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Marco Polo Airport is located at Tessera, 8 km (5 miles) north of the city, on the edge of the lagoon, so arrivals and departures are scenic affairs. Many European airlines serve the airport including British Airways and low cost Easyjet. Visitors from outside Europe need to fly to Rome or Milan for connecting flights to Venice.

The most exciting way to reach Venice from the airport is by water – the frequent Alilaguna ferries charge about €10. A private water taxi, however, will set you back an vast amount (around €90), depending on time of day and the amount of baggage you have (see Water Taxis).

To go as far as Piazzale Roma, Venice’s car and bus terminal, the cheapest option is the orange ACTV bus No. 5 (see Street Signs), every 20 minutes during the day. Tickets are available from newsagents. Or there’s the direct ATVO blue bus (tickets available in the arrivals hall).

Ryanair flies into Treviso airport from the UK and a special bus transports passengers to and from Venice (45 minutes). The airport can also be reached by train from Venice to Treviso, then local bus No. 6, although this route does take longer.

Don’t make the mistake of many first-time visitors and get off at Venezia Mestre, but wait until the train has crossed the lagoon for Venezia Santa Lucia Station. The Orient Express is an expensive but memorable way to travel from London between March and November.

Whether you zoom in to the city via the motor-way (autostrada ) or on minor roads, you’ll need to follow signs for “Venezia”. Long-distance buses arrive in Venice at Piazzale Roma.

The Tronchetto island car park has bus and boat links to the rest of Venice, otherwise it’s Piazzale Roma for the exorbitant garages (parcheggio ). A more reasonable option is Serenissima opposite the railway station in Mestre. The car park and boat terminal at Fusina on the eastern edge of the lagoon is also handy. Despite the expense of car parks, never resort to roadside parking – car break-ins are all too common in the area.

Daily car and passenger ferries arrive from Greece across the Adriatic and dock at the San Basilio terminal in western Dorsoduro (see Places to Eat), equipped with an information office and catering facilities. It also acts as the jump-off point for week-long cruises to the Greek Islands.

Porters (portabagagli ) equipped with trolleys and broad shoulders can usually be found at the maritime passenger terminal, railway station, airport, bus terminal and car park, and at strategic points around town such as Rialto and Piazza San Marco. Rates start at around €16 per item.

Lockers and a left luggage office (deposito bagagli ) function at Santa Lucia railway station and Marco Polo airport. The Piazzale Roma bus terminal also has a convenient left luggage facility located next to the Pullman Bar.