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Gondola route in Venice

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I'd like to take a gondola ride on Tuesday around sunset. I've read it is best to mostly avoid the Grand Canal, but I would like to go under the Bridge of Sighs. Is it possible to do both? Is there a good starting point? We won't have a ton of time to peruse options, so I'd like to head to a good location from the start.

Sunset is at 4:30 -- I was thinking that would be a good time to start, as it will be dusk and everything will still be visible. Would it be better to start a bit earlier, at 4:15? The ride will only be 30 minutes, it is hard to time it precisely for the best sun situation!

Posted by
332 posts

If you like taking photos, begin about 5 or 10 minutes after sunset so you can get good blue hour photos.

Posted by
1282 posts

You cannot avoid the Grand Canal if you wish to go under the Bridge of Sighs.

Posted by
8075 posts

I have done the gondola ride twice and never approached the Grand Canal. Those gondolas don't move very fast and most of the rides start near St. Mark's Square.

Posted by
5141 posts

...avoid the Grand Canal...like to go under the Bridge of Sighs. Is it possible to do both?

The Bridge of Sighs spans a small side canal that joins the Giudecca basin near the start of the Grand Canal and the Giudecca canal. Therefore there will probably be a bit of travel on open water -- but maybe not depending on the exact route. Regardless, despite what you have read, there isn't any reason to avoid the Grand Canal or any open water where the gondolas travel. Based on 40 plus years of canoeing white water, I can assure you the gondolas are very stable and the gondoleers really know what they are doing.

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