How to ride a gondola through the canals of Venice: prices, tips

Travel to Venice On a tourist trip one of its great attractions is the possibility of ride a gondola through the canals.

That is at least one of the icons of the Italian city, but it is important to know how to book a gondola ride.

In this regard you should know that there are gondoliers “official" and stops “official“, but the reality is that it is very difficult to differentiate them from the so-called “pirate” gondoliers.

The truth is that the gondolas are similar and practically the majority of the gondoliers are dressed in the traditional striped shirt, so it is not always easy to recognize them.

How to sail a gondola through the canals of Venice

When considering giving a gondola ride through the canals of Venice, it is important that you decide if you want to give it in the morning or in the evening.

Although this last option may seem more romantic to us, the truth is that in the afternoon there is greater demand from tourists, so you are thinking of hiring it on the fly and haggling over the price, this would be easier in the morning.

On the other hand, without a doubt the most attractive thing is to give a gondola ride on the Grand Canal in Venice.

But you have to keep in mind that navigation will be somewhat conditioned by the passage of the vaporettos and boats that also navigate the most important of the city's canals.

Therefore, if what you are looking for is more peace of mind, the most appropriate thing is to give the gondola ride through the small canals surroundings, where you will see that navigation is much calmer and more relaxed.

Prices for gondolas along Venice canals

When talking about priceI will tell you that in theory there is a official rate for hire a gondola ride in Venice, but the reality is that the price the gondolier will want to charge you will depend on numerous factors.

El target price if you hire one gondola to take a ride through the canals of Venice It is 80 euros for 40 minutes, with a maximum of 6 people per gondola; Extending the walk by 20 more minutes will cost you an additional 40 euros.

From seven in the afternoon, prices rise, and become 100 euros, and 50 euros more for the additional 20 minutes.

Yes, the price is per gondola, not per person, so you will have to pay the same if you are going to ride two or six people, which as we have mentioned is the maximum capacity of the gondola.

In practice, during your visit of Venice, when you walk through the alleys and canals you will find gondoliers who will invite you to ride, "gondola?".

Possibly, at the outset they will ask you for 100 euros, so you will have to reject it or haggle.

Plus it will always be more expensive if you want ride a gondola in the most touristy areas, such as the St. Mark's Square, Rialto bridge, or the area of Santa Lucia railway station.

How to book the gondola ride in Venice

The important thing in the end is that it becomes a good experience, which you have to book in advance of your trip.

If you book the tour before your trip, you will have a 25-30 minute ride starting from the Bauer Station, Together with the St. Mark's Square, during which you will tour the Grand Canal heading towards the church of Santa María de Salute, and then navigate through the smallest channels that surround the Fenice Theater.

You will take the ride in a gondola where a maximum of six people will go, and with this option of hiring it in advance of your trip you ensure the day and time that suits you best, and with a fixed price, without having to haggle, and favorable especially in the case of couples.

Gondola ride with musical serenade

But for certain times of the year, you also have a more special alternative, the gondola ride under the tune of a musical serenade.

This type of gondola ride is done in a group, so that while a group of gondolas with tourists navigate, there is another gondola that carries the musicians with guitar and/or accordion and at the same time baritone, who during the tour performs typical Italian songs, such as O Sole Mio.

The ride begins at the gondola station Santa Maria del Giglio, and you will go in a gondola with a total of six people sailing for 35 minutes along the Grand Canal.

Finally, here you have information about the option much simpler and cheaper de cross the Grand Canal in a traghetto gondola.