Has anyone been to Venice in the past couple of months and taking a gondola ride for 2 at night? I was curious about how much to budget for that. I've read online that the price is 80 euro for day, and about 100 euro at night. But sometimes those prices aren't really given. Is that per person, or for both people? We will negotiate with the gondoliers and talk to a couple before getting one.
Posted by
California
494 posts
I was last in Venice in January but since then I read that the price for a ride will be posted at all gondola dock because of some unscrupulous gondoliers. It has been possible to haggle on the price and get a lower rate but normally for a lower rate, you get less time. Here's the official website that states the official price. For an evening ride of 40 minutes, the rate is 100 euro, 50 euro for any additional 20 minutes. Have fun!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
The standard pricing is for the boat ride, regardless of number of people, up to 6. The price goes up in the evening. It's a monopoly so the gondoliers don't have much incentive to bargain with you, but good idea to talk to a couple of them first before picking. You know they're sprinkled all over Venice, right? Some people seem to think they have to go to San Marco to get a gondola ride.
Posted by
OP
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
Thanks Michael. I know they are spread out over Venice. Is it better to get one in the San Marco area or away from the main tourist hub? I read one website that said the ones around San Marco might be a little more reasonable to the "rates" then the ones elsewhere. I was planning on asking several as I walk around on night 1 about their rates, and returning to an area on night 2 or 3 to take the trip.
Posted by
Sammamish, WA
403 posts
We took a gondola ride from San Marco at night. We had our kids with us, so we weren't 100% sure we wanted to do it. After the gondolier quoted 100E and then 80E, we walked away because it just seemed too expensive. Well, he chased us down the street and we ended up with a ride for 40E. So you may find that "negotiating around" could have some interesting results! We were there early spring, so YMMV. BTW, the price is for the whole boat, not per person.