Charming Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal & Gondola Gallery™
Venice, Italy
- 45 minutes (approx.)
- Group discounts
- 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 aboard a shared gondola. 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, and then discover the craftsmanship and secrets behind Venice's iconic boats 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
- Upgrade to a sunset tour or a be serenaded by your gondolier
What's Included
- 30-minute gondola ride (approx.)
- 20-minute Gondola Gallery - introduction to the experience (except for the private option)
- Multilingual staff at the embarkation point
- In-app commentary
- VR Experience - Journey in the past
- Private Gondola Ride (if option is selected)
- 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.Itinerary
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)
1
Gondola Gallery - Bookshop
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- 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 gondolier serves as the driver of the gondola, providing rowing and navigation services throughout the ride.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Anna_H
We absolutely loved this beautiful gondola ride. I highly recommend it. Our tour guide, Georgia, was very happy and energetic girl, she explained a lot of fun facts while walking towards the gondola ride spot. I do recommend it.
Reviews
4.0
based on 1,444 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Lisa_C, Jul 2026
The ride itself was great. It was peaceful and our gondolier was excellent. There was a weird unexpected virtual reality experience via Meta oculus glasses before the tour started. There was also a 10-15 minute walk from the office to the actual boat which we could have done without. If you wouldn’t mind those things, then you’ll have a great time.
Abby_B, Jul 2026
Loved the Gondola ride. Easy to book. The operator of the Gondola was on his cell phone the whole ride and never engaged in conversation. I would have liked to… where are you from, how is your day, etc.
Laura_M, Jul 2026
Don’t expect much. Our gondola driver didn’t answer any questions to talk to us at all about the sights or history. This was the only tour with Viator (out of many) that I did not love 100%.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest, We are sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations. Please note that the gondolier is just a driver, not a guide or an entertainer. However, if there was any behaviour from the gondolier that didn't leave you satisfied, we deeply apologise for this. We hope to welcome you to a more positive experience in the future. Regards, Customer Care Team
Megan_Z, Jul 2026
The activity, as described on the Viator app, is misleading and the directions to the activity were incorrect. When we finally found where we were supposed to be we were late. The tour guide graciously allowed us to join a later tour. They also said they’ve told the people who operate Viator that the address is wrong to no avail. Being sent on a wild goose chase through Venice in 100 degree heat made it difficult to enjoy the experience since we were drenched in sweat and uncomfortable. It began to storm mid gondola ride cutting it short. I cant blame Mother Nature but had we been given that correct address we would’ve arrived on time and avoided the storm. Very frustrating experience which was different than we expected because of the misleading description. Very frustrating experience with Viator all around.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest, We are sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations. If you wish to communicate further with us, do not hesitate to reach out. Best regards, Customer Care Team
Robyn_P, Jul 2026
We enjoyed being on the water and grand canal breezes. We thought we would get closer to Rialto Bridge but we went the opposite direction. The gondoliers are so skilled. An excellent experience
Jill_H, Jul 2026
It is fun. A great way to see the buildings and be on the water. You get a shirt video presentation before which talks about Venice and the gondoliers. It would be better if the gondoliers talked to you but they are busy. A must do in Venice!
Heidi_K, Jul 2026
Short gondola ride. Had to pay 8Euro to change our time to earlier. Gondola driver didn’t say much. I suspect other companies would have offered more for your money.
Robyn_G, Jul 2026
The check in location was hard to find. It would have been easier to say it was next door to a restaurant.
It also wasn’t clear that part of the booking was a VR experience prior to the gondola ride. It was interesting information but felt unnecessary. The gondola ride itself was pleasant.
Douglas_M, Jul 2026
Not worth the money that was paid for this experience. Once around the block and back off the gondola in 30 minutes.
Was expecting a lot more, and especially an experience like this to be better. Tourist money trap!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest, We are sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations. If you wish to communicate further with us, do not hesitate to reach out. Best regards, Customer Care Team
Kristen_S, Jul 2026
Overall, this was not a great experience.
The meeting point was confusing, with multiple vendors operating in the same area, and it was difficult to find the correct office to start the tour. The check-in process was frustrating and the front desk staff were not particularly helpful or welcoming.
We were traveling with a 90-year-old family member, and while I understand the tour operator is not responsible for mobility limitations, there seemed to be very little effort to accommodate her or make the experience more comfortable. No alternative routes, opportunities to rest, or suggestions for managing the many stairs were offered. Instead, it felt like the expectation was that everyone had to follow the tour exactly as designed, regardless of individual needs.
The 3D simulation portion of the experience was also disappointing. It felt unnecessary, added little value, and seemed like a waste of time.
Overall, I would not recommend this tour. Venice offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy a gondola ride directly from the docks at a much lower cost, without the added gimmicks and inconvenience that came with this experience. We did several tours during our trip with LIV Tours and the Tour Guy that were far superior to the 2 viator tours, which were god awful.
Kevin_Y, Jul 2026
The ride and tour itself was great but finding the location to check in was not. Better directions/address would be very helpful I spent 20 minutes running back and forth asking other gondola guides where ours was located by the time I found it I was drenched with the heat.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest, We appreciate your feedback. Thank you and we hope to see you in Venice
again. Regards, Customer Care Team
Kristen_C, Jul 2026
It was really HOT that day so the walking part of the tour was a little long. But we enjoyed the VR (would have been nice to have seating) and the gondola ride itself.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest, We appreciate your feedback. Thank you and we hope to see you in Venice
again. Regards, Customer Care Team
Bethany_a, Jul 2026
The tour does not begin at the gondola, but a 20 minute walk away. If you’re planning something afterwards, allow at least an hour for the whole experience and know you end far from where you began. The tour guide is talking to you over a headset that does not work well, so there is no value to her short tour of Venice.
The canals were very crowded, so there was a lot of hurry up and wait during the ride. You are meant to download an app to hear the tour during the gondola ride, but it doesn’t work well. We ended up turning it off after a few minutes.
Venice is beautiful, and our gondalier was very nice. Unfortunately, that’s where the magic ended.
Anne_D, Jul 2026
This is a shared gondola ride and not a dedicated ride for your group/booking with 5 people per gondola. I was sorry I booked this experience as I paid over €130 or so for this ride to discover that you can hire a gondola on the day for €80 which is for the entire gondola, so it is just for your group, we visited Venice on a Tuesday in July it was very quiet with no lines for the gondolas. This trip to Italy in general has been just like this a bit of a ripoff to be honest. Same experience for taxis and the public transport. I don’t think I’ll rush to return to Venice or Italy, for that matter, but at least the kids enjoyed it and that’s what matters.
Ashley_S, Jul 2026
Communication was poor. Our flight was delayed, so we asked if there was a grace period — they said no, none at all, and that we just had to do our best to arrive on time. This was our first time in Venice, so we rushed and ran through the streets with our kids, arriving drenched in sweat and completely stressed out. Once we got there, they told us we could rebook for €8 per person. I don’t mind paying extra, but they should’ve mentioned that option upfront — it would’ve saved us from an unnecessary, exhausting sprint through the city with kids in tow.
Heather_G, Jul 2026
We were looking forward to riding in a gondola but this was not the experience we expected. We wound our way on foot through the city past the docks where you can purchase rides, until we reached the experience office. There we were all ushered into a small dark room for a VR history lesson. Then a worker talked to us about the history of gondolas. It felt like they were trying to help us feel like we “got our moneys worth” out of the activity. Some of this information was useful, but it could’ve been done in half the time or as we rode in the gondola. We finally made it back to the gondola docks and boarded the boat. Our gondolier never even acknowledged us. He did not say a word to us or smile the entire ride. Next time I will just go to the docks and find a friendly gondolier who can impart information as we ride.
Cassandra_M, Jul 2026
I didn't realize the VR tour was a part of the full tour. We were put in a tiny, hot room with others and handed VR goggles. I can't say we really enjoyed that part. Then there was a quick walk with some history to the gondola. We had the option of downloading an app to hear about the locations we were passing by, but we opted just to enjoy the ride. Our gondolier didn't say anything to us. It was a short ride, but beautiful.
Melica_E, Jul 2026
In the description of the tour there is no mention of a VR history of the Gondola, but that was what the first 15 minutes of our 45 minute “Charming Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal & Gondola Gallery”. It was entertaining and educational, but we were confused since there was no mention of that in the description. The gondola ride was nice, but our gondolier didn’t say a word to us the entire time. I purchased the experience in English thinking we’d get a gondolier that would explain some of what we were seeing and that we could ask questions to, but he literally didn’t say a word to us. I would not recommend this tour to anyone. We got our gondola ride, but that was it.
Ellen_C, Jul 2026
We were scheduled for 20 minute orientation and 30 minute Gondola Ride. There was no orientation given other than viewing my ticket and gondola ride was about 20 minutes long - a little short. The Gondolier was on his phone entire time. The ride was enchanting - just a little short!
Nancy_L, Jun 2026
Scheduling the gondola ride was very easy and we appreciated that. Finding the meeting location was not very clear. It would be helpful to be provided with a landmark such as meet at the Venice Tours office along with the address. It wasn’t clear to us where to check in. There were no signs indicating that was the meeting place. The office bame sisnt match what was on our ticket so we assumed it was a different company but we eventually went in to ask and it turned out we were at the right place. The gondola ride was interesting but the gondolier never said hello or welcome and didn't talk the entire ride. There was no explanation of any of the buildings or the canals. That would have been okay because language could be an issue but at least a friendly hello would have made it a little better. Luckily there was another sweet couple on the ride.
yahya_q, Jun 2026
Meeting point was convenient. VR experience was good and informative. I didn't have to validate the ticket.
Adam_P, Jun 2026
This is by far one of the best Gondala and history tours you can have. For €85, you and your partner can have a 45 minute Gondala tour through Venice and onto the Grand Canal. You'll get a VR history introduction about Venice, then a 10 minute walk to the Gondala's with a tour guide. The guides are extremely knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating and talk to you via an ear piece whilst walking and on the Gondala.
What a brilliant experience for the money.
Liljana_K, Jun 2026
The description of the event was as a gondola ride. I had only half a day in the city and just wanted a half hour to 45 minutes gondola ride. Instead, when I got there, there was a huge group that would need to wander around the city in the heat for 20 minutes listening to a presentation that I had no interest in since I’ve been to Venice several times before, and then we would get to the gondolas. It was a huge and unnecessary waste of time and I would’ve missed my train if I had gone along. So we had to leave and pay separately just to get our gondola tour in a reasonable about of time.
Virginia_M, Jun 2026
The added extras were very good and the tour guide was wonderful .We were really impressed with the organising and the value for money.
With the orgg
Farina_A, Jun 2026
It was a very pleasant experience from the booking office where the girl accommodated us despite being 12 minutes late as we were lost,
to the very efficient guide who took us to our departure point and the gondola experience.
It made my birthday very special so I would like to thank everyone.
Sergio_T, Jun 2026
Great experience. Loved the VR segment before the gondola ride. Takes you back in time and shows the history of the Canals and makes you appreciate the gondola ride even more.
Sandy_G, Jun 2026
The “experience” was amateur and didn’t help create any sense of “experience” - we were herded into a tiny museum, put into two separate closets, and spun around in virtual reality for too long. The walk to the gondola was rushed and a hazard to anyone with any walking difficulties. Involved forgiven all that if the gondolier said even one word of welcome to us. He talked the entire ride but to his pal driving the boat next to us. I usually live Viator experiences - but I would not recommend this one to anyone … especially if mobility is any issue at all.
Kathie_G, Jun 2026
Don’t waste your money! The gondolier spoke with another gondolier 95% of the time. It was suppose to be 45 minutes and it was 27…. Basically you went around a couple blocks. 2 things were pointed out barely…no history was given - he maybe said 6 words to us - his buddy on the other boat was more important….. the itinerary for the tour is false……. Didn’t happen for us. Don’t waste a dime on this company!!! I should have demanded my money back when we got off the boat. Absolutely ridiculous & disgusted!!!!!
judith_C, Jun 2026
A little misleading as the caption says 45 minutes but in the fine print it is only 30. Only a few pieces of information shared during our ride. You have to download an app to hear a full narrative, and only get that as boarding the boat so there is not really any time.
TamSam600, Jun 2026
There is a 15 minute walking tour that starts off of San Marco Square. It goes over 5 bridges. Next the gondola ride. It’s 30 minutes and there is nothing to see but walls of buildings.
My last gondola ride went through interesting canals and the driver talked about the things we were seeing.
I don’t recommend this trip.
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