What the three Venice City Passes have in common
Before comparing the differences, it helps to pin down what does not change. According to the official product pages, all three passes include:
- Palazzo Ducale and 11 other museums, including Museo Correr, the National Archaeological Museum with the Biblioteca Marciana, Ca’ Rezzonico, Ca’ Pesaro (Gallery of Modern Art and Museum of Oriental Art), Palazzo Mocenigo, Museo Fortuny, the Natural History Museum, Casa di Carlo Goldoni, the Murano Glass Museum and the Burano Lace Museum.
- Skip-the-line access to the main attractions and access to the Bridge of Sighs.
- Scuola Grande dei Carmini, with the Chapel of Santa Maria del Carmelo and the Sacristy, the Staircase and the Chapter Hall, the Archive Room and the Albergo Room.
- Fondazione Querini Stampalia, with the museum, the area designed by Carlo Scarpa, the exhibition spaces and the Banca Intesa collection.
- Vaporetto on all lines, including the islands of Lido, Murano and Burano.
- Tickets sent by email immediately after purchase, validity of 6 months from activation and wheelchair accessibility.
The core cultural content is therefore identical. This is the most useful fact for finding your bearings: you are not choosing between passes with different museums, but between transport windows of different length and, in the case of the 72h pass, one extra attraction.
Venice City Pass 24h: the choice for a single day
The 24-hour pass is the solution for anyone with just one day in Venice: a day trip, a short stop within a wider journey, a stopover between two cities. It includes the same attractions as the other passes, but leaves a limited vaporetto window: that is why it works best when the day is built around a clear criterion.
How to build an effective day
With 24 hours available, there is no point in chasing every included attraction. It is better to choose three or four stops and group them by area. The most natural block is Piazza San Marco, where Palazzo Ducale, Museo Correr and the Archaeological Museum with the Biblioteca Marciana are concentrated. For the rest of the day you can choose between a museum along the Grand Canal, such as Ca’ Rezzonico or Ca’ Pesaro, or an excursion to Murano and Burano, which makes the most of the included vaporetto.
The 24h pass is the right choice if
- you have one full day to devote to Venice;
- you want to focus on San Marco and one second area, without turning the visit into a marathon;
- you are not interested in visiting the Teatro La Fenice.
It may not be enough if
You plan to travel by vaporetto for more than one day or to combine the historic centre and the islands at a relaxed pace. In that case the 48h pass offers the same attractions with a transport window twice as long.
Venice City Pass 24h
Venice City Pass 48h: the choice for a weekend
The 48-hour pass is built for the most common trip to Venice: two days, often a weekend. The product page lists it among the tickets preferred by users. The attractions are the same as the 24h pass, but the vaporetto covers two days, and this changes the way you organise your visit.
How to split the two days
The most straightforward split is by area. The first day is devoted to San Marco: Palazzo Ducale, Museo Correr, the Archaeological Museum and the Biblioteca Marciana, with Museo Fortuny as an additional stop. The second day moves into the sestieri: Ca’ Rezzonico and the Scuola Grande dei Carmini in Dorsoduro, then Ca’ Pesaro, Palazzo Mocenigo and the Natural History Museum in Santa Croce, as far as Casa di Carlo Goldoni in San Polo. If you prefer the islands, you can instead spend the second day in Murano and Burano, with the Glass Museum and the Lace Museum.
| To plan your areas → The neighbourhoods of Venice: how to choose what to see → How to get around Venice the smart way |
The 48h pass is the right choice if
- your trip lasts a weekend or two full days;
- you want to alternate between the historic centre and the islands, or San Marco and the sestieri, without rushing;
- you are not interested in La Fenice, but you want a wider transport window than the 24h pass.
Venice City Pass 48h
Venice City Pass All Inclusive 72h: the choice for a complete stay
The 72-hour pass is the only one of the three that includes the Teatro La Fenice, with a visit and an audio guide available in seven languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. It also offers the longest vaporetto window, which makes it the natural choice for anyone who wants to see Venice without feeling squeezed for time.
The added value of La Fenice
La Fenice is one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world, and including it gives the pass a different profile from the other two: not just museums, but also one of the symbolic places of Venetian cultural life. The product page also mentions concessions for people with a 100% disability, who can visit the foyer, the theatre hall (when it is not closed for technical rehearsals) and, by lift, the Apollonian Rooms; entry is free for the companion.
How to split the three days
With three days the visit organises itself naturally: San Marco on the first day, the sestieri and the museums along the Grand Canal on the second, the islands on the third. La Fenice, in the San Marco sestiere, fits easily into a break between two stops or at a different time from the Piazza San Marco block. The pace stays relaxed, and there is room for Querini Stampalia, the Scuola Grande dei Carmini and for the stops that are not part of the plan.
| To build a wider itinerary → What to see in Venice in 3 days → Venice for the first time: tips and attractions not to miss |
The 72h pass is the right choice if
- your stay is three days or more;
- La Fenice is among the things you want to see;
- you prefer a slow pace, with more margin between one visit and the next.
Venice City Pass all Inclusive 72h
How to choose: the criteria that really matter
If the attractions are the same, the choice comes down to a few concrete criteria.
1. The days on which you will use the vaporetto
This is the main criterion. What counts is the number of days on which you will actually travel by public transport, which does not always match the nights of your stay: arrival and departure days are often spent largely on foot or with other means of transport. One day points to the 24h pass, two days to the 48h, three or more to the 72h.
2. Interest in the Teatro La Fenice
If La Fenice is a priority, the choice is made for you: it is included only in the 72-hour pass. This holds even if your stay is short.
3. The pace of the trip
Those who prefer to see a few things at leisure benefit from a wider window; those who like to pack many stops into a short time can do well with a shorter pass too, as long as they plan by area.
4. Whether the islands are part of your plan
Murano, Burano and the Lido can be reached with the vaporetto included in all three passes. If the excursion to the islands is an important part of your trip, a longer window lets you avoid sacrificing the historic centre.
5. The season and opening hours
Some attractions have days and hours worth keeping in mind. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:30), and is closed on Mondays. The Scuola Grande dei Carmini is open from 10:00 to 17:00 from 1 April to 31 October and from 11:00 to 16:00 from 1 November to 31 March, and is closed on 1 January and 25 December. If your trip falls on a Monday or in the low season, take these details into account when choosing your activation day.
6. Accessibility needs
The pages of all three passes indicate wheelchair accessibility. For those travelling with specific needs, the 72h pass adds the concessions provided for La Fenice.
| To travel with fewer crowds → How to visit Venice without the crowds |
What is not included in the Venice City Passes
A clear pass is also one whose limits are known. The product pages explicitly state that none of the three includes:
- guided tours: the pass gives access to the attractions and does not include a guide;
- Alilaguna transport: the service to the airport and the lagoon is not part of the included vaporetto;
- transfers to and from the airport;
- Teatro La Fenice, which is excluded from the 24h and 48h passes.
If you need a connection to the airport, you will find the alternatives in the guide to arrival transport. For a guided visit, the catalogue of bookable experiences offers dedicated tours.
How the Pass Works: Purchase, Activation and Validity
The mechanism is similar for all three passes. These are the steps to know:
- Purchase and delivery. After purchase, the tickets arrive by email instantly.
- Palazzo Ducale date. Entry to Palazzo Ducale is valid only for the date selected at the time of purchase: it is worth deciding in advance which day to devote to San Marco.
- Vaporetto activation. You can activate the ticket on any day, not only on the day of purchase. Transport becomes valid from the moment of first validation on a vaporetto or bus, and it is important to validate it every time you board.
- Validity. The product pages indicate 6 months from activation.
- Refunds. The right of withdrawal cannot be exercised for this product: it is better to choose carefully before buying.
| To understand the vaporetto better → Vaporetto in Venice: guide to tickets, routes and tourist passes |
The Most Common Mistakes When Choosing
- Choosing by nights rather than days of use. The vaporetto is used during the day: what counts is how many days you will really use it.
- Expecting La Fenice in the 24h or 48h pass. It is included only in the 72-hour pass.
- Forgetting the Palazzo Ducale date. It must be chosen at purchase and cannot be changed simply by activating the vaporetto.
- Planning Querini Stampalia on a Monday. The Foundation is closed on Mondays.
- Not validating the ticket every time you board. Transport must be validated every time you get on.
- Assuming the pass includes Alilaguna or transfers. The product pages expressly exclude them.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Venice City Pass
- What is the difference between the Venice City Pass 24h, 48h and 72h?
The main difference is the length of public transport on the vaporetto: 24, 48 or 72 hours. The 72-hour pass also includes the Teatro La Fenice with audio guide, which is not part of the 24h and 48h passes. The other attractions are the same. - Do the included museums change between the three passes?
No. All three include Palazzo Ducale and 11 other museums, the Scuola Grande dei Carmini and the Fondazione Querini Stampalia. - Is the Teatro La Fenice included in all the passes?
No. It is included only in the Venice City Pass All Inclusive 72h, with a visit and audio guide in seven languages. - How do I activate the pass and how long does it last?
You can activate the ticket on any day, not only on the day of purchase. Transport becomes valid from the first validation on a vaporetto or bus. The product pages indicate a validity of 6 months from activation; entry to Palazzo Ducale is valid only for the date chosen at purchase. - Does the pass include the islands and Alilaguna?
The included vaporetto covers all lines, including the islands of Lido, Murano and Burano. Alilaguna transport and transfers to and from the airport are not included. - Is the Venice City Pass accessible?
The product pages indicate that all three passes are wheelchair accessible. The 72-hour pass includes concessions at the Teatro La Fenice for people with a 100% disability, with free entry for the companion.