Landing at Venice Marco Polo Airport

What VCE is like

Marco Polo sits on the mainland at the edge of the lagoon, not on Venice itself, so everyone who lands has to choose between crossing the water by boat or taking a road vehicle to the end of the causeway and walking from there. The terminal is mid-sized and absorbs a very large summer load in a building that is not especially large. What makes this airport unusual has nothing to do with the hall. It is the half hour that follows, out over open water.

On arrival

Turn the line on in your seat, because the walk from gate to exit is not long here. Many European arrivals bypass passport control and reach the belts quickly. The path to the boats is a long connecting walkway from the terminal, a real distance with a suitcase behind you. Follow the airport's own signs, since there is more than one kind of water service and the timetables shift with the season. Before you leave the arrivals hall, save the name of the dock you need and the address of your accommodation, because looking anything up in the middle of the lagoon is harder than people expect.

How far the airport Wi-Fi gets you

The terminal Wi-Fi works and puts the usual registration page in front of you, but what people forget is that it does not follow you onto a boat. Walking out along the connector towards the docks it fades and then goes, and once you are out on the lagoon only a mobile line is doing anything. In Venice itself the Wi-Fi in bars and guesthouses is often slow, because the buildings are old and the walls are thick. Having your own line changes the whole trip here, not just the airport part of it.

Getting into town

You choose between a boat straight across the lagoon and a road service to Piazzale Roma, where you pick up a waterbus or walk. The boat is slower but sets you down much nearer most island accommodation. Out on the water the signal thins in patches, most noticeably when you are far from both shores, then strengthens again as the islands come close. That is exactly why you should save the walking map for the final stretch before you board, since the alleys of Venice are narrow, the walls are high, and GPS jumps around even where the signal is fine. Airport to front door usually runs 150 to 250MB, counting maps and the message telling your host when you will arrive.

What people ask about this airport

• Save the dock name first — Venetian dock names resemble one another. Noting yours while you are still in the terminal saves searching for it mid-lagoon on a thin signal.
• An offline walking map — Narrow alleys and high walls throw your position around on the map. An offline map keeps the route visible even while the blue dot misbehaves.
• The walkway is longer than it looks — With heavy bags, allow real time for it, and check the next departure while you are still inside the building.