Gondolas

Hi Colleen,

We went on a Gondola ride two years ago in April and the price was about 70 euros for our whole family of 4. That was probably with tip - and keep in mind that was a much better exchange rate, so around 85 US dollars. - It is very negotiable though and we walked around for 3 days with lots of offers per day before we finally were ready. My husband got a feel for the cost the first few days by asking around and so by the time we went, we knew the standard rate. There is also a huge range in quality of the gondolas, some are much nicer looking, with music playing, etc - ours was pretty middle of the road and we saw everything everyone else saw!

Have fun - it's one of my very favorite memories!

It's for the group if you're arranging on your own (as opposed to a package through your hotel.) Upwards of 100 euro but you might be able to strike a deal.

Or, for one euro, you can board a traghetto and cross the Grand Canal in a gondola.

It's for the group. The gondola will normally hold up to 6 people. We did this last June in the evening and it cost 100 Euro. There were two of us and we teamed up with another senior couple who were on vacation with their 10-year old granddaughter. For the five of us, it was 20 Euro each. The ride is about 40-50 minutes. It's supposed to be less expensive before 8:00pm. It's really a tourist scam but you have to do it at least once. After all, it's Venice. It was worth it. Doug is correct about the traghetto. It's their version of a quick ferry across a canal. Note that it is traditional to stand in the traghetto.

Yes, and you're supposed to get into the traghetto and face the opposite direction than you think you should. That's because the traghetto will swing around before it heads over to the opposite side.

Thank you all for your help! I am so relieved. I was beginning to think it was per person. Yikes! I am so happy it is a group rate. Thanks!

VERY IMPORTANT! Pay when you're done!!! If they won't allow it, find another gondolier. There are very strict rules governing this tourist attraction. There are official rates and times -- get informed.
I speak, unfortunately, from experience -- on our honeymoon, we payed 100 euro upfront for what the gondolier and I agreed IN ITALIAN was to be a 40 minute evening ride. 14 minutes later we looped back to where we started and it was over. I speak Italian fluently -- there was no misunderstanding, no miscommunication -- he already had our money, and really just didn't care. So please, be aware - don't just throw your money at these people without doing your homework first. There are lots of gondoliers in Venice - it's unfortunate that some of them are crooks...

I attempted to negotiate a fair price with one of the Gondoliers, but he didn't want to waste his time on me when there were so many other eager tourists wanting to overpay him, so I took the traghetto and pocket the 99 Euro difference and was VERY pleased with my decision!

They want to be paid up front no matter what the rules say. On our visit to Venice, most gondolas were tied up and covered because of the rain. Think you could negotiate with so many gondoliers standing around? Forget it. It seems that you play by their rules or you don't play.

We would have liked to have taken a gondola ride, however the cost was prohitive. What we ended up doing, since we were going to spend the next day going to the islands of San Michelle, Murano, and Burano, was to go to the train station and buy the 24 hour Vaporetto pass. Then we took the slow Vaporetto back down to the Ca Rezzonico stop. Then we used the same ticket the entire next day to ride to the islands. Rick Steves mentions this slow boat approach in his book. We got up front and grabbed one of the seats and enjoyed.

I second the vaporetto suggestion. When we were in Venice we took a gondola ride that was very enjoyable. I was with some cute, young friends and I think the gondolier wanted to impress them so he even sang to them. We did our gondola ride as dusk was darkening to evening and it was beautiful. The next day we hopped on a vaporetto at the stop at P. San Marco and got the seats in the very front that are on the outside. We had a marvelous view of the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge.