Finding information after you arrive in .NET framework

Encoder Code 128B in .NET framework Finding information after you arrive

The main tourist office, Venice Pavilion/Palazzina dei Santi (% 041529-8711 or 041-522-5150; wwwturismoveneziait; Vaporetto: San

Marco), is located right when you get off the vaporetto at the San Marco stop, in a stone pavilion wedged between the small green park on the Grand Canal and the famous Harry s Bar Frankly, it s more interested in running its gift shop than in helping tourists Hours are daily from 10 am to 6 pm Another office (smaller, but equally indifferent) is under the arcade at the west end of Piazza San Marco at no 71F, on the left of the tunnel-like street leading to Calle dell Ascensione (% 041-520-8964; Fax: 041-523-0399; Vaporetto: San Marco) Hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm During peak season, a small info booth operates in the arrivals hall at the Marco Polo Airport It s open daily from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm You also find a small office in the train station, Stazione Santa Lucia, open daily from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm

Venice is a walking city There really isn t any other way to get around The only time you won t be walking is when you take the vaporetto (water bus) between the train station and Piazza San Marco, go on long hauls to outlying islands, or shell out big bucks for a private taxi acquei (water taxi)

By vaporetto (water bus)

The vaporetto, Venice s public ferry service, takes the place of a bus network The Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti Veneziano (ACTV) operates the system (% 041-528-7886; wwwactvit) The maps that the tourist office hands out can help you plan your route The vaporetto most visitors use is Line 82, which chugs regularly from the train station down the Grand Canal, stopping five times (including at the Rialto Bridge and the Accademia) en route to the San Marco stop, which is just off Piazzetta San Marco in the Giardinetti Reali (At night, the N follows the same route) Line 1 is a commuter line that follows a similar route but takes longer and makes more stops Lines 51 and 52 run from the station to S Zaccaria, which is just past the Doge s Palace off the other side of Piazzetta San Marco, but bypass the Grand Canal, going the long way around the Dorsoduro A one-way vaporetto biglietto (ticket) is a steep 350 ($405); a round-trip ticket is 6 ($690) You can also purchase a 24-hour ticket for 1050 ($12), a three-day pass for 22 ($25), or a seven-day pass for 3150 ($36) Most lines run every 10 to 15 minutes, 7 am to midnight, and then hourly until morning Most vaporetto docks (the only place you can buy tickets) have timetables posted Note that not all stations sell tickets after dark; if you haven t bought a pass or extra tickets beforehand, you have to settle up with the conductor on board (you have to find him he won t come looking for you) for an

extra 50 (60 ) per ticket If you try for a free ride, you risk a 21 ($24) fine, no excuses accepted

By traghetto (ferry skiff)

Just three bridges span the Grand Canal To fill in the gaps, traghetti skiffs (oversized gondolas rowed by two standing gondoliers) cross the Grand Canal at eight intermediate points You can find stations at the end of any street named Calle del Traghetto on your map and indicated by a yellow sign with the black gondola symbol The fare is 50 (60 ), which you hand to the gondolier when boarding

Taxi acquei (water taxis) are convenient but expensive For journeys up to seven minutes (which are highly unlikely), the rate is 14 ($16) Add 25 (30 ) for each 15 seconds thereafter Each bag more than 19 inches long costs 115 ($130), plus there s an additional 440 ($505) charge for service between 10 pm and 7 am and a 465 ($535) surcharge on Sunday and holidays (these last two can t be applied simultaneously) If you call ahead for a taxi acquei, tack on another 415 ($475) The preceding rates cover up to four passengers; you pay another 160 ($185) per extra passenger Six water-taxi stations serve key points in the city: the Ferrovia (% 041716-286), Piazzale Roma (% 041-716-922), the Rialto Bridge (% 041-5230575), Piazza San Marco (% 041-522-9750), the Lido (% 041-526-0059), and Marco Polo Airport (% 041-541-5084) Radio Taxi (% 041-522-2303 or 041-723-112) can pick you up from any place in the city