The slow boat down the Grand Canal: every stop, every palazzo - the most beautiful ride in Venice, and the one to take when the journey is the sight.
Last updated August 6, 2026
Line 1 is Venice's original water bus and the most used by visitors heading to Rialto and San Marco. It starts at Piazzale Roma, runs the full Grand Canal - stopping at every landing - and continues along the lagoon side past the Arsenale and the Biennale gardens to finish at the Lido. The whole run takes about an hour; the station-to-San Marco stretch alone is the best 30-40 minutes in the city.
| Stop | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Ferrovia (Santa Lucia) | The railway station - board at dock E by day, dock B after 8:48 p.m. |
| Riva de Biasio | The quiet west bank of Cannaregio |
| San Marcuola – Casinò | The casino and the Cannaregio canal |
| San Stae | The 18th-century palazzi of Santa Croce |
| Ca' d'Oro | The gothic palace and its gallery - the stop to photograph |
| Rialto Mercato | The morning market - best before 11 a.m. |
| Rialto | The bridge itself, with its shops and the San Polo food streets |
| San Silvestro | |
| Sant'Angelo | |
| San Tomà | The Frari and the Scuola di San Rocco |
| Ca' Rezzonico | The 18th-century museum of Venice |
| Accademia | The gallery - and the wooden bridge to Dorsoduro |
| Santa Maria del Giglio | The Gritti palace and the Salute |
| Salute | The domed basilica, best at sunset |
| San Marco Vallaresso | St. Mark's Square, two minutes away |
| San Marco – San Zaccaria | The big exchange dock - five berths, change here for the Lido |
Beyond San Zaccaria the line keeps going along the lagoon: Arsenale, Giardini Biennale, Sant'Elena - then the Lido, about an hour from Piazzale Roma. From the Grand Canal, line 1 is also the simplest way to reach the Lido beach island: the ring lines (5.1/5.2) are better from the outer parts of the city.
Line 1 runs every day, roughly from 5 a.m. to midnight, with boats every 10-20 minutes depending on the hour. Timetables are seasonal (summer/winter) - always double-check the official ACTV navigation schedules or the electronic boards on the docks. The last run is around midnight; from about 11:30 p.m. the night line N takes over with the same Grand Canal stops, adding the Giudecca, San Basilio and Zattere until around 4 a.m.
Line 2, almost always: line 1 stops at every landing - ten stops between the station and the Accademia alone - while line 2 skips the minor stops. Take line 1 when you want the ride itself (Rialto and San Marco included in the scenery); take line 2 when you actually want to get somewhere quickly.