Venice Gondola ride

I had to type this in twice as it wouldn't take. In addition to the sunset timing question..adding these two tours THAT include the gondola. I know some people say to just show up to share a ride, but I would feel more comfortable and just have it booked before we leave. The two tours so far are below. (I am having a hard time finding one at sunset) http://www.walksofitaly.com/venicewelcome The tour sees these sights: Rialto Bridge Fondaco dei Tedeschi (from outside) San Giovanni Gristosomo (inside with paintings by Bellini and Sebastiano del Piombo) House of Marco Polo (from outside) Church of Miracles (from outside) Campo San Giovanni e Paolo Scuola Grande di San Marco, Venice's main hospital (from the outside) Bronze Equestrian monument of Bartolomeo Colleoni by Verocchio Campo Santa Maria Formosa Arch of Paradise Church of San Zulian (from outside) Gondola ride (30 minutes) Avventure Bellissime has this one: tours-italy.com/venice-walkingtours-venice...
Gondola will go at 3:45 St Mark's basilica with skip the line tickets , Doge's palace tour ( exterior) , Bridge of sighs, Campo Santa Maria Formosa ,Hidden Venice , Rialto bridge Just curious if anyone has suggestions or which one you would pick and why. Thanks -- Stacey

You really don't need to book a Gondola in advance you can just walk up to a Gondola stand or look near many bridges in Venice. If you book in advance you will probably be sharing with 5 other people. Evening gondola rides are €20 more than daytime. I think day is €80 for an hour and evening is €100 for up to 6 people.

Who says its crowded on the gondolas in Venice. I only see 7. http://gyazo.com/b6c66c3199764d05134e96e9327a0cfd

Stacey, do you mean that you think the canals will be less crowded with other vessels later in the day? If so, the Grand Canal is busy all day and all evening. The best gondola rides are not on the Grand Canal but through the small quiet back canals, where there's usually very little traffic any time.

you don't need to book, as there are plenty to choose from.
I'd agree the grand canal is busy all the time.

Yes..I wanted it to be NOT as crowded. are you saying that any time of day the smaller canals are NOT busy.

If you want it to not be crowded, you'll have to wait until at least 7pm. It will still be very crowded at 4:30 in the afternoon.

Anytime of the day the smaller canals are ALWAYS less busy than the Grand Canal. Think of a busy road near where you live...then picture all of those cars as boats and driving in the water instead of the road. Now you've got a picture of the Grand Canal traffic.

Stacey, did you look at the photo linked above? I've been many times to Venice and that picture is pretty representative of the small canals tours. Lots of people want to do them, only a few people fit in each boat = lots of boat loads. They all take a similar set of routes. What differs is where they go from, as there are gondolas stationed in many places, so each place has its different routes, but most boats from each place do that place's routes. Some routes have longer stretches on the Grand Canal, where they are the smallest thing afloat other than a very rare kayak, and they do suffer from the large concentration of large and very large motorized boats. Other routes do very little on the Grand Canal and wind around the side small canals, just like the picture. Those which start from St Marks Basin get it even worse because of the large ships which come up and down the Giudecca Canal. If you do anything like the two you have highlighted they are likely to be when they want to go, as opposed to when you may want to go, and they will be nonnegotiable as to route, departure point and gondolier. Probably more expensive, too.

thanks everyone...sounds like 4:30 is too early. 7:00pm it would be too dark to see anything. So you guys are saying just go up to a gondola that is sitting there just like a taxi and see if we can stay in the back canals.

Stacey my two cents The gondolas wait around in clusters at many points in the tourist areas. You will pass them many many times as you are walking around, and the gondoleers standing around will constantly be asking you and all the other tourists passing by if you want a ride, all day long. Not annoying, but you will see why booking one from overseas is overkill. They are everywhere, and they don't have to be flagged down. What I would suggest is that during the day, while you are out, take note of a location most convenient to your hotel. You can arrange then for a time to go later in the day, ask them about their route and you can decide if their trip meets your desire. I think that you actually do want to go when it is dark. It is beautiful to cruise with all the lights on the old palazzos and the music from the bright-lit crowded restaurants on the water, etc. That is romantic, if that is what you are looking for. If you want to do this just to see the same sights from the water you walked by earlier, you would be much much better off just riding the vaparetto all over. That too is a great way to spend the day. Note,the gondolas are really slow, and even in a 30-60 minute trip, you won't go that far anyway. Mostly side canals, and a few hundred meters of grand canal, and back to launch point. Also note, that not all gondolas allow two people to sit together facing forward, the way you might think, so that in sharing a gondola, you might not get choice seating.
and no, I don't think you want to stay in back canals. Some of them are narrow and unpleasant. You need to get out into the Grand Canal where it is open and you the facades of the grand palazzos face. The gondolas don't like to go very far on GC when traffic is heavy during the day, but they do go on it.

I think morning are the least crowded I have ever seen as far as masses of gondolas (though less romantic). Why do you want to take a shared one? I think 2-4 is optimum. Just walk up to any gondolier they will often be saying "Gondola, Gondola, Gondola" like a busker. If you sign up for a tour you will pay as much or more than if you just walk up to a Gondolier but you will likely have the gondola to yourselves.

You mention you will "take a shared one." What do you mean by that? Are you going to be sharing it with another couple who is traveling with you? If not, how are you going to find someone to share it with?

Shared because it is less expensive. Example...it could be 25 to 35 Euros each vs 110 Euros etc. example those two tours I gave would be 2 hours tour and 30 minute gondola ride for about 42 euros each. It would be with strangers..not anyone we know. it is just two of us. Nigel sorry I neglected to answer you..I did see the picture...and looks fairly crowded even in the small canals. I know it seems overrated, but I can't go to Venice without taking one. I plan on taking the regular boat (vepratto) for the grand canal tour. The gondola will just be for the experience.

For me, a gondola ride was a "must" on my one and only trip to Venice. As they say, "Just do it". I think dusk is a lovely time to glide through the canals. Don't worry with linking it to a tour. As said previously, you will see lots of gondola launching sites. Pick one that appeals to you. If you want to split the fare, you can wait at the site and the gondolier will pair you off with another couple. Or per my mantra, "it's only money". Go for it! Have fun.

Debby..glad you posted that...yep ...just gotta do it.

You don't have to pay all that money. It looks like you think it would be €100 per person, but if so that's wrong. The prices for "tours" can be anything that is advertised and people agree to pay. The price for a gondola trip when you approach them at the docks is set by law. You can negotiate a lower price but if you do you will get a shorter ride. Here are the official prices: Daytime €80. For that €80 you can put up to 6 people into the gondola - or fewer - the price is for the boat up to 6 people, not per person. This price is for up to 40 minutes. You can get an extra 20 minutes for another €40. Evenings, after 19:00 (7pm) until 8 in the morning, the price goes up. It is then €100 for the first 40 minutes, then €50 for additional 20 minutes. So, if you go before 7pm just the 2 of you, you can have a private 40 minute ride for only €80 - that's only €40 each. Less than with the tour, you choose which gondolier, you choose where from, you choose when to go. If it looks like rain you can go before, after, or not at all. If you are pre-booked for a tour and it rains, do you want to "enjoy" it under umbrellas?