Welcome to this guide that shows you how to get from Venice airport to Mestre.
Mestre is situated only a few kilometres away from Venice, on the mainland. It’s the closest city to Venice and the best place to book accommodation, especially when there’s limited hotel availability in Venice or you find prices are too high.
Thousands of travellers choose to stay in Mestre and use it as a base to explore the city of canals and bridges. The two cities are well-connected by public transport with several trains, buses and trams arriving to Piazzale Roma in Venice from Mestre.
I invite you to keep reading below to find out what the most popular option to get from the airport to Mestre is so you can choose the right one for your needs.
What's in this guide?
How to get from Venice airport to Mestre
This guide contains all the information you need to know to travel from Venice Marco Polo airport to Mestre city centre and all your available options.
Factors like arrival time, needs and budget, should be taken into account to make an informed decision and confidently know what happens after landing in Venice.
Let’s first see how far is the airport from Mestre, the cheapest way to get there and every single transportation option in detail.
How far is Venice airport from Mestre?
Venice Marco Polo airport (VCE) is the closest airport to Venice and it’s less than 10 kilometres away from Mestre. It takes 15 minutes to get from the airport to Mestre by car and more or less 20 minutes by bus.
If you still haven’t booked accommodation in Mestre, or simply considering the idea of booking a hotel there instead of Venice, check out my guide on hotels near Mestre train station which features some of the most affordable options for visitors.
How to get from Venice airport to Mestre
The journey is relatively easy and it is straightforward to get from Venice airport to Mestre. You have 4 different options to choose from, based on the following:
- Arrival time
- Budget
- Hotel location in Mestre
- Your travel preferences
You can either get a bus (both normal and express shuttle buses available), get a taxi, alternatively a private transfer or hire a car. Take into account your travel plans when choosing the transport options for your needs.
For example, if your itinerary includes visiting other places in Veneto or closeby regions before visiting Venice, you might want to hire a car right at the airport.
If you’re going to spend your entire trip visiting Venice, simply get the shuttle bus and then the train to get to Venice from Mestre.
The cheapest way to get from Venice airport to Mestre
The cheapest way to get from Venice airport to Mestre is by bus. The one way ticket for the Aerobus from Marco Polo airport to Mestre and Venice costs 10 euros each. You can also purchase a return ticket that costs 18 euros and save 2 euros.
You can either get the ATVO bus number 25 and 35 or the ACTV bus number 15. ATVO buses are the best and cheapest options as they take a bit less (14 minutes) than the ACTV one (19 minutes).
Then, if you also need cheap accommodation you can check out the A and O hostel which offers a nice mix of private rooms and dorm rooms if you are open to sharing.
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Best ways to get from Venice Airport to Mestre
Let’s now take a better look at each transportation option you have to travel from Marco Polo airport to Mestre train station or to other locations in the city centre.
Based on what I explain in the paragraphs below, you should be able to make an informed decision and pick the best means of transport for your needs.
Venice Airport to Mestre by Bus
As I mentioned above, there are 3 shuttle bus options to get from Venice airport to Mestre which one you choose will depend the time you have and budget.
ATVO bus
There are two ATVO buses that stop in Mestre, the ATVO bus number 35 also called Fly Bus and the ATVO bus 25.
The most direct bus is the number 35, because the 25 stops in Tessera, Campalto and San Giuliano before arriving in Corso del Popolo in Mestre and then at Mestre train station.
- ATVO bus 35 takes 17 minutes to get to the train station in Mestre. The first available bus ride is at 6.06am and the last one at 00.20am. There are buses every 20 minutes, but check the timetable as they can slightly vary based on the season and day of the week. One way tickets cost 10 euros and return 18 euros, luggage included.
- ATVO bus 25 takes 19 minutes to get to the train station in Mestre. The first available bus ride is at 7.21am and the last one at 8.24pm. There are buses every 30 minutes, but refer to the most updated timetable as times can vary based on the day of the week and season. One way tickets cost 10 euros and return 18 euros, luggage included.
You can buy your ATVO express bus ticket in advance, at the ATVO ticket office and automatic ATVO ticket machines in the baggage-claim area, at the ATVO ticket offices in the arrivals hall, at the automatic ticket machines located outside the airport, in the ATVO departure hall.
To get the ATVO bus from the airport take the exit D, second lane on the left, platform number 4 for Mestre. Remember to validate the ticket before boarding.
ACTV bus
the ACTV bus connecting the airport to Mestre is bus number 15. This bus takes around 19 minutes to get to Mestre city centre and 25 minutes to get to Mestre train station.
ACTV buses stop more times than the ATVO buses but it’s a valid option especially if you’ve booked your hotel in Mestre city centre. This bus leaves from the airport every 30 minutes.
You can check the timetable and book your ticket in advance from the Venezia Unica portal. You can also get your ticket in any Venezia Unica ticket office at the airport (in the baggage reclaim and arrivals area and the ticket machines near the bus lane).
The ACTV buses leave from the bus lane located just in front of the airport, a few metres away from the airport’s arrivals exit, adjacent to the AeroBus bus stop.
Venice Airport to Mestre by Taxi
Taxis are also available and the authorised company providing the service in the area of Venice and Mestre is Cooperativa Artigiana Radiotaxi.
You can book your ride online so you can also check their rates for your route, alternatively through the app, calling or sending an SMS.
You can either choose to arrive in Mestre city centre, at the train/bus station or at your hotel (if the option is displayed). The taxi ride costs 35 euros for up to 4 people with 1 piece of luggage each. By selecting your hotel, price can vary.
If you’re a couple or travelling alone, it’s a slightly expensive solution but if you’re a family of 4, it’s a valid and much more comfortable alternative to the bus.
Venice Airport to Mestre by Private Transfer
The private transfer is a door to door service and you don’t have to think about anything but only to meet your chauffeur at the arrival hall.
The chauffeur will be waiting for you with a plate and your name at the airport and escort you to your private vehicle (parking fees included).
The driver will take you to your final destination in Mestre like your hotel, or any other location of your choice at the time of booking. Book your private transfer with chauffeur service (from Venice Marco Polo Airport to Mestre) today and you can get free 24 hours in advance cancellation.
Venice Airport to Mestre by Hire Car
Your final option is to hire a car from the airport and drive to your accommodation in Mestre. Even if it’s not the cheapest option, it’s a valid one to take into consideration, if you want to freely move around the area or nearby places.
It’s also perfect if you want to travel around the Veneto region and explore some of the quaint villages towns and near Venice by train before actually visiting Venice.
You can book your car rental in advance and save money, or just after landing by heading over the car hire counters in the departure hall.
You’ll find car hire counters such as Europcar, Hertz and Sixt. Even if you’ve booked your car rental, head over to the office first before picking it up on the 3rd floor of the multilevel parking P1.
Parking in Mestre is much cheaper than in Venice. Unless you’ve booked a hotel with free parking included or affordable charges, you can always take a look at these parking lots and their rates:
- Parcheggio Saba Venezia Mestre;
- Garage Europa Mestre;
- Parcheggio Gregory Mestre;
- Parcheggio Venezia Mestre – FS PARK.
If you do happen to be travelling to Veneto Region by car I recommend you check out my guide that covers parking in Venice so you can get an idea of what to expect
Getting from Venice airport to Mestre
Now you should have a better idea on how to get from Venice airport to Mestre.
If you’re staying in Venice Mestre, it’s important to know what your options are to get your accommodation fast and cheaply. Also keep in mind that the demand is high.
The most popular option is the shuttle bus by ATVO but for late arrivals, a taxi can be an alternative option so you can arrive straight to your hotel as fast as possible.
Then for the days that you’ll be going on day trips, remember to read my guide on how to get to Venice from Mestre to find out the best way to visit the Lagoon city.
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