Venice: Charming Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal

Venice, Italy

Grand Canal by Gondola with singers and commentary No queue

From $32.94

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

45 minutes
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

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.

Cruise the Grand Canal in a shared gondola
Skip the long lines and get straight on the boat
Discover Venice with an app (or brochure) in your choice of nine languages

What's Included

Shared 30 minute gondola ride
a 15-minute introduction to the gondola experience
Multilingual staff at the embarkation point
In-app commentary
Journey in the past by gondola Virtual Reality Experience - not included in the serenade option
The Yard of Venice: discover the secrets of a sectioned gondola -not included in the serenade option

Hotel pick up
Earphones
Audio-devices

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

Type to search

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Canal Grande (Pass By)

Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Pass By)

Palazzo Gritti Badoer (Pass By)

Teatro La Fenice (Pass By)

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
Unfortunately the tour is not totally accessible for wheelchair users or people with walking disabilities.

Comfortable shoes and appropriate clothes suggested
It is mandatory to be at the meeting point 10 minutes before the departure time
The itinerary could change in case of wind or bad weather
On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
The customers health is the most important matter for us, the tour operates in according to the Covid-19 National directives in order to guarantee the experiences in a safe environment.
All customer touchpoints are frequently cleaned, and the tour will leave with small groups.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 5 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Brian_G

This was one of the best experiences that we had in Venice! Would recommend that everyone that comes to Venice has this experience!!

Reviews

4.0

401 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 401 reviews

Crowded and Cramped Gondola - Barely goes on the Grand Canal

Nicholas_G, May 2024

This experience was awful. First, there’s a short tour with headsets you only use for 5 minutes, then you board a cramped and crowded gondola. While this tour was advertised as a shared ride, the other gondolas only had 4 people, while mine had five people. I sat in a side stool cramped up against a complete stranger breathing on me, and with his knee pressed into my side. It was horrible and my back and side hurt after exiting the gondola. Additionally, the gondola barely goes on the Grand Canal, and doesn’t go down the part of the canal with the Rialto Bridge. My advice - stay away from this tour and get a gondola on your own; we did that right after this tour and it was great.

Don’t book with this company

ANDRIY_L, May 2024

It was a strike that I couldn’t go to the Venice. It was only taxi available at the rate €55 so €110 in total for going to this tour. I asked for refund but it was denied. I can’t control the strike and this is totally unacceptable for not allowing me to get a refund for a reason out of my control. Anyway I will get my money via my credit card company

Gorgeous, educational and pleasant staff.

Nadeera_B, May 2024

The tour before the ride was very educational. Also we mixed up our meeting location and missed our original time and the team was very accommodating 😊 beautiful gondola overall.

Get the normal ride not sunset, as you won't see it.

Tina_A, May 2024

We enjoyed the ride! But very disappointed that it was for Sunset ride but we never end up seen the sunset, paid extra money for nothing. It's was just as per normal day light.

Gondolas are built for two

Nancy_D, May 2024

Gondolas are built ideally for two people. First we were not clear we had to go to an office as it only gave an address and google maps did not find it. Secondly it’s a shared ride and the three people behind us ran in front and took the comfortable seats and we sat on small benches. Do not recommend sharing this unless it’s with children

Interesting way to see Venice

Mari_W, May 2024

Relaxing ride with a talented gondolaire. Very beautiful scenery yet disappointed that we were not on the Grand Canal.

First trip to Venice

charlotte_v, May 2024

Our walking guide was fabulous. Great information on our walk to gondola ride. Our gondoliere was a bit grumpy. Could have welcomed us aboard. Just made rude comment when we are trying to adjust to allow a young couple to have the fun seat. He said " you have got to be kidding me" .

Better late than never.

Richard_P, Apr 2024

There was an issue with the gondolas being available. Did not fully understand the reason other than being told it never happened before. We had to walk a distance to another location. Once there the ride was very scenic and enjoyable.

Disappointing

Harsha_A, Apr 2024

In spite of several request to the contact just to wait for 5 mts as the ferry was delayed we got no support and missed the ride completely I guess you need to be more supportive Lost lot of money due to non courteous response

amazing

tony_b, Apr 2024

i purchase a shared ride but nobody else showed up so i had it all to myself. and was very thankful for the crew

Horrible experience

Eve_P, Apr 2024

I would not recommend this ride. There was a 5 minute walk to the entrance which was where the overview took place. The gondola seats were soaked due to the rain storm - yet the ride wasn’t cancelled. The gondolier yelled at us to either move in a certain direction or to push the wall so we didn’t bump into it. There was zero communication with us but he did have a full blown loud conversation with other operators. The ride was cut short due to weather - all in all a total waste of money and for what we received - grossly over priced. I expected Viator to vet out the operators to ensure a positive experience for their customers but that wasn’t the case.

Straight forward pleasant

Andy_W, Apr 2024

Nicely organised and pleasant . Informed and calm tour guide. Lasted longer than expected which was a plus for me .

Gondola Ride Venice

Fadia_F, Apr 2024

the best trip is the Gondola Ride, it is an exceptional experience and full of memories, it is something you should do when you visit Venice

Best Ride Ever!

Brian_G, Apr 2024

This was one of the best experiences that we had in Venice! Would recommend that everyone that comes to Venice has this experience!!

Excellent

Balbinder_S, Apr 2024

This was a memorable experience. A must do for anyone visiting Venice. The tour took us through the small canals in the city finalizing the last leg in the Grand canal

It sucked

john_s, Apr 2024

The directions to find the starting point for this were not clearly defined not outlined; thus I was late to the 1100am start and had to pay an extra $24 to get in to a later tour. There was no need for the tour guide to take you on a walking event for the 20 minutes prior to getting on the gondola - she really didn’t add value to the tour at all it was all informational which could have been done at the meeting point. The lady running the stand at the meeting point was rude There was nothing on the directions that said this was a group of five going in one gondola I wanted a gondola ride for just my family not having to share it with strangers. I want the money back that I had to spend bc of the unclear directions of the meeting point; confusion and total dissatisfaction.

Disappointed Gondola Rider

Deana_B, Apr 2024

I wa excited the first time in Venice. I get to ride in a Gondola. I was only on that Gondola ride maybe 15 minutes. Went up a canel and turned around. Was not worth the money.

Expected better

Deborah_D, Apr 2024

Expected more, expected better. Description said 45 minutes, but they must have counted the time to walk to location. Then the lady leading the group said it would be about 30 minutes. Ours was less than 25 minutes. Our Gondolier didn't try to speak to us, just communicated with other drivers (gondoliers) as we past. Instead of communicating or giving us history, he only briefly spoke to us when we asked questions. Disappointed! Had hoped for better.

Great ride though Venice

Rachel_R, Mar 2024

Our tour guides were professional both on and off land. Our gondola ride gondolier spoke several languages and made us safe.

Very nice time filler

Emily_M, Mar 2024

We were given a radio each to hear the tour guide as we walked the streets towards the gondola ride. Very knowledgeable and a lovely gondola ride it was a shame it didn't last longer on the boat it was around 20 minutes. Afterwards we had the option to go to a virtual reality experience which was about 15 minutes and taught us a little about the history of Venice and gondolas. Very nice time filler.

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