Mestre Airport Buses

ABOVE: ATVO's office next to Mestre Railroad Station sells tickets for ATVO airport buses and other transit services.

Buses from Marco Polo Airport:

From Venice Marco Polo Airport, the easiest way to reach downtown Mestre is on the ATVO Fly Bus, which runs between the airport and the Mestre railroad station.

The buses from early in the morning until late evening, with several departures every hour during most of the day. Travel time is only 17 minutes, and the cost is modest: €10 one-way for an adult, or €18 round trip.

For a current schedule, see the "Venice Marco Polo Airport - Mestre (Fly Bus - express service)" timetable on the ATVO Web site's Bus Service Venice Marco Polo Airport page.

Buying tickets

At Venice Marco Polo airport, you can buy tickets in several locations:

• At the ATVO's ticket counter in the baggage-claim area.

• At either of the two ATVO ticket counters in the arrivals area (one facing the exit from baggage claim, the other to the left of the exit).

• From the ticket machines (three in baggage claim, and another three outside the terminal at the ATVO bus stops.)

• From the ATVO's staff at the bus stops, who will also provide information if you need it.

You can also order tickets online for specific dates from the ATVO's Web site, with a discount for your advance purchase. if you order two tickets or more.

When ordering online, you'll receive an e-mail with a PDF booking confirmation. Print out the PDF file or the e-mail and use it as your ticket when boarding.

Finding the bus

Exit the arrivals hall at door D and look for the ATVO bus stops on your left. Stop 1 is for Mestre Railway Station.

• Important: Before or immediately after boarding the bus, validate your ticket in the yellow stamping machine unless the driver takes your ticket and punches it as you board. (This isn't necessary with tickets ordered online and printed from PDF files.)

Arriving in Mestre

The ATVO Fly Bus arrives at at a new piazzale, or square, next to Mestre Railway Station.

If you're staying at our recommended hotels by the train station, head for the station's main entrance and cross the street at the light.

If you're staying elsewhere, request a free city map at the tourist office inside the railroad station. (Look for the tourist office on your right when you reach Track 1).

Departing from Mestre

Buses for the airport leave from the same place where they arrive in Mestre: about 50 meters to the left of the station entrance. If you don't have a ticket, you can buy one from a machine or at the ATVO ticket office near the bus stop.

Again, be sure to validate your ticket before or immediately after boarding the coach.

City buses to Mestre

ACTV, Venice's public-transit authority, runs a No. 15 city bus between Venice Marco Polo Airport and the Panorama shopping center in Marghera that stops at various points in Mestre. It's a good alternative to the ATVO bus if you're staying at a hotel on the city's outskirts. You'll need to buy an ACTV bus ticket in the airport before catching the bus. (Go to the "Public Transportation" counter or look for a ticket machine.)

When we last checked, the fare was €10 one-way or €18 roundtrip.

The No. 15 bus runs only twice an hour, and because it's a local commuter bus, it isn't geared to travelers with luggage.

Look for the bus stop outside the arrivals hall. The bus will be orange or white with green trim, depending on the age of the vehicle. (Be sure to validate your ticket by swiping it against the electronic card reader immediately after boarding. The card reader's light will flash green when the fare is deducted from the ticket.)

Note: A slightly different bus route, No. 45, runs less frequently at the same fare. It begins and ends its run at the Mestre railroad station.

Buses from Treviso Airport:

If you're arriving on Ryanair or Wizz Air, which use Treviso airport, take a Barzi Bus or ATVO coach to Venice's Piazzale Roma and get off in Mestre. For details, see our Treviso Airport Buses to Venice page.