Venice Passes and Cards

Are you planning a trip to Venice and want to optimize your visits to the city's museums and tourist attractions while saving money?
You're in the right place ✅

Venice is an open-air museum, which alone is worth the trip.
However, there are many tourist activities to enjoy, including visits to the city's historic museums, boat tours to the islands, and experiences such as the iconic gondola ride along the city's canals.
Considering that these experiences are generally expensive when purchased individually, buying a Venice pass is the key to saving money on ticket prices and optimizing the organization of all your visits, saving you precious time.

But which one should you choose?

In this comprehensive guide to tourist cards for Venice, updated and verified in January 2026, we analyze the best solutions available, compare costs and benefits, and help you choose the perfect one for your trip, whether you're in Venice for a weekend or a week.

Already familiar with Venice and its attractions? Skip straight to the pass review.

What to see in Venice?
The attractions that justify the purchase

Venice is a city very rich in art, history, and culture.
As a result, there are many historical museums, monuments, and tourist attractions to visit during a trip to experience the city to the fullest.
However, when you add up the individual admission tickets, the budget required for a complete trip can really add up.
Before analyzing which card for Venice allows you to save money, let's discover the tourist attractions included in most itineraries that justify investing in a tourist pass.

Considering that the average cost for each individual item is quite high—especially when you consider experiences such as boat tours to the islands, the classic gondola ride, or guided tours of the historic center—it is immediately clear that, in order to build a complete itinerary without blowing your budget, it is strategic, if not essential, to equip yourself with a smart tool to save money and optimize your expenses.

But even for shorter stays (such as a weekend), there are pass options for Venice that allow you to save money and optimize your time, with a single pass that gives you access to every attraction included, saving you time and queues to buy tickets.

What are the passes for Venice?

The landscape of Venetian tourist cards is unclear, if not chaotic.
You will find institutional cards and offers from private operators, which often better meet the real needs of those visiting the city. It is also necessary to distinguish between those who only offer museum admission, those who cover public transport (which is otherwise very expensive), and those who offer complete packages.
This guide has been created to help you make the right purchase. We have selected only those solutions that we consider to be the best in terms of logistical efficiency and cost savings.
Let's take a look at them in this essential overview to get started.

• Venice City Pass
  The ultimate all-inclusive solution. This is the most comprehensive package because it combines culture and experiences: it includes the best museums, a gondola ride, a tour of the islands, and a guided tour of the city.
• Venezia Unica City Pass
  The official formula dedicated to history lovers. This card focuses purely on art and is ideal for accessing a vast network of civic museums, churches, and historic buildings.
• St. Mark's Square Pass
  The essential or "light" option. Perfect for those who have little time and want to focus exclusively on the heart of Venice, including the Doge's Palace and the museums in the square.

* clicking on the name of the pass can take you directly to its detailed analysis, or continue reading.

These are different packages, designed for different tourist purposes and itinerary depths.
The ultimate goal is always to save you money, but how it works varies considerably between the different cards.

The right choice depends solely on your travel style.

Do Venice Passes include public transportation?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions.
No, the attraction passes for Venice do not include public transportation.

Since mobility is a fundamental aspect of traveling in Venice, a city where you get around on foot or by water, I have dedicated an entire section of this guide to it.
You will find all the useful information you need on how to get around Venice, as well as ways to save significantly on transportation.

Full review: Venice City Pass

In this review of the Venice City Pass Let's analyze what a tourist pass is. most comprehensive to visit Venice.
Distributed by Civitatis (synonymous with reliability), this card meets all the main tourist needs of those who want to experience Venice at its best, in all its facets.

It includes most of the city's major museums, as well as essential activities such as a guided tour of Venice, a tour of the islands, and a gondola ride.
A comprehensive mix of activities that will enrich even the most demanding and complete itineraries.

Available in 1-, 2-, and 3-day versions, it is well suited to any length of stay.
Of course, it is most effective in the 3-day version, which gives you time to see as much as possible and maximize your savings.
The rule is always the same: the more you see, the more you save.

It is the ideal city card for those who want to enjoy a variedand in-depth travel experience, maximizing the number of visits in the time available, and consequently obtaining the maximum possible savings.

The ideal tool for visiting Venice in a comprehensive and satisfying way.

How does the Venice City Pass work?

It's simple: choose the duration of the pass in days (1, 2, or 3 days), and within that period, you can visit (or do) everything that is included.
When purchasing, you will need to choose the activation date of the pass, which coincides with the first day of use .
This date is important because it determines when the pass becomes valid, and within 24 hours prior to that date, free cancellation will be available, as we will see later.

Shortly after purchase, you will receive an email with the necessary QR code passes (to be shown at the attractions) and instructions on how to use them and make reservations if necessary.

Knowing that you can count on this tool, your only task will be organizational: draw up your itinerary to include as many attractions as possible among those included in the pass's validity period.
By doing so, you will optimize the quality of your trip and maximize your savings.

What does the Venice City Pass include? List of attractions

In my opinion, the Venice City Pass catalog is very well designed and balanced.
It includes 16 museums, palaces, and historical points of interest in the city, including the Doge's Palace.
It offers complete coverage of the artistic heritage that Venice offers its visitors.

• National Archaeological Museum
• Doge's Palace in Venice
• Leonardo Da Vinci Museum
• Correr Museum
• Contarini del Bovolo Staircase
• Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista
• Scuola San Rocco
• Marciana Library
• Murano Glass Museum.
• Giancarlo Ligabue Natural History Museum of Venice
• Mocenigo Palace
• Mariano Fortuny Museum
• Lace Museum
• Carlo Goldoni House
• Ca' Rezzonico Museum
• Ca’ Pesaro Museum

In addition to these museums, there are other top experiences in Venice:

• Guided tour of Venice
• Tour of Murano, Burano, and Torcello
  This very popular tour takes about half a day. Therefore, it makes sense to take the 2- or 3-day pass, so you don't have to rush if you have the daily pass.
• Gondola ride (shared)
  The shared ride is exciting and impressive, even though it is shared with other travelers in the same gondola.
  If you want to opt for a private ride, the costs increase significantly, and the option is never included in any pass.

>> See the complete list of all attractions on the official website

Venice City Pass price

The Venice City Pass is valid for one day, regardless of how many attractions (among those included) you decide to visit.
Let's take a look at the cost of the card based on the number of days:

• 1 DAY ➜ €84.90 Adult | €64.90 Teenager (11-17) | €59.90 Child (up to 11 years old)
• 2 DAYS ➜ €115.90 Adult | €105.90 Youth (11-17) | €87.90 Children (up to 11 years old)
• 3 DAYS ➜ €109.90 Adults | €99.90 Teens (11-17) | €84.90 Children (up to 11 years old)

These are the list prices for the card, but they are often on offer on the official website, with attractive discounts (even up to 10%) compared to the prices listed here.

Cost analysis: is the Venice City Pass really worth it?

From an economic point of view, the answer is yes, it is almost always worthwhile.
However, to understand how much you really save, let's do a concrete simulation using the 2-day version as a reference.

To make an honest calculation, we must consider that this pass includes the most expensive experiences in the city (such as the Gondola Ride, the Boat Tour to the islands, and the Guided Tour). We can therefore realistically set the average value of an activity at €30.

In two days, with a well-organized itinerary, it is normal to visit about three attractions per day. Let's add it up: six activities x €30 (average) = € 180 total value. The two-day pass costs about €100.

The result is a net saving of €80 on just two days of travel. Not bad.
If we add to this the 10% discount that is often available, and the possibility of including a few more minor museums, the savings become even more impressive.

Where can I buy the Venice City Pass?

This card can be purchased online on the official website of Civitatis, the supplier that distributes it.
The following link will take you directly to the official website where you can verify the information about the card provided in this guide and proceed with the purchase.

Validity and refunds

The Civitatis Venice City Pass offers a convenient "free cancellation within 24hours" policy.
Therefore, in the event of unforeseen circumstances affecting your trip, you can request a full refund of the pass up to 24 hours before the selected date.

Full review: Venezia Unica City Pass

If the previous pass was the ultimate "all-inclusive" solution, the Venice City Pass It is the ideal choice for those who want to focus on Venetian culture, history, and art.

Also distributed by Civitatis, this tour differs significantly from the other in terms of content: it cuts out tourist experiences (no gondola rides, no island tours) to focus exclusively on museums and monuments.

It is therefore the strategic choice for two types of travelers:

• Those who are primarily interested in in-depth cultural visits (museums, palaces, exhibitions).
• Those who prefer to save money on museums with the pass, but want to organize other experiences independently (perhaps booking a private gondola or a public ferry to the islands).

Its biggest strength? Extended validity. Once activated, you'll have months to complete your visits, making it perfect for those staying for a long time or returning to the city often.

How does validity work? (Important)

There is one key feature of how this pass works that you should be aware of before purchasing it.

When booking , you must select the date for your visit to the Doge's Palace. This date serves as your"start" date: on that day, you must visit the Palace (admission is allowed from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., approximate times to be verified on the voucher), skipping the line at the ticket office.

From that moment on, you will have 180 days (approximately 6 months) to visit all the other attractions included in the pass, in complete freedom and without rushing.

What does the Venezia Unica City Pass include?

As mentioned, this pass focuses on the artistic/cultural side of Venice.
It includes access to all of Venice's civic museums, plus some gems from the MUVE foundation.

Here is the complete list:

• Ducal Palace (the main attraction)
• Correr Museum
• National Archaeological Museum
• Marciana National Library
• Ca’ Rezzonico (Museum of 18th-Century Venice)
• Ca’ Pesaro (International Gallery of Modern Art)
• Mocenigo Palace
• House of Carlo Goldoni
• Lace Museum (in Burano)
• Museum of Natural History
• Fortuny Museum
• Scuola Grande dei Carmini
• Querini Stampalia Foundation

Compared to the "Venice City Pass" seen earlier, the following are NOT included here: the Gondola Ride, the Island Tour (although the Lace Museum in Burano is included, so you will have to get there by public transport), and the tour guide.

>> See the technical data sheet on the official website

Venezia Unica City Pass price

The price of this pass is very competitive, precisely because it foregoes expensive logistics (boats/gondolas) to give you the most culture at the lowest price.

• ADULT (30-64 years old) ➜ € 62.90
• JUNIOR (ages 6-29) ➜ € 34.90
• SENIOR (65+) ➜ € 34.90
• CHILDREN (0-5 years old) ➜ Free

It is interesting to note that the "Junior" age range has been extended to 29 years old, which is excellent for students and young travelers.

Cost-benefit analysis: when is it worth buying?

The math here is very simple. Consider that a single ticket for the museums in St. Mark's Square (which includes the Doge's Palace, Correr, Archaeological, and Marciana museums) purchased on site or online already costs around €30.

The Venezia Unica City Pass usually costs a few dozen euros more than a single ticket, but it opens the doors to nine other museums.
Just visit Ca' Rezzonico or the Natural History Museum in addition to the Doge's Palace, and you'll already have made a net saving.

It is worthwhile if:

• You plan to visit the Ducal Palace + at least two other museums on the list.
• You are in Venice for several days and want to spread out your cultural visits (thanks to the 180-day validity period).
• Are you under 29 (the Junior rate is very advantageous)?

Not suitable if:

• You are in Venice for a few hours and just want to take a gondola ride and see St. Mark's from the outside.
• If you want a turnkey package that also includes tours and excursions (in which case, the Venice City Pass reviewed above is better).

Where to buy and reimbursement

The Venezia Unica card can also be purchased in just a few clicks via Civitatis. You will receive an electronic voucher (or one to print) containing the codes (PNR) needed to access the turnstiles directly, without having to go to the ticket office.

Cancellation policy: Please note that unlike the other pass, this product is NOT refundable once issued. This is because it is strictly linked to the Palazzo Ducale reservation. Therefore, please make sure you are certain of your dates before proceeding with payment.

Full review: St. Mark's Square Pass

We conclude the review with the most "vertical" and iconic pass: the St. Mark's Square Pass distributed by Tiqets.

Unlike the previous passes, this one does not attempt to take you around the entire lagoon or inside every single civic museum. Its goal is very specific: to allow you to fully experience the "beating heart" of Venice, namely St. Mark's Square.

This is the ideal solution for those who are short on time (perhaps only a day or a quick weekend) or for those who simply want to see "the famous sights" without wasting energy on minor museums. It includes the "Golden Triangle" of the square: the Doge's Palace, the Basilica, and the Bell Tower.

What makes it so special? Its versatility. For each attraction, it doesn't give you a standard ticket, but often allows you to choose the level of experience you prefer (for example, admission only, or a guided tour, or access to the terraces).

What does it include? (The system of your choice)

This pass is modular. Based on the current offer, here's how you can put it together:

• Ducal Palace (Choose from):
  • Standard skip-the-line ticket (Fast Track Access).
  • The "Museum Pass" (which includes the Doge's Palace + 8 other civic museums, excellent if you want to extend your visit).
  • Express guided tour in English.
• St. Mark's Basilica (Choose from):
  • Skip-the-line ticket for the Cathedral only.
  • Full ticket (skip the line + terrace + Pala d'Oro + audio guides). *Recommended!
  • Express guided tour.
• St. Mark's Bell Tower:
  • Skip-the-line ticket for the elevator + audio guide. (Essential, as the lines here are endless).
• Audio Guide App: A digital guide to the city with over 100 points of interest.
• 10% discount: Valid on other attractions bookable on Tiqets.

Price St. Mark's Square Pass

The price point is slightly higher than for "museum-only" passes, justified by the inclusion of premium services such as audio guides, terraces, and the bell tower.

• ADULT (26-64 years old) ➜ approximately €90.00
• REDUCED (ages 6-25 and over 65) ➜ approximately €70.00

Note: Prices are indicative and refer to standard admission to each attraction. Tiqets often offers an automatic 5% discount on these combinations.
Depending on the options you choose (e.g., if you choose the guided tour or full tickets for additional experiences), there will be price increases, which will be clearly indicated when you create your pass.

Cost-benefit analysis: who is this pass for?

At first glance, €90 may seem like a lot for "only" three attractions. But let's consider the services included: a "full" ticket to the Basilica (with the Pala d'Oro and Terraces) is expensive. Add to that the Doge's Palace (€30), the Bell Tower (about €15 + booking fee), and audio guides. The total is very close to the cost of the pass, with the difference that here you have everything in a single package that can be managed from your smartphone.

This is the perfect pass for you if:

• You have limited time (1 or 2 days) and want to focus solely on St. Mark's Square.
• Would you like to climb the Bell Tower and visit the Basilica Terraces (the most beautiful views of the city)?
• You hate queues: having skip-the-line access everywhere in St. Mark's Square is a luxury that saves hours of travel time.
• You fall into the "Reduced" category (up to 25 years old or over 65), where the savings are more significant.

Not for you if:

• Are you interested in the museums of Murano, Burano, or modern art galleries (preferably Venezia Unica)?
• Do you want the gondola ride included (better to get the Venice City Pass from Civitatis)?

Purchase and use

The pass can be purchased on the Tiqets website. The process is very intuitive: during the purchase, you will be asked to choose the date and time for each individual attraction. This is a great organizational advantage: you will know exactly what time to enter the Palace, the Basilica, and the Bell Tower, allowing you to plan your perfect day without any downtime. Tickets are sent via email and can be shown on your smartphone.

Is it worth buying a pass for young children?

The short answer is: No, it's not worth it. In Venice, almost all state museums and attractions offerfree admission for children aged 0 to 5. Buying an expensive pass for them would therefore be a waste of money, as they would get in for free almost everywhere anyway.

The same applies to the Civitatis Venice City Pass (the one that also includes tours):

• The pass can only be purchased by individuals aged 6 and above. This implicitly confirms that it is not necessary for individuals below this age.
• Gondola ride: Children under 3 years old ride for free (if held in your arms). If they are between 3 and 5 years old, they may have to pay for a seat, but it is better to buy them a single gondola ticket rather than the whole pass.
• Island Tour: Again, for children aged 0-5, a single boat ticket costs very little (or is free) compared to the price of the city card.

Comparison of passes for Venice

Let's quickly compare the three passes for Venice reviewed in the following table:

Comparison of passes for VENICE

	Operating logic	Number of attractions included	Does it pay off?	Preference for typical vacation	Direct link for purchase
VENICE CITY PASS (Civitatis)	I choose the days of validity (1-3), and I can see everything I want among the attractions included.	It includes over 10 museums, the most important ones in Venice. It also includes a tour of the islands, a gondola ride, and a guided tour of the city.	Yes, pretty much all the time Suitable for medium-long vacations where you want to see many things/have many experiences. The mix of museums and tourist experiences is very well balanced for a satisfying trip to Venice.	★★★★★	Buy the Venice City Pass now
UNIQUE VENICE CITY PASS (Civitatis)	I'll just book the Ducal Palace, and from that date I'll have six months to see everything else. Extended validity, convenient for those who want to return to Venice several times in 6 months.	A total of 16 museums and cultural attractions in the city, an almost complete package.	Yes, already from the third museum visited. Suitable for vacations of any length, where you want to explore the historical/cultural side of the city.	★★★★☆	Buy the Venezia Unica City Pass now
ST. MARK'S SQUARE PASS (Tiqets)	Fixed package of defined attractions	Three fixed attractions (St. Mark's Basilica, St. Mark's Bell Tower, Doge's Palace), but customizable by choosing the level of experience for each. + 10% discount on additional attractions	Yes, the cost of the pass is slightly lower than that of the individual attractions. The advantage is that you can book all the attractions included at the same time, optimizing your time in places that are always very crowded. Suitable for short breaks of 1 to 2 days. Or for focusing solely on the tourist heart of Venice.	★★★★☆	Buy the St. Mark's Square Pass now

How to get around Venice?

Before understanding how to optimize transportation, you first need to understand how to get around Venice:

• In the Lagoon (Vaporetti): These are the "water buses," operated by ACTV. They navigate the Grand Canal and connect the islands (Murano, Burano, Lido). They are the essential means of transport for those who want to experience the city without walking for miles.
• On the mainland (buses and trams): From Piazzale Roma (the last point accessible by car), there are buses to Mestre, Marghera, and the inland areas. These are especially useful if you are staying outside the historic center.
• Train: exclusively for leaving the city towards the mainland. Again, useful if you are staying outside the city, in an area convenient for stations, or if you want to visit the center of Mestre.

The vaporetti

The vaporetto is a regular boat service that travels along the city's waterways, connecting its main points of interest.
During a vacation in Venice, you will use them many times every day:

• to get from the hotel to the various tourist attractions in the city
• to move around the different areas of the city
• to return to the hotel in the evening
• as a tourist attraction for crossing the city (especially in the evening) with a unique panoramic view, comfortably seated in a boat

Of course, you can do everything on foot by limiting your use of transport, but it is definitely tiring and not very sustainable.
It is usually better to save your energy for visiting places of interest and leave the longer journeys to the vaporetto.

The cost of a single trip is (currently) €9.50, for a duration of 75 minutes.
Doing some quick math, this means that you could end up spending as much as €40-50 per day, per person, just to get around by vaporetto.

For this reason, it becomes almost essential to consider a transport pass that gives us the freedom to use public transport freely, while keeping costs down.

The mainland

Venice is not only the historic center, but also the mainland.
In the most comprehensive itineraries, a visit to Mestre, home to several museums and important cultural attractions, is a must.
In this case, you can use the ACTV bus lines, which connect Mestre with Piazzale Roma (in Venice) with good coverage.
You can also take the train from Venice-Santa Lucia railway station, with many connections to Mestre, but this is inconvenient because you will arrive in an area that requires you to walk a lot.

Public transportation passes

Here are the main solutions for moving around freely without worries:

Venice Transport Card

This is the official ACTV card and it is the only real way to reduce travel costs in Venice.

Considering that a single vaporetto ticket costs €9.50 (valid for 75 minutes), this card is essential if you plan to take the boat at least three times in one day.

The card allowsunlimited use by:

• Water buses in Venice, Lido, and to the islands (Murano, Burano, Torcello).
• City buses in Mestre and Marghera (excluding the airport).

Prices and duration: The ticket is valid for one hour (starting from the first use/validation) rather than one day, which is a great advantage.

• 1 day (24 hours): €25.00
• 2 days (48 hours): €35.00
• 3 days (72 hours): €45.00
• 7 days: €65.00

Who it's suitable for: practically everyone. Just take a round trip to the islands and a tour of the Grand Canal to get your money's worth.

Venice Transfer Service – Airports

The connection between the airports (Marco Polo is the main airport, Treviso is the secondary airport) and the city deserves a separate mention.
This is an essential service for those arriving by plane, which can be managed either by public transport or, more conveniently, by private transfer.
These transfers are often useful for those arriving at the port from cruise ships or arriving at the station with a lot of luggage.

From my research, and from my own personal experience, I have found Civitatis' transfer service to be extremely reliable.
A single service that covers all your needs:

• from airports to city centers
• from airports directly to the hotel (a combination of bus + water transfer)
• from airports to Piazzale Roma (then continuing by Venetian water transport)
• connecting the two airports