Marghera Cruise Port Guide—
Best Tips for Cruise Passengers

Dock at Marghera cruise port and learn what to expect: industrial surroundings, shuttle procedures, check‑in tips & transfer routes to central Venice and Piazzale Roma. 

Last updated: June 2025

Written by: Martina, a former cruise line employee

Keep reading everything about the Marghera cruise port or jump straight to:

• What is the Marghera cruise port in Venice?
• Where is Marghera Cruise Port in Venice exactly?
• Can I walk from Marghera Cruise Port into Venice center?
• Can I take public transport from the Marghera Cruise Port exit into Venice?
• Can I catch a taxi from Marghera to Venice?
• How to get from Marghera Cruise Port into Venice city?
• How do I embark on a cruise ship in Marghera?
• How do I get on a tour of Venice from the Marghera port area?

Cruise ship dock in Marghera industrial area...are we in Venice yet? Well, not really, but keep reading to find out how to get there!

Did you know docking in Venice has changed big time?

In the past year or so, in cruising circles there has been a lot of talk regarding the relocation of Venice cruise operations from the Stazione Marittima to Marghera cruise port or, better to say, the Marghera industrial area.

This move was primarily driven by concerns about the environmental impact and sustainability of large cruise ships navigating through the fragile and historically significant Venetian Lagoon and the Grand Canal.

So, if you have visited Venice on a cruise ship before, you should be aware things have changed a lot, and there is an additional step involved in getting from your cruise ship to beautiful Venice.

Are cruise passengers happy about this? No, not at all, as it makes your day in port even shorter.

My first experience of docking at Marghera was in June 2023. As most passengers, I tried to avoid paying for expensive cruise line-organized waterbus shuttles from the dock in Marghera straight into the San Marco area (at first I thought this was our only option for getting off the ship, as I wasn't reading the instructions carefully!).

Of course there is another option (although your cruise lines would prefer you to buy the expensive transfer tickets), and I will tell you all about it!

Keep reading to find out what steps are involved in getting from the Marghera cruise port to the Venice city center if you want to do it on your own!

What is Marghera Cruise Port in Venice?

Marghera is actually an industrial area located on the mainland of Venice, Italy, some 10 km NW of the central islands of Venice. It is known for its industrial facilities, including factories, ports, and shipyards.

When you dock in Marghera, all you will see around you is the sea of containers. There are no regular cruise port facilities like the check-in desks, taxi stands, customs and immigration, etc. Just a big setup tent with restrooms and the luggage handling area and a dock in the middle of this industrial area.

Marghera area is not very scenic as you can see

Sailing into Marghera

Where is Marghera Cruise Port in Venice exactly?

It is situated northwest of the historic city center of Venice and is separated from the main islands of Venice by the Venetian Lagoon.

Here is the location of Marghera on the map. The location of the ship is approximate. As you can see, it would take you almost 1,5 hours to walk. 

How far is Marghera Cruise Port from Venice Piazzale Roma and the Stazione Marittima cruise terminal?

The distance between the Marghera industrial area and the Piazzale Roma/Stazione Marittima in Venice is approximately 10 kilometers (about 6.2 miles) if traveling by road.

Stazione Marittima is a big cruise port terminal between the area of Tronchetto and Piazzale Roma, the square that is the last point you can reach by car when coming from the direction of Marghera or Mestre. 

Piazzale Roma is considered a gateway into historical Venice, as this is where you can catch the first water buses/vaporettos to get to Piazza San Marco.

Until recently most cruise ships would dock in Stazione Marittima, but now that has changed: all operations are transferring to Marghera cruise port even though there is no cruise terminal building there (I am writing this in the summer of 2023). 

Can I walk from Marghera Cruise Port into Venice center?

No, you can't, for two reasons: it is very far, and you would not be allowed to walk from the cruise dock to the exit from the Marghera industrial area, as it is not safe for pedestrians. Actually, it took us almost 10 minutes just to get out of the area by bus.

Taking a ride on a shuttle bus in Marghera

Can I take public transport from the Marghera Cruise Port exit into Venice?

Technically, you could if there was a way for you to get out of this big port area on foot. But there isn't.

I was hoping for the same, as I saw on different public transportation applications there is a local bus from Marghera to Piazzale Roma. However, there was no way to reach it from the ship.

When I realized this, I was happy to be sitting on a free cruise line-provided shuttle bus that took us to the Stazione Marittima, where there is still the official terminal building (although ships don't dock there).

Can I catch a taxi from Marghera to Venice?

No, you can't, as taxis are not allowed into this industrial area. However, you can catch a taxi to Piazzale Roma (the last point cars are allowed) from Stazione Marittima (although it's a 15-euro charge for a few minutes ride). Keep reading for a more affordable solution.

How to get from Marghera Cruise Port into Venice city?

If Venice is one of the ports of call on your itinerary and you want to go into Venice independently on this day, here's how to reach it from Marghera cruise port/industrial area:

• 1st STEP: Get on one of the free shuttle buses (could be boats as well) provided by your cruise line. When onboard, ask about what time the first shuttle leaves and if there are any tickets needed to get on the shuttle (although the shuttle is free, the cruise line may distribute tickets to control the traffic). The shuttle bus will leave you inside the Stazione Marittima cruise terminal, by the dock previously used by that cruise line. I travelled on MSC cruiseline and they left us next to cruise terminal building 109.

Tent 'terminal' at Marghera

Shuttle Bus Tickets

Exit to the free shuttle bus at Marghera

• 2nd STEP: Walk from the Stazione Marittima shuttle drop off to the port's central area. There you will see a cafe, a few cruise terminal buildings, a taxi stand, the area where shuttle buses to Piazzale Roma stop and a ticket booth for Alilaguna Linea Blu waterbuses into San Marco and signs that direct you to People Mover train. Here you will decide about your next step. In the past, Alilaguna waterbuses used to run from inside the Stazione Marittima, but in July 2023, the ticket booth was closed and the line wasn't operating - checking the latest Linea Blu maps online, I see they now moved the stop to Tronchetto area, where the car park is. 

Quite a walk to the central area of Stazione Marittima

• So your only options are to either follow the signs to the port exit and walk to Piazzale Roma (it's a 15 minute walk) or catch the People Mover (a little train that covers this short distance). 
• From Piazzale Roma you can either walk another 30-40 minutes into Venice (it's a scenic walk as this is where historical Venice starts), take a Venice vaporetto/water bus at Piazzale Roma waterbus station to get you into Piazza San Marco or any other stop along the Grand Canal. 

How do I embark a cruise ship in Marghera?

If you are embarking the ship in Venice, don't go straight to Marghera! There is no cruise ship terminal/ check-in/customs there! It's just where your cruise ship is parked.

The terminal is still in the Stazione Marittima cruise port area, where you will leave your luggage in hands of the cruiseline, go through customs and after that you will be shuttled to the ship in Marghera either on a free cruiseline provided bus or a special water bus.

Coming back/embarking the ship in Marghera on a water bus shuttle from Stazione Marittima

How do I get on a tour of Venice from Marghera port area?

If you purchased your Venice shore excursion through the cruiseline, follow the instructions you will be given onboard the ship.

If you purchased a private shore excursion via one of the trusted platforms like Viator, check what the meeting point is.

If it's in historical Venice, make sure you get to the meeting point in time, having in mind all the above listed factors involved in getting from Marghera to central Venice.

Some shore excursions will have a meeting point at Stazione Marittima and are much more convenient for cruisers. I found a few with the best price/review ratio: