Torcello is a lagoon island you can visit from Venice by ACTV Line 12, which also connects several other islands along its route.
It offers a different stop from the more commonly paired Murano and Burano, with a museum focused on Venice’s origins and the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. For city time beyond the lagoon, a walk from Dorsoduro to San Marco gives you another way to structure a Venice day.
- Route: ACTV Line 12 serves Torcello and connects it with Fondamente Nove in Venice.
- Other route stops: Murano, Mazzorbo, Burano, Treporti and Punta Sabbioni.
- Museum: The Museo di Torcello presents archaeological finds and medieval works of art.
- Pass: The Museum Pass allows one admission to each participating permanent-collection museum and is valid for six months.
Why include Torcello in a Venice stay
Torcello adds a quieter-feeling island stop to a Venice lagoon trip, and it can be combined with other places along the Line 12 route. The Municipality of Venice groups it with Burano and Mazzorbo in its visitor information about the lagoon islands.
For a broader island itinerary, you can pair it with the route choices in this guide to planning a Murano and Burano trip from Venice.
The island’s museum gives the visit a historical focus: its collection tells the story of Venice’s origins through archaeological finds and medieval works of art. A Venice stay can serve as your starting point for this lagoon day trip.
How do you get from Venice to Torcello?
ACTV Line 12 connects Fondamente Nove in Venice with Torcello and several other lagoon stops. Its published route listing includes Murano, Mazzorbo, Burano, Treporti and Punta Sabbioni as well, so check the route and connections when planning your island sequence.
Burano is a transfer point on certain Line 12 services continuing to Treporti or Fondamente Nove. That can help when you are arranging a multi-island outing, but make sure the specific service you plan to take serves the stops you need.
Some Torcello calls are marked as request stops on ACTV timetables; for those departures, boarding can be booked by calling ACTV at least 20 minutes in advance.
If you are planning a vaporetto ride through the city as well, this guide to seeing the Grand Canal by vaporetto covers that part of a Venice itinerary.
Timetables and operating details can change, so check the official site before you go. Use ACTV’s official information to confirm the Line 12 timetable and any request-stop requirements for your journey.
What can you see and do on Torcello?
Torcello’s museum and the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta give the island visit a clear cultural focus. The museum’s collection traces Venice’s origins through archaeological finds and medieval works of art, offering context for the lagoon’s history.
You can plan your visit around the museum and basilica, leaving time to walk between the island sights. For museum entry, the Museum Pass is valid for six months and allows one admission, without reservation, to each participating museum with a permanent collection.
The Clock Tower is not included, so check the pass’s current terms before relying on it for a particular visit. Hotel Messner is a starting point for your lagoon day trip.
How can you combine Torcello with other lagoon stops?
Line 12’s sequence of lagoon stops makes Torcello part of a wider island route rather than an isolated destination. Murano and Mazzorbo are also on the route, while Burano can work as a connection point on certain services. Choose the islands you want to visit first, then use ACTV’s current route information to check how the connections fit together.
If you want to keep the day focused on Torcello, plan your boat journey around the island visit rather than trying to include every stop. If you add other islands, allow your itinerary to follow the services available on the day. ACTV publishes the route information for Line 12, including its outer-island connections.
FAQs
Which ACTV line goes to Torcello?
ACTV Line 12 serves Torcello. Its route connects Fondamente Nove in Venice with stops including Murano, Mazzorbo and Burano.
Can you visit Torcello and Burano on the same trip?
Both islands are on the Line 12 route, and Burano is a transfer point for certain services. Check ACTV’s current timetable to plan the connection.
What does the Torcello Museum Pass include?
It allows one admission, without reservation, to each participating permanent-collection museum and remains valid for six months. The Clock Tower is excluded.