Venice gondola rides - prices, prebooking, etc.

Gondola rides have a fixed rate of 80 euro for 6 people for 40 minutes, rates are higher at night and if you want more time. I would not prebook with Viator as they are adding a premium for prebooking and it is not really necessary. You will find them all over as you walk around Venice. When it is convenient for your group, just pick one. You can chat with them a little or ask about their route if you have something specific in mind. It is better to stay off of the Grand Canal because of more traffic but we did one with a short segment along the Grand Canal and it was nice. High tourist areas such as near San Marco or the Bridge of Sighs will be busier so find someone along a less busy canal to avoid the crowd.

http://www.gondolavenezia.it/history_tariffe.asp?Pag=43

Thank you! I actually just found the official gondolier website publishing the fixed rates - $207 is way too much!! Thanks for your help!

With regard to "...taking advantage of the traghetti... ", I can't find it now, but I swear I saw something last week to the effect that there were now only a couple of locations that have them. Perhaps someone else remembers something about this or you can do some checking to find our where they still operate.

mimidennis, do the ride in the evening when the lights are on on the Grand Canal, and the big delivery boats are not running. Ask your hotel where the nearest convenient "stand" is and check it out during the day, and arrange with them a time for that evening.

As mentioned above, it is better to stay off the Grand Canal as much as possible because your time may be eaten up in traffic! I suggest keeping an eye out for a single gondola for hire on as you walk side canals. The gondolas are owned by the Gondolier and they can barter prices on their "off" hours, (or so I was told by our Gondolier). We paid 70E for about a half hour, a short time of which was on the Grand Canal. It was lovely.

There is still a traghetto crossing between Ca d'Oro and the Rialto Market dock. It is 2€ and best to have the exact amount to handover as you board (but don't know if that applies to children), they usually ask tourists to sit down rather than stand like the locals do.

I will also agree that you should skip the Grand Canal and Bridge of Sighs areas and look for gondolas on smaller canals. We have been to Venezia 3 times now. Each time we go, we decide that we will definitely take a gondola ride. Each time we look at the crowds and the price and decide to spend the money on a nicer meal. Have you heard of bear jams at Yellowstone? Well there are also gondola jams near the Bridge of Sighs.

Take a gondola ride. Do not use Viator. Pick one when you are there. A night gondola ride, you don't really see the colors of the buildings, they are dark.