Gondola ride in Venice: What you need to know + tips & review

Going on a gondola ride in Venice is among the most desired activities in the floating city. Although it might sound to some like an overly touristic thing, the truth is that there’s magic crossing the Venetian canals. I won’t lie: I didn’t book a gondola the first time I visited Venice. However, on my second visit to the Serenissima, I took a ride and enjoyed it very much.

In the following lines, you’ll read my honest opinion about the Venetian gondola ride –and here’s the one I booked. Moreover, I will share tips for your gondola ride to help you better prepare for it and make it a memorable experience. In addition, I’ll also share photos from the Venetian canals while riding the gondola and a short video to get a natural feel. Lastly, I’ll write down how you can pre-book a gondola but also how you can find one spontaneously.

So, let’s start with this guide to Venice gondolas and why you should enjoy one while visiting the city.

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A gondola ride in Venice, Italy: Gondola facts

The Venetian gondola wasn’t always a tourist attraction. In fact, gondolas served for centuries as the primary means of transportation for the locals. Nowadays, their role in transport is played by the vaporettos, the iconic waterbuses circulating the city’s lagoon.

Why did Venice start using gondolas?

Gondolas became popular during the 13th and 14th centuries when horses were banned in the city. The era’s aristocracy decided that the horses were too filthy to walk around the town, and soon, the need for an alternative transportation mode rose. From then on until the early 20th century, the gondolas rode Venice, and more than 10,000 of them existed. However, since the vaporettos took over, the number of gondolas in Venice declined, and today, approximately 400 of them are still in operation.

What does it take to become a gondolier?

Becoming a gondolier is not easy, and it’s still a highly regarded profession. To get a license, a gondolier must conclude more than 350 hours of rowing, and he should also prove his knowledge of Venetian history and foreign languages. And it’s not just that. The cost of a Venetian gondola is approximately 40,000 euros, and it has a lifetime of 15-20 years. On the brighter side of life, a gondolier can earn up to 150,000 euros annually.

There’s a strict dress code for gondoliers. They are dressed in black trousers and wear striped shirts: black and white or red and white. In former times, the shirt color declared the side of the Grand Canal they were operating their gondola. However, the symbolism declined through the years.

Finally, it was only in 2010 that the first female gondolier appeared in the waters of Venice.

So, what exactly is a Venetian gondola?

The gondola is a unique boat created -and mainly used- in Venice, Italy. Its surface is flat, and this is for practical reasons: it should easily move in the shallow waters of the Venetian lagoon. The gondolier stands on the boat’s back and rows through the narrow canals using a long oar.

What’s unique about Venetian gondolas is that they aren’t the same on both sides: due to their shape, the gondolier can row by using just one oar. That said, the gondolas are lopsided, and that’s why they always seem to tilt to the right side.

Although there’s a strict construction protocol, gondoliers can decorate their boats according to their preference. Nowadays, the gondolas in Venice are about 11 meters long, 1,6 meters wide, and weigh 350 kilos. The Venice gondolas are always black.

What you need to know about your gondola ride in Venice

Now that you have a better overview of the history of gondolas in Venice, Italy, it’s time to focus on your upcoming ride. Therefore, in this section of the guide, you’ll find everything you need to know for joining a gondola ride in Venice.

How much does a gondola ride in Venice cost?

First of all, you need to know that the Venetian gondola rides are fixed. Yes, they are pricey, and yes, you cannot bargain. However, having a set price also means that visitors are protected from ripoffs. Of course, an occasional incident might occur, but since this is a highly regarded profession (and a city trademark), you can expect honesty and great services.

Of course, before sharing the pricing info about the rides, I should also mention that requiring extra services or extended rides will elevate the final price. That said, the prices you’ll see in the next paragraph correspond to what they describe, not to every wish a traveler might have.

At the time of writing, a gondola ride in Venice costs 80 euros for 30 minutes if the tour takes place between 8 AM and 7 PM. Moreover, for 30-minute rides between 7 PM and 8 AM, the cost is 100 euros. Every additional 20 minutes will cost you 40 euros during daytime and 50 euros at night.

The prices are per ride, and a gondola can accommodate up to 5 or 6 people. Please keep in mind that prices are non-negotiable, and pre-booking a timeslot comes with an extra fee.

Shall I pre-book a gondola ride or find one on-site?

That really depends on your travel lifestyle, but I’ll give you some extra info to help you decide.

Pre-booking a gondola in Venice means that you can choose a specific pick-up point and a particular timeframe. Since your gondola ride will be one of your Venice highlights, it’s always a good idea to reserve a place and not worry about finding one or stressing about the price. Additionally, you can read reviews and decide which service is better for your taste. Lastly, you can pay by credit card, and that’s a plus if you don’t want to carry too much cash.

On the other hand, finding a gondola on-site gives you more flexibility. There are various gondola docks around the city, and finding one shouldn’t be a problem. One thing to keep in mind is that you must always pay the gondolier in cash. They don’t accept credit cards, so be prepared to have enough money with you.

Later on in this guide, I’ll share my honest review about the ride I took and why I decided to pre-book. But for now, these are the main things to consider.

Can I share a gondola ride in Venice with others?

Yes, you can share your ride with fellow passengers, even if you haven’t met them before. A gondola can accommodate up to 5 or 6 people, and sharing the ride will reduce costs.

Once again, you have two options: pre-book a shared gondola or find some people on-site to share the ride. In my opinion, pre-booking a shared ride is the best option because you don’t have to wait for other people to appear, chat with them, and get on board.

What you need to know is that pre-booking online for a shared gondola is usually a bit more pricey. That’s because the gondolier reserves a timeslot for the ride without knowing if the boat will fill up. Let me give you an example. Let’s assume you book a half-hour ride for 9 PM that costs 100 euros. Divide it into 5 seats, which should cost 20 euros per person. However, you should expect something close to 30 euros per person because, in the end, maybe no one else will book the ride. The gondolier will operate the ride even if you are alone but understandably wants to cover his expenses.

You can check the prices for a shared ride here.

Are gondoliers obliged to sing or offer commentary on what you see?

The answer is no. Gondoliers are not obliged to comment or sing during the ride. This might disappoint some people, but the gondoliers are paid for rowing the gondola. If you’d like to have a live commentary or listen to a serenade, then you must negotiate the price. Although it won’t cost a fortune, surcharges will apply.

As I wrote earlier, you only pay for the ride. Extra fees apply to add extras like singing or getting a proper tour of what you see. You can see the prices for a ride, including commentary or singing, here.

When is the best time to go on a gondola ride in Venice?

Again, this depends on your travel lifestyle and on the experience you’d like to have.

In general, I would avoid the early afternoon hours: in the summertime, the sun will be very intense, and throughout the year, it seems too crowded to enjoy. I suggest having a ride between 7-10 AM, shortly before sunset, or late at night, even though it’s costlier.

Since I wanted to shoot photos, I decided to go on a late afternoon ride. However, as you will soon discover, the inner canals are usually dark even during the daytime, and the sun won’t sneak in that easily. No matter what, natural sunlight is much better for photos, so overall, I enjoyed the time aboard the gondola.

After seeing the canals, the next time I visit Venice, I’ll make sure to go on a late-night ride. I’m sure it’s pure magic seeing Venice’s century-old buildings with their windows illuminated while cruising slowly.

Shall I book a Grand Canal gondola ride, or shall I prefer the smaller canals?

I would avoid the Grand Canal. It’s always overcrowded, and you can see it while walking or when onboard the Vaporetto. I find the Grand Canal stressful, and there’s always so much traffic that I’m not sure it’s enjoyable anymore.

On the other hand, the gondola is your only option to see the narrow canals of Venice. Apart from the occasional bridges, there’s no other opportunity to see and enjoy them. There are parts of Venice forever hidden from pedestrians, and you can only see them while seated on a gondola. If you watch my video, I think you can get an impression of what I mean.

Where can I find a gondola in Venice?

This won’t be a problem. Gondolas are docked all around Venice, and it won’t be a problem finding one. You can find them in crowded places like the Grand Canal or at Saint Mark’s Square, but you can also find one at Santa Maria Gloriosa at San Polo or other locations in the city.

Will I get seasick on a gondola?

I doubt it. Apart from the first moments, when the gondola leaves the dock, the ride is smooth. There’s no wave in the canals, and the gondolas travel slowly. When -let’s call it- unparking from the dock, the gondola might shake for a few moments. But other than that, you don’t have to worry about getting seasick on a gondola.

My gondola ride in Venice review

As I stated at the beginning of this article, I was skeptical about taking a gondola ride in Venice. Indeed, it’s somehow disconnected from local life, and it’s purely intended for tourists. If you are a frequent reader of my travel blog, you know I prefer experiences off the beaten path. However, taking a private gondola ride in Venice was a fantastic experience, so I’d like to share my thoughts with you.

First of all, the fact that you can see the inner -and, therefore, hidden- canals of Venice will give you an amazing extra layer. The tiny channels of the City of Bridges are stunning, and honestly, you shouldn’t miss them. The ride itself was easygoing, and seeing the gondolier balancing was really unique. Of course, the gondolier didn’t offer any commentary or singing, but honestly, this didn’t bother me because I wasn’t distracted. I wanted to soak in as much Venice as possible, and gladly this happened.

For the same reason, I preferred to pre-book a private gondola: I wanted to enjoy the canals of Venice in silence. The floating city is mesmerizing, and seeing its buildings from the water level is breathtaking. As you can see in the photos and video, the ride is smooth, and there’s even some light traffic from people enjoying their gondola tours.

Finally, I decided to pre-book a timeslot because I wanted to shoot photos. This was a must for me -even if it was pricier- because I always wanted to share my experiences on this blog. I chose to start the tour from the Bridge of Sighs and move to the inner canals of Venice. I believe a combination of sightseeing and hidden corners would be an excellent example of what to expect when going on a gondola ride in Venice.

How do you book the best gondola rides in Venice? (+Combos)

In the final section of this Venetian gondola guide, I’d like to share the best Venice combo tours you can book right now. The list is not exhaustive, and I intend to give you a shortcut in case you don’t want to search for a seat or an itinerary on-site. The combo tours below include a walking tour to the city’s main attractions and a gondola ride through the canals.

So, here are the best gondola tours in Venice.

Grand Canal Tour. Although I didn’t want to be on the busy Grand Canal, I know that for many travelers, that’s a must. This private gondola will take you across Venice’s highlight, and the tour lasts 30 minutes. You can book the Grand Canal tour here.

Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Basilica & Gondola. If your time in Venice is limited and you want to make the most of it, this tour is for you. It lasts three hours and includes visiting the iconic Doge’s Palace and the Saint Mark’s Basilica, plus a gondola ride. You can book this combo tour here.

Guided walking tour and gondola. This one is similar to the previous tour, but this time, the combo includes a guided walk and a gondola ride. That’s a great option if you want to do as much as possible in one day. See prices for this tour here.

There are, of course, plenty of other combo tours, including gondola rides. You can see every available tour, including walks, meals, and museums, here.

Gondola ride in Venice: conclusion

I guess we all agree that riding a gondola in Venice is among the most touristic activities in Europe. However, the beauty of the inner canals and the fun of rowing a black oak boat through the old walls of a sinking city make the ride a memorable experience. Despite being skeptical initially, I’m glad I went on a gondola ride in Venice. You’ll see city corners that would otherwise be impossible to visit and discover various aspects of local life.

I highly recommend a ride with a gondola in Venice. It’s one of the things that every traveler should enjoy at least once while visiting the city. It’s up to you to find a gondola on-site or pre-book a seat. What matters the most is to enjoy one. It’s going to be, for sure, a marvelous experience. Oh, and make sure to have enough space on your camera’s memory. You’ll need it!

More about Venice: Venice Biennale

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Last Updated on November 4, 2023 by George Pavlopoulos