Gondolas are an integral part of Venice, and some say you simply cannot visit Venice without taking a gondola ride. However, the price of gondola rides in Venice is really expensive, so if you are wondering if you can afford a gondola ride then this post will all the questions you might have about gondolas, including how much is a gondola ride in Venice, and how to ensure you get the best deal on your gondola. However, cheaper may not always be better, so I’ve also shared my tips for getting the best gondola ride in Venice for you, no matter what your budget!
Know Before You Go to Venice
Before travelling to Venice, check if you have to pay the Venice Access Fee, which applies to day trippers to Venice on certain dates starting in spring 2024. This official page has more information.
Overnight guests do not have to pay the fee, as they already have Tourist Tax included in their accommodation. If you need accommodation in Venice make sure you book in advance as hotels can sell out.
MY FAVOURITE CHEAP HOTELS IN VENICE:
$$ Hotel Antiche Figure – opposite the station, friendly staff and great service.
$ Albergo Marin – great value for its location next to Grand Canal close to the railway station.
$ Ostello S. Fosca in the centre of Venice or Anda Venice a fantastic hostel in Mestre
⭐ TOP 3 VENICE ACTIVITIES TO BOOK IN ADVANCE:
1. Doge’s Palace Reserved Entry Ticket – the most popular activity in Venice
2. Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary – great for solo travellers
3. Burano, Torcello & Murano Boat Tour w/Glassblowing – the top day trip from Venice
Pre-book your transfer from Marco Polo Airport to Venice by bus or water taxi
What is a Gondola?
A gondola is a narrow wooden boat that was traditionally the main means of transport for Venetians. However, since the invention of the motorboat, gondolas have become a symbol of Venice and a popular tourist attraction.
Gondolas are 11m long, weigh 600kg and are hand-made using 8 different types of wood. The Gondolas you will see in Venice are painted black, often with intricate decorations and luxurious furnishings.
There are also brightly coloured gondolas which are reserved for festivals or sports competitions.
Gondolas are controlled by gondoliers, who wear their ‘uniform’ of a red or black and white striped shirt and black trousers, often with a boater hat and ribbon to match.
There are around 450 working gondoliers in Venice. Although women are allowed to be gondoliers, currently there are no female gondoliers currently working in Venice. One woman rows a similar boat, but only she and one other woman have completed the training and passed the exams required to become a gondolier.
How Much is a Gondola Ride in Venice?
The council has fixed the official price of gondola rides in Venice at €90 for a 30-minute ride during the day, and €110 for 35 minutes in the evening from 7 pm till 4 am. You will find an official price list at every gondola station, so if a gondolier tries to charge you more for a standard gondola tour, just walk away.
Bear in mind though that if you ask for anything extra such as a specific route, any singing or for a longer time then they will charge you more money.
These prices were set as of April 2023 and continue to apply into 2024. You can check the current official prices on the City of Venice website here.
The price is per gondola and covers up to a maximum of 5 people in each gondola. When you arrange a gondola ride directly with a gondolier, don’t expect to share – you will get a private gondola ride with you and your group.
However, if you do want a shared gondola ride to help reduce costs why not club together with people at your hostel or hotel? If there are 6 of you sharing it will be cosy, but the price per person that is much more manageable if you are visiting Venice on a budget!
You can also book a shared gondola ride online which is perfect for solo travellers – check availability and book your place below:
Can You Negotiate the Price of a Gondola Ride?
You can certainly try, but at busy times don’t expect a discount. If you visit Venice during the off-season when it is quieter, or at a quiet time of day then you may be able to haggle with a gondolier to reduce the price. Your best bet with this is to find a quiet gondola station in one of the smaller canals away from the key tourist areas.
How to Get the Best Gondola Ride in Venice
There is no need to book a gondola ride in advance, you just choose your gondola station and talk to the gondolier. However, in order to get the best experience from your gondola ride, follow these tips to make sure you’re not disappointed:
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Choose your Gondola Station Carefully
Many visitors want to take a gondola ride close to the busy areas of St Mark’s Square or Rialto Bridge, to see specific sites like the Bridge of Sighs. However, this means the gondola stations here are often busy and you might have to wait in line before getting a gondola.
Quieter areas around the Jewish Quarter of Cannaregio, Dorsoduro or Campo San Barnaba may have smaller queues, although you won’t get to go underneath the Bridge of Sighs from here.
Talk to the Gondolier
Have a chat with the gondolier to make sure you get along. Some might share stories and facts about Venice on the way around the canals, whereas others are more content to talk on their phones or shout to other gondoliers as they pass by. A good gondolier can make or break your gondola ride, so take time to find one you like.
Confirm the Price
Be upfront about the price, let them know that you know how much it should be (€90 for half an hour during the day).
Discuss the Route
Discuss the route that you will take to make sure you include any specific sights you want to pass by. Different gondola stations take different routes around the canals, so if your chosen gondola station doesn’t offer what you want to see, you could try an alternative gondola station.
Don’t Pay in Advance
Do not pay in advance, as you might find you end up with a shorter ride than you agreed on. Bear in mind that sometimes a gondola ride may be shorter than 30 minutes due to traffic on the canals – a gondola jam can cause problems! That said, our gondolier insisted we paid first so it depends on how determined you both are to stand your ground.
Bring the Exact Change
Make sure you have the exact money to give to the gondolier to avoid awkward moments where they don’t have any change to give you. Remember that you don’t need to tip, €90 is certainly adequate for 30 minutes’ work!
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Prepare for the Weather
Bear in mind that a gondola has no shade or protection from the sun (or rain!). Gondola tours in the evenings are more expensive but they are much cooler. Alternatively, try to take your gondola ride early in the morning before the midday heat gets too much, and the canals are quieter. In the winter, it will get chilly so bring a jacket.
Consider Booking a Private Gondola Ride in Venice in Advance
As I mentioned, there is no need to book a private gondola tour in advance as gondolas are readily available all over Venice, and it is often cheaper to book in person actually in Venice.
However, understandably some people prefer to book something, so they know what to expect. You can pre-book a gondola tour here online.
Alternatively, I found various reviews on Tripadvisor recommending a specific gondolier called “Lucky” Luca, who you can pre-book for gondola rides around the old Jewish Quarter of Venice.
According to the reviews, Luca charges the same standard fee as other gondoliers but also gives lots of information, and a song if you’re lucky. They list his contact email as luckyluca6@hotmail.com.
If you are a solo traveller or a couple of friends and want to share the cost of a gondola ride, you can pre-book a shared gondola. This is a great way to guarantee a cheaper gondola ride, unless you’re likely to meet anyone else you could share a gondola with.
Accessible Gondola Rides
Unfortunately, Venice isn’t the most accessible city, but if you need an accessible gondola, Gondolas 4 All operate wheelchair-friendly gondola rides from a pier at P.Le Roma. Please note I haven’t used this company myself so make sure you do some more research before you book or call them to see if they are still offering gondola rides. Their Facebook page seems to be the best way to contact them, although the most recent post was in 2022.
Top Tips for a Cheap Gondola Ride
Using the tips above, you should be well equipped for arranging your own private gondola ride. However, if you feel that the price of a private gondola ride in Venice is too high, there are some alternatives you can consider:
If you don’t have any friends you can share a gondola with, there are some services which offer shared gondola rides that you can book in advance online, which are great for solo travellers. There are also tours which combine a walking tour with a shared gondola ride, maximising the money you spend.
If you really want to ride a gondola in Venice but are on a budget, this could be the best option for you, although make sure you carefully read the reviews and details of the tours before you book.
Take a Traghetto Ride for €2
Traghettos are similar boats to gondolas and work as a short-distance water taxi service across the Grand Canal. There are several Traghetto stations along the Grand Canal, including next to Rialto Bridge, by the Rialto market and close to the Peggy Gugenheim Collection.
They run daily from around 7.30am to 6.30 or 7.30pm, depending on the season. The crossing only takes a minute or two but could be enough to get your gondola fix for a fraction of the price.
Take a Vaporetto for €9.50
Vaporettos are waterbuses and although they are nowhere near as picturesque or romantic as a gondola ride in Venice, they are much more practical.
READ MORE: a Guide to Getting Around in Venice
Seeing Venice from the water really is one of the best things to do in Venice, and a ride on Vaporetto 1 from the bus station at P.Le Roma to St Mark’s is a fabulous route which will take you all along the Grand Canal, including underneath the Rialto Bridge. A one-way ticket costs €9.50, or it is included in the 24/48/72hr transport tickets.
Get a Photo in a Gondola for Free
If all you really want is a photo ‘for the Gram’ or to show off to your friends back home, you can get a photo in a gondola for free! There is a gondola moored outside the Acqua Alta Bookshop which you can sit in and take a photograph, although it is polite to leave a donation for their pet cat’s food. While you’re there, take a look at their thousands of second-hand books too.
READ MORE: The Best Free Things to do in Venice
Learn to Row a Gondola
If money isn’t your concern, but are looking for something more rewarding than simply floating around the canals, why not learn to row a boat yourself? Row Venice offers rowing lessons in a traditional Voga, which is not quite a gondola, but very similar. Their private rowing classes cost €100 for 1 or 2 people (with higher costs for 3, 4 and 5 people) and last 90 minutes.
The instructors will teach you how to row like a gondolier as you explore some of the canals and go out into the Venice Lagoon, which is a lot more bang for your buck than an expensive gondola ride! They also offer Cichetto Rows, where you row to a Venetian Bacari for drinks and snacks, or an evening rowing class when the temperature is cooler, and the canals are quieter. Check their website for details here.
Where to Stay in Venice
Hotels in Venice
Although staying somewhere close to the train station isn’t as convenient for St Mark’s Square, you won’t have to worry about moving heavy cases around the streets of Venice.
Hotel Antiche Figure, for example, is just opposite the station and gets great reviews for the friendly staff, good location and great service.
Albergo Marin is a good choice to get a mix of value and location, next to Grand Canal and 10 minutes walk from the railway station.
B&B Ca’ Bonvicini is a lovely bed and breakfast hotel just 7 minutes walk from Rialto Bridge if you would rather be more ‘in the middle’ of the action. It gets great reviews for the traditional Venetian decor and friendly staff.
Apartments in Venice
There are lots of options for Airbnb in Venice, but given how many locals have had to leave their homes, I would advise against getting a whole apartment for yourself. A private room in a local’s apartment will help them to pay the rent, and help you to really feel like a local in Venice, as well as saving you money.
This room in Venice with a terrace, for example, is a short walk from the train station and walking distance from the main sights in Venice. Alternatively, try Homestay.com which has some options for private rooms in apartments in Venice, Mestre and surrounding areas.
If you do want a whole apartment, you can rent full homes on Vrbo like this lovely historic apartment that is close to the centre of Venice, or this apartment which has its own garden! Booking.com also has a large selection of vacation rentals available too, browse available apartments here.
Hostels in Venice
I stayed at the fabulous Wombat’s City Hostel Venice Mestre, which is now sadly closed due to the pandemic. However, there are other hostels in Venice if you are visiting Venice on a budget, take a look at these options:
- Anda Venice: a trendy hostel a short train ride from Venice in Mestre with excellent reviews
- Ostello S. Fosca in the centre of Venice
- Combo Venezia, set in the grounds of a 12th Century convent.
You can also take a look at all of the hostels in Venice on Hostelworld.
Want More Venice Posts?
Check out these blog posts to learn more about the best things to do in Venice and more Venice travel tips, or click here to read all of my Italy posts.Like this post? Pin it to read later:
That’s so great Hannah I’m glad you enjoyed Row Venice! For about the same price you get a totally difference experience and for much longer too, for me it was definitely worth the money.
I absolutely love Venice – it’s such a magical place. I didn’t know gondola rides were price fixed by the council but was horrified at the cost when I was there. We decided to have a lesson with Row Venice and it was such an experience! I would highly recommend this as a unique way to spend an afternoon.