One of the busiest cruise ports in Europe, the Venice Cruise Port (Terminal Crociere Venezia) is a popular stop for many European cruise liners. Most ships dock at the Stazione Marittima near the Piazzale Roma transport hub in the Venetian Lagoon, with passengers opting to explore charming Venice on guided tours and convenient shore excursions.
Venice is a confusing maze of winding canals and tiny backstreets—join a stress-free walking tour of the Floating City and visit Venice’s most famous attractions, including the Rialto Bridge, while in port. Alternatively, maximize your time during a shore excursion; many include a water taxi ride from the cruise port, skip-the-line tickets to typically crowded attractions such as the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica, and guided walks through Venice proper.
Venice Cruise Port terminal offers a car park, water taxi stand, snack bar, and duty-free shop.
St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace are the most visited attractions in Venice, so be sure to choose a tour with skip-the-line tickets.
Entry to most Venetian churches, including St. Mark’s Basilica, require clothing that covers shoulders and knees.
Private tours and shore excursions of Venice require a fair amount of walking, and comfortable footwear is recommended.
There are numerous canalside stops around the city where you can book a gondola ride; rates are official and posted at all the stops.
Vaporetti (public ferries) and water taxis run to St. Mark’s Square from the Stazione Marittima cruise port hourly and take about 20 minutes; you could also walk 10–15 minutes to Piazzale Roma and catch the more frequent vaporetti from there. Some cruise lines provide a free shuttle to St. Mark’s Square, and many shore excursions include a private water taxi service.
Most of the largest cruise lines stop at the Venice cruise port. Italian is the predominant language here, but English is widely understood throughout Venice. The local currency is the euro; ATMs and foreign exchange bureaus are clustered around St. Mark’s Square.
