What a traghetto is
The Grand Canal has only four fixed bridges, and they are far apart. Between them, the traghetto fills the gap. It is a gondola ferry on a fixed crossing, and it takes you from one bank to the other in a few minutes.
It is a crossing, not a tour. You do not travel along the canal. If you want a slow ride with a gondolier, book a Grand Canal gondola ride instead. The traghetto is the cheap, local way to get across when the nearest bridge is a long walk.
Our pick: cross by traghetto on a food walk
Our take: this food walk includes a traghetto crossing, so you try it with a guide.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Gondola rides and Grand Canal tours
Gondola rides and boat tours along the canal, with live prices and availability.
Traghetto crossings and hours
The crossings in service, with their hours.
| Crossing | Weekdays | Weekends and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Dogana | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00 |
| Santa Maria del Giglio | 09:00–18:00 | 09:00–18:00 |
| San Tomà | 08:30–19:00 | 09:00–18:30 |
| Santa Sofia | 08:30–19:00 | 09:00–18:00 |
| Carbon | 09:00–12:00 | No service |
| San Samuele | Closed | Closed |
| San Marcuola | Closed | Closed |
Weekdays means Monday to Friday. Carbon runs only on weekday mornings, so do not plan an afternoon crossing there. San Samuele and San Marcuola are closed as ferry crossings. San Marcuola also appears as a gondola station, which is a different service. Each stop has set hours, but a ferry can still be missing on a given day. Check the posted hours at the landing stage before you plan around a crossing.
Days with no ferry
Fixed exceptions to the hours above.
No service
The traghetti do not run on 15 August, 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.
Early finish
On 24 December and 31 December service ends at 13:00.
Public holidays
Weekend hours apply on public holidays. When in doubt, count on the shorter weekend window.
Traghetto, bridge, vaporetto or gondola
Which way across, and when.
| Option | Cost | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Traghetto | €2 | You want to reach the other bank and a crossing is in service |
| Fixed bridge | Free | A bridge is close to your route |
| Vaporetto | €9.50 for 75 minutes | You are going several stops along the canal |
| Gondola ride | €90 for 30 minutes by day, per boat | You want a slow ride, not just a crossing |
For most visitors, one traghetto crossing is worth doing once, because it costs less than a coffee and shows the canal from the water. For getting around, the vaporetto is the better tool. The four fixed crossings are covered in our Grand Canal bridges guide.
What is near each crossing
Three of the five crossings share their name with a stop or a place on the canal.
Dogana
This crossing is at the Punta della Dogana, the point at the mouth of the Grand Canal, close to the Salute vaporetto stop. The art centre there is part of the Pinault Collection, and the church of Santa Maria della Salute is next door.
Santa Maria del Giglio
The name is also a Line 1 stop, between Accademia and Salute. Hours here are 09:00–18:00 every day of the week.
San Tomà
San Tomà is a stop on Line 1 just before Ca' Rezzonico. On weekdays the ferry runs from 08:30 to 19:00, the longest window of the five together with Santa Sofia.
Santa Sofia and Carbon
Santa Sofia runs on weekdays 08:30–19:00 and on weekends 09:00–18:00. Carbon is a weekday morning crossing only. Both appear in the city's list of gondola stations as well, but a gondola station is not a ferry crossing.
Gondola stations and ferry crossings share some names. The gondola stations include Dogana, Santa Maria del Giglio, San Tomà, Carbon, Santa Sofia and San Marcuola. A station name does not mean a gondola is waiting there at every hour.
Using the traghetto
Practical points.
Check the hours first
Hours differ by crossing and by day of the week. A crossing open on a Tuesday may be closed on a Sunday.
Know the fare
The fare is €2. Residents and holders of an IMOB card pay €0.70. The lower fare applies to those two groups only.
Plan the crossing, not the ride
It is a short hop. Use it to save a walk to a bridge, then carry on by foot or vaporetto. For the wider city, see our sister guide to getting around Venice.
Plan the rest of your canal trip
More ways to see the water.
Traghetto in Venice: frequently asked questions
What is a traghetto in Venice?
A gondola ferry that crosses the Grand Canal at a fixed point. It carries you from one bank to the other and does not travel along the canal.
How much does a traghetto cost?
€2 for most passengers in 2026. Residents and holders of an IMOB card pay €0.70.
Does the traghetto run on Sundays?
Most crossings do. Dogana, Santa Maria del Giglio, San Tomà and Santa Sofia run on weekends and holidays with their own hours. Carbon does not run then.
On which days is there no service?
On 15 August, 25 December, 26 December and 1 January. On 24 and 31 December service ends at 13:00.
Is a traghetto ride the same as a gondola ride?
No. The traghetto is a short crossing for €2. A gondola ride is a private tour by boat, priced per boat, for up to 5 people.
Is this the official page of the ferries?
No. This is an independent guide. It does not run the ferries or sell tickets. Check the posted hours at the landing stage.