Getting to the amfAR Gala in Venice
Marco Polo, the Lido airport, a water taxi or a private boat with a pilot: arriving in Venice, then reaching the venue of the evening by water, without enduring the Venice Film Festival crowds.
Last updated 5 October 2026 · 4 min read
In Venice, everything happens on the water. Marco Polo airport receives all types of aircraft; its business aviation terminal has a private jetty where the water taxi waits, and the city centre is about thirty minutes away across the lagoon. Nicelli airport, on the Lido, receives small aircraft and light jets by day on a grass runway. On gala night, a boat with a pilot drops you at the venue's jetty — the venue changes almost every year — and brings you back at the hour that suits you.
A city without cars: why the journey matters
The road stops at Piazzale Roma: beyond it, Venice is explored on foot or by boat. The gala is held in a historic venue of the city — the Arsenale, La Misericordia, the Molino Stucky on the Giudecca, a hangar on the Lido — which is almost always reached by water. The foundation announces the venue of each edition; we follow its announcement for 2027.
The journey matters because the evening falls in the middle of the Venice Film Festival (the Mostra): the lagoon is very busy, and so are the jetties of the reception venues. On gala night, the arrival comes down to the minute and the jetty.
By air: Marco Polo or the Lido?
Marco Polo airport, on the mainland at the edge of the lagoon, is the gateway to Venice: it receives all types of aircraft, from scheduled flights to long-range jets. Its business aviation terminal is open from 6 am to 10 pm, the airport itself day and night; it has a private jetty where the water taxi waits at the foot of the aircraft, or nearly so.
Nicelli airport, on the Lido, is a historic airfield with a grass runway of about one kilometre: it receives small aircraft and some light jets, by day only, and helicopters on request. For a compatible aircraft and a daytime arrival, it is a direct option to the Lido; for everything else, Marco Polo is the natural choice.
From the airport to the hotel: the water taxi
From Marco Polo, the water taxi reaches the historic centre in about thirty minutes, and drops you at the hotel's jetty when it has one. It is the simplest way to arrive, luggage included; the public shuttle boat, slower, does not suit a stay of this kind.
We book the boat for the landing time, with a margin, and have it wait in case of delay. For the Lido or the Giudecca, the journey is a little longer; we note it on the itinerary.
Gala night: a boat with a pilot
A private boat with a pilot remains the basis of a smooth stay. On gala night, the rule is simple: leave early, know the arrival jetty, and agree on the time of the return. The pilot drops you off, waits, and brings you back — even very late.
The lagoon has its constraints: speed is limited, the jetties of reception venues are in heavy use on the night itself, and the weather can decide a route. We take this into account in the departure time and always plan a fallback.
The rest of the week: the lagoon
The boat also serves the days: a screening on the Lido, lunch on Torcello, a visit to Murano or Burano, a swim offshore. We arrange it by the day or for a single journey, with a pilot who knows the lagoon.
| Mode | For whom | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Private jet via Marco Polo | All types of aircraft, evening arrival possible | Private jetty at the business aviation terminal |
| Light aircraft via the Lido (Nicelli) | Compatible small aircraft and light jets, daytime arrival | Grass runway of about one kilometre |
| Helicopter | Direct arrival on the Lido | On request, subject to the day's authorisations |
| Water taxi | From the airport to the hotel | About thirty minutes to the city centre |
| Private boat with a pilot | Gala night and the whole week | Leave early; arrival jetty to be confirmed |
| Train to Venezia Santa Lucia | From Milan or other Italian cities | A boat waits in front of the station |
What we arrange
A single itinerary, from the flight to the journey back at night: the airport chosen according to the aircraft and the hour, the water taxi on landing, the boat with a pilot for the stay, and a margin on gala night. Everything is quoted individually, with timings set to your programme. Our amfAR Gala Venice VIP page composes the whole stay.
Frequently asked questions
Marco Polo for almost everything: it receives all types of aircraft, including in the evening, and its business aviation terminal has a private jetty. The Lido airport suits compatible small aircraft and light jets, by day.
No: Nicelli airport operates daytime hours. For a late arrival or a departure just after the evening, Marco Polo is the natural choice.
About thirty minutes by water taxi to the historic centre, a little longer to the Giudecca or the Lido. We plan a margin on landing.
Almost always by water: a boat with a pilot drops you at the venue's jetty, waits for you and brings you back. The venue changes almost every year; we set the journey as soon as the foundation announces it.
Helicopters can land at the Lido airport on request, subject to the day's authorisations. The rest of the journey is then made by boat.
It is what we advise during the Venice Film Festival: a dedicated pilot knows the jetties and the timings, waits during the evening and brings you back at any hour. It is quoted individually, by the day.
Take it further
Your itinerary, from the flight to the last boat
Tell us where you are leaving from, with which aircraft and how many guests: we compose the journeys of the stay — flight, water taxi, private boat with a pilot — on quotation and subject to availability.