Venice Film Festival 2026: How to Reach the Lido with a Private Transfer

From 2 to 12 September 2026, Venice will once again host one of the most anticipated international events in the world of cinema. The Venice International Film Festival brings actors, directors, film productions, industry professionals and guests from around the world to the Lido.

For those attending the Festival, however, a stay in Venice involves much more than appointments at the Palazzo del Cinema. Airport and railway station arrivals, hotel transfers, business meetings, screenings and evening events can require several journeys throughout the same day.

In this context, arranging water transfers in advance makes it easier to manage a busy schedule, particularly when timings are fixed and privacy and flexibility are a priority.

The Lido: The Heart of the Venice Film Festival

The main hub of the Festival is the Palazzo del Cinema on Lungomare Marconi, on the Lido di Venezia. This is where screenings, premieres and many of the Festival’s key official events take place.

Guests staying in Venice’s historic centre, or arriving in the city by train or plane, therefore need to plan a journey by water to reach the Lido.

The best option depends on the day’s schedule. Public transport is available for those without specific time constraints, while a private transfer can be arranged around individual requirements when arrivals, luggage, appointments or several consecutive journeys need to be coordinated.

How to Reach the Lido from Venice Marco Polo Airport

For passengers arriving in Venice by air, travelling directly to the Lido by water avoids intermediate transfers through the historic centre and makes it possible to continue towards the final destination immediately after arrival.

A private transfer from Venice Marco Polo Airport to the Lido can be arranged around the flight arrival time, accommodation and any scheduled commitments during the day.

This option is particularly suitable for travellers carrying luggage, small groups, production teams or guests who need to reach the Lido according to a predefined schedule.

The journey across the lagoon also becomes the first encounter with Venice itself: rather than simply travelling from the airport to the hotel, guests enter the city through its most natural route — the water.

From Venezia Santa Lucia Railway Station to the Lido

Passengers travelling to Venice by train arrive directly in the historic centre at Venezia Santa Lucia railway station.

From here, the Lido can only be reached by water. Public connections are available, but requirements can be very different when travelling with several pieces of luggage, when a hotel needs to be reached quickly or when an appointment has already been scheduled.

Booking a private water taxi makes it possible to arrange the transfer according to the train arrival time and final destination, rather than adapting the rest of the day’s plans around the journey.

For guests arriving in Venice during the Film Festival, organising this first transfer in advance also means knowing exactly how the journey will continue once they step off the train.

From Your Hotel to the Lido During the Festival

Not all Venice Film Festival guests stay on the Lido. The historic centre is home to numerous hotels, private residences and accommodation options chosen by professionals and visitors during the Festival.

For these guests, travelling to and from the Lido can become a daily part of their schedule.

A private service makes it possible to identify the most convenient boarding point according to the location of the accommodation and coordinate departure times with screenings, meetings and events.

It is worth remembering that not every hotel in Venice has a landing stage that can be accessed directly by water taxi. The location of the property therefore determines the most convenient boarding and drop-off point.

Arranging the transfer beforehand makes it possible to clarify these details before arrival and know exactly where and when to meet the boat.

When a Single Transfer Is Not Enough

During the Venice Film Festival, schedules can change several times throughout the day.

A morning on the Lido may be followed by a meeting in the historic centre, a private event at another venue and, later, a return to the hotel. For production companies, businesses, professionals or guests with particularly busy schedules, booking each journey separately may not be the most practical solution.

For this reason, VIP Venice Tours also offers the option of having a boat with driver available for several consecutive days during the Festival.

The service is planned around the guest’s schedule, coordinating the different journeys required throughout the stay.

In this way, the water taxi is no longer simply a way to reach the Lido. It becomes a dedicated service supporting guests throughout their time in Venice.

From the Lido to Events Across Venice

The Palazzo del Cinema is the focal point of the Festival, but the schedules of guests attending the event often extend to other parts of Venice.

Dinners, business meetings, presentations, private appointments and side events can take place in hotels, historic palaces and venues located throughout the different districts of the city.

A private water taxi service can therefore connect the Lido not only with the airport and railway station, but also with Venice’s historic centre and the other destinations included in the guest’s schedule.

This is where one of the main advantages of a private service becomes particularly clear: instead of planning the day around transportation, transportation can be organised around the day.

A Service Designed Around Precise Schedules and Individual Requirements

Choosing a private water taxi during the Venice Film Festival is not simply about choosing a more exclusive means of transport.

For guests travelling to Venice for work, an event or several scheduled appointments, its value lies above all in the ability to organise the service around individual requirements.

Departure times, boarding points, destinations and the duration of the service can be planned according to the stay, while the private nature of the boat provides a discreet environment during each journey.

This can be particularly important for public figures, industry professionals, production teams and guests who value privacy throughout their time in Venice.

Arrange Your Venice Film Festival Transfers with VIP Venice Tours

VIP Venice Tours provides private water taxi services in Venice, including dedicated transfers during the Venice International Film Festival.

The service can include a single transfer or be arranged across several days, with a dedicated boat available to coordinate journeys between Venice Marco Polo Airport, Venezia Santa Lucia railway station, hotels, the Lido and event venues.

Each request is evaluated according to the guest’s schedule, the required routes and individual needs, allowing the service to be tailored to their stay in Venice.

If you are attending the 2026 Venice Film Festival, contact VIP Venice Tours to check availability and arrange your private water transfers in advance.