Home / Venice /Marco Polo / ACTV bus 5, then vaporetto to San Marco vs ACTV bus 15 to Mestre

VCE → Venice · head to head

ACTV bus 5, then vaporetto to San MarcoorACTV bus 15 to Mestre?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The ACTV bus 5, then vaporetto to San Marco reaches the historic city — San Marco and the islands within it; the ACTV bus 15 to Mestre does not. Mestre is the mainland half of Venice, not the historic city — this bus does not cross to the islands. Change here for a mainline train or stay on the mainland.

The ACTV bus 15 to Mestre is quicker: 25 min against 1 h 09. The ACTV bus 5, then vaporetto to San Marco varies between 59 and 79 minutes.

ACTV bus 5, then vaporetto to San Marco: 04:08–01:10. ACTV bus 15 to Mestre: 05:45–20:15.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in EUR. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersACTV bus 5, then vaporetto to San MarcoACTV bus 15 to MestreDifference
1€18€10€8
2€36€20€16
3€54€30€24
4€72€40€32
5€90€50€40
6€108€60€48
7€126€70€56
8€144€80€64

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
51 · ACTV / AVMACTV bus 5, then vaporetto to San Marco
From
The bus stands outside arrivals
To
San Marco Vallaresso, by vaporetto from Piazzale Roma
Luggage
Three pieces per person, none over 150 cm in total dimensions, on both legs — a whole extra fare per three bags beyond that.
Runs
04:08–01:10
Journey
59–79 min

The 90-minute ticket is tight: about 20 minutes on the bus, a walk across Piazzale Roma, up to 20 minutes waiting for the boat, then 39 minutes on the water. Miss the connection and you may need to buy again.

Same EUR 18.00 as the Alilaguna boat and about a quarter of an hour quicker when the connection at Piazzale Roma is short; the boat is the one to take with heavy luggage or a hotel by the water.

Buy the EUR 18.00 combined ticket, not two singles: the ordinary EUR 9.50 vaporetto ticket excludes the airport bus leg, and two singles cost EUR 19.50.

ACTV bus 5, then vaporetto to San Marco: price for every party size

Check AVM fares
15 · ACTV / AVMACTV bus 15 to Mestre
From
The bus stands outside arrivals
To
Mestre FS, the mainland station
Luggage
Three pieces, none over 150 cm in total dimensions; beyond that a whole extra passenger fare per three bags.
Runs
05:45–20:15
Journey
25 min

It runs only until early evening — 20:15 on weekdays, 20:25 on Sundays and holidays. ATVO's coach and the taxi are the way in later.

A local bus with about a dozen stops, not an express: budget the full 25 minutes.

ACTV bus 15 to Mestre: price for every party size

Check AVM fares

This compares two of 12 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

The other comparisons at Marco Polo