Venice cruise check-in is at the Marittima terminal in the historic centre, a few minutes from Piazzale Roma on the People Mover. Bigger ships now berth further out at Marghera or Fusina, with a shuttle from Marittima. Some “Venice” cruises actually sail from Ravenna, two and a half to three and a half hours away.
Venice cruise terminals compared: Marittima, Marghera, Fusina and Chioggia
Venice has four separate cruise terminals around the lagoon, and which one your ship lands on changes how your embarkation day plays out.
| Terminal | Where it is | Distance/time to the centre | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marittima | Venice historic centre | 500m from Piazzale Roma (3 minutes by People Mover), 1km from Santa Lucia station, 13km from Marco Polo Airport | Check-in and boarding usually happen here, even for ships sailing from Marghera; confirm with your line if you’re assigned Fusina or Chioggia |
| Marghera | Mainland, Venice city area | Reached by free shuttle from Marittima after check-in | You still check in at Marittima first; do not travel to Marghera independently |
| Fusina | Mainland, across the lagoon | Pilot boarding to dock around 75 minutes | Two berths, handling ships up to 250m at one pier and 210m at the other |
| Chioggia | Part of the VTP port network | Limited published detail | Used far less often than the other three; check your cruise line’s documents for confirmation |
This whole split exists because Italy banned big ships from the historic waterways: anything over 25,000 tonnes, longer than 180 metres, taller than 35 metres or over the sulphur limit is kept out of St Mark’s Basin and the Giudecca Canal. That’s why Marghera, and later Fusina, ended up taking the bigger ships. For the full size breakdown, see our guide to Venice cruise ship size restrictions.
Why your itinerary might say Marghera but check-in still happens at Marittima
If your documents say Marghera, you still head to Marittima first, check in at your assigned terminal, and only then get on a free shuttle out to the ship. This trips more people up than anything else about Venice cruises: it’s easy to assume Marghera means going straight to the mainland dock, and it doesn’t.
MSC tells its Venice and Marghera passengers not to make their own way to Marghera before check-in is done, and the other lines work the same way. Treat Marittima as your destination if your documents say Marghera, and let the shuttle sort the rest. For the full walk-through, see our Venice cruise port check-in guide.
Getting from Marittima into Venice: People Mover, water taxi or on foot
Getting from Marittima into Venice is quickest on the People Mover, the little land funicular to Piazzale Roma, where most people start their walk into the historic centre. Santa Lucia railway station is reachable on the same People Mover, by a short taxi, or on foot if your luggage isn’t fighting you.
Water taxis run straight between the Santa Lucia area and the cruise terminals too, though a private one costs a lot more than the People Mover fare. From St Mark’s Square, the vaporetto back takes around 20 minutes.
Vaporettos and People Mover carriages get packed, so keep your bag zipped and close; an anti theft backpack is a sensible choice for the transfer in and out of the terminal. For a fuller comparison, see our guide to Venice water taxi versus vaporetto.
Reaching Venice from Ravenna cruise port: the transfer explained
Reaching Venice from Ravenna cruise port means a drive of around two and a half to three and a half hours, since the port sits about 13km inland from Ravenna city and roughly 114km from Venice by road. Ferry is the fastest public way to cover that gap, but most people on a Ravenna-based cruise just book the organised coach transfer rather than work out local transport themselves.
Royal Caribbean, for one, runs a shuttle between Marco Polo Airport in Venice and the port near Ravenna that’s billed at around three hours but often stretches to three and a half once the comfort stop happens. At the end of the cruise, Royal Caribbean also runs transfers from Ravenna to Ravenna train station, Bologna train station, Venice airport, or Venice Tronchetto for the city centre.
If Ravenna is where you start or finish, our Ravenna cruise ship port guide covers the rest.
Where to eat near Venice cruise port
The best place to eat near Venice cruise port is a bacaro, one of the small, no-fuss wine bars clustered around the Rialto Market, for cicchetti and an ombra. The Rialto is a short vaporetto ride or walk from Piazzale Roma.
- Baccalà mantecato: creamed salt cod, usually served on a crostino or polenta square, found at bacari around Rialto
- Sarde in saor: sweet-and-sour sardines, a classic cicchetti plate at the same wine bars
- Mini panini: small sandwiches with fillings like tuna and celery, mortadella, or speck and gorgonzola, sold at stalls right by the Rialto market square
- An ombra or a spritz: the standard drink to pair with cicchetti while standing at the bar
For specific spots to try on this crawl, see our guide to Venice’s best cicchetti bars.
What to wear in Venice: outfit ideas for a port day
What to wear in Venice for a port day comes down to two things: covering up for churches, and picking shoes that can handle cobbles, bridges and steps, both in the old city and on the walk from the terminal.
- Shoulders and knees covered: St Mark’s Basilica refuses entry for sleeveless tops, short shorts or miniskirts, with no grace period even for pre-booked timed tickets; a paper skirt can be bought at the entrance if you arrive underdressed
- Hats off at the door: hats must be removed before entering the Basilica
- Flat, comfortable shoes: Venice is all bridges, steps and uneven stone, so comfortable walking shoes or their men’s equivalent work far better than anything with a heel or a stiff sole
For more ideas, see these Venice outfit ideas.
Best photo spots in Venice
The best photo spots in Venice are well away from the cruise terminal, mostly along the Grand Canal bridges and on the colourful island of Burano.
- Rialto Bridge: quiet stone and clean light either at sunrise or late evening once the crowds have gone
- Accademia Bridge: a wide view over the Grand Canal to the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, best at sunset
- Piazza San Marco: the colonnades lit at dawn, before the square fills up
- Burano: the painted houses along the canals, best visited in the morning before the crowds arrive, though not necessarily at first light
For a dawn walking route that takes in several of these before the ship empties out, see Venice mornings before the crowds, and for the Burano trip itself, see our guide to Murano and Burano from the Venice cruise port.
How to spend a port day in Venice
A port day in Venice works best if you pick one: a walk through the old city from Piazzale Roma, or a boat trip out to Burano and Murano.
Before you sail
- Check whether your ship's documents list Marghera or Fusina, but plan to head to Marittima first regardless.
- If starting or ending in Ravenna, book the organised coach transfer rather than local transport.
- Pack flat, comfortable shoes for Venice's bridges, steps and uneven stone.
Short port day: under 6 hours
- On dockingCheck in at MarittimaCheck in here firstCheck-in usually happens at Marittima, even if your ship ultimately sails from Marghera or Fusina.
- +15 minPeople Mover to Piazzale RomaA 3 minute ride on the land funicular, the usual starting point for walking into the old city.
- +40 minWalk to Rialto MarketTry cicchettiAbout 20 minutes on foot. Stop at a bacaro for cicchetti and an ombra, the quick local ritual here.
- +1 hr 30 minRialto BridgeA short walk from the market, usually quieter mid-morning than later in the day.
- +2 hrs 30 minPiazza San MarcoAbout 20 minutes by vaporetto from Rialto, or a longer walk through the old streets.
- All-aboard minus 90 minBack to MarittimaReturn by vaporetto to Piazzale Roma, then the People Mover back to the terminal.
If plans change: If the Basilica queue is long, skip inside and admire Piazza San Marco instead, then head back towards Marittima.
Long port day: 8 hours or more
- On dockingCheck in at MarittimaCheck in here firstCheck-in usually happens at Marittima, even if your ship ultimately sails from Marghera or Fusina.
- +20 minPeople Mover to Piazzale RomaA 3 minute ride, then onward by vaporetto towards Burano.
- +1 hrVaporetto to BuranoGo in the morningBest visited before the crowds build, for the painted canal houses.
- +3 hrsVaporetto to MuranoA shorter stop on the way back towards the historic centre.
- +4 hrs 30 minLunch at Rialto MarketTry baccalà mantecatoCreamed cod on a crostino is the local plate to order at a bacaro near the market.
- +5 hrs 30 minSt Mark's Basilica and the squareCover upShoulders and knees must be covered and hats removed, with no grace period even for timed tickets.
- All-aboard minus 90 minBack to MarittimaVaporetto to Piazzale Roma, then the People Mover back to the terminal.
If plans change: If vaporetto queues or delays eat into the day, drop Murano and head straight back from Burano towards Marittima.
Venice cruise port FAQs
Can you take photographs inside St Mark’s Basilica?
Photography and filming are both banned inside St Mark’s Basilica, a rule that’s there to protect the artwork and keep the atmosphere the way it should be.
Where does Venice cruise check-in happen?
Venice cruise check-in usually happens at the Marittima terminal in the historic centre, even if your ship berths further out at Marghera. You check in at Marittima first, then take a free shuttle out to the ship.
Which terminal will my Venice cruise use?
Which terminal your Venice cruise uses depends on your ship: smaller ships berth at Marittima in the historic centre, while bigger ones go to Marghera or Fusina, and Chioggia is used too. Either way, plan on checking in at Marittima unless your cruise line says otherwise.
How do you get to the Venice cruise port?
Getting to the Venice cruise port means heading for Marittima, 500m from Piazzale Roma, 1km from Santa Lucia station and 13km from Marco Polo Airport. Even if your ship is at Marghera or Fusina, you’ll usually start at Marittima.
What is the Venice cruise terminal People Mover?
The People Mover is the little land funicular linking Marittima to Piazzale Roma, taking just three minutes. It’s the quickest way between the terminal and the start of Venice’s historic centre.
How do you get from Ravenna to Venice?
Getting from Ravenna to Venice takes around two and a half to three and a half hours by road, since the port sits roughly 114km from Venice. Most cruisers book an organised coach transfer rather than sort local transport themselves.
What’s the best food to try near the Venice cruise port?
The best food to try near Venice cruise port is cicchetti with an ombra, a small glass of wine, at a bacaro. These small wine bars cluster around the Rialto Market, a short vaporetto ride or walk from Piazzale Roma.
Last Updated: 13 October 2026