Coach & Minibus Hire in Italy

In Venice, Your Transfer Starts with the Berth

Since August 2021, large cruise ships may no longer sail past San Marco and along the Giudecca Canal. Venice now spreads its calls across several berths, and the one printed on your cruise documents shapes the whole transfer.

Four places your ship might be

Marittima, the historic terminal beside Piazzale Roma, now takes only ships within the lagoon limits. San Basilio is a smaller terminal in Dorsoduro, inside the historic city; vehicles may enter its gate just long enough to unload people and bags, with no parking. Fusina is a cruise terminal on the mainland at the lagoon's edge, fully in service since August 2024.

Bigger ships berth at Porto Marghera, in the industrial port, yet their passengers still complete embarkation formalities at Marittima. In 2026 the port also listed calls at Chioggia. Keep to the berth on your own booking, even if friends sailed from somewhere else last year.

Minibus with side door open for boarding
Minibus with side door open for boarding

Where the road ends

Piazzale Roma is the only part of historic Venice a vehicle can reach. From there the elevated People Mover runs to Marittima from 07:00 until 23:00, leaving about every 8 minutes for a three-minute ride; on foot it takes about a quarter of an hour. Santa Lucia station is about 350 m away across the Ponte della Costituzione.

Almost the whole municipality, Mestre included, is a bus zone that needs a pass, so the operator arranges the vehicle's access. Fusina lies some 19 km by road from Piazzale Roma, about 30 minutes, via the SS309 Romea or the A57.

Where the ships tie up

  • For 2026 the port listed calls at Fusina, Porto Marghera (Liguria and Lombardia), San Basilio and Marittima (for ships up to 25,000 GT), plus Chioggia, pending new dedicated cruise facilities
  • Since 1 August 2021 ships of more than 25,000 GT, longer than 180 m at the waterline, with an air draft over 35 m, or burning fuel with 0.1% sulphur or more may not pass through the Bacino di San Marco, the Canale di San Marco or the Canale della Giudecca (D.L. 103/2021, art. 1 c. 2)
  • Porto Marghera, Banchina Liguria and Banchina Lombardia: berths in the industrial port used by larger ships; passengers and those accompanying them go to Marittima for all embarkation and disembarkation formalities
  • Fusina: a cruise terminal on the mainland at the edge of the lagoon, fully in service since August 2024
  • San Basilio: a smaller terminal in the Dorsoduro district of the historic city
  • Marittima (Venezia Terminal Passeggeri, Fabbricato 248): the historic cruise terminal next to Piazzale Roma; since 2021 only ships within the lagoon limits reach it

A day either side of the cruise

A night on the mainland before sailing opens up gentle outings: the villas of the Riviera del Brenta, with Villa Pisani at Stra about 45 minutes away, or Padova in under an hour. On set days Venice charges day visitors an access fee; check the city's calendar for your dates.

What travellers ask us

How long is the drive from Marco Polo airport?

About 15 km to Piazzale Roma, roughly 25 minutes in light traffic. To Fusina it is about 23 km, around 40 minutes.

Can the minibus drive us to San Marco?

No vehicle reaches San Marco. Groups step out at Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto and continue on foot or by waterbus. Public waterbuses also stop at San Basilio.

Our ship berths at Marghera. Where do we check in?

At Marittima, beside Piazzale Roma. The Marghera quays are reached through the industrial port, and only operators receive those road directions.

More places for your group

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