On foot
Venice is small: from Fraivolti almost everything is within 20–30 minutes on foot. Getting a little lost is part of it; when you want to find your way, follow the yellow signs on the corners of the buildings: “Per Rialto”, “Per S. Marco”, “Alla Ferrovia”, “Per Piazzale Roma”.
Addresses are the sestiere plus a number (ours is San Polo 2837), so on a map search for the name of the street or of a nearby campo. Keep to the right, and don’t stop in the middle of a bridge or a narrow calle.
Water buses
The vaporetti are run by ACTV. San Tomà, a minute from Fraivolti, is served by two lines on the Grand Canal:
- Line 1 stops everywhere. It is slow, but it is the best tour of the Grand Canal, and it goes on to the Lido.
- Line 2 makes fewer stops: Rialto and St Mark’s one way, the station and Piazzale Roma the other.
A single ticket lasts 75 minutes; there are also passes from 1 to 7 days, worth it if you take three or more boats a day. Buy them at the machines and ticket offices at the main stops, or in the official AVM Venezia app. Validate the ticket at the reader every time you board.
The traghetto
Where there is no bridge, a gondola ferry takes you across the Grand Canal for a couple of euros. It is the cheapest gondola ride in Venice, and Venetians take it standing. There is one right here at San Tomà. Pay in cash; the hours vary and it stops in bad weather.
Water taxis
Private, fast and expensive, but worth it with luggage or in a group. The official ranks are at the airport, Piazzale Roma and the station. Ask the price before you get on.
A gondola ride
Gondola fares are set by the city and are the same everywhere, higher in the evening, and the price is per gondola, not per person. Agree on how long the ride lasts before you start. The quiet canals are often nicer than the busy stretch by St Mark’s.
With reduced mobility
Walking routes cross bridges with steps; the water buses are accessible. The apartment is up 15 steps and the room is on the third floor, with no lift: write to me before you book and we’ll work out together whether Fraivolti suits you.