Where to find gondola stations in Venice

Go to the pier near St. Marks Square or the Grand Canal. From there, show your ticket to waiting gondoliers (or buy a new one on spot) and hop aboard a gondola. Instructions on how to display your booking will be informed to you once you purchase your ticket. Follow the gondolier's guidelines and voila! you'll be off on your cruise.

The most popular boarding points for your Venice gondola ride are near St. Marks Basilica and the Grand Canal. However, there are also less crowded ones like the Jewish Ghetto and Campo San Barnaba.

Most official gondola stations are marked with red and white striped poles, so look out for those. Another way to look out for a station is by identifying the gondoliers. They operate at official stations and typically wear striped shirts (usually red and blue or blue and white). They may also wear straw hats, adding to their distinctive appearance.

If you're looking to skip the crowds, you can board your gondola at less-famous piers like the Jewish Ghetto or Campo San Barnaba. This will give you a chance to float down smaller, less busy canals. You can also board your gondola from stations like Calle Larga XXII Marzo and Calle larga de l'Ascension.

Buying tickets online helps you skip the long waiting lines and directly meet your gondolier at the boarding point. You can also consider taking a gondola ride early in the morning or during the late afternoon to avoid the crowds.

The best place depends on the kind of traveler you are. If you want to soak up the vibrant, active culture of the city, take a gondola near St. Marks Basilica. Pass by iconic landmarks like the Doge's Palace and Rialto Bridge on this route. If you prefer a quieter and less-buys experience, take one of the smaller canals afforded by boarding points near the Jewish Ghetto and Campo San Barnaba.

It's generally not recommended to take a gondola from outside an official station. Unlicensed gondolas might not be properly maintained, and the ride might be unreliable or unsafe.