Gondola rides · TOUR REVIEWS

Every Gondola Ride Worth Booking: Our Top 15

114 rides  ·  from $12 a seat

Every ride on the site in one list, Venetian and otherwise. The 15 below lead it, priced and timed, with the full catalogue underneath when you want to go deeper.

Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary - The VR journey through historic Venice
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Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary

1.Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 23,020 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $41Our pick

Meet near San Marco for a short introduction to gondolas, a gallery visit, and a VR journey through old Venice. Then share a 30-minute gondola ride through quiet canals and along the Grand Canal, passing La Fenice, Peggy Guggenheim’s palace, the Salute Church, and Punta della Dogana. Guides such as Elena, Riccardo, Sara, and Nic add useful local context.

“this activity exceeds my expectations. The guide was wonderful and very informative. Clearly cares alot about giving guests a good experience. The gentleman rowing the gondola was also very friendly and made the experience even better. Really impressed with the experience as I would consider this cheap for Venice. highly recommended”

Check availability →The full write-up

Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™ - From Teatro La Fenice to the Grand Canal
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Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™

2.Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 16,504 reviews · 1 - 3 hours · from $48

You’ll share a traditional gondola for a 30-minute ride through Venice’s small canals and the Grand Canal, with live commentary on palaces, gondolas, and landmarks such as La Fenice and the Salute Basilica. The experience also includes the Gondola Gallery and a virtual journey inside a reconstructed felze cabin. Guides may include Ricardo, Beatrice, Georgia, or Rossella.

“It was great. We got a gondola for ourselves. Clean. VR experience was good as well”

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Venice: Shared Gondola Ride Across the Grand Canal - Finding the Alilaguna meeting point near San Marco
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Venice: Shared Gondola Ride Across the Grand Canal

3.Shared Gondola Ride Across the Grand Canal

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 6,645 reviews · 30 min · from $46

Share a traditional gondola with up to five other people and a professional gondolier. The route links the Grand Canal with smaller waterways near San Marco, Rialto, Campo San Luca, and Teatro La Fenice. The ride includes no music or commentary, but it offers a calm, affordable way to see Venice from the water.

“Really enjoyed the friendly staff, along with the ease of directions to the meeting point making it a very seamless experience for me thank you”

Check availability →The full write-up

Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™ - Through the narrow canals toward La Fenice
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Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™

4.Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4,223 reviews · 30 to 50 minutes (approx.) · from $49

Meet near Saint Mark’s Square for a short introduction, a traditional gondola ride of about 30 minutes, and views of La Fenice, Santa Maria della Salute, Punta della Dogana, San Giorgio Maggiore, and Saint Mark’s Square. English, French, and Spanish commentary is available, while other languages use an app. Shared boats hold up to five people.

“Gondolaier was great. Gave us lots of history. Would definitely recommend this. Tour guide was great as well.”

Check availability →The full write-up

Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride - Walking through St. Mark’s Square
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Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride

5.Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3,630 reviews · 2 hours 9 minutes to 2 hours 27 minutes (approx.) · from $72

Start near St. Mark’s Square with a guided walk through Venice’s back streets, passing La Fenice, Scala del Bovolo, and the Rialto area. Then take a 30-minute gondola ride through the Grand Canal and smaller canals. Guides such as Nadia, Christina, Elena, Francesca, and Federica have earned praise for clear, lively storytelling.

“Our guide was a real gem! He was so knowledgeable, always sprinkling in fun facts and light humor. Lots of fun!!”

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Venice In a Day: St Mark's, Doges Palace Gondola Ride & City Tour - The mid-tour break and what to eat
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Venice In a Day: St Mark’s, Doges Palace Gondola Ride & City Tour

6.Venice In a Day: St Mark’s, Doges Palace Gondola Ride & City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,588 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $124Top rated

Walk from Rialto Bridge to the fish market, ride a shared gondola through the Grand Canal and back canals, then tour St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace with an English-speaking guide. The 8:30am option lasts about six hours, includes a break, and limits the group to 20 people.

“What do you hope for on a tour? Your money’s worth, with interesting sites, and a knowledgable guide. Robbie/Roberta was exactly this, with the added flair of being an open, honest, engaging, and humorous local. If I could have Robbie as a guide everywhere, I would never stop traveling. In addition to detailed knowledge about the specified sites, she also provided insight to various random sites, answered any questions we had, and had intimate knowledge of the city in which she lives. The tour itself was very well organized with privileged access to the sites /activities mentioned. Our money was well spent.”

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Venice: Traditional Shared Gondola Ride - The first passage through San Marco’s smaller canals
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Venice: Traditional Shared Gondola Ride

7.Traditional Shared Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,263 reviews · 30 min · from $42

Share a traditional Venetian gondola for 30 minutes, passing quiet San Marco canals, ornate palaces, and possibly the Bridge of Sighs before reaching the Grand Canal. You may receive an audio introduction, but your gondolier is not a guide. Expect up to five passengers, assigned seating, and a route that can change with tides and canal traffic.

“It was great, we had fun even in the awful weather! Thank you.”

Check availability →The full write-up

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

8.Private Gondola Cruise for up to 5 Passengers

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

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.”

Check availability →The full write-up

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

9.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!”

Check availability →The full write-up

Romantic Venice: 30 Minute Gondola Ride with Serenade - Smaller canals bring the quieter moments
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Romantic Venice: 30 Minute Gondola Ride with Serenade

10.Romantic Venice: 30 Minute Gondola Ride with Serenade

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

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

Venice's Best: Basilica, Doge's Palace, Gondola & History Gallery - Doge’s Palace, political power, and the Bridge of Sighs
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Venice’s Best: Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola & History Gallery

11.Venice’s Best: Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola & History Gallery

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,478 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $129

Spend about three and a half hours with a small English-speaking group exploring St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, then ride a shared gondola through Venice’s canals. Guides such as Lucia, Valentina, Giada, and Alexander have led highly praised visits, while the included History Gallery adds a short virtual look at Venice’s past.

“The activity deviated from the program Description. The program says there is gandola Ride involved. But they did nor let us rode gandola. Very disappointed.”

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Las Vegas Super Saver: Madame Tussauds with Gondola Boat Ride - What makes the wax museum worth your time
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Las Vegas Super Saver: Madame Tussauds with Gondola Boat Ride

12.Las Vegas Super Saver: Madame Tussauds with Gondola Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,697 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $54

Start at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas inside The Venetian, where you can pose with celebrity, superhero, and Vegas wax figures for 60 to 90 minutes. Collect your gondola voucher there, then reserve an outdoor Grand Canal ride for the same day or within seven days. The shared boat ride lasts about 15 minutes and may include a singing gondolier such as Giovanni or Marina.

“Both attractions were so entertaining & fun. Some of the wax figures were very realistic & captivated you. The gondola ride was so much fun with singing & laughs.”

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Charming Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal & Gondola Gallery™ - A short walk toward the canals
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Charming Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal & Gondola Gallery™

13.Charming Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal & Gondola Gallery™

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,313 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $47

Meet near St. Mark’s Square for a short introduction, a Gondola Gallery visit with VR, and a shared gondola ride through Venice’s canals. You’ll see the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Gritti Palace, La Fenice, and Madonna della Salute. The ride lasts about 30 minutes within a roughly 45-minute experience.

“The virtual museum was very interesting and immersive. The gondola ride was fun and peaceful when we went through the residential area. My friends went on a different gondola ride, and it started late and was very short. It was dark by the time they got on the gondola.”

Check availability →The full write-up

Las Vegas: Entry to Madame Tussauds with a Gondola Cruise - Inside Madame Tussauds Las Vegas
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Las Vegas: Entry to Madame Tussauds with a Gondola Cruise

14.Entry to Madame Tussauds with a Gondola Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,056 reviews · 1 day · from $54

Meet wax versions of Marvel heroes, musicians, film stars, and Vegas icons at Madame Tussauds, then redeem your voucher for an outdoor gondola ride at the Venetian. The museum is interactive and photo-friendly. Gondoliers such as Patricia, Amelia, Valentino, and Inzo have been praised for warm service and beautiful singing.

“Loved everything! Mostly the Gondola ride my favorite. Really good Package deal.”

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Venice: Crafted Gondola Under Breathtaking Bridge of Sighs™ - What you see along the six listed stops
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Venice: Crafted Gondola Under Breathtaking Bridge of Sighs™

15.Crafted Gondola Under Breathtaking Bridge of Sighs™

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 996 reviews · 45 min · from $41

Glide for 30 minutes through Venice’s canals, St Mark’s Basin, and beneath the Bridge of Sighs, then explore Venice’s past through a short VR film. A 15-minute introduction, multilingual audio app, skip-the-line entry, and gondolas for up to five people make this a tidy first gondola ride, though seating and ride time can vary.

“Straightforward and easy way to enjoy a Gondola trip!”

Check availability →The full write-up

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Other canals, other boats

Venice Gondola Rides86Private Gondola Rides28Shared Gondola Rides9Grand Canal Gondola Rides17Gondola Rides with a Serenade5USA 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