Sight guide · Venice · Italy
Visiting Gondola ride
A gondola ride through the small back canals is expensive but memorable.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Njsmith3, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Gondola ride is an experience in San Marco, Venice. Allow 30–40 minutes; it is expensive. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Experience
- Area
- San Marco
- Time needed
- 30–40 minutes
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- couples, kids and photo spot
- Best months
- March and October–November
About Gondola ride
A gondola ride through the small back canals is expensive but memorable. Official rates are set by the city per boat for about 30 minutes, with higher prices in the evening; up to five people can share. For a quick taste, a traghetto, a gondola ferry across the Grand Canal at a few points, costs a couple of euros.
Tip: Pick a gondola station away from St Mark's for quieter canals, agree the price and route before boarding, and try a traghetto at Santa Sofia or San Tomà.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 30–40 minutes.
- Cost: Expensive.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: San Marco, st Mark's Square, grand hotels, La Fenice and luxury shopping streets.
Best time to visit Gondola ride
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- November: 12°C (54°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- March: 13°C (55°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- October: 18°C (64°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit Venice has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Venice itinerary visits Gondola ride on day 2, together with St Mark's Campanile and Rialto Bridge and Market.
- No. 8 of the 20 sights in our Venice things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 4-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
- A family favourite in Venice with kids.
Near Gondola ride
Also in San Marco, so you can walk between them:
- La Fenice opera house — 45-minute tour; 3-hour performance, mid-priced
- St Mark's Campanile — 45 minutes, low cost
- St Mark's Square — 30 minutes–1 hour, free
If you like Gondola ride
- Grand Canal by vaporetto — Grand Canal, About 45 minutes
- Burano — Northern lagoon, Half a day with Murano
Staying near Gondola ride
Stay in San Marco ($$$$) to walk here: st Mark's Square, grand hotels, La Fenice and luxury shopping streets. All areas to stay in Venice.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Gondola ride?
Plan 30–40 minutes. With La Fenice opera house nearby, it fits a half-day in San Marco.
+Is Gondola ride free?
No, it is expensive. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Gondola ride?
March and October–November, the quietest of the good months. Pick a gondola station away from St Mark's for quieter canals, agree the price and route before boarding, and try a traghetto at Santa Sofia or San Tomà.
+Do I need to book Gondola ride in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Gondola ride good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Venice. Children love Venice's boats, bridges and glassblowers, and there is no car traffic to worry about.