Venice is a wonderful, magical place! There are no traffic jams, horns, or sirens, because there are no cars, taxis, or trucks! Getting around depends on a variety of boats and canal transportion options. Here are some tips on getting from the airport to "downtown Venice."

While the airport is 10-15 miles away from Venice, on the mainland, it sits on the edge of the Venice lagoon, offering 3 main transportation alternatives:
1) The airport "water-taxi" is a small, private boat that will cost approx. 70 euro; they depart from a dock at the far end of the airport, and will go direct to most of the hotels in the city. While the most expensive, they're good if your baggage is much more than one "wheely"
2) The Venice public transportation is a system of canal-boats called the "vaporetto." An info-booth at the airport can give you maps- even sell tickets- for the many "bus" routes that run around the city at scheduled rates & times. Departing from the other side of the airport dock is the "D/gold" vaporetto for 14 euro (per person), that goes to several main points in "downtown Venice."
3) For the more adventurous, try travelling with the locals: From just outside the airline terminal entrance, the Orange/#5 bus (2 euro) will wander through the mainland suburb of Mestre (half hr.) ending in the train station area of Venice. From there, you're a hundred yards from the Grand Canal and many "Vaporetto" stops/routes that will take you close to your hotel.

Finally, Venice is a city for walking. But sometimes you will be at the side of a canal, wanting to get to the other side, without a bridge in sight. The "traghetto" is a small, gondola-like boat that only goes from one side to the other, for a half-euro.

Ciao !