The rim ring: the Lido, Zattere, the north waterfront - about 80 minutes around the outside of Venice, and the route the routing apps keep suggesting.
Last updated August 6, 2026
Lines 5.1 and 5.2 loop around the outside of Venice between the Lido and Fondamenta Nove - 5.1 counterclockwise, 5.2 clockwise - taking roughly 80 minutes for the full ring. They are the lines behind the 'long way around' itineraries in Google Maps: from the station, 5.1 reaches Zattere in just three stops - Piazzale Roma, Santa Marta, Zattere - at full speed, away from the Grand Canal's traffic, and the Accademia is a five-minute walk from Zattere.
| Stop | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta | The beach island - lines 1, 6 and 14 (Punta Sabbioni, Burano) also leave from here |
| Certosa / San Pietro di Castello | The quiet east island - Certosa is a request stop |
| Bacini – Arsenale Nord | Change here for lines 4.1/4.2 to Murano |
| Ospedale | |
| Fondamenta Nove | The north waterfront - line 12 leaves from here for the Murano–Burano–Torcello tour |
| Orto / Sant'Alvise / Tre Archi | The quiet Cannaregio rim |
| Guglie | |
| Riva de Biasio | |
| Ferrovia | Santa Lucia station |
| Piazzale Roma | Buses and car parks |
| Santa Marta | |
| Zattere | The sunny promenade - five-minute walk to the Accademia and the Squero di San Trovaso |
| San Marco – San Zaccaria | St. Mark's - change for line 1 to the Lido |
| Giardini Biennale | The Biennale gardens |
| Sant'Elena → Lido | Back to the start |
Line 5.2 covers the same stops in the opposite direction: from the station it heads north first (Guglie, Fondamenta Nove) and returns via Zattere and San Marco. Heading for the Lido from the north or west of the city, take 5.1 or 5.2; from the Grand Canal, line 1 is simpler and more scenic.
Both lines run daily with boats roughly every 20 minutes. Line 5.1 runs its full ring between about 6:20 and 8:30 p.m., with a reduced Fondamenta Nove–Lido service early morning and after 8:30 p.m.; line 5.2 runs from about 5:50 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. There is no direct night equivalent - the night line N (about 11:30 p.m.–4:30 a.m.) shares some of the stops and also ends at the Lido, adding Rialto, Tronchetto and San Basilio. Timetables are seasonal; check the official ACTV navigation schedules or the dock displays.