Are Venice Gondola Rides Worth the Money?
(Honest Review + Alternatives)
Venice’s gondolas are often a bucketlist experience for travellers, but they are expensive and can be overcrowded. So is the ride really worth the money, how can you make the best of it and are there any alternatives? This is the blog for you!
Once upon a time, or roughly 10 years ago when I first stepped foot in Venice after seeing it on my favourite blogs at the time, going on a gondola seemed like an unreachable luxury and magical experience. A place where you go with the love of your life, romantically being rowed through the canals of Venice.
When I finally made it on my first gondola this year as part of my tour guiding job, it was honestly the opposite. Chaotic, loud and slightly disappointing.
I’m not writing this blog post though to stop you from going on a gondola in Venice. I think it can be all of what I was imagining ten years ago, you just need to know a few things first. So let’s get into it:
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Planning your trip?
How to get to Venice:
The closest airport is Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). There is also Treviso Canova Airport (TSF), which is a little further away and mostly used by budget airlines. Both are well connected to Venice via ACTV and ATVO buses or waterbus (Vaporetto).
Alternatively, if you’re coming from within Italy or a nearby country, there are trains and buses (like Flixbus and Itabus). Venice has two main stations, the one just off the island called Venice Mestre and the one right on the island called Venice Santa Lucia.
The main island of Venice is car-free, so to get to your hotel you either need to walk or get a water taxi or water bus (Vaporetto).
Where to stay in Venice?
Venice is on an island with six distinct neighbourhoods. That being said, it’s pretty compact and can be crossed in about an hour. I’d recommend staying here if you want to cut down on walking times and want to see Venice at all times of day.
Just across the bridge from this island lies Venice Mestre. From here it takes about 20 minutes by bus to get to Piazzale Roma on the island. Mestre is much more affordable and local than the island, great for budget travellers or those with a car.
Best hostels and hotels in Venice:
🛏️MEININGER Venezia Mestre – amazing hostel, right by the bus station to Venice
🏬Casa Accademia – in the Dorsodouro area, good price with a convenient location
🏩 Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel – luxurious stay, great location
Activities to check out:
Are the Gondolas in Venice Worth It?
My very honest opinion on whether the gondolas in Venice are worth it is this: Yes, but only if it’s a bucketlist experience for you and you can split the cost with other people. If you get 5 people together and it’s before 7pm, you only pay 18€ each. I’d say it’s worth that if only for the novelty of the experience.
If you are in a couple and want a romantic ride, I’d advise going as early as possible and starting away from the main sights, to get a more peaceful experience that is actually worth it (in my opinion).
The gondolas are extremely touristy, canals are overfilled at peak times and many gondoliers won’t bother adding to your experience (I had one who shouted to other gondoliers in Italian the entire 30 minutes, which made it the least peaceful experience). That being said, I have only been on gondolas with my tour groups, at peak times starting right by St. Mark’s Square.
I have heard that many gondoliers away from the main sights and at quieter times are much more happy to chat or explain things, or just take you down more peaceful canals.
How much does a gondola ride cost in Venice?
Price per gondola for 30 minutes:
9am to 7pm: 90€
7pm to ~3am: 110€
An extension of around 20 minutes usually costs between 40€ and 50€.
As the price is per gondola, the more people you have in your group, the cheaper per person. Each gondola fits up to 5 people.
How long is a gondola ride and what can you expect?
A standard gondola ride is 30 minutes long.
Usually you start at a gondolier station and head through a set route for that time period. For example, many starting near St. Marks Square go through some smaller canals, then briefly on the main canal with a view of the Rialto bridge and then back via smaller canals. The route is extremely busy and a little like bumper cars.
For those big gondolier stations, they all follow the same route.
If you start outside the main tourist area or outside peak tourist times, this experience can be a little more personalised to your expectations. Speak to the gondolier prior to the ride to plan, if he is open to this. If not, there’s plenty of others around honestly.
You usually pay at the end of the ride in cash. Make sure to discuss and agree on the price before getting on, though they should all follow the previously named costs.
All gondoliers in Venice need to be licensed, it’s a very strict system. That means any station should be trustworthy and I’d recommend looking out for the smaller ones with less gondoliers, as they will be more open to discussing route and you can see if you like the gondolier. From my experience, having a nice one makes a big difference to the ride.
Where to start your gondola ride?
I’d recommend wandering slightly away from the main tourist areas, especially places by St. Mark’s Square, even just a few bridges down. While I know the one at St. Marks here will take a route that goes over the main canal with views of the Rialto bridge, I think the business of the spot overshadows the route. Plus a smaller station will be more open to listening to your wishes for the 30-minute route.
Where you start will affect your route and ride experience quite a bit. Say you start near the more open water by Doge’s Palace, your route may be more unique but also more choppy than if you start near the Rialto bridge for example.
For a more serene experience, head away from the main tourist areas to e.g. the Cannaregio or Dorsoduro districts. If you just wander through them, you’ll find lots of gondoliers along the smaller canals.
I’d personally spend a day wandering Venice and finding YOUR favourite area, and then choosing a “stazi” (gondola station) in that part.
Best time of day for a gondola ride in Venice
I find it hard to plan an exact time for a gondola ride in Venice, as you’ll end up wandering and exploring. The best time is when it feels right for you (as cliche as that sounds).
That being said, to have the quietest experience, as early in the morning as possible. That means from around 9am. This is before all the day trippers and cruise ships arrive and make for a much more peaceful 30 minutes than any other time.
If you want sunset or golden hour though, time your ride to 30-minutes before sunset. Just be aware that you are likely not the only one and it may be very busy. During that time, I’d definitely try to wander a little from the main areas to find a slightly less hectic gondola stop.
Taking a gondola ride after dark (usually past 8 or 9pm in summer) is a wholly different and unique experience, and can be a little quieter as it’s more expensive. At that time, it’s more about atmosphere, glittering lights and romance than sightseeing.
The History of Venice’s Gondolas
The first mention of the word “gondola” can be found around the 11th century, though some kind of boat has been an essential part of Venice since its origins in the 5th century.
They started as more basic boats to navigate the canals and transport people and goods. From the 16th century onwards, their design started improving to make navigating the small canals of Venice easier, arriving close to the current design by the 18th century. The current asymmetric design which allows one gondolier to steer the boat was finalised around the late 19th century.
Venice was very wealthy as a trading nation during the renaissance, making decorating the gondolas brightly a status symbol. In 1562, a decree was issues that all gondolas must be black to preserve social order and match the functional waterproof coating which was very dark.
The Best Alternatives to a Gondola Ride
The Water Taxi
I think a water taxi is obviously a very different experience to a gondola (think celebrities arriving in Venice), but often a more peaceful and private experience. You can usually get the price down through negotiating, and I have heard offers of like 50€ from Burano back to mainland Venice.
I find a water taxi an amazing way to get back to your accommodation from e.g. St. Mark’s Square at night, it feels like a truly unique way to see the city.
Just be aware that water taxis can’t go down many of the smaller canals.
The traghetto or vaporetto
A traghetto is the closest thing looks-wise to a gondola. It’s a large gondola used to cross the Grand Canal, usually for about 2€. It’s a budget-friendly way to get the gondola feel and photos, but it’s not anything like the gondola experience.
Vaporetto are the public water buses that many Venetians and tourists take. For tourists, the main routes are the ones to the islands like Murano or Burano. These taxis cost 25€ for unlimited rides in a day or 9.50€ for a single ride and give you the experience of seeing Venice from the water. They are often very busy and the experience is honestly nothing like a gondola.
Is it a tourist trap or something I’d recommend to a friend?
Here is what I would honestly tell a friend:
- Is this something you should have done at least once in your life? Yes, absolutely, if only for the novelty and history of it.
- Is it a must-do if you are on a tight budget though? No, there’s better things to spend your money on (like a vaporetto day pass to get to Murano and Burano).
- Is it a tourist trap? To an extent, but it’s also a genuine part of Venetian history and can be an incredible way to experience the city. It’s definitely touristy as an activity though.
- Would I really recommend it? If you go at a quieter time, yes, especially if you have a group and can split the cost.
Hi, I'm Bell
I’m a solo traveller, writer and designer. I created my blog to share the many different ways to travel the world. Learn more about me here!
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