Waterbus lines 4.1. and 4.2.

The vaporetto line 4 is a very important public ferry line in Venice. A vaporetto or waterbus is a ship in Venice that carries passengers on regular services. There are no roads in Venice, so water buses, like in other cities, run regular like bus or metro services.

The vaporetto line 4 doesn't really exist, it is divided into the lines 4.1. and 4.2. The water buses go around the whole island of Venice and make a detour to the island Murano, which is popular with tourists. In addition, the vaporetti (plural of vaporetto) also stop at the cemetery island San Michele and on the island of Giudecca, both just a few hundred meters from Venice.

 >>>   On this link you find tickets for the water buses

The difference between lines 4.1. and 4.2. is simple. Line 4.1. travels counterclockwise around Venice, line 4.2. clockwise. Otherwise, the two water bus lines go to exactly the same stations. The round trip from Venice, without the detour to Murano Island, takes about 80 minutes. So you should check beforehand in which direction the destination is closer, otherwise you will have to take the ferry of line 4.1. or 4.2. for a very long time.

Caution: The two lines are also called Vaporetto 41 and Vaporetto 42 in Italy.

Tickets waterbus lines 4.1. and 4.2.

The water buses in Venice are quite expensive. A one-way ticket costs at least 7.50 Euro in 2019. You should definitely buy time tickets. These are available for 24h, 48h, 72h and as weekly tickets. You can take as many waterbus trips as you want during this period. The trip to the airport costs extra. Tickets are available on this website

The tickets are valid for all public vaporetti of the ACTV in Venice and to the other islands like Murano. They are also valid for the city buses and streetcars in Venice on the mainland and on the islands with roads like Lido.  

 >>>   On this link you find tickets for the water buses

Waterbus line 4.1. and 4.2. course

The two lines have a circuit around Venice. So there is no real start and end stop. We start on the island of Murano:

Route waterbus line 4.1: The first stop is Murnao Museum in the center of the small island of Murano. The waterbus line 4.1. stops a few more times at different piers on the island of Murano and then goes to the cemetery island of San Michele (Cimitero). Afterwards the bus continues to Venice, the first stop is Fondamente Nove. From here the lines 4.1. and 4.2. run differently. Line 4.1. goes right (counterclockwise) around Venice. After a few stops you will reach Venice Central Station (Ferrovia) and then the bus station (Piazzale Roma). Then you go through the port. After a few more stops in Venice, you will cross a channel several hundred meters wide to the island Giudecca (4 stops). Back in Venice the next stop is near St. Mark's Square. Afterwards you drive around the back of Venice, about 8 stops after Mark's Square. you have made the big circumnavigation around Venice, you are back at Fondamente Nove. At the end of the tour we go back to the cemetery island and further to the island Murano. The last stop is, as at the beginning of the trip, at the Museum Murano. The whole trip takes over 2 hours, there are about 35 stops.

Murano - Cemetery Island - Venice Fondamente Nove - right counterclockwise around Venice (Central Station - Bus Station - Giudecca Island - San Marco - Hospital - Fondamente Nove) and back via Cemetery Island to Murano

Route of water bus line 4.2: As above, but the other way around Venice. So:

Murano - Cemetery Island - Venice Fondamente Nove - left clockwise around Venice (Hospital - San Marco - Giudecca Island - Bus Station - Central Station - Fondamente Nove) and back via Cemetery Island San Michele to Murano

 >>>   On this link you find tickets for the water buses

Caution: The two lines are also called Vaporetto 41 and Vaporetto 42 in Italy.

Line 4.1. and 4.2. travel times and best direction of travel

Bus station / Main Station Santa Lucia to Murano: About 45 minutes with line 4.2. / return with line 4.1.)

San Marco (St. Mark's Square) to Murano: Murano is on the other side of Venice. With the 4.1. or 4.2. in each case about 1 hour driving time

Fondamente Nove - Cemetery Island San Michele: With the vaporetto lines 4.1. and 4.2. only about 5 minutes

Cemetery Island San Michele -Murano: To the first stop in Murano only about 4 minutes, to Murano Museo about 15 minutes, whether line 4.1. or 4.2.

Fondamente Nove - Murano Island: About 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the destination in Murano, no matter 4.1. or 4.2.

The travel times in the opposite direction are just as long.

 >>>   On this link you find tickets for the water buses

Times water bus line 4.1. and 4.2. Venice

The passenger ships from Venice operate on this line from about 6 am to 11 pm. At night, on parts of this line there are night lines of water buses with different line numbers.

Both lines depart approximately every 20 minutes during the day.