We will be arriving in Venice on our 25th anniversary. If we decide to do a gondola ride to celebrate on that day, I'm just wondering if it would be better (or more romantic) to do it while we can see more, or at night? This will be our first trip to Venice.
Thanks!
Hi Andrea,
I agree at night or at dusk. And I would recommend finding a gondola off one of the smaller canals. The Grand Canal is packed and not very romantic.
We walked along the streets behind San Marco a ways and were able to get a better deal on a gondola plus it was way more romantic because we were the only one's on the canal path.
They are still pricey even if you get a deal but I think worth the experience one time in your life at least :-)
Have a fabulous trip! You'll love it!
Totally agree with Marla. We started our gondola ride just before dusk and it was magical watching the last rays of the sun glimmering off of the canal.
Andrea,
Im scared of water ...and the dark... but I took the gondola ride at night and still loved every minute of it! I went with my sister so of course I wasnt looking for the romantic factor, but it's definately an experience worth paying for. The night sky looks like velvet and you have to keep reminding yourself that it's real and you're not on some Disney World ride. Trying to find your way back to your hotel afterwards in the dark is also part of the experience :-)
Might I also suggest taking a walk near St. Mark's Square after dark? The night we were there, there were small orchestras on opposite ends playing for the diners and it echoed everywhere. Not sure if that is routine or it was a special occassion, but it was wonderful!
Do it at night and ask the gondalier to take you to the back narrow canals and he will. My husband didn't bargain with him, just asked him how long and told him what kind of experience he wanted, then paid the price he asked. I would have bargained, myself. But it was magical and well worth the fortune we paid. He showed us where he lived, told us about his life and his training etc. It was interesting, beautiful, romantic and magical. When we were coming back to the place we started the gondalier yelled out, "Bongee, bongee, bongee", to the other gondaliers. We have laughed many times that he was probably saying, "sucker, sucker, sucker". But, again, I wouldn't trade the experience or the money we paid.
Considering we are arriving in Venice on our anniversary, taking a gondola at dusk might just be the best, most memorable way to spend the evening. I've heard you can take wine on with you. Is that true?
Hi All.....How much is "pricey"? What is the cost of a gondola ride? I'll be in Venice in 3 weeks. Thanks
Also recommend dusk but something else you might consider is tide level. We happened to hit a time of unusually low tide and the smell from the exposed canal walls was terrible. Detracted from the rest of the experience.
