Best of · ITALY GONDOLA RIDES

Gondola Rides in Italy — Our Top 15

167 tours  ·  from $7 a head

Almost every Italian gondola is a Venetian one, and the ones that are not are worth knowing about. These 15 sort the shared benches from the private boats, with the fare, the length of the ride and the stretch of water each one covers.

Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary - Starting near St. Mark’s Square
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Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary

1.Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 23,020 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $41Our pick

Meet near St. Mark’s Square for a short gondola introduction, a gallery and VR look at Venetian boatbuilding, then a shared 30-minute ride through narrow canals and along the Grand Canal. Guides such as Elena, Riccardo, and Sara add useful local context, while the app supplies commentary during the ride.

“It’s a must when in Venice! Our guide was brilliant and the virtual tour after the ride was brilliant! Thank you”

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Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™ - The walk to La Fenice and the canals
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Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™

2.Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 16,504 reviews · 1 - 3 hours · from $48

Join a guide near San Marco for a 30-minute shared gondola ride through narrow canals and the Grand Canal. Learn about Venice, La Fenice, Salute, and historic gondolas, then explore the Gondola Gallery and reconstructed felze. Guides may include Rossella, Ricardo, Beatrice, or Georgia.

“the tour guide gave us some nice overall information about the city. i liked the VR experience as it really showed you how everything looked like back in the days. the ride was good 30 mins just as promised.”

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Venice: Shared Gondola Ride Across the Grand Canal - The meeting point near the Royal Gardens
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Venice: Shared Gondola Ride Across the Grand Canal

3.Shared Gondola Ride Across the Grand Canal

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 6,645 reviews · 30 min · from $46

Share a 30-minute gondola ride with up to five other passengers and a master gondolier. Cruise from the Grand Canal into quieter waterways near San Marco, Rialto, Campo San Luca, and Teatro La Fenice. This is a scenic, affordable introduction to Venice, but it includes no music or commentary.

“The ride itself was beautiful, we had a very lovely positive gondola driver. We got 18:00 tickets in early October and got in time for a beautiful sunset. The downside - nowhere in the booking it was said that the voucher have to exchanged at the kiosk. The lady who collected people was late, and had a pretty rude tone when we asked what to do with the electronic ticket (although maybe it's just Italian for polite, who knows). We also had to wait for a bit in line, but i don't think it's an issue.”

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Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™ - Through the smaller canals to Ca’ Giustinian
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Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™

4.Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4,223 reviews · 30 to 50 minutes (approx.) · from $49

Meet near Saint Mark’s Square for a traditional gondola ride through quiet canals and onto the Grand Canal. Shared boats hold up to five people. Choose live English, French, or Spanish commentary, app narration in six other languages, or a private silent ride. A short VR presentation is included with shared options.

“What a great experience really loved it you get to ride around the city in the gandola nice and relaxing after the gandola ride they took us to a virtual gondola tour in the 1700s and that was a very nice experience also. Highly recommended this experience when you visit Venice”

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Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride - St. Mark’s Square and the Campanile
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Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride

5.Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3,630 reviews · 2 hours 9 minutes to 2 hours 27 minutes (approx.) · from $72

Meet near St. Mark’s Square at 3pm for an English walking tour through Venice’s back streets, past La Fenice and Scala del Bovolo. Then board a traditional gondola for a 30-minute ride along the Grand Canal and smaller canals. Guides vary, with names such as Nadia, Francesca, Elena, and Christina appearing on different departures.

“Francesca our guide was fantastic. So informative and enthusiastic. Thank you. When issues arose (lateness) she was very calm and dealt with it efficiently.”

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Venice In a Day: St Mark's, Doges Palace Gondola Ride & City Tour - The Break Between the Gondola and St. Mark’s
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Venice In a Day: St Mark’s, Doges Palace Gondola Ride & City Tour

6.Venice In a Day: St Mark’s, Doges Palace Gondola Ride & City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,588 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $124Top rated

Walk from the Rialto markets to St. Mark’s Square, cruise the Grand Canal in a shared gondola, and tour St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace with an English-speaking guide. Early departures include basilica entry, while the 9am Express option does not.

“It was a great experience learning all about Venice and its history through our guide, Elena. She was very friendly and knowledgeable about Venice and Italy. We had a great time overall and I definitely recommend this tour for everyone. We had two boys - 13 and 7 and they enjoyed the entire tour from 8:30am to 2pm with no complaints. A couple of breaks for food/snacks helped them.”

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Venice: Traditional Shared Gondola Ride - Setting out near San Marco
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Venice: Traditional Shared Gondola Ride

7.Traditional Shared Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,263 reviews · 30 min · from $42

Spend 30 minutes on a traditional Venetian gondola, passing palaces, small San Marco canals, and possibly the Bridge of Sighs before reaching the Grand Canal. The gondolier is not a required guide or singer, so choose an audio option if you want added context.

“We were pleased to explore the quieter canals as the weather wasn’t great and the grand canal was a bit exposed. Lovely peaceful time after a long day of travelling.”

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Venice: Private Gondola Cruise for up to 5 Passengers - Starting near the Royal Gardens
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Venice: Private Gondola Cruise for up to 5 Passengers

8.Private Gondola Cruise for up to 5 Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 3,106 reviews

Share a private 30-minute gondola ride with up to four companions. From the Alilaguna ticket office near the Royal Gardens, you’ll pass along the Grand Canal, slip into smaller canals, and see Venice from its most traditional viewpoint. No guide or commentary is included.

“What an amazing experience! Definitely worth it doing a private ride. I had my elderly mother (65), young son (8), teenage daughter (16), and myself and we all had a great time. Venice is GORGEOUS!!”

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Venice: Private Crafted Gondola Ride Along Grand Canal - The Grand Canal from a low seat on the water
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Venice: Private Crafted Gondola Ride Along Grand Canal

9.Private Crafted Gondola Ride Along Grand Canal

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 2,854 reviews · 30 min · from $88

Take a private gondola for up to five people from Rio dell'Orso or Campiello Traghetto. You’ll glide along the Grand Canal and quieter canals past La Fenice, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Santa Maria della Salute, and Punta della Dogana. Commentary may come from your gondolier or the multilingual audio guide app.

“Loved being able to take photos and film other gondolas passing by. Especially under bridges!”

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Romantic Venice: 30 Minute Gondola Ride with Serenade - Starting at Santa Maria del Giglio
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Romantic Venice: 30 Minute Gondola Ride with Serenade

10.Romantic Venice: 30 Minute Gondola Ride with Serenade

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 2,742 reviews · 30 minutes (approx.) · from $66

You’ll share a traditional gondola with up to five people and join a flotilla of boats from Piazza Santa Maria del Giglio. The route includes the Grand Canal, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Accademia Bridge, and Santa Maria della Salute, with a singer performing from one gondola nearby.

“This was a joke. There was no serenade, I guess in there mind, as long as you are close to gondola with music you are being serenaded. Unfortunately we were only close enough to enjoy for 5 minutes out of 30.”

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Venice's Best: Basilica, Doge's Palace, Gondola & History Gallery - Doge’s Palace, the seat of Venetian power
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Venice’s Best: Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola & History Gallery

11.Venice’s Best: Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola & History Gallery

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,478 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $129

This 3.5-hour English tour pairs guided visits to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace with skip-the-line entry, a shared gondola ride, and a Venice history VR experience. Guides such as Lucia, Valentina, Giada, and Alexander have led memorable tours, though gondola timing can vary.

“It was great! Loved all the restaurants, Guilia was the best guide, learned so much from her. Would definitely do this again.”

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Charming Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal & Gondola Gallery™ - The Grand Canal, Venice’s great water street
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Charming Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal & Gondola Gallery™

12.Charming Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal & Gondola Gallery™

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,313 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $47

You’ll see Venice from a shared gondola, pass landmarks such as the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Madonna della Salute, then visit Gondola Gallery near St. Mark’s Square for a short introduction and VR presentation. Expect about 45 minutes total, with a 30-minute ride.

“Lovely guided tour of the history of gondola in Venice followed by a serene journey through quiet canals”

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Venice: Crafted Gondola Under Breathtaking Bridge of Sighs™ - Crossing the Bridge of Sighs
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Venice: Crafted Gondola Under Breathtaking Bridge of Sighs™

13.Crafted Gondola Under Breathtaking Bridge of Sighs™

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 996 reviews · 45 min · from $41

This 45-minute experience combines a 15-minute introduction, a 30-minute shared gondola ride, and a short VR presentation at the Venice Gallery. You’ll pass St Mark’s Basin, the Bridge of Sighs, Doge’s Palace, and smaller canals, with app commentary in five languages.

“Great organised tour to skip gondola lines. We enjoyed our ride.”

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Classic 30-Minute Gondola Ride in Venice - The Grand Canal and the views from water level
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Classic 30-Minute Gondola Ride in Venice

14.Classic 30-Minute Gondola Ride in Venice

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 961 reviews · 25 to 30 minutes (approx.) · from $46

Meet at the Alilaguna ticket office by San Marco Giardinetti for a shared gondola ride through Venice. Expect views of the Grand Canal, Basilica della Salute, Accademia, Campo Manin, and nearby passages. Commentary is not guaranteed, and boats may be shared with strangers.

“This trip was about $100 American dollars. It was very cold, and we were asked to wait on a bench outside as the gondolas were arriving a bit late. I thought the gondolier might talk a bit about what we were seeing, but he did not say anything at all. We went up the canal for about 15 minutes and turned around following the same path back for 15 minutes. It was pretty at night, but I think it was overpriced.”

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Venice: Shared Gondola Ride through the Lagoon City - Finding the meeting point near Saint Mark’s Square
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Venice: Shared Gondola Ride through the Lagoon City

15.Shared Gondola Ride through the Lagoon City

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 937 reviews · 30 min · from $48

Join a shared gondola in central Venice for a 30-minute ride through the Grand Canal and smaller canals. You’ll pass Santa Maria della Salute, Rialto Bridge, San Moisè Church, La Fenice Theater, and Punta della Dogana. A host helps with boarding, but the gondolier is not a guide.

“Excellent experience. Went through the heart of Venice and took his time.”

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New in Italy Gondola Rides

★ 4.4Walking Tour & Gondola RideFrom $7522 reviews
★ 4.5Vip Semi-Private Walking Tour with Gondola RideFrom $9017 reviews
★ 4.8LAND & GONDOLA PHOTOSHOOTING8 reviews
★ 4.1Gondola Ride and Skip the Line Doge’s Palace TourFrom $11636 reviews
★ 4.5St. Mark’s Basilica Guided Tour and Gondola RideFrom $582 reviews
★ 4.7Romantic Palace Dinner and Private Gondola RideFrom $3396 reviews
★ 4.3Private Venice Walking Tour and Gondola RideFrom $2623 reviews
★ 5.0Private Photoshoot In Gondola13 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tour with Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s, GondolaFrom $4407 reviews
★ 5.0Private Evening Stroll with Gondola RideFrom $2822 reviews
★ 4.5Highlights with Local Private Walking Tour & GondolaFrom $13410 reviews
★ 3.1St. Mark’s Walking Tour & Gondola Traghetto CrossingFrom $1410 reviews
★ 4.5Gondola Ride under the Bridge of Sighs and Premium Audio GuideFrom $7119 reviews
★ 4.9Private Gondola Ride with Professional Photographer30 reviews
★ 3.0Gondola Ride and Dinner ExperienceFrom $1647 reviews

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Grand Canal Gondola Rides21Bridge of Sighs Gondola Rides13Doges Palace Gondola Rides33St Marks Basilica Gondola Rides43Venice Gondola Rides157
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Pick a canal

By the kind of ride, not the postcard.

The route

Grand CanalDoge’s PalaceSt Mark’s BasilicaBridge of SighsAll of Venice

Seat or boat

Shared SeatsPrivate BoatsTwo AboardWith DinnerWith a Photographer

On board

With a SerenadeAfter DarkGondola and BoatWalk and RowEvery Ride

Beyond Italy

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