all.com
Train:
Santa Lucia Station:
.Santa Lucia Station is the main train station of Venice, serving an average of 82,000 people (about 30 million annually) with 450 daily trains. The station is located in the Cannaregio district and is connected to Piazzale Roma through the Constitution Bridge and to the mainland through the Liberty Bridge.
Construction of the station began in 1936 and was completed in 1952. It offers trains to many Italian cities and some European cities, but there is no direct rail connection to the airport.
For those with reduced mobility, the Santa Lucia Station has ramp access and the "Sala Blu" service, located near platform 14, to assist with mobility issues both in the station area and on trains. The station also has accessible bathrooms.
The station is open from 06:00 to 21:00, seven days a week and has a tourist office on site. In addition, a few meters from the station are the docks for the public Navigation Actv service, consisting of five docks (A, B, C, D, and E) that connect to most of the important areas in the city.
Address:
- Fondamenta Santa Lucia, 54/b 30100 Venice.
Bus:
Additionally, the buses are equipped with ramps and low floors, making it easier for passengers with reduced mobility to board and exit the bus. They also have designated seating areas for passengers with disabilities.
The bus fare is €1.5 per trip, with discounts available for frequent users and for travelers with disabilities. The buses run from 06:00 a.m. to midnight and have a frequency of 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the route and time of day.
It is important to note that bus service may be impacted by heavy traffic in the city, especially during peak tourist season. For this reason, it may be advisable to plan your trip in advance and to allow extra time for any potential delays.
Al Gobbo di Rialto Restaurant: http://www.ristorantealgobbodirialto.com/
At Al Gobbo di Rialto Restaurant, traditional Venetian recipes are elevated with the use of seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients (km 0). The restaurant is situated in an unbeatable location, and the owners have personally restored and decorated it with unique pieces such as Murano glass. Visitors can indulge in a delicious meal in a relaxed atmosphere before continuing their exploration of Venice.
The restaurant is open seven days a week, from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
The restaurant and its restrooms are fully accessible to guests with mobility concerns.
Address and contact:
- Sestiere San Paolo 649. 30125 Venice
- Telephone: (+39) 0415204603
- Email: info@ristorantealgobbodirialto.com
Trattoria Aquila Nera Restaurant: https://aquilanera.eatbu.com/
If you're looking for a delicious dining experience, look no further than Trattoria Aquila Nera. Located in a prime location, this restaurant specializes in Mediterranean and Italian cuisine, offering a diverse range of flavorful dishes in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The wine selection is also noteworthy.
The restaurant is open daily, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
The restaurant and its restrooms are fully accessible to guests with mobility limitations.
Address and contact:
- Sestiere di S. Marco 5301, 30124 Venice, Italy
- Telephone: (+39) 0415224769
Restaurant Ai Folli: https://www.aifolli.it/
Located in Mestre, Restaurant Ai Folli is a must-visit for anyone looking for a unique dining experience. The restaurant is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities and boasts a captivating decor, including tables with standing tablecloths, cars breaking through walls, and other optical illusions.
Not only is the atmosphere one-of-a-kind, but the menu is just as memorable. The restaurant offers a range of options, including unique sandwiches, pasta, pizzas, and gluten-free dishes.
Restaurant Ai Folli is open every day, from 6:30 PM to 3:00 AM.
The restaurant and its restrooms are fully accessible to guests with mobility limitations.
Address and contact:
- Via Piave 77. Mestre, Venice
- Telephone: (+39) 3925183866
- Email: info@aifolli.it
