Validation and Vaporetti
Every waterbus, train and bus I have travelled on in Italy has a ticketing system that works on trust. You buy your ticket, validate it and no-one looks at it - unless a conductor comes on board (always unexpectedly) and asks to see everyones ticket. He has a machine that reads your ticket although there is often no visual sign to indicate if you have paid or not. If you are caught without a ticket the punishment is hopeless humiliation and a hefty fine.
When travelling by train you need to look for an electronic ticket reader either on your way to the platform or on the platform. When travelling by bus, the ticket reader is usually beside the door once you are on board.
ACTV runs the main waterbuses (vaporetti) in Venice, although they do not go out to the airport. When travelling on an ACTV vaporetto you will need to validate your ticket as you walk on to the pontoon where your vaporetto will stop. You just hold your ticket against the electronic reader (see image) until it beeps.
ACTV vaporetto tickets are available at the ticket window at the main stops, at Hellovenezia ticket offices and through self service machines at some of the stops. If you can't buy a ticket before boarding the boat, tell the conductor assisting the captain immediately and he will sell you one.
One of the most relaxing and beautiful journeys in Venice is to catch the Number 1 vaporetto from Piazzale Roma, either early in the morning or in the evening, try and get a seat on the bow or at the stern of the boat and enjoy the journey all the way up the grand canal. It takes about 40 minutes, going under the Accademia Bridge, past all the grand palaces, under the Rialto Bridge on to Piazza San Marco and then to San Zaccaria. You can either do it all again going back or take a lovely stroll back to your apartment. Personally, this is one of the few times I would catch a vaporetto, you can walk to pretty well anywhere in less than thirty minutes unless you are going to one of the islands - Murano, Burano, etc. Vaporetto tickets for tourists are very expensive and walking is so wonderful in Venice.
The image at the top of the page shows an ACTV vaporetto in the foreground and a yellow Alilaguna vaporetto which does the airport run in the background. The smaller image shows the ACTV vaporetto electronic validating machine.
This map shows the vaporetto number 1 route along the Grand Canal, a wonderful view of La Serenissima.
Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia: The Most Serene Republic of Venice. This was Venice until the eighteenth century when Napoleon Bonaparte invaded.
ACTV: The main waterbus (vaporetto) company.
