Venice operates by its own logic. There are no roads from the mainland into the historic city — the Ponte della Libertà delivers you to Piazzale Roma, where land and water meet. What happens next defines your arrival: a crowded vaporetto, a generic water taxi queue, or a private boat waiting at your own berth, crew standing by.
The Gateway to Venice: Marco Polo Airport
Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) sits on the mainland shore of the lagoon, just 12 kilometres from Piazza San Marco — but those 12 kilometres are water. From the airport, FFGR coordinates two transfer options: a private land transfer to Piazzale Roma (15 minutes) followed by a private water taxi, or a direct private motorboat from the airport's maritime terminal.
The motorboat option — our most requested Venice arrival — delivers you from the aircraft to your hotel's private dock in 30 to 45 minutes, with your luggage loaded by the crew. Hotels on the Grand Canal — the Gritti Palace, Cipriani, Danieli, Aman Venice — all have private docking access. The boat journey through the lagoon, under the Rialto, along the Grand Canal, is in itself an arrival worth experiencing.
Land Transfers in the Veneto Region
Beyond Venice itself, FFGR provides ground transportation across the Veneto. Verona — home to the Arena opera festival and one of Italy's most romantic cities — is 115 kilometres west on the A4 motorway, an 80-minute transfer. Padua (30 minutes), Treviso (25 minutes for Ryanair connections), and Vicenza (60 minutes) are all covered.
For clients based in Venice attending day meetings in these cities, FFGR operates a return-by-evening service: morning transfer to your destination, driver waiting or returning for your call, evening return to Venice with boat waiting at Piazzale Roma.
Private Island Excursions
The Venetian lagoon's islands are best reached privately. Murano, famous for glass-blowing ateliers, is a 10-minute private boat journey — FFGR arranges exclusive access to master artisan workshops not open to the public. Burano, with its candy-coloured fishermen's houses, is 30 minutes and makes an ideal lunch destination.
The island of Torcello — Venice's ancient predecessor, with its Byzantine cathedral and extraordinary silence — is 45 minutes by private boat and rarely visited by non-specialist travelers. FFGR curates access to the island's single Michelin-starred restaurant, Locanda Cipriani, for guests seeking a truly unreachable table.
The Biennale & Major Events
The Venice Biennale (May–November, alternating art and architecture) is among the world's most important cultural gatherings. FFGR provides dedicated Biennale transport: the boat from your hotel to the Arsenale or Giardini entrances, driver-guide service through the national pavilions, and evening returns after vernissage events.
The Venice Film Festival (late August–September), held at the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido island, requires specialized logistics: boat transfer to the Lido, car waiting on the island for location changes, and coordinated returns to mainland hotels for guests staying in the Veneto rather than on the island.
Privacy and Discretion on Water
Water travel in Venice affords an exceptional degree of privacy. A private boat cannot be followed by paparazzi or fans through the lagoon's back canals in the same way a car in traffic can be tracked. For ultra-high-profile guests — royalty, heads of state, entertainment figures — the approach via private canal is the only appropriate arrival.
FFGR's water operations partner with Venice's most respected private boat companies, whose crews are vetted, trained in discretion, and fully insured for all lagoon zones. Every detail, from luggage handling to embarkation timing, is pre-arranged so that your arrival is seamless, private, and unforgettable.
