Top Venice Gondola Rides

Nothing takes the shine off a gondola ride more than standing in line. Say goodbye to long waits as you cruise the Grand Canal. As you glide past churches, bridges, and canals. Learn about the sights using an app or brochure in your choice of nine languages. Lastly, experience a ride in a unique virtual reality as you glide over the Grand Canal's tranquil waters at sunset over the centuries, and then discover the craftsmanship and secrets behind Venice's iconic boat with an up-close look at a sectioned model.

First time in Venice? Maximize your time in the city with a full-day itinerary that ticks off all the most memorable attractions. Stroll across the Rialto Bridge and browse the lively Rialto fish market, then hop aboard a traditional gondola for a romantic cruise along the Grand Canal. Finally, visit St. Marks's Basilica and enjoy skip-the-line entrance to the grandiose Doge's Palace. This small-group tour is limited to 20 people ensuring a personalized experience

Experience the tranquil beauty of Venice from the water on a private gondola ride that takes you through the city's less-traveled canals. Relax onboard a traditional Venetian boat as a professional gondolier navigates past historic palaces, churches, and landmarks that most tourists miss. Booking in advance guarantees your party’s seats and saves you the hassle of payment on the spot, so you can sit back and enjoy the ride.

Explore Venice's famous canals on a guided gondola ride through the city. Meander beneath bridges and along quiet, peaceful stretches in a traditional Venetian boat, taking in sights such as the Rialto Bridge and Campo Manin as you go. Join up to five others—along with your expert gondolier—in enjoying one of Venice's most leisurely and original pastimes, and don't miss this chance to experience the Grand Canal from the water.

Visit Torcello, Murano, and Burano—three islands in the Venetian Lagoon—on this tour from Venice by motorboat. With a guide, watch glass being blown at a Murano glass factory, see historical cathedrals on Torcello, and admire exquisite handmade lace on Burano. This is a great way to see more than just the central sights of Venice and enjoy a cruise on the water. Select a departure time when booking.

Delve into Venetian history on this tour that showcases two of the city's most iconic structures and sheds light on the stories behind them both. Enjoy skip-the-line access to both popular attractions. Your first stop is legendary St. Mark's Basilica. Wander around the mosaic-covered interior and Byzantine treasures while a local guide fills you in on how this collection came to be. Enjoy the stunning view on Piazza San Marco with your special access to St Marks' balcony, then continue to the Doge’s Palace to explore the former political heart of Venice.

Explore the intricacies of two famed Italian handicrafts on a fully guided day trip from Venice to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano with a group of up to 20 people. Watch centuries-old glassblowing techniques in Murano, and marvel at the detailed stitches of exquisite Burano lace. Your knowledgeable guide will share the history of these two artisan islands while you visit local workshops and wander the picturesque streets.

See the wonders of Venice's St. Mark's Basilica without the crowds during this after-hours, small-group tour. Learn about the basilica's famed mosaics from your guide and explore the crypt below the church to see where St. Mark's remains are said to lie. Upgrade at time of booking to see the Doge's Palace after the basilica and wander the former home of the Venetian Republic's government.

The entrance lines at Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica can sometimes feel like they last forever. Bypass the annoyance of waiting in long queues by prebooking this Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Small-Group Tour. Perfect for those with a limited time in Venice, you’ll visit both big attractions with a guide leading the way and loading you with historical info you wouldn’t hear otherwise.

Save yourself from the stress of standing in a long line to visit St. Mark's Basilica by choosing this tour with skip-the-line admission included. After meeting your guide at St. Mark’s Square, you can learn some background information and then discover the interior of St. Mark’s Basilica together. Highlights include the first-floor museum, the terrace, and the magnificent mosaics.

Book a shared Venice Link arrival transfer from Marco Polo Airport to your Venice hotel, and enjoy a stress-free start to your trip. It’s a simple, cost-effective boat transfer that’s available through the week.

Venice is famous for its UNESCO-listed lagoon, but the city’s islands are also renowned for their handicrafts. This half-day cruise by private boat stops at Murano Island, to watch a thrilling glass-blowing demonstration, and Burano Island, to visit a lace-making factory.

Visit two of the most popular attractions in Venice on this guided tour of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. Listen to your guide's commentary clearly with provided headsets and avoid hours-long queues with skip-the-line admission to both sites. During the tour, learn about Venetian doges and gain access to the terrace and museum of St. Mark’s Basilica.

Step back in time to the golden age of Italian opera with this guided tour of Venice’s Teatro La Fenice. Learn the history and legends of this decadent Baroque opera house, which was once the heart of Venetian high society and hosted performances by masterful maestros like Verdi, Rossini and Bellini.

Go sightseeing in Venice with a small-group tour of city highlights including St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. Meet your guide for a half-day stroll focused on the history and culture of Venice. Maximize time with pre-reserved tickets at St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. Go inside these landmarks and learn about their history from a local guide.

The UNESCO-listed Venice Lagoon is home to over a hundred islands and this half-day visits two of the most popular—Murano and Burano. Enjoy magnificent views of Venice as you cruise out across the lagoon, visit Murano Island to discover its ancient tradition of glass-blowing, and admire Burano’s brightly colored waterfront on a walking tour.

Explore the hidden corners of Venice on this walking tour and benefit from local knowledge. Stroll with a small group to the city square of Campo Santa Margherita, see the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, and visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. Then cross the Rialto Bridge and walk past the Marco Polo House to St. Mark's Square. Upgrade for a private tour.

Discover a side of Venice many tourists never see with this 'secret Venice' walking tour. Join your Venetian guide for a stroll through authentic local neighborhoods and past captivating hidden gems. Delve into the history and lore of the Jewish Ghetto, Cannaregio, and San Polo districts, stopping to admire its quiet canals and tiny artisan workshops that still handcraft traditional masks and gondolas.

Get out of Venice for the day to visit the magnificent Dolomite Mountains. The early departure is to ensure a better experience in an area that year after year has seen a growing number of visitors. Enjoy the luxury of having a driver to seamlessly transport you between sites, which, depending on the season, may include Cortina d’Ampezzo, Lake Misurina, and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo peaks.

The Doge’s Palace is one of Venice’s premier sights, but the vast size of the palace and long line to enter are daunting. With this private guided tour, zip past the crowds with fast-track admission and cover the entire palace without feeling overwhelmed with the insights of your guide. Learn about this sumptuous building’s historic and cultural significance and admire its highlights in just two hours.

Experience Venice in the most Venetian way possible: via a shared gondola ride while being serenaded. Choose between an afternoon or evening ride and then hop on the six-person gondola by a gondolier who is clad in traditional garb. Then begin the ride, as part of a group of eight different gondolas, with a singer aboard one of the boats. In addition to the song being sun to you, enjoy the sites of Venice's main landmarks, including the grand Canal and Palazzo Barberino.

With this tour, you can see Doge’s Palace your way—either choose a package that has skip-the-line admission and an audio guide, or enter the palace with a guide to accompany you and show you around. During your visit, see the Golden Staircase and famous artwork by Tiepolo. After your visit, it’s also possible to continue your Venice explorations with visits to Biblioteca Marciana, Museo Correr, and the National Archeological Museum.

Lords of the Night were Police and Judges of the Venetian Republic. The prison staff will escort you to an authentic Prison Palace with cramped cells, a court, and gruesome torture chambers with real tortures and justice tools. Casanova was arrested by the Lords of the Night in the Prison's Palace! The Palace is "inhabited" by life-size figures of the Lords of the Night, prisoners, judges, lawyers, and all characters working in the prisons who were taken and recreated from ancient manuscripts. The Prisons Palace houses one of the earliest prisons in Europe, dating back to 1500. See authentic graffiti left by the inmates and get to know the exciting Casanova’s jailbreak: listen to the tale of when he managed to escape from the maximum-security prison! Only for small groups (maximum 15 people per visit)