Marco Polo International Airport is the destination airport for people visiting Venice and its environs. It is actually located in Tessera, just outside of Venice, and was named for the Italian explorer who is popularly believed to have traveled to China and discovered noodles, which have become the national dish of Italy. The airport consists of one terminal that opened to air traffic in 2002, and is easily accessible to land based mass transit, including rail, bus, and water taxi. The airport is constructed in the standard popular style of today, with arrivals on the first floor, departures on the second, and administrative offices on the third. There are of course full amenities, including restaurants, coffee shops, wi-fi services, and shopping boutiques for last minute purchases. Marco Polo is the most convenient airport for those who are beginning their travels in Venice, and the center of the city is only minutes away, with hotels located at the airport, and all along the way to Venice itself. Both short and long-term parking is available for those who wish to travel by car at some point, and because the airport is relatively new, everything is designed to be convenient and nearby, with moving walkways, escalators, and elevators.
