Venice: Grand Canal by Gondola with Commentary

based on 2592 reviews

Duration:30 minutes to 50 minutes (approx.)
Location: Venice, Veneto

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Glide through the canals of Venice on a gondola ride with a live guide who explains the stories and secrets of the fascinating palaces around you.

The expert gondoliers will drive you along Venice's hidden passages and canals, reachable only by gondola, admiring the breathtaking Venetian landscape.

Pass beneath centuries-old bridges and take in the famous Grand Canal with its amazing views of stunning palaces.

The guide will narrate to you the fascinating history of gondolas and gondoliers! On board, you will hear all about the palaces, churches, and attractions around you.

Lastly, experience a ride in a unique virtual reality as you glide over the Grand Canal's tranquil waters at sunset over the centuries, and then discover the craftsmanship and secrets behind Venice's iconic boat with an up-close look at a sectioned model.

If you want to live an exclusive experience, book the private gondola and enjoy a ride with only you and your partner or friends!

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1.
We will pass trough the Gran Canal terrace of Ca Giustinian, one of the oldest Palace overlooking the Canal Grande.
2. Chiesa di San Moise
Close to San Marco Square, in front of St Moise (Moses) Church and the Gondola station, the guide will introduce you in the elegant and romantic world of the Gondolas.
3. Teatro La Fenice
Once one of 7 major theatres in the city, today the Fenice is Venice’s one and only opera house. It is surely a jewel among European theatres, and began to shine from the beginning, as the best composers of the age wrote and performed their operas here, among which Bellini, Donizetti and Rossini. But it was Giuseppe Verdi who is most attached to the Fenice and to Venetian memory.
4. Canal Grande
The most beautiful road in the world”, this is how the Grand Canal is known as. If you look around, what you will see is almost exactly what a nobleman in the 18th century might have looked upon, and before him a Renaissance courtesan and before him a merchant in the Middle Ages.
5. Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
Here, as you come into the Grand Canal you admire the church of the Madonna della Salute. The first thing that strikes a viewer is how imposing the church is, strategically placed at the entrance of the Grand Canal looking out onto the rest of the city in every direction, thanks to its circular shape. Today, ever 21 November the city celebrates the Madonna della Salute in memory of the end of the plague
6. Punta della Dogana
Punta della Dogana separates the Grand Canal from the Giudecca Canal. For its strategic location it was the house of the Custom and of the Salt Warehouses. During the fifteenth century, the Sea Customs House, which had previously been near the Arsenale, was transferred to the western point of Dorsoduro borough.
7. San Giorgio Maggiore
You will have a view of the Island of san Giorgio Maggiore, with its beautiful Renaissance Church built by Palladio in the Renaissance and the belltower resembling the bigger one in St Mark’s Square. The island was once known as the Island of Cypress Trees before it became an important Benedectine monastery.
8. Giardini Reali
At the end you will enjoy a wonderful overview of Saint Mark’s Square. This is a spot which painters from all over the world have tried to capture in its uniqueness, but we can only recommend that you sit back and take it all in.

ADDITIONAL INFO

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Each gondola can host maximum 5 people; the seat aboard cannot be chosen but will be assigned by the gondolier depending of guests weight.
• The Gondola Ride does not operate in case of exceptionally bad weather or high/low tide (in these cases it can be postponed the days after otherwise it will be refunded)
• The itinerary may change in the event of wind or bad weather
• The guide will be only on one gondola, the participants on the others gondola will listen to her/him with the audio-devices
• The live commentary will be only in English, French, Spanish and Italian. The commentary on German, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi, and Russian will be provided by mobile app downloaded on the own devices.
• The live commentary IS NOT included in the PRIVATE OPTION
• Please be at the meeting point 10 minutes before the departure time
• On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : Lisa_G
Excellent all around. Wish the gondola ride was longer. Enjoyed the surround history. A nice ending.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-13 10:54:26

Posted By : Astrid_C
Very overpriced, tour was half the time as promised and our gondolier was rude. Myself and my friend asked him some questions and he responded with obnoxious remarks
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-12 11:42:52

Posted By : Biren_Z
It’s a bit of a sham honestly.. they promise you the “grand canal” tour but hardly take you to the grand canal citing weather issues, wind etc.. for us it was a 20 min or so gondola ride mostly within the canals.. go for the experience if you must but totally avoidable
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-12 10:59:55

Posted By : Satish_D
My expectations were very high but completely ruined by my actual experience. We were given number 8 initially and was a wonderful looking Gandola. But in the last minute, for no reason changed it to number 9, which was a completely run down Gandola with weathered down seats. My family and I felt very insulted. In addition, the gandolier constantly was yapping loudly in Italian, preventing us from enjoying the scenary. He sounded very angry and loud, making us very nervous.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-12 07:21:36

Posted By : Andrea_R
We got the Gondola Experience, but it was great. The drivers were yelling at each other the whole time, laughing, perhaps at the expense of the costumers haha it was hard to know. They were not very friendly at all. We were not expecting much and feel we over paid. There are many stands waiting to get you on a Gondola, maybe those are better experiences.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-12 03:49:46

Posted By : Mikel_P
Great experience here in Venice! They take you on a quiet and relaxing ride under bridges and through the town. We loved it!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-12 03:21:28

Posted By : Jamie_K
I thought this was a gondola ride with commentary. It was a walk through a couple alley ways talking about Venice/gondala and then a short ride. The gondaleer was on his phone part of the time and barely paddling. Several gondolas passed us. I wouldn’t recommend this to a friend. I only gave 3 stars due to the guide leading us to the ride. This is my 2nd time in Venice and my first gondola ride was much better.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-11 12:52:22

Posted By : Taylor_M
The meeting place was easy to find. Our guide was friendly. We had a little commentary while walking to the boats, but none on the boat. Instructions for after we’re vague.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-11 11:10:59

Posted By : Karlie_M
A short walking tour was given with commentary before the actual gondola ride. Our Venetian tour guide was energetic and knowledgeable. No commentary was given on the actual gondola ride. Reasonable price.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-11 05:47:59

Posted By : Susan_S
Just the whole experience in being with my daughter, relaxing and beautiful. Met nice people and the gondola dude was nice
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-11 04:36:39