We will be staying 3 nights in Venice this year 5/26-5/29. Do we need to worry about booking ahead for a gondola ride? I've heard there are many different versions you can purchase, but would almost rather get the feel of things while we are right there. Any special websites to visit for info on this subject? Thanks for your help! Happy travels!
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
...or you could just take a traghetto for 1Euro.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
No you don't. You can just walk up and hire a gondola ride on the spot. The gondoliers hang out in several locations in Venice and you'll find them easily.
Posted by
OP
Pasadena, MD, USA
44 posts
Thank you for your quick response; that's pretty much what I thought, but we didn't want to leave any details unchecked!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33861 posts
If you book ahead, how will you be able to audition the voices, and select a strong gondolier? Maybe you'll get a scrawney one with no voice out of uniform with no hat?
Posted by
Ramona, CA, USA
73 posts
If you don't have your heart set on a full hour gondola ride (which I've heard run around $100) then take the gondola taxi from St Mark's across the Grand Canal to La Salute Church and back - 1 euro per person. It's two minutes on the water in a gondola, which was enough time to take a picture with the gondolier.
Posted by
California
494 posts
Kelley, it's not known as gondola taxi but a traghetto as mentioned above. It only costs 50 euro cents.
Posted by
Auburn, Washington, USA
515 posts
My parents and I were in Venice last March and there were gondola's everywhere. Tons were even tied up because there are so many no one was using them. I hear picking a gondolier on the main canal costs more.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Maybe the reason so many are tied up and not being used is because it's so darned expensive.
Posted by
Diamondhead, MS
132 posts
The only gondola ride I know of where you need to reserve is a tour available through viator where a group of gondolas with a musician and singer on one. The group then goes through the back canals. People sit on bridges, and look out windows to watch you go by. Kind of neat. We took it and enjoyed it. http://www.viator.com/tours/Venice/Venice-Gondola-Ride-and-Serenade/d522-2495TOUR4 You might be able to book there, but I understand it's usually sold out. Otherwise I agree. Just grab a gondola. If your hotel has a dock. They can call for one.
Posted by
Wiesbaden, Germany
791 posts
I know it's a big deal and I know you HAVE to do it but the Gondolas, to me, are the biggest tourist trap in all of Europe. On my first trip to Venice in 2000, we did a gondola ride, it cost 120,000 lire which was about $60. There were 4 of us so we split it 4 ways, the guy said it would be an hour and he even sang the whole time. We went down a small canal into the Grand Canal, then back, it took 40 minutes and when it was done, I remember thinking to myself, "I CANNOT believe I just paid $15 for THAT." Now imagine if I'd paid over $100...I personally believe they are they a ripoff but I'm glad people do them because they make for great photo ops...