Book Venice Gondola Rides
Venice Gondola Ride with Optional Live Commentary
- Explore the magnificent floating city in the best way, with a peaceful Gondola ride!
- In the city built on water, the Grand Canal is its buzzing main street. Lined with palaces and flocked with gondolas, you are promised quite the view.
- You'll also notice iconic Venetian landmarks along the way: from the Doge's Palace to St. Mark's Bell Tower, you'll see it all.
- If you've chosen live commentary as an option, learn about the fascinating history of gondolas and gondoliers from your expert tour guide, who will ride with you.
- You have two ticket options without live commentary as well: sit back and enjoy the ride in silence!
Inclusions
- 30-minute gondola ride
- Live commentary in English and Italian (optional)
- Commentary by the mobile app in 7 languages (optional)
Exclusions
- Headphones (ensure you bring your own)
- Tip: Ensure you bring your own headphones for the best experience.
- Please note that this is a shared tour with other guests not belonging to the same party and is not a private gondola ride. Each gondola can host a maximum of 6 people.
- Please note: this experience follows random seating. The guide will assign the gondola and the seat onboard.
- Please wear comfortable shoes.
- The ride will only be canceled in case of extreme weather conditions or a gondolier strike.
- Audio guide available in Spanish, German, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, French, and Hindi.
- This experience is not accessible for wheelchair users.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
- Relish the sights of Venice along the Grand Canal along with a knowledgeable local guide.
- Admire exquisite Venetian buildings from your motorboat, like Santa Maria Della Salute, Ca’ Venier Dei Leoni, Palazzo Grassi, Ca’Rezonnico, and more.
- Spend an hour on the busiest canal in Venice with the bobbing Gondolas and witness the unique Venetian way of life.
Inclusions
- 1-hr motorboat tour
- English-speaking guide
- The tour will be conducted in English.
- Free cancellation anytime before the start of your experience
- A delightful canal cruise awaits you at the stunning Floating city, with a melodious surprise!
- Float along Venice's iconic canals on this delightful cruise while a singer serenades you with traditional Italian songs.
- The stunning medieval architecture of this city can be captured from your vantage point.
- Take in the magnificent sights of the Canal Grande and minor canals around San Marco square and Rialto. You'll also get a Carnival Mask as a gift, which will make things even more fun and interesting.
- You won't notice the time fly by as you reach the end of your canal cruise in 30 minutes.
Inclusions
- 30-minute shared gondola ride.
- A singer who is aboard one of the Gondolas
- Maximum of 5 people per gondola
- Carnival mask
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Guided Tour of St. Mark's Basilica with Gondola Ride
- Glide through the canals on a 30-minute gondola ride and discover the city's opulent charm from a unique perspective.
- Spot iconic landmarks as you float past the Mozart House, La Fenice Theatre, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Salute Church, and more.
- Uncover the secrets of St. Mark's Basilica on a guided tour of this ancient cathedral dating back to 1092 AD.
- Take a leisurely 3-hour break between the tours to explore the city, indulge in local delicacies, or simply soak up the Venetian vibes.
- Marvel at the fascinating Italo-Byzantine and Gothic architecture of the iconic landmark with priority access to avoid the crowds.
Inclusions
- Expert tour guide
- 30-min Gondola ride
- Skip-the-line entry into St. Mark’s Basilica & Pala d'Oro
- Shared guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica
- Expert tour guide
- Map & descriptions of the Palaces
- Audio receiver devices (tour group > 10)
Exclusions
- Commentary during the gondola ride.
- Food and beverages.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
- Explore the 'City of Bridges' like a true local, complete with a guided walking tour and a 30-minute gondola ride.
- Follow an experienced local guide and see the prominent Venetian landmarks, including Basilica San Marco, Piazzetta dei Leoncini, Clock Tower, and Procuratie Vecchie.
- Admire the stunning facade of Santa Maria Formosa, a Renaissance-style church, and see the house of the famed explorer-merchant Marco Polo.
- Enjoy a walk through the shopping district of Mercerie on your way to San Marco, where you will embark on your gondola ride (without commentary).
- Sit back and admire landmarks that were not covered in the walking tour, such as Desdemona’s House, Mozart’s House, and the iconic La Fenice Theatre.
- Catch a panoramic view of St. Giorgio’s Island, the Bell Tower of Saint Mark’s, and Doge’s palace as you pass in front of the Salute Church.
- Note: The optional demonstration can last longer than the scheduled time. We recommend not participating if you have any other reservations scheduled on the same day.
Inclusions
- Guided walking tour (English, Spanish, German, French, or Italian)
- 30-minute gondola ride without commentary
- Audio devices for groups with over 10 people
This ticket has the following options that you can choose from:
- English Guided Tour
- German Guided Tour
- French Guided Tour
- Spanish Guided Tour
- Italian Guided Tour
- Each gondola can accommodate a maximum of 6 people. Your seat on the gondola will be chosen by the gondolier based on weight. This is not a private gondola ride and the gondola will be shared with other members of your tour.
- We recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes for this tour.
- This tour is not recommended for wheelchair users or those with walking disabilities.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Skip-the-Line Guided Walking Tour with Gondola Ride in Venice
- Discover the best of the floating city in two quintessential Venetian ways – a guided walking tour and a shared gondola tour with skip-the-line access.
- Dive into Venice's rich history and culture with an expert multilingual guide by your side; choose between 5 tour languages.
- See Teatro La Fenice (“The Phoenix”), one of Europe's most renowned opera houses, among other landmarks like Marco Polo's house and the Rialto Bridge.
- Hop on the shared 30-minute gondola ride. Weave through the Grand Canal and the minor canals as you enjoy the city's medieval architecture.
- Look at some more famous Venetian landmarks such as Mozart House and La Fenice Theatre.
Inclusions
- 2.5-hr guided walking tour of Venice
- Expert guides in 5 languages
- 30-minute shared gondola ride
- Tip: Take advantage of spectacular photo ops as you get remarkable views of Doge's Palace and St. Marks’ Bell Tower.
- The Gondola can host a maximum of 5 people. The seat aboard cannot be chosen but will be assigned by the gondolier depending on the guest’s weight.
- From April to October, the tour begins with the walking tour followed by the Gondola ride.
- From November to March, the tour begins with the Gondola ride followed by the walking tour.
- Tour guide languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, and German.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Your Venice Gondola Ride Tour Options
Skip the Line Access
A Venice gondola ride is one of the city’s top experiences. Due to this, you’ll almost always find long waiting lines at gondola boarding points. The best way to avoid this is by booking skip the line tickets for your gondola ride in Venice. With this, you can easily bypass the long queues and get straight ahead to begin your gondola tour in the city.
Guided Tour
The city of Venice is home to landmarks dating back hundreds of years. To gain an overall insight into the history of the city and landmarks like the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica, opt for a guided tour with your gondola ride. You’ll be accompanied by a professional, multilingual guide who will enlighten you with interesting facts and information throughout the journey.
Live Entertainment
An interesting add-on to your experience is opting for live music with your gondola ride. If you choose a gondola ride with live music, as you float along the serene waters, you’ll be serenaded by a talented musician who will sing traditional Italian music. They’ll accompany you throughout your gondola ride, until you’re dropped back to the boarding point.
Venice gondola rides discounts
While adults pay full price for a gondola ride, children under the age of two enjoy free access to the experience.
Audio guide availability
Guests can download the handy audio guide app on their phones and use it for running commentary throughout their tour. The audio guide is available in several languages, including English, Spanish, German and French among others.
Plan Your Visit
A typical gondola ride in Venice lasts between 30 minutes to an hour.
Gondola rides take place throughout the week, generally operating between 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM. The ideal time to get on board will be during the sunset.
The best time of day to go for a Venice gondola ride would be early mornings, to experience smaller crowds; if you’re looking for the perfect experience, sunset time, though expensive, provides the best views. The best time of the year to go would be during the off season, between October to May; remember that due to extreme weather conditions during winters, gondolas might not be available.
Grand Canal is located at 30100 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy.
Google Map Directions.
The best way to get to the Grand Canal would be through Venice's rail line service since it is connected by all local, regional and high-speed trains. Get down at Venezia-Santa Lucia train station and as you exit, you’ll see the majestic Grand Canal right in front of you.
The boarding point of your gondola ride differs from operator to operator. While most are situated in and around the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge, you’ll get exact details and directions of your boarding point on your confirmed e-ticket.
Yes, photography is permitted while on a gondola ride. However, it’s not recommended to carry a tripod as it would disturb your gondolier.
The tour is not private but a shared experience with other guests; a gondola can host a maximum of six people.
It depends on your booking. Some gondola rides include live music serenade, while others don’t. You would have to specifically book a gondola ride that includes live music.
Very few Venice gondolas are equipped to accommodate wheelchairs. Please check in advance before you book your gondola ride.
What to See while on a Gondola Ride in Venice
While on your gondola ride in Venice, prepare to be delighted with the panoramic views of the city’s landscape. While there’s plenty to see in a city like Venice, keep your eyes peeled out for these key sites.
Doge’s Palace
Built in 1340, the Doge’s Palace stands as a classic example of Gothic style architecture. The palace was primarily the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Republic. Later in 1923, the Italian state entrusted the Venetian municipality to be run as a museum, opening its doors to the public. Today, the Doge’s Palace welcomes an average of 1.4 million visitors annually, becoming one of the most popular landmarks in Venice. If you plan to explore, don’t miss out on the Chamber of the Great Council, the courtrooms, the armory room among others.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica was a church built in the 9th Century to house sacred relics. It took about 800 years to complete this stunning structure, which today comprises 8,000 sq. m. of elaborate mosaics and over 500 columns, dating back between the 6th and 11th Centuries. Apart from this, the basilica is home to a lot of treasures that came from the Crusades and Constantinople, including four bronze horses, the Madonna Nicopeia, enamels of the Golden Altar-piece, relics, crosses, and many more which can now be seen as you make your way to the church.
Grand Canal
Lined with more than 170 buildings and a bustling marketplace, built between the 13th and 18th Century, the banks of the Grand Canal forms one of the major water route corridors in Venice. Covering a stretch of 3.8 km, one end of the canal leads into the lagoon residing by the Santa Lucia railway station, the other end leads into the basin at San Macro, making a reverse S shape which can be seen passing through the district of Venice. Most gondola boarding points in the city depart from the Grand Canal.
Rialto Bridge
Completed in 1591, the Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges spread across the Grand Canal. Designed and built by Antonio da Ponte, the Rialto Bridge is famed for its architectural achievement. An earlier bridge was eventually demolished to be replaced with the Rialto Bridge in order to provide better access to Rialto - the financial center of Venice. Due to its unusual design and majority use of stone work, the bridge was first written off as a potential failure; however, until today, its beautiful Renaissance architecture makes it a popular attraction in the city.
Gondola Rides in Venice FAQs
For safety reasons, it is highly recommended to wear face masks before beginning a gondola ride. Social distancing must be followed at all times. It is also advised to make your booking in advance to avoid overcrowding at the venue.
Yes, skip-the-line tickets are available. Its popularity in Venice attracts large crowds and these tickets offer you priority access to your gondola ride.
Yes. You can cancel your tickets up to 24 hours in advance to get back a full refund.
Yes. You can purchase gondola rides with a guided tour. An expert will guide you through all the major attractions in Venice while on the gondola ride.
Yes, it is highly recommended that you make your bookings in advance to choose the best date and time, and avoid waiting in long lines for a ticket.
The best option for bookings is to purchase them online. This way, you don’t have to wait in long queues for a ticket.
Children under the age of two can ride for free, while all others pay full price.
Most tours allow you to witness St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, St. Marks’ Bell Tower, Rialto Bridge, Bridge of Sighs and Mozart House among others.
Yes, some specific gondolas are wheelchair accessible. It is recommended that you check in advance before making your booking.
Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to take a ride. However, a sunset view is the most recommended.
No, not all Venice gondola rides include live music. You’ll have to book a ride that specifically includes live music as part of the experience.
The Grand Canal is the most popular boarding point for a gondola ride in Venice. However, the exact details and directions of your boarding point will be available on your confirmed e-ticket.