Venice

Venice Marco Polo Airport sits right on the edge of the Venetian lagoon. Located in Tessera, eight kilometres from the city centre, it handles a split crowd: summer tourists heading to the canals, and winter sports visitors driving north to the mountains. With 11.85 million passengers in 2025, it is Italy’s third-busiest intercontinental airport. The single terminal manages the heavy seasonal traffic surprisingly well, and it even has a water dock for direct boat access to Venice. For skiers, Marco Polo is a highly practical arrival point. It draws flights from major European cities and several long-haul destinations. The airport stays busy year-round, but the passenger mix shifts entirely in winter. You see fewer rolling suitcases and far more ski bags as people arrive for the drive up to the Dolomites and resorts like Cortina d’Ampezzo and Alta Badia.

Lagoon and mainland layout

Unlike many European airports built in sprawling, featureless industrial zones, Venice Marco Polo is wedged between the mainland and the water. The approach and departure flight paths often cross directly over the islands and the Adriatic Sea. This waterside location forces a specific layout. The runway runs parallel to the coast, and the terminal building acts as a bridge between the road network and the lagoon’s boat traffic.

The landside area connects straight to the A27 motorway, which routes traffic north towards the Veneto region and the Dolomites. The airside infrastructure includes two asphalt runways, though the primary 3,300-metre runway handles almost all commercial flights. The airport’s footprint is fairly compact for the number of passengers it processes. This is a distinct advantage when you are carrying heavy gear, as it keeps the walk from the aircraft to the exit relatively short.

Terminals & passenger flow

Venice Marco Polo operates from a single, three-storey terminal building that was expanded in 2002. The layout keeps domestic and international passengers in the same building, which saves you from having to navigate complex terminal transfers.

Arriving passengers move through passport control directly into the baggage reclaim hall on the ground floor. From there, the exit leads to the main arrivals concourse, where transport options are clearly signposted. Departing passengers enter on the first floor, where the check-in desks line a single, long hall. Security screening sits in the middle and feeds passengers into the main departure lounge. The departure area splits at the end, with dedicated gates for non-Schengen flights requiring a passport check.

FloorFunctionKey Facilities
Ground FloorArrivalsBaggage reclaim, customs, water transport walkway access
First FloorDepartures70 check-in desks, security screening, Schengen and non-Schengen departure gates
Second FloorLounges & OfficesTintoretto Lounge (SkyTeam), Marco Polo Room, airline offices

Winter airlines & connectivity

During the winter months, Marco Polo Airport runs a heavy schedule. The airport is a base for several low-cost carriers, which provide the bulk of the short-haul European flights.

– easyJet: 25%

– Ryanair: 25%

– Volotea: 15%

– Wizz Air: 15%

– Legacy Carriers (British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, etc.): 20%

Legacy carriers run frequent hub connections, allowing passengers from further away to reach Venice with one stop in London, Paris, Frankfurt, or Amsterdam. The airport also handles seasonal long-haul routes from North America and the Middle East, bringing international skiers straight to the Italian Alps. The mix of low-cost and legacy airlines keeps arrivals steady throughout the week, though you will inevitably hit heavy peaks on weekends during the core ski season.

Into Venice city

You can reach the historic centre of Venice from Marco Polo Airport by road or water. The airport is not currently connected to the national rail network, though a new underground station is under construction and expected to open in 2027.

Currently, the most direct land route is the ATVO express bus or the ACTV city bus (Route 5). Both terminate at Piazzale Roma, the final point for road vehicles in Venice. From Piazzale Roma, you have to continue on foot or by vaporetto (water bus). Alternatively, the Alilaguna water shuttle runs directly from the airport’s dock, with Blue, Red, and Orange lines stopping at various points around the city, including San Marco and the Lido. Water taxis are also available from the same dock for a direct, private journey to hotel moorings, but expect to pay a premium for the convenience.

Baggage, skis & special items

Ski and snowboard bags go through the oversized baggage system. At Marco Polo, you do not drop winter sports equipment at the standard check-in belts. You first check in at your airline’s desk to get your luggage tags. Once tagged, you carry the oversized items to the dedicated out-of-gauge baggage drop in the departure hall.

When you arrive, skis and snowboards are delivered to a specific oversized baggage carousel in the reclaim hall, not the standard flight belts. This carousel is near the main exit doors. Oversized items usually take slightly longer to arrive than standard suitcases, so expect a short wait. The baggage hall provides trolleys that fit long ski bags, making the walk to the exit or the water dock much easier.

Parking & airside facilities

The airport has several car parks. The multi-storey P1 car park is directly opposite the terminal, offering covered parking and the quickest walk to the check-in desks. For longer stays, the open-air car parks (P4, P5, and P7) are further away but still within a reasonable walking distance.

Airside, Marco Polo has the usual range of facilities for departing passengers. The departure lounge includes espresso bars, sit-down restaurants, duty-free shopping, and stores selling regional Venetian products. On the second floor, the airport has two premium lounges: the Tintoretto Lounge for eligible SkyTeam passengers and the Marco Polo Room, which is open to other premium passengers or anyone paying the entry fee.

Alpine destinations within reach

Venice Marco Polo is the main airport for the eastern Italian Alps, particularly the Dolomites. The A27 motorway provides a direct route north, bypassing the slower regional roads for the first part of the drive.

Typical road travel times to major ski areas range from 1½–2½ hours under good conditions, though this changes heavily during peak weekend traffic or snowstorms.

DestinationRoad distance
San Martino di Castrozza130 km
Cortina d’Ampezzo148 km
Arabba160 km
Corvara (Alta Badia)170 km
Selva (Val Gardena)190 km
Kronplatz200 km

Written by the Alps2Alps editorial team.

This guide is published by Alps2Alps for general information only. It is not affiliated with Wikipedia or any resort, airport, or lift operator. Facts were accurate at the time of writing; always check official sources before travel.