Venice: Grand Canal by Gondola with Commentary

based on 2411 reviews

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

From $33.79

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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 : Erin_B
We had a lovely time! Our tour guide Riccardo was wonderful as well as our gondolier. Thanks so much for adding to our experience in Venice!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-10 06:51:42

Posted By : 370beccaw
Fabulous gondola ride and great tour leader. Definitely recommend. Sunny day and even got a treat from the singers and musicians going by in the other boats. Was easy to find and quick service.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-10 05:53:40

Posted By : Vanessa S
Exceptional guided tour before we went on the Gondola with lots if information about the history of the Gondolas. The Gondola ride itself was a fantastic experience and a definite must to do when visiting Venice.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-10 05:52:53

Posted By : Voyager643412
The guide was excellent and gave us fun and interesting information on the way to the gondola ride. The gondala ride was fun, relaxing and beautiful. It felt quite short and disappointingly didn’t go on the main stretch of the canal. I would still recommend this tour.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-10 05:49:55

Posted By : Tracey_D
The walk and guided tour was an unexpected extra and very informative. The gondola ride was ok but canal was very crowded
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-10 02:14:29

Posted By : Stephen_M
The tour started off with a little history lesson before arriving at the gondolas. The actual ride is only about 15-20min but we still enjoyed it and got some great videos and photos. 5/5 must do in Venice!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-10 01:18:32

Posted By : Liz_R
This tour does exactly what it says on the can! A nice little intro from two very cheerful friendly girls who led us through the Venetian streets to our gondolas. We then had a quiet ebb around the inner canals and then out onto the grand canal. A beautiful experience.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-09 16:00:00

Posted By : debrag859
Our guide was very informative and made everything understandable- fun time on the Gondolas! Very organized and we enjoyed ourselves very much!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-09 11:53:35

Posted By : Piia_H
It was a really peaceful and beautiful experience. Our driver was polite and let us take in the experience without interruption.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-08 11:21:36

Posted By : Trek30303438757
This was a rip off! A 19 minute trip in a procession of Gondolas. It was not guided, in fact the Gondolier didn’t say a word. The young lady who escorted us from St Mark’s square provided some information about Venice, but that was it. Don’t book before you depart, spend 90€ when you arrive and have a Gondola to yourself.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-08 11:12:13