Where to Take a Gondola for Two: the 15 Best Rides

1.Romantic Venice: 30 Minute Gondola Ride with Serenade

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 2,742 reviews · 30 minutes (approx.) · from $66Our pick

Board a shared gondola at Santa Maria del Giglio for a 30-minute ride through Venice’s Grand Canal and smaller canals. You’ll see Palazzo Barberino, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Accademia Bridge, and Santa Maria della Salute while a singer performs from one gondola in the flotilla. This is a group experience, not a private serenade.

“It was worth the experience. The organizer, gondola driver, and singer/musician were l on time. We started promptly at the correct time. We went around for 30 minutes, and the musician played songs throughout. The singer sang everyone other song. They sounded wonderful and it was romantic. We were the envy of other gondola rides.”

Check availability →The full write-up

2.Romantic Shared Gondola Serenade on the Grand Canal

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 270 reviews · from $55

You’ll spend about 40 minutes near San Marco, including a short introduction, a shared gondola ride through quieter canals and part of the Grand Canal, and live Italian music from a nearby boat. The Gondola Gallery adds a look at boatbuilding tools and a sectioned gondola model. A dinner option is available.

“Absolutely loved my gondola ride The serenade was beautiful and I had such a great time. Great value for money with the aperitif beforehand”

Check availability →The full write-up

3.Winter Walking Tour & Romantic Gondola Ride Upgrade

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 179 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $14Best value

Walk Venice’s historic center with a live guide in English, Spanish, or Italian, passing the Scuola Grande di San Marco and Rialto Bridge before a VR journey through old Venice. Choose the upgrade for a 30-minute shared gondola ride, with a gap between activities.

“Molto bello il giro in gondola. Un filo frenetico il tour a piedi”

Check availability →The full write-up

4.Romantic Gondola tour and Dinner for two

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 153 reviews · from $520

Share a private 30-minute gondola ride through Venice, then walk five minutes to Restaurant La Caravella near St. Mark’s. You’ll receive prosecco, coffee, mineral water, and a three-course dinner of traditional and international dishes. The gondolier drives rather than guides, so this suits couples seeking atmosphere more than a narrated tour.

“Nice evening seeing the different islands with a spritz.”

Check availability →The full write-up

5.Valentine’s Waikiki Gondola Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 85 reviews · 45 minutes to 1 hour (approx.) · from $250Top rated

Ride a Venetian-style gondola through Waikiki’s Ala Wai harbor and canal with a gondolier such as Elliot or Shawn. Choose a daytime or sunset sailing, with longer cruises adding a lei, drink, pastry, umbrellas, and blankets. The small shared gondola carries up to four people and returns to the harbor.

“Highly recommend Hawaii WOW Gondola cruises! It was the absolute best way to end the night as our honeymoon trip was coming to an end. The smooth ride up the canal and back down, watching the sun set and learning about the culture and history was perfect. We enjoyed the conversation, drinks, treat, and music as well!”

Check availability →The full write-up

6.Romantic Sunrise Private Gondola Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · 3h 30m · from $82

Leave your Koh Lanta Yai hotel around 5 AM for Tung Yee Peng, where guide Gunn and a local captain take you by paddle-powered gondola toward Lanta Bay. Watch sunrise over the mangroves, enjoy fish with sticky rice and a hot drink, and look for macaques, mudskippers, and birds. Each booking has a private boat for up to four people.

“Honestly just book this tour. Don't think twice about the early pick up time, it's so so so worth it. Can't even describe how magical it is to see and hear nature waking up around you, how gorgeous the gondolas are, how delicious and special the food is and how kind everybody is. This is a family run business: the tour guides are a lovely young couple from a local community, and their parents make the food and drive the boats. They also pick you up in a comfortable and air-conditioned private car. Besides being an amazing experience, you're guaranteed to have some of the best pics of your trip…”

Check availability →The full write-up

7.Enchanting Venice: Private Gondola Experience

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 38 reviews · 25 to 30 minutes (approx.) · $180 per gondola, seats up to 5

Share a traditional Venetian gondola with only your group of up to five. The 25 to 30 minute route passes the Grand Canal before slipping into quieter inner canals. Commentary is not included, and the gondolier may or may not offer local stories. Meet at Traghetto Santa Maria del Giglio.

“This was a really nice Gondola ride. The experience was very special. My boyfriend really enjoyed his surprise. We had no issues, the entire process with our vouchers was smooth.”

Check availability →The full write-up

8.Valentine’s Venetian Gondola Cruise in Waikiki

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $250

Board at Ala Wai Harbor for a shared gondola cruise led by Larry or Elliott, a family-run team known for warm hosting, local stories, music, and a brief light display beneath the bridges. Sunset sailings last about an hour and include a lei, pastry, drinks, umbrella, and blanket. Bring your own bottle, with a $14 corkage fee.

“It is the best kept secret in Waikiki! A wonderful experience! We were welcomed, appreciated and given a fantastic tour that went beyond our expectations!”

Check availability →The full write-up

9.Enchanting Venice: City Walk & Majestic Gondola Ride!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $150

Start near St. Mark’s Square with a guided walk through quiet campi, La Fenice, Campo Santa Maria Formosa, and Rialto. Then share a gondola with up to five people for a short ride through Venice’s canals. The tour runs in English at 3:00 pm and uses a headset for commentary.

“Tour guide was very knowledgeable and included a couple of short rest breaks due to the extremely hot weather.”

Check availability →The full write-up

10.Grand Canal: Renew Your Wedding Vows on a Venetian Gondola

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 23 reviews · from $468

Meet your celebrant at Venice Events near St. Mark’s Square, then walk about 10 minutes to the gondola station. During the ride, you can exchange rings, read personal vows, and sign a certificate. A rose posy is included, while photography with 100 to 150 digital images is available as an option.

“Due to bad weather we didn't actually get to renew our vows in the gondola. Maria Rosa immediately came up with plan B, which was to have the ceremony inside the Doge Palace. Later in the afternoon the weather cleared up and we had our gondola ride - so amazing and romantic. I highly recommend Venice Events.”

Check availability →The full write-up

11.Valentine’s Private Gondola Cruise in Waikiki with Drinks, Pastry

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 45 minutes to 1 hour (approx.) · $670 per gondola, seats up to 4

Cruise the Ala Wai harbor and canal in a private gondola for up to four people. You’ll receive a Hawaiian lei, drinks, pastry, blankets, and umbrellas, with views of Diamond Head, Magic Island, Waikiki, and Honolulu’s skyline. Sunset sailings last about an hour and may include live music, tiny bubbles, and the Nick Puppy Georgio show.

“My girlfriend and I had the most wonderful time. The conversation was amazing during the entire trip making for a perfect evening for Valentine’s Day. Kisses under the bridge, chocolate moose, soft Italian music….who could complain?”

Check availability →The full write-up

12.1 Hour Private Romantic Gondola Cruises in Banksia Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews

Spend one private hour aboard Island Gondola in Banksia Beach, gliding through Bribie Island waterways toward views of the Glasshouse Mountains. Your group has the boat to itself, with snacks included. Bring your own drinks, as beverages are not provided. The cruise starts and ends at 41 Harbour Promenade.

“Great experience the food plate was great well thought out. We felt if the scenery did not feel like we were going behind peoples backyard may have been better. However, overall was a great relaxing experience. Would love to do it again or gift it to family or friends.”

Check availability →The full write-up

13.Walking Tour and Enchanting Gondola Journey in Venice

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 16 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $150

Explore Venice on foot and by water during a two-hour English tour beginning near St. Mark’s Square. Your guide leads you through narrow lanes, Campo Santa Maria Formosa, La Fenice, the Bovolo Staircase, and Rialto Bridge before a 30-minute shared gondola ride. Expect small gondolas, assigned seats, and a walking group of up to 15 people.

“Well informed and articulate tour guide. Beautiful introduction to the history of the sights. Enjoyable gondola ride.”

Check availability →The full write-up

14.Tour Enchanting Venice Majestic City Walk and Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 9 reviews · from $144

Walk from San Marco through Santa Maria Formosa, Rialto, La Fenice, and lesser-known lanes with a guide and personal audio system, then take a 30-minute shared gondola ride. The gondola holds up to five people, seating is assigned, and weather or city events can change the route.

Check availability →The full write-up

15.Enchanting City Walk & Majestic Gondola Glide!

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · from $131

This two-hour English tour pairs a guided walk through Venice’s San Marco and Castello areas with a 30-minute shared gondola ride. Expect stories about La Fenice, the Bovolo Staircase, Santa Maria Formosa, Rialto, and quieter Venetian lanes. The walk has up to 15 people, while each gondola carries no more than five.

“We both enjoyed learning about the city of Venice. It's history, architecture, and landscape. The tour guide was incredibly insightful, blended with humor and great presention skills.”

Check availability →The full write-up