Charming Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal & Gondola Gallery™

Venice, Italy

Very popular!

5+ bookings in the past 6 hours.

45 minutes (approx.)
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.0

· Jennifer_V ·

Feb 2026

It was very beautiful and relaxing. Early evening is a great time for the gondola ride. This was a highlight for my 15 year old son. I highly recommend.

· kenneth_c ·

Dec 2025

A very good experience. Slight confusion at the start due to different language tours. Ask questions of the staff and they were very patience explaining the procedure.

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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

Shared 30 minute gondola ride
a 15-minute introduction to the gondola experience
Multilingual staff at the embarkation point
In-app commentary
VR Experience - Journey in the past
Venice Gallery Priority Admission

Hotel pick up
Earphones
Audio-devices

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

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)

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
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

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 1,325 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Skip this and Hire Your Own

Kelli_A, Mar 2026

The experience started with us watching a movie that they gave my son in the wrong language. Then you walked to the gondola and were taken on a short ride. Our gondolier did not talk or narrate or anything. My advice would be to skip this tour and find a gondola station not near the main canal as all prices are regulated and the smaller back canals are a much better experience

Loved it!

Ellen_M, Mar 2026

We loved our gondola ride. Easy and simple. It was a great way to experience Venice! The most that can fit into a gondola ride is 5. We have a family of 6. We dived into two groups Of 3 and it was still great!

Maybe at least a greeting

Judy_S, Mar 2026

I took the gondola excursion with my son and his wife and their children. It was wonderful to enjoy the canal trip with family, however, the experience was not enhanced by the gondolier. We received assistance when stepping into the boat, and again when exiting.

I have done this...

Peggy_H, Mar 2026

I have done this experience before and would suggest you hire one from the waterways direct rather than doing this experience. In my previous experience my daughter and I just walked directly up to the one we wanted to hire, paid him $80 and off we went. He sang to accordion music, was dressed the part in the hat and stripped shirt and talked about the history of Venice as we passed by the different structures, including the DogePalace and the history behind it. On this experience that we booked (cost $150.00 US Dollars) we waited for a guide (who was irritated that we showed up 5 minutes early for check in) who took everyone to get our goggle things ready so we could watch a video and then took a 10 minute walk to the gondolas, loaded up and then took a no more that 20 minute ride (was supposed to be a 30 minute rode). Gondola was beautiful, no real history or communication unless we asked a random question, not dressed the part and definitely no singing. Again, just look for one in a canal you want to see or from the main waterway.

The tour itself is...

Erin_K, Mar 2026

The tour itself is wonderful, but the directions to the meeting point are really poor. We almost couldn't find it, and with so many gondola tour operators, clear directions are super important.

Great, but a little short

Christian_T, Mar 2026

Loved the history lesson with vr, the walk through the city, and the gondola ride. I felt the gondola right should be 30 minutes instead of 15. 15 minutes is a bit too short. Guide really knew their stuff though!

not that much of a deal

mary_s, Mar 2026

the first part, the 3D experience is totally worth it! As for the gondola ride it would have been much better if we had booked it separately, the gondoliers would not stop talking with each other which was very annoying and the ride itself lasted only 15 minutes which was frustrating

Amazing

Sylvana_c, Mar 2026

Amazing! Most to do. I had a great time . The day was absolutely beautiful and the gondola ride is so fun.

It was very beautiful and...

Jennifer_V, Feb 2026

It was very beautiful and relaxing. Early evening is a great time for the gondola ride. This was a highlight for my 15 year old son. I highly recommend.

Disappointing

Jay_G, Feb 2026

Despite what the pictures may look like, you can/will be paired with other groups in your gondola (5 people per gondola). Our guide was friendly, but there isn’t really much that’s “guided”. Would recommend just hiring a gondola directly.

Great experience!

Viveka_R, Jan 2026

A tour guide walked with us to the area of the gondolas. She talked a little bit about history and some landmarks in Venice. Very polite and nice.

Rude people. Shared ride and cannot take picture with your partner if you do not get back seat.

Sonali_D, Jan 2026

Gondola ride experience depends upon where do you get seat.. If you do not get the primary seat, you cannot even click picture with your partner as you are sitting on opposite side of gondola. The gondola rider was extremely rude and was not bothered about experience. Did not let us take picture even at the end of the ride... It was waste... extremely disappointed.

We went to the location...

Dustin_C, Jan 2026

We went to the location that we were provided which was incorrect. We went to 4 separate locations before finally getting to the correct location and ended up being 20 minutes late. The tour guide company said they notified Viator months ago about the location change for the meeting spot but it was too late to continue. They did offer to give us the tour the next day but we were leaving early that next morning so were unable. I reached out to Viator and were issued a partial refund but it should have been 100% not 50% since this was out of our control and we went to the location they provided as the meeting point no only on time but early.

Not the best

IoannaLouiza_A, Jan 2026

It took too much time to start the ride , it got dark so we couldn’t see much. The part of grand canal we did was too small. On the way we took two colleagues of the góndola guy as well. Not very professional

Here’s the deal…we set up...

Jennifer_K, Jan 2026

Here’s the deal…we set up a gondola experience because we were worried that we would not be able to find a gondola on our own. The truth is, you can do this on your own. We didn’t gain anything from this experience that we would would not have gleaned on our own. It’s was nice having set plans, so we recommend if you feel better knowing you get to do a gondola in Venice!

Wonderful Gondola ride.

kenneth_c, Dec 2025

A very good experience. Slight confusion at the start due to different language tours. Ask questions of the staff and they were very patience explaining the procedure.

Don't book with them!

Vivian_O, Dec 2025

Don't book with them! I was with 2 other groups and we all met at the meeting point we were given. Apparently that wasn't the correct location (after waiting 15 min) and were informed we had to go to another location to then find out the gondola left without us and there were no more going out for the night. HUGE letdown for me and now I can't go since I leave Venice the next day.

Silent Gondola Ride

Kimberly_T, Dec 2025

Was organized at check-in and guide gave good historical overview of gondolas in Venice. Once we boarded the gondola, the gondolier did not engage with us at all and only spoke when passing other gondoliers. I’m not sure why we kept the audio devices and headphones. It was disappointing to ride a gondola and not know our surroundings. The gondolier did not answer any questions.

Venice Tour

Donovan_W, Dec 2025

Great scenery and trip well informed guide, the trip was filled with great views and laughter with the crew and guests

No one met us at meetings...

Allen_F, Dec 2025

No one met us at meetings point. Therefore we didn’t get to experience this ride. We would our money refunded.

Beautiful

Klodet_T, Dec 2025

My sister and I enjoyed this tour! it was really nice to go late in the day as it’s beautiful during dusk and at night.

First time in venice

Kenneth_D, Dec 2025

Sadly it was not how we wanted.. it was very confusing it was unclear where to meet - after 90 minutes of walking around the city we located the office in a newspaper stand near the post office and vendi outside of St Marks square only to be told the location changed - it was frustrating but there was some communication via email with the office but there information was inaccurate… Next time we’ll wait until day of to do condola ride - and this company should learn too be sure to have easy to use directions for people many who are from out of town or the country - good luck

Gondola tour

Edgar_A, Nov 2025

It was organized and it was fun. Our guide is very nice and give us a history of Venice. Venice tour company I will recommend to other friends and Families.

Shared gondola experience

Anita_S, Nov 2025

Shared gondola experience, approximately 30 minute ride. Short walk with guide and other travelers with info

Skip this gondola ride!

james_h, Nov 2025

Terrible, cheesy ride. Guide was hard to understand. The ride was short and not in a nice area. Just get a gondola when you get there. Booking ahead is t worth it!

Pretty views and we saw...

Janet_G, Nov 2025

Pretty views and we saw so much of the city from a different point of view. Highly recommend. The presentation in the beginning was also very informative.

We were impressed with...

Jennifer_Z, Nov 2025

We were impressed with the virtual reality to kick off the experience. Then we took a short tour of the city followed by the gondola ride itself. Be aware that you may not sit next to the person you're traveling with because they have to balance the boat. We were also disappointed that the gondolier was on his personal cell phone the entire time.

Save your money!!!

Rebecca_E, Nov 2025

A waste of time and money. It was a whole lot of nothing. A cheesy 10 minute VR presentation. Then they hand you headphones to listen to the “guide” tell you the same things you just heard on the VR presentation while you walk 10 minutes away to the gondola pick up spot. You then turn in the audio remote and throw away headphones you used for 10 minutes. So wasteful. No briefing on how the gondola works. We were seated on chairs facing in to the boat. You have to download an app to get an audio guide for the “sights” along the canal which were underwhelming at best. If you shift in your seat at all, to see something, the gondolier yells at you which btw is the only time he spoke to us the whole time. The route is boring and dark with nothing to see until you get out on the grand canal where the water gets choppy. Whole thing barely lasted 20 minutes. Not fun, not romantic, not remotely interesting.