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.
For the ultimate budget ride, consider taking a traghetto, which is a public gondola ferry in Venice or the vaporetto, the public water bus.
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
