You've finally made it to Venice, city of water, magic and romance. You're looking forward to that one defining moment of the Venetian experience: taking a gondola ride. However, taking a gondola can be pricey, but don't let that stop you from enjoying your much-awaited experience. There's plenty of ways to enjoy a ride on the cheap and we've got you covered with this guide.
The easiest way to have the classic gondola experience is to book a shared ride. In this type of ride, you will be seated at random by the gondolier. Moreover, the €80 charge is for the entire gondola, not per head. As you will split the cost with the other travelers, your contribution to the fare is just a fraction of the total.
It's likely you're here to see more of Venice than just take a gondola ride. Book a combo tour to popular Venetian attractions like walking tour. Combos that include a gondola ride and insights into to these attractions can help you get the best of both worlds without breaking the bank. It also saves you the cost of individual entry tickets to each of these landmarks.
The standard charge for a gondola ride from about 9 AM to 7 PM is €80 per gondola. But this fee hikes up to €100 after 7 PM, which is steep considering gondola rides are already pricey to begin with. For a cheaper Venice gondola ride, hence, it's best to go before 7 PM.
For the ultimate budget ride, consider taking a traghetto, which is a public gondola ferry in Venice or the vaporetto, the public water bus.
A Venetian traghetto is essentially a public gondola ferry. It's a large gondola, typically operated by two gondoliers, that crosses the Grand Canal at specific designated points where there are no bridges. Each traghetto can hold up to ten passengers.
For a mere €2 per person, you can enjoy a short but scenic ride across the Grand Canal. If you're a resident, lucky you! Traghetto rides cost just €0.7 for locals.
There are seven traghetto lines operating across the Grand Canal:
A traghetto ride will ensure you rub shoulders with the locals (sometimes even literally; passengers on the traghetto usually stand). However, the ride will end in less than 5 minutes, so it won't give you the full traditional gondola experience. You might also not see all the top landmarks and highlights that a 30-minute gondola ride assures.
The vaporetto is Venice's public water bus system. It's a network of boats that function as the primary mode of public transportation throughout the city's canals and lagoon. It offers a reliable and affordable way to travel between different points in Venice, including major landmarks, islands, and residential areas.
The price typically ranges from €7.50 to €9.50 depending on the route and validity period. You can also book a package on the basis of days:
Traveling by vaporetto allows you to experience Venice like a local. You'll see Venetians commuting to work, students heading to school, and tourists exploring the city, providing insight into everyday life in Venice. Depending on the time of day and route, vaporetto rides can be both peaceful — during lean season and chaotic — during peak season.
Indeed it is! You can experience the charm of a gondola ride without worrying too much about the finances if you opt for a shared ride or a traghetto, which is a public transport gondola.
You can book a shared gondola ride or take a traghetto to enjoy a budget ride. Taking a gondola before 7 PM also helps you save on the after-hours cost.
A 30-minute budget ride starts from €30 per head. These prices can go up if you take a gondola post 7 PM, or if you wish to extend your ride. The extra cost is €40 for every additional 20 minutes.
Generally, a gondola ride in Venice lasts around 30 minutes. This gives you good time to appreciate the architecture and landmarks of the city, and take photos of the same.
Booking your gondola ride in advance is always recommended. This secures you from potential on-spot price surges during peak season and also ensures your spot. You can also skip the long queues and board the gondola as soon as you arrive at the appointed time.
A traghetto is a public ferry gondola that is wider than a traditional gondola and can accommodate up to 10 passengers. It is also much cheaper to take a traghetto, which is priced at just €2 for tourists and €0.7 for locals. The traghetto ride only lasts for under 5 minutes. A shared gondola is a traditional gondola where seating is usually random, you get the full 30-minute experience and spot top landmarks as you cruise down the Grand Canal (or smaller canals, if you wish).
While enjoying your gondola excursion, you'll gently drift along the charming waterways of Venice, taking in magnificent monuments, architectural marvels, and lively squares. Moreover, you'll gain a distinctive view of renowned attractions such as the Teatro la Fenice and the Rialto Bridge, the iconic span that traverses the Grand Canal of Venice.
Although you can express your preferences to the gondolier, the precise route of your journey is typically predetermined by the gondolier. Furthermore, considerations such as weather conditions and canal traffic also play a role in deciding the chosen route.
For a budget ride, it's best to go before 7 PM as there's a surcharge after hours. It costs €100 per gondola if you are opting to go on the tour between 7 PM to 8 AM.
Budget rides don't include serenades. However, if you're feeling lavish, you can book a gondola ride with serenade at an additional cost.
Savings, without compromising on an authentic experience, is one of the biggest benefits of a budget gondola ride.
Tipping is not compulsory, but is welcome if the service was good. You can tip €5-10 depending on your satisfaction.
Venice Classic Gondola Ride
Venice Walking Tour with Grand Canal Gondola Ride
