Flying into Venice with Daisy was one of those moments I will not forget any time soon. As the plane banked over the lagoon, I looked down and there it was. This little cluster of an island connected to the mainland by one long, skinny bridge, surrounded by water in every direction. I turned to Daisy in her carrier under the seat and said, “We made it, girl.” She was asleep. Classic Daisy.

What nobody tells you before you land at Marco Polo Airport is that getting into Venice is not like arriving in any other city. There is no taxi rank where you hop in a car and give an address. There is no Uber pulling up outside arrivals. Venice is on the water, and so is most of your journey from the airport to your hotel. The good news is that once you figure out your options, getting from Marco Polo Airport to Venice with a dog is completely doable. The not-so-good news is that the airport signage is not going to make it obvious.

We spent a long weekend in Venice, and Daisy and I tested two completely different transfer options, one on the way in and one on the way back. So I can give you an honest comparison of what worked, what did not, and what I would do differently next time.

Your Transfer Options from Marco Polo Airport to Venice

Before I get into our experience, here is a quick overview of how you can actually get from the airport to your hotel in Venice. There are more options than you might expect, and the prices vary quite a bit.

You can take a shared water taxi, which is what we did on arrival. You can book a private water taxi if budget is not a concern. There is the Alilaguna public water bus, which is the cheapest water option. You can take the Laguna semi-private water bus, which is what we took on the way back. And there is the ATVO or ACTV land bus, which takes you to Piazzale Roma on the edge of Venice.

Each one has trade-offs when you are traveling with a dog, luggage, and your sanity. Let me walk you through what we actually experienced.

How We Arrived by Shared Water Taxi

I had booked a shared water taxi through our travel agency at Crazy Daisy Travels. If you ever need help sorting your dog-friendly transport, we do that too. The operator sent us instructions ahead of time with a desk number to meet at. Simple enough, right?

Not exactly.

When we came through arrivals at Marco Polo, there were check-in desks and counters everywhere with numbers on them. I stood there with Daisy in her carrier and my suitcase, looking around like I had never been in an airport before. The instructions said to go to a specific desk number, but nothing was clearly signposted for water taxi transfers.

[IMAGE: Inside Marco Polo Airport arrivals area showing the terminal corridor]

Here is what you actually need to do, and I wish someone had told me this before I landed. You need to go upstairs to the departures level. I know that sounds wrong, but trust me. Once you are up there, you will see the check-in area and the security gates for flights. There is a separate section clearly marked for United States flights, so ignore that. Walk past security on your left. You will see a waterfall and the Olympic signs on your right-hand side. Keep walking all the way past those and you will eventually see the names of the water taxi operators.

Because we had booked a shared taxi, we had to wait for our group to fill up. Myself and Daisy were actually the last ones to complete the group, so we did not have to wait. There were four other people sharing the boat with us. Once everyone was checked in, we were given our ticket and told which numbered dock to walk to.

The walk from the terminal down to the water took about eight to ten minutes. You walk through the terminal building, take the elevator or stairs down to the port level, and then follow the dock numbers until you find your boat. It was straightforward once we were pointed in the right direction.

What the Water Taxi Ride Was Actually Like

The water taxi itself was a proper boat, not some tiny dinghy. It was spacious inside with seating along both sides and at the back. Four people could sit comfortably at the back, and you could probably fit six along each side, though it would be snug. With just a few of us on board, there was plenty of room. Everyone had one large suitcase and one carry-on, and there was no issue with storage.

Pulling out of the airport port, the water was calm and the ride was smooth. It felt a bit like being on a bus, honestly, just on water. There were lanes and routes, like a highway system on the lagoon.

But then we hit the busier traffic areas. Other boats were passing at speed, and every time one went by, it sent a wake rocking through our taxi. The boat started bouncing and you could hear the hull slapping against the water. It sounded like the boats were cracking in half. Daisy was not too impressed. She got a little bit stressed during that section, but I was holding her and talked to her through it, and she settled down. Those choppy moments in the open water were the only part of the ride that was a bit rough.

Once we got into the main canals of Venice proper, the boats slowed right down and it was smooth again. And this is where the magic happened. It is exactly what you see in the movies. The buildings rising straight up from the water, the narrow side canals, the bridges, the gondolas. We were all pulling out our phones and snapping pictures because it was just incredible to see from water level.

The whole journey took around 30 to 40 minutes. Honestly, I was not tracking the time because I was too busy taking it all in. The shared water taxi cost about 35 to 40 euro per person, which felt like excellent value for what you get.

The operators have set drop-off points at major jetties around Venice. Our hotel happened to be right on the water, so they dropped us off directly at the hotel entrance. Not every hotel will have this, but the main jetties are positioned near major landmarks and hotel areas, so you will not have far to walk. When we pulled up to our hotel, the staff were already on the dock waiting to help us off the boat and grab our bags. It felt like a proper luxury arrival.

Why the Shared Water Taxi is My Top Recommendation

If you are arriving in Venice with your dog, the shared water taxi is the way to go. The experience of coming into Venice on the water is something you should not skip. You are seeing the city for the first time from the most beautiful angle, you arrive relaxed, and you get dropped close to where you need to be. Well, relaxed so long as your dog can handle a bit of wake.

The private water taxi is the same experience but costs upwards of 150 euro. If money is no object, go for it. You will have the boat to yourself and your schedule is your own. But for 35 to 40 euro on a shared taxi, you get almost the same experience with just a few other passengers.

If you are planning a trip and want help arranging your transfer, our travel planning service can sort that for you. It saves the headache of figuring out operators and dock numbers on your own.

Taking the Laguna Water Bus Back to the Airport

Now, let me be honest. The reason we took the Laguna water bus back to the airport is because I dropped the ball on booking a return water taxi. I am very organized when I am planning other people’s travel through the agency. My own travel? I fly by the seat of my pants. I left it too late to arrange a return shared taxi, and even though one was briefly confirmed, it fell through.

Luckily, our hotel was right beside a main water bus stop for the Laguna semi-private service. This turned out to be a perfectly fine option, even if it was not the glamorous water taxi arrival in reverse.

The Laguna runs every 30 minutes and costs about 16 euro. You can buy your ticket online ahead of time, purchase it on board using a QR code, or buy one at the ticket machines down at the port. One important thing to know is that your regular Venice transport ticket is not valid on the Laguna. You need a separate ticket for this specific service.

The Laguna was comfortable enough. I would say there were about 16 of us on board, maybe a few more or less. Daisy and I sat right up at the top and she was perfectly happy in her carrier on my lap. There were no issues with having her on board.

The downside is the time. Because the Laguna stops at every stop along the route, it took about an hour to get to the airport. Compare that to the 30 to 40 minutes on the water taxi and it is noticeably longer. But it was calm, it was comfortable, and it got us there without any stress.

Why I Would Skip the Public Water Bus and Land Bus

I saw the public water bus a few times during our stay, and each time it looked packed. It is massive, like a massive barge. People were standing, luggage was crammed in, and it just looked overwhelming. With a dog in a carrier and a suitcase, that is not the kind of situation I want to put myself or Daisy into. The public bus costs around 10 euro, which is the cheapest water option, but the comfort trade-off is not worth it in my opinion.

As for the land bus, this takes you from the airport across the bridge to Piazzale Roma, which is basically where the train station is on the edge of Venice. From there, you are on foot. And here is the thing about Venice that catches people off guard. There are no cars, no taxis, no scooters once you are in the city. Walking is the only way to get around.

So if you take the land bus, you arrive at Piazzale Roma and then you have to drag your suitcase through narrow streets, over bridges with steps, and across cobblestones until you reach your hotel. With a dog and luggage? Do not do it to yourself. I cannot stress this enough. Even if you are running late, even if it is your cheapest option, the walk with bags through Venice will take the joy out of your arrival very quickly.

Practical Tips for Marco Polo Airport Transfers with Your Dog

After testing two different transfer methods, here is what I would tell a friend who was heading to Venice with their pup.

Book your shared water taxi in advance. Seriously, do not leave it until the last minute like I did for the return. The shared taxis fill up and they need a minimum number of passengers before they depart. If you book ahead, you will have a confirmed spot and clear instructions.

When you land, head upstairs to departures to find the water taxi operators. Do not wander around arrivals looking for them. Go up, walk past the security area, follow signs for the port, and keep walking until you see the operator names displayed.

If your hotel is on or near the water, the shared taxi is going to be your most convenient option by far. They drop you at the nearest major jetty and some hotels will even meet you at the dock.

If budget is a real concern and you do not mind a longer journey, the Laguna at 16 euro is perfectly fine. Just factor in an hour for the journey and make sure you buy the correct Laguna ticket, not a standard Venice transport one.

Avoid the land bus if you can. Venice is beautiful, but Venice with a suitcase and a dog carrier is a workout. Cobblestones, bridge steps, narrow streets. Save your energy for exploring once you have dropped your bags at the hotel.

What I Would Do Differently Next Time

If we go back to Venice, and I think we will, I would book a shared water taxi for both arrival and departure. The arrival experience is worth every cent of that 35 to 40 euro. Watching Venice emerge from the water with Daisy beside me was one of the best travel moments we have had together.

For the return, I would book early enough that it is actually confirmed and not last-minute chaos. The Laguna worked fine, but finishing a Venice trip with a water taxi ride back to the airport just feels right. It would be the perfect bookend to the trip.

If you are flying into Venice, you will want to have your airline-approved carrier sorted before you go. And if you are still comparing airlines for pet-friendly options to get to Italy, our pet-friendly flight search engine can help you find the best route.

Transfer Costs and Times at a Glance

Shared Water Taxi costs roughly 35 to 40 euro per person. The journey takes 30 to 40 minutes depending on your drop-off point. Book in advance through your hotel or a transfer service. Our Taxi operator was Bucintoro Viaggi.

Private Water Taxi starts at around 150 euro for the whole boat. Same journey time, but you set the schedule and have the boat to yourself.

Laguna Semi-Private Water Bus costs about 16 euro per person. Runs every 30 minutes and the journey takes roughly an hour with all stops. Buy your ticket separately from standard Venice transport.

Public Water Bus (Alilaguna) costs around 10 euro. Slower and often crowded. Not ideal with a dog and luggage.

Land Bus (ATVO/ACTV) takes you to Piazzale Roma only, then you walk. Do not recommend with a dog and luggage.

Final Thoughts

Venice is one of those places where the journey is part of the experience, and that starts the moment you step off the plane at Marco Polo. Getting to Venice is different from arriving anywhere else, and for me, that is part of what makes it special.

With a dog, the shared water taxi strikes the best balance of cost, comfort, and experience. You arrive feeling like you have already started your holiday instead of feeling like you just survived airport logistics. And the experience of arriving by water? Could not recommend it enough.

If Venice is on your list, do not overthink the airport transfer. Book a shared water taxi, follow the signs to departures, not arrivals. I know, it is confusing. But enjoy the ride in.

What to do in Venice? Check our guide here (regardless if you have a dog or not!).