Where do cruise ships dock in Venice?
Since August 2021, Italian law has banned large cruise ships (over 25,000 gross tons, among other limits) from sailing through the St. Mark's Basin and the Giudecca Canal. As a result:
- Smaller ships and river cruises still use the Marittima terminal next to Piazzale Roma, or San Basilio.
- Large ships berth at the industrial port of Marghera, or at other Adriatic ports such as Trieste, Ravenna and Monfalcone, with coach transfers to Venice.
Check your cruise documents for the exact terminal, as it can change with each season.
From the Marittima terminal into Venice
- People Mover: a short elevated ride to Piazzale Roma, from where you can walk or take a vaporetto.
- Vaporetto: from Piazzale Roma, line 1 runs down the Grand Canal to Rialto and St. Mark's (about 45 minutes); line 2 is faster.
- Water taxi: direct from the terminal to your hotel or St. Mark's.
- On foot: about 40 minutes to St. Mark's, following the signs.
Only a day in port? A skip-the-line tour of St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace saves hours of queuing.
Skip-the-line tours →Before or after your cruise
Spend a night in Venice before embarking: it removes the stress of flight delays and lets you see the city in the evening. Hotels in Santa Croce and Cannaregio are a short walk or People Mover ride from the terminal. See where to stay in Venice and our airport transfer guide.
Pre-cruise night? Stay near Piazzale Roma, a few minutes from the Marittima terminal.
Hotels near the cruise port →Plan your Venice trip
Where to stay
Hotels, B&Bs and apartments: staying overnight lets you see Venice without the day crowds.
Hotels near the port →Shore excursions
Tours timed for cruise passengers, with meeting points near the port.
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