Venice's vaporetto network is run by ACTV, and its ticketing is straightforward once you know the structure — the trick is picking the right product for how much you'll actually be moving around.
The single ticket
A standard single ticket buys 75 minutes of travel in one general direction, including transfers between lines within that window — it is not a one-ride-only ticket, but it's priced for occasional use and gets expensive fast if you're taking more than a couple of trips a day.
Time-based passes
ACTV sells unlimited-travel passes in fixed durations (typically 24, 48, 72 hours, and a 7-day option), which nearly always work out cheaper than buying singles if you're taking more than three or four rides a day — a realistic scenario for most visitors island-hopping to Murano and Burano or crossing the Grand Canal repeatedly.
Buying and validating
Tickets are sold at ACTV booths, machines at major stops, and via the official app; all tickets, including passes, must be validated by tapping at the yellow reader on the dock before boarding — an unvalidated ticket, even a valid pass, can result in an on-the-spot fine from inspectors.
The traghetto exception
The traghetto Grand Canal crossing (a stripped-down gondola service) is priced separately, for a couple of euros cash, and isn't covered the same way by standard vaporetto passes — treat it as its own small, cash-friendly transaction.
A simple rule of thumb
Staying two or more nights and planning to see Murano, Burano or the Lido: a multi-day pass almost always wins. A short stay focused only on the historic centre's walkable core: a handful of single tickets, or simply walking, may be all you need.