Venice gondola tours that you can pre-book online are usually more expensive than the official rates. There is no need to book a gondola ride online, you will easily be able to find available gondolas in Venice. Have you been on a gondola ride before? We offer the most exclusive private gondola cruises in Venice! Check out my Italy essentials packing guide to make sure yoduo! Good to know: Unless you pre-book a gondola tour, youll have to pay cash for your gondola ride. While its true that gondola rides are expensive and very touristy, I still think theyre a great experience and unique to Venice. +39 041 8877441 Gondolas are one of the most iconic and traditional Venetian experiences, so its just normal that you would want to go for a gondola ride while in Venice. Immserse yourself in the fairytale atmosphere of Venice by night and get to observe the city from its best angle: the canal waters. while also spending some time in the narrow back canals. A friendly chap willing to talk to you and tell something about the sights along the way will make your ride so much more pleasant. Privacy Policy | Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Have a great trip! Lets get started ! Gradually, gondolas became a popular means of transportation, especially among the upper classes. We recommend you book all your activities in advance when you organize your trip, and we are not just talking about the gondola ride ! San Mois gondola stop in Calle Larga XXII Marzo (next to the Hotel Bauer in Campo San Mois), From 1 April to 31 October6.00 pm6.45 pm7.30 pm8.00 pm8.45 pm9.15 pm, From 1 November to 31 March6.00 pm6.45 pm7.30 pm8.00 pm. Below, you can find our recommendation for the best time for a gondola ride in Venice. Whereas if you take a gondola with someone who is in a bad mood or spending his time on a smartphone, it might ruin the whole experience. Sometimes, gondoliers also take a picture of you in the gondola or sing a song along the way. And how often will you be in Venice? You can try asking your gondolier if he will serenade you but realistically, I dont know if he will. Our route included some very quiet canals, but also a small part of the Grand Canal. If you are wondering if its worth taking a gondola ride in Venice, how much it costs, where to (not) do it, or how to make the most of your experience, then read on. On our most recent visit to Venice, we took a gondola at Ponte San Polo (see map) and it was just perfect. This gondola ride by night was beyond our expectations, we were very satisfied! If you are travelling on budget but dont want to give up on the gondola ride, heres a great solution! For example, already in the early 17th century, it was decided that all Venetian work gondolas should be black. We had a wonderful quiet and relaxing time. TIP: Gondoliers will be more friendly and relaxed when its quiet and they are not too tired. One of the first images that come to mind when thinking about Venice is the traditional black venitian rowing boat that so often is represented in postcards : The Venice Gondola ! As were staying in lido and going over to Venice for the day I believe the transport starts very early in the morning? Have a great trip! Savor moments relaxing on the water and hop off at waterside cafes, restaurants, palaces, and other attractions that your knowledgeable and experienced gondolier will tell you all about as you glide through Venice. - Legal Head Office: Santa Croce 439, 30135 Venice, Italy - VAT No. If you are looking for something extra special, this could be it. The rowing lesson will last 90 minutes, during which you can make your own way through the city by water!. On this blog, I share our family's travel experiences from all over the world, coupled with lots of practical information and useful tips for your trips. Join us as we discover the world one beautiful adventure at a time! Hi Tracey, I really don't think you can go wrong with any route - it depends on your preference of which area you'd like to explore. Find out! How are the Gondoliers about taking pictures throughout the tour? The tour is sold based on demand for service and not based on the number of participants, therefore there will be no reducions. If a private gondola ride in Venice is an unforgettable experience, imagine a gondola ride at night ! The price includes priority online booking which means there will be no queueing and negotiating on the spot. Looking for romantic date ideas? Your slow cruise through the citys shimmering canals will lead you past spirited districts of your choosing and share sensational scenes of stately Venetian landmarks and highlights. And he even sang a nice romantic Italian serenade without us having to ask for it. For that, its best to avoid busy times and summer heat. While the fairytale ambiance of Venice remains, attempting a gondola ride alongside the heavy traffic of the canals is guaranteed to limit the romantic allure and private charms of this iconic tourist experience. Today, legendary gondoliers use single oars to gently row tourists sitting comfortably in stylishly painted and upholstered gondolas along the web of canals that connect the city's dazzling Venetian districts. Here you can read more about me, my family, and our trips all over the world 2015-2022 https://fullsuitcase.com All Rights Reserved. di Venezia. They all loved it! Its the cheapest way to ride a gondola in Venice! The summer months are the busiest for gondola tours in Venice, so a trip planned for September, October, or November will bring fewer interruptions. So make sure you have enough money on you. This cultural heritage is very much alive today, and during your trip you will have the occasion to see it for yourself ! Just ask your gondolier and he should be able to help. Mature couple All Rights Reserved. There are three ways to get a cheaper gondola ride in Venice: 1. acts of nature, strikes, exceptional closures,serious unexpected events or health problems experienced by the person in charge with the service after which it is really impossible to find a substitute) the service you booked might be cancelled. Some gondola tours have additional services. In exceptional cases and/or reasons of force majeure (i.e. Gondola rides are at their best when the sun is sparkling on the Venetian Lagoon, dancing off cathedral spires, and flooding Venice with golden light. The private gondola ride costs 175.00 and up to 5 people are allowed on board. Some of the smaller canals dont even have pedestrian sidewalks so doing a gondola cruise is the only way to reach them. Nowadays, gondolas are mainly used for the entertainment of tourists for sightseeing, romantic evenings, or simply to experience Venice in a similar way as people have done it for centuries. We are pretty sure that you will not regret it ! Gondoliers in a Venice canal on a clear day in Italy. Not cheap, but if you are looking for something truly special No, you dont have to book a gondola ride in Venice in advance. The duration of your Venetian gondola ride will highly depend on how busy it is on the canals. The current shape of the gondola has remained unchanged since the beginning of the 20th century The only thing that differs is how each gondolier chooses to decorate their gondola. Prices are also determined based on the specific gondola routes, so feel free to consider the options available to you and make a selection based on your Italian sightseeing preferences. If youre planning a trip to Venice, chances are youve seen your fair share of gondola photos and videos. Gondolas allow you to see Venice from a completely different angle; many of the canals we cruised through didnt even have a pedestrian walking area so you would never be able to visit them on foot. More info about how much it costs below. Why does it matter ? 2052/2012, Tte--tte in Venice: gondola ride & candlelit dinner. Here you can find various private tours and they all start somewhere else meaning that they'll have a somewhat different itinerary. Venice, like a few other cities, was flourishing with music, especially Opera and worldwide reknowned artists, like Monteverdi and Vivaldi! It will be calculated proportionally. The method lacks the mythical flair and romance of a private gondola cruise through the tranquil canals but does provide a chance to enjoy the bustling life of the Grand Canal in its purest, contemporary form. However, gondoliers will be more tired in the evening. Lets see what are the different options ! Click here to read the Gretas Travels Privacy Policy. Experience Venice city through its smaller canals, many of them hidden away, and above all learn to row like a real gondolier! At the same time, you dont want to take a gondola that only tours the busy Grand Canal or the waters close to St. Marks Square and skips smaller and quieter canals. Take a look at our Tte--tte in Venice: gondola ride & candlelit dinner! We offer a rowing course based in the Cannaregio district, suitable for adults and children! This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you, for qualifying purchases. Also, you may want to think about the itinerary of the tour. We were the first clients of the day and our gondolier was super enthusiastic and very friendly, but without overdoing it (if you know what I mean). Schlick 2000 in Summer: Stubaiblick & The Best Hike in Stubai, How to Visit Venice by Car (+Tips for Best Parking in Venice). We recommend waiting to take a gondola until youre quite close to the Grand Canal, but not directly at it. Oars and forcola Venice : Visit a workshop ! Ready to visit Italys Veneto capital? You will leave from the gondola stop of Hotel Bauer, just a few steps from St Marks Square, and then continue on an itinerary away from the most crowded routes. More about it below. Please choose another day. You can organize yourself in advance and prepare the perfect trip for you and your family from the comfort of your couch ! Check out my travel guides, London 2-Day Itinerary: 25+ Epic Things To Do In London In 2 Days, Weekend In San Francisco: How To Spend 2 Days In San Francisco. We match you with top tour companies that specialize in the trip you want, whether it's a customized private tour or a group tour. Thank you for this write-up. Furthermore, going on a gondola allows you to explore places that you wouldnt see otherwise. He also took his time on the Grand Canal so our ride was longer than expected. Yes its an extremely touristy attraction and yes its very expensive, but its also one of the most traditional and unique experiences you can have in Venice, as well as a must on any Italy bucket list or Italy itinerary. If you want to try a unique Venetian experience, but prefer to stay in the city then why not try your hand at rowing yourself and discover the secrets of Venetian rowing? Gondolas can hold up to six people. So its much quieter on the canals and gondoliers are more relaxed and friendlier. Very very romantic experience! For a more romantic experience, go in the evening, but beware that it costs more and you are likely to get a shorter and less personalized ride because the demand is high. You can ask the gondolier to drop you off at a different place than where you started, but usually, they wont go out of their usual route in order to bring you somewhere. Once again, they'll always appreciate it, but don't feel obliged. If done right, it will make your whole trip to Venice so much more special! Most gondoliers work with tourists every day and should be able to speak at least a little bit of basic English, maybe some French and German too. Thank you! By the way, check our post on Venice with a baby or a toddler if planning to visit the city with very young kids! from Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 6.00 pm CET As for where to take one, there are just so many options. Check our gondola ride tickets for a shared tour. It's pretty likely that this post contains affiliate links. Because youd miss that special experience of riding Venetian gondola on the narrow canals, under bridges, and past the more authentic parts of Venice. In this article, we share some tips and useful info that should help you avoid disappointment and have a truly unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience. Chat with an Italy travel expert by filling out a Trip Request or call us on 1-888-265-9707. Otherwise, if it's busy, you might have to wait or look for another one. I hope that this will help you have a better experience and truly enjoy your gondola tour. There used to be about 10,000 but the number has dropped to around 500 today. Book your private Venice gondola tour here! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. There will be a maximum of 5 gondolas, and the musicians will board one of them. See the latest prices and availability at Hotelalle Guglie here. Not that early, but early enough for it not to be too busy or too hot. We want to pre book a private gondola can you please advise which will be the most scenic and romantic route please. Let me know in the comments below! Romantic Getaway to Venice & Tuscany: From Hidden Canals to Enchanting Family-Friendly Tour of Italy: Rome, Tuscany, Venice, Rome to Venice: Immersive History & Culture Tour, Romantic Escape to Italy: Amalfi Coast, Rome, and Venice Tour, Jewels of the Adriatic Sea: Croatia and Italy Tour, The Best Weather for a Gondola Ride in Venice, How to Avoid Crowds for an Uninterrupted Gondola Ride. The oar isnt attached to the gondola, its used both for power and direction. Hi, and thanks for stopping by! While there are tours available (and can be recommended if you are in a hurry and want to be sure you have the time and the place you want), you can usually easily get a gondola without any advance booking. If you absolutely want to be sure you have a gondola at a specific place and time, you'll have to book in advance. As always in Italy, they first announce something and only implement it last-minute. And if you cant be bothered, just give us a call, we will do all the work for you ! Hi were going to Venice on Tuesday 2nd august to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary staying in lido de jesolo No tours or activities available for the search filters you set. If you do want to book your gondola tour in Venice, you can find the best deals here. So a 45-minute tour will cost you 120 EUR and a 1-hour trip 160 EUR. But if you are going on a longer tour and its not very busy that day, you might be able to agree on a somewhat lower price. n.54056 del 20/06/2017, Prov. Hi Taylor, I think it will really depend on the gondolier and on the situation. We wandered around Venice for a while before deciding to do a gondola ride, we checked prices at different gondola stations and were told that the prices were standardised and would be all the same anywhere in Venice. The price is fixed for the boat so the more people you share it with, the cheaper it is. From the famous Grand Canal, spanned by the imposing Rialto bridge, to the edge of St Marks Square steps away from the majestic St. Marks Basilica, or gliding under the Bridge of Sighs, you cant miss them ! Recommended for anyone. @Jurga, aww thank you for that information, what time would you say is the preferred or best time to take a ride. Can you tell us where should we find and board the gondola from? Lets start with the basics : A tour usually lasts from 30 to 40 minutes. Gondolas are pretty basic boats and dont have awnings or sun umbrellas, if youre visiting Italy in summer just bear in mind it can get pretty hot in the Italian sun. Its a short 15-minute walk away from Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco. For just a few euros more, you can get a tour of Venice in music. Have a great trip! The ticket includes the right to book in advance: you save time and avoid long negotiations on the spot. The brightness of the day brings intensity to colours, the sunset warms up the atmosphere and adds fire like background, and at night, the city lights up and the canals reflect both the obscurity of the sky and the glow of the lights Which one would you go for ? It will introduce you to the city in a very nice way, and you will get to discover the San Marco area or Grand Canal and Rialto bridge from the water ! TIP: If you want to know more about Venetian gondolas and have the time, you may want to consider this tour/workshop that brings you to an authentic Venetian gondola maker. Venetian gondolas and canals are among the most iconic and most recognizable images in the world. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. So talk to the gondoliers before you get on the boat, get the feel how friendly they are, and dont be afraid to walk away and find somebody else if they look and sound overly arrogant. ), you can just round up the bill, and for the gondola - I'd say let it depend on how enjoyable the ride/ gondolier was. The special boat with all its decorations, the singing gondolier, the centuries-old palazzos on the water Our kids truly enjoyed the gondola ride in Venice! Furthermore, its usually so busy on the Grand Canal and at St. Marks Square that theres not much authenticity left. If you want to take a longer trip, the price will depend on the duration of your ride. You will notice the entrance of some old houses or palaces directly opening on the water of the canals, only remaining witnesses of these lost times. The gondola can only welcome a small group of 5 persons, so it will still be cosy. However if you like planning your trips ahead and want to know you have your gondola ride booked and confirmed, you can book your gondola tour online. Gondola rides are also a very fun activity to do in Venice with kids. Its here that you get to see the most impressive Venetian palaces dating from the 13-18th centuries, the glory days of the Republic of Venice. For just 2.5 EUR, you can cross the Grand Canal in a real Venetial gondola. But you can always ask. We created this little guide to help you pick the best option(s) for you and book easily your activities for a hassle-free experience ! - Authorized Tour Operator: license no. Private Gondola ride in Venice: a memorable experience! To avoid paying hefty rates, consult your gondolier before departure and request that they show you a hard copy of the fares as listed by the city if their figures differ dramatically. Ferry on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. If you are going for a romantic ride with your best half, why not book the acoustic live musician on board ? Regardless of whether you travel to Italy in winter, when there are less tourist crowds, or in summer when its busier but nicer weather, youre sure to love Venice and doing a gondola ride. I couldnt publish this article without adding this small section for families. PS From June, Venice will require reservations in order to visit the city. If you are wondering whether you can take a gondola in Venice with kids, yes, absolutely! But if I were you, I'd double-check how the situation is in a few weeks from now, or ask your hotel to let you know how this new reservation system will work. But the fact that now all online bookings only book the maximum of 5 makes me wonder if something has changed. If there is a specific spot you want to go to its best to start your gondola ride from somewhere close to it, so that its easy to reach. Book one of our personalized Italy Tours and Vacations to relax and immerse yourself in the beauty of Venice reflected in a private gondola ride on routes showcasing the grandeur of marble palaces, venerated cathedrals, waterside cafes, and decorated bridges, or learn more with our Italy Travel Guide. Italy has played an important role in the history of music. Even the size, shape, and color of an official Venetian gondola used for work is fixed. In my view, a big part of your experience will depend on which gondolier you choose. 2019 Vivo SRL, P.Iva 04383730274 - All Rights Reserved Find out! If you are traveling on your own or just with two people and find the gondola price too high, you can also opt for a shared gondola ride. Why ? Discover the canals of Venice with dim light and admire the picturesque architecture from a different perspective ! More info:Disclosure. But I havent seen them as quiet, as impressed, and as interested in something for a long time! Venice Gondola ride tickets online: 30 minutes at an unbeatable price! We recommend taking a gondola at one of the smaller canals southwest of Rialto bridge (ask if the route also includes Grand Canal), or not too far from St Marks Square (ask if the route passes the Bridge of Sighs). So if you can let us know how it went after your trip, it would be very useful to the other readers. But there is only one place in the world where you can take an authentic Venetian gondola through the picturesque canals of a stunning floating city, and thats Venice. It felt more spontaneous and more authentic. Also if you do a gondola ride close to Piazza San Marco you will have to cruise part of it in the open sea, where it can get a bit choppy due to the waves from all the boats. We even saw gondolas with young kids in a stroller in them. At the end of the day, we only regret the chances we didnt take, dont we?! It was 6 when we went, but I see now that most gondolas only allow bookings for 5, so maybe something has changed recently. Youll enjoy your gondola ride at night stress-free, with a journey that lasts longer compared to the standard 30-minute tours. A private gondola ride in Venice is 80 EUR for 25 30 minutes and 120 EUR for 45 minutes. Learn how your comment data is processed. 62027 dated 09/07/12 with determination no. If you are wondering whether Venice gondola rides are worth it, Id say go for it (just dont forget to take our tips into consideration)! AUSTRALIA. It costs more than 1/6th of the price of a private tour, but thats because you wont always have a full gondola and its hard to know that in advance (for you, but also for the gondolier). It contains a lot of articles and destination guides from our many trips to various parts of Italy. I hope you find this guide useful in planning your trip to Venice and your own gondola ride. 2016 - Greta's Travels. You can share a gondola with other people and split the cost. This is the fixed price you pay for a private gondola ride and not per person. Pin this image! Being marginally outside meant it was slightly cheaper than the average and a great value for money. No idea yet what it will look like and they said it will be easier to book for those who actually stay in Venice. We were with 5 and I see in our pictures that there was one chair free on the boat and we were told 6 is the maximum. Hi Johnathan, normally, the maximum number of passengers in the gondola is 6, but I see that most private tours don't allow booking more than 5 people per boat, and some only 4. The gondolier was very nice and kind. If this should happen, you will be informed as soon as possible and, according to the type of service you booked, you will have the possibility to choose between postponing the service on the first date available or receiving a total refund of the price paid, if the cancellation policy of the service itself allows a refund. Looking for the best gondola ride in Venice? Personally, I think you should do a gondola ride in Venice. There is no shade on the gondolas, so youll be in full sun all the time. Youll have a gondola all to yourself, which you can share with whoever you want: someone special, your friends or family, up to a maximum of five people. Musical scale, harmony, notation are all based on italian innovations. You will not only save time wandering around trying to find out what you can do, but also: We are lucky enough nowadays to live in the internet era ! You can take traghetto, which is a gondola-ferry service used to get from one side of the Grand Canal to the other. If you go to Venice the gondola ride is a must do but if you enjoy it in the evening is something special! The visit of the doges palaceand Basilica San Marco, Stop in a baccaro for Spritz and cicchetti, Pick from a wide range of experiences available.
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