Gondola rides · PRIVATE GONDOLA RIDES

Private Gondola Rides: Our Top 15

28 rides  ·  from $80 a seat

A private booking buys the hull, not a seat, so the quoted fare splits between everyone who climbs in. These 15 compare route, length and what the boat costs before you divide it.

Venice: Private Gondola Cruise for up to 5 Passengers - Cruising the Grand Canal
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Venice: Private Gondola Cruise for up to 5 Passengers

1.Private Gondola Cruise for up to 5 Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 3,106 reviews · $157 per gondola, seats up to 5Our pick

Book a private gondola for up to five people and glide along Venice’s Grand Canal and smaller canals for about 30 minutes. Expect historic palaces, bridges, and photo stops from the water, but no included commentary or serenade. Day and evening departures are available, with staff support in five languages.

“Before we start, some advice. You are not meeting anyone at the supposed meeting point. Go straight to the ticket office mentioned and collect your ticket. No one will come and find you. The whole experience was absolutely breathtaking. Although possibly expensive for what it is, it is a once in a life time experience. Our guide absolutely made the experience and we felt very lucky to have him. Be warned- some guides looked disinterested and were on their phones, So luck of the draw I guess.”

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Venice: Private Crafted Gondola Ride Along Grand Canal - Finding the departure point in Venice
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Venice: Private Crafted Gondola Ride Along Grand Canal

2.Private Crafted Gondola Ride Along Grand Canal

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 2,854 reviews · 30 min · from $88

Take a private gondola for up to five people through Venice’s Grand Canal and quieter canals. You’ll pass La Fenice, Punta della Dogana, Santa Maria della Salute, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Ponte dell’Accademia. This is mainly a self-guided ride with multilingual audio commentary, though some gondoliers, including Marco, Matteo, and Antonio, add personal stories or songs.

“Loved being able to take photos and film other gondolas passing by. Especially under bridges!”

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Venice: Private Gondola Ride - The Grand Canal opening
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Venice: Private Gondola Ride

3.Private Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 757 reviews · 20 min · from $85Best value

Meet your gondolier beside Hotel Gritti Palace at Santa Maria del Giglio for a private ride through Venice’s Grand Canal and quieter side canals. Expect a traditional gondola, skilled boat handling, and possible local commentary, but no formal guide. The advertised time is 20 minutes, though actual rides may vary.

“The staff were helpful and friendly. We turned up slightly earlier than planned as the meeting point was very easy to find but this was no problem and we put on the next available gondola. The ride was smooth and relaxing and the guide skilfully guided us around some of the smaller, quieter canals. I would definitely recommend.”

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Venice: Off the Beaten Path Private Gondola Ride - Starting near Ferrovia and San Marcuola
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Venice: Off the Beaten Path Private Gondola Ride

4.Off the Beaten Path Private Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 703 reviews · 30 minutes - 2 hours · from $94

Glide through Venice on a private gondola with an English or Italian gondolier. Choose 30 minutes to 2 hours, from quiet San Paolo canals and Palazzo Zenobio to Rialto, St. Mark’s, the Bridge of Sighs, and Santa Maria della Salute. Your gondolier can explain the city or let you enjoy the ride in silence.

“Our Gondolier Stefano made all the difference. He is a local and is very passionate about preserving the culture of Venice. Besides sharing with us the history of Venice and the attractions, he had shared with us his personal thoughts and views, which we appreciated greatly. He truly made our Venice trip much more memorable, insightful and inspiring. We hope he continues imparting Venice culture and bringing joy to others! Thank you Stefano!”

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Venice Private Gondola Ride: Explore Hidden Canals and Sights - The 30-minute ride: Carmelite churches and Palazzo Briati
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Venice Private Gondola Ride: Explore Hidden Canals and Sights

5.Venice Private Gondola Ride: Explore Hidden Canals and Sights

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 334 reviews · 30 minutes to 2 hours (approx.) · from $95

Book a private Venetian gondola for 30 minutes to 2 hours, with a local gondolier and a choice of quiet neighborhood canals or major sights. Routes can include Palazzo Ca' Zenobio, San Polo, Rialto Market, San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs, and Santa Maria della Salute. Commentary is available if requested.

“Absolutely wonderful experience. No commentary though but we preferred the silence so we could truly enjoy the ride. Venice is so beautiful from the water. The company was professional, kind, and helpful. No complains at all. But it is much colder in the water than on shore, January was very very cold. We had such a good time!”

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Private Tour: Venice Gondola Ride with Serenade - The Grand Canal route and its major sights
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Private Tour: Venice Gondola Ride with Serenade

6.Private Tour: Venice Gondola Ride with Serenade

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 207 reviews · 30 minutes (approx.) · $439 per gondola, seats up to 3

Take a private gondola from central Venice through the Grand Canal and quieter side canals, with a licensed gondolier and live Italian serenade. The ride lasts about 30 minutes and visits views near Peggy Guggenheim, Accademia Bridge, Santa Maria della Salute, and Palazzo Barbarigo. Confirm the meeting point and group price before booking.

“We had some difficulty finding the meeting point and the correct person to talk to. The information provided is not perfectly correct and we did become a little frustrated and anxious that we would miss our timeslot. I do think this could be easily rectified by the provider. However once we had successfully checked in the activity was seamless…. It was everything you would expect it to be, my husband was mildly amused at the cheese factor of it all, but in all honesty all the other gondola’s passengers were taking videos of our’s instead! I think the music makes the ride so much more fun and romantic, both the…”

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Venice: Private Grand Canal Gondola Ride from Rialto - Meeting at Riva del Carbon near Rialto
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Venice: Private Grand Canal Gondola Ride from Rialto

7.Private Grand Canal Gondola Ride from Rialto

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 178 reviews · $283 per gondola, seats up to 5

Start beside Rialto Bridge at Riva del Carbon and share a private gondola with up to five people. The 30 to 45 minute route follows the Grand Canal, then turns into smaller waterways before returning to Rialto. Commentary is not included, so book this for the classic water views rather than a guided history lesson.

“It was a great evening ride on the gondola! Our gondolier was engaging and did a great job sharing Venice’s history throughout.”

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Venice: 30 min private Gondola Ride with Guide - The Grand Canal and its grand façades
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Venice: 30 min private Gondola Ride with Guide

8.30 min private Gondola Ride with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 143 reviews · 30 minutes (approx.) · $343 per gondola, seats up to 4

Board a handmade gondola near St. Mark’s Square for a private 30-minute ride with an English-speaking guide and gondolier. Cruise the Rio della Madonnetta, Grand Canal, and smaller canals past Rialto Bridge, Ca’ d’Oro, Accademia Bridge, Santa Maria della Salute, and Peggy Guggenheim.

“Clementina was an excellent, knowledgeable guide with interesting stories and insights. Very lovely, peaceful tour with a very skilled gondolier. Highly recommended.”

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Best of Venice Private Tour: St. Mark's Doge Palace Gondola Ride - St. Mark’s Square and the basilica
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Best of Venice Private Tour: St. Mark’s Doge Palace Gondola Ride

9.Best of Venice Private Tour: St. Mark’s Doge Palace Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 98 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $544Top rated

Spend 4.5 hours with a private guide exploring St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, Rialto, and Marco Polo’s house. Guides such as Marie, Pamela, Nico, and Matteo tailor the pace and add local stories. Priority entry saves time, while a 30-minute private gondola ride closes the tour.

“First, Nico the guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. As a Venice native, he's passionate about his City and its history. We learned a lot and it was enjoyable. I guess I should have read the fine print, because we thought it was a full day for the money we were paying, but it turned out to be only a half day, really. So, I would change the name of the tour. It's not really Venice in a day. So, the 4 hours were full of good information and fascinating history. One of the coolest churches we've ever seen. The Gondola ride was supposed to be 30 minutes. This guy…”

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Private Photo Shoot in Venice with Gondola Ride Included - Meeting Enzo in St. Mark’s Square at 8:30 a.m.
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Private Photo Shoot in Venice with Gondola Ride Included

10.Private Photo Shoot in Venice with Gondola Ride Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 90 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · $435 per gondola, seats up to 4

Meet local Venetian photographer Enzo at 8:30 a.m. in St. Mark’s Square for an hour of posed and candid photos around Venice’s grand sights and quieter lanes, then board a private gondola for 30 minutes of pictures on the canals. The experience suits couples, proposals, honeymoons, families, and anyone wanting polished vacation photos.

“The entire experience was amazing from start to finish. Enzo is not only a talented photographer but also seemed very genuine and was a great tour guide. We would definitely recommend this for anyone visiting Venice!!”

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45-Minute or 1-hour Private Gondola Ride from Rialto - The Grand Canal: Venice From Its Main Waterway
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45-Minute or 1-hour Private Gondola Ride from Rialto

11.45-Minute or 1-hour Private Gondola Ride from Rialto

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 85 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · $337 per gondola, seats up to 5

You’ll take a private gondola from Riva del Carbon near Rialto, gliding along the Grand Canal and quieter inner canals for about 45 minutes. Expect views of Rialto Bridge, Venetian palaces, and lively waterfront life. The ride holds up to five people. Commentary and singing are not guaranteed, so confirm the details before booking.

“Lovely experience just slowly floating through the Venetian canals and seeing all the buildings Our gondola operator was friendly and pointed out a couple of areas of interest and we drifted onto the grand canal recommendation easy footwear and comfortable clothing as you have to negotiate getting into and out of the gondola not for somebody that has great difficulty walking or standing”

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Private Gondola Ride in Venice - What the 25 to 30 minutes really means
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Private Gondola Ride in Venice

12.Private Gondola Ride in Venice

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 85 reviews · 25 to 30 minutes (approx.)

Meet near the S. Maria del Giglio vaporetto stop and board a private gondola for up to six people. You’ll pass Venetian palaces, the Grand Canal, La Fenice, Bovolo staircase, and possibly Santa Maria della Salute. This is a ride, not a narrated tour, and route length can vary with traffic, weather, and canal conditions.

“Marco was a good guide. Good photography skills and good knowledge of where to go to get some of the best shots.”

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Private Photoshoot on Personal Gondola in Venice - Thirty minutes on the Venetian water
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Private Photoshoot on Personal Gondola in Venice

13.Private Photoshoot on Personal Gondola in Venice

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 82 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · $349 per gondola, seats up to 4

Meet your photographer at Caffè Florian for portraits by St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, then ride a gondola for about 30 minutes before finishing near Rialto Bridge. Photographers such as Mary, Manjola, Daniele, and Filipino are praised for friendly posing help and creative locations. Edited photos are promised within 48 hours.

“It was an incredible experience. The photographer, Marta, was amazing. She was trully professionnal.”

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Private Photo Shoot in Venice with Gondola Ride - Starting in or near Piazza San Marco
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Private Photo Shoot in Venice with Gondola Ride

14.Private Photo Shoot in Venice with Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 81 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · $905 per gondola, seats up to 4

Spend two private hours with a Venice photographer and guide, combining a walking photo session with a 30-minute gondola ride. You may be paired with photographers such as Michael, Marco, Mauro, or Alberto, who know quieter corners beyond Piazza San Marco. Pickup is available from Venice hotels, apartments, the train station, Piazzale Roma, and Accademia Bridge.

“Michael was AMAZING!! He was fun and personable! He made our entire family feel comfortable (2 adults and 2 teenagers) and had some great hidden away spots for great pictures! He gave us tips on poses to get the best shots, even for our different body types, so we all looked good. He even answered our questions and gave us tips on beaches, water taxis and local traditional snacks for Venice! Highly recommend!!”

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Venice: Private Walking Tour with Optional Gondola Ride - Saint Mark’s Square to La Fenice
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Venice: Private Walking Tour with Optional Gondola Ride

15.Private Walking Tour with Optional Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 79 reviews · from $150

Meet your guide under the Correr Museum arches in Saint Mark’s Square for a 2-hour walk through Venice’s quieter lanes. See La Fenice, Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, Marco Polo’s house, and Rialto Bridge from outside. Guides speak five languages. Add a 30-minute gondola ride, though the boat trip has no guide.

“Charming tour with an amazing guide who took us off the beaten track, so we got to experience the less touristy side of Venice!”

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Other canals, other boats

Shared Gondola Rides9Romantic Gondola Rides9Gondola Rides with a Serenade5Gondola Rides with a Photoshoot5Sunset and Night Gondola Rides7
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Pick a canal

A shared bench, a boat of your own, or a route past the Bridge of Sighs.

How you ride

Private ChartersShared BenchesRides for TwoWith a SerenadeWith a Photographer

The Venice route

The Grand CanalThe Bridge of SighsSt Mark’s BasilicaThe Doge’s PalaceAfter Dark

Ride plus something

With a Walking TourWith Food and DrinksWith Audio CommentaryWith a GuideMorning Departures

Away from Venice

United StatesPolandCambodiaThailandSouth Africa