Private Gondola Tour in Venice: Discover Hidden Canals and Venetian History
4.1
99 Ratings
Venezia
Experience the magic of Venice on a private gondola tour. Glide through hidden canals, admire Venetian architecture, and uncover the city's rich history. Book now!
Duration: 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Venice Faberest - It is estimated that there were 8-10 thousand gondolas operating on the canals of Venice during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, there are just 400 that are still in active service.
    Although most of the gondolas are used for touristic purposes, you’ll be fascinated by the strong bond they continue to have with the history of Venice.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Venice “off the beaten track”: this 30-minute private gondola ride, which departs very close to the train station, will allow you to explore the most hidden and fascinating canals and monuments directly from the water.

Your “gondoliere” will take you to see some beautiful cultural treasures of the city, such as Torres House, Palazzo Gaffaro, the Carmini Church, Palazzo Zenobio, and many other views and perspectives mostly unknown to tourists.

At the end of the ride, the gondola will take you back to Piazzale Roma (next to the train station).

What's Included
  • Local expert gondolier
  • Flexible tour duration - 30m, 1h, 1.5h, or 2h options
What's Not Included
  • Transportation to the meeting point
Additional Information

Embark on your personal gondola and navigate through Venice’s waterways. Whether you prefer to explore secluded areas or sail beneath renowned bridges and landmarks, this tour caters to all desires. Fabio, a gondolier, shares, ‘Being a gondolier extends beyond simply handling a gondola. Over 400 hours are dedicated to earning a Gondolier license, mastering the twists and turns of the canals, and understanding Venetian art and history. You’re genuinely in the most secure hands.’

The briefest tour centers around the San Paolo district. Uncover a more personal aspect of Venice and its less familiar treasures. Building facades facing the canal were a distinct feature of Venetian architecture before the streets were built – the canals served as the roads – and they represented a display of elegance and prosperity.

If you wish to extend to the Grand Canal, you can opt for the 1-hour tour. If you’re eager to see Venice’s more celebrated sites, the 1.5-hour tour features the Rialto Bridge region and the longest option incorporates St. Mark’s Square into your journey.

  • This activity takes place rain or shine, but please note that in the event of exceptionally high tides or heavy rain, the tour may be cancelled by the local supplier and a full refund will be provided
  • Each gondola carries a maximum of 5 people (infants included). Larger groups will be divided between multiple gondolas
  • Please note that babies count as adults. You need to book a ticket even for them
  • Please arrive 10 minutes before the tour departure time. If you arrive late, the ride will be shorter and for those more than 15 minutes late, this will be considered a no-show
  • Dogs are allowed on the boat and don’t count towards the maximum number of people
  • Your gondolier will ask you if you want a commentary during the experience or you can silently take in the sights and enjoy the ride
  • Please note that all tours start and end at Piazzale Roma (near the train station)
Location
Fondamenta Cossetti
Please present your voucher at the Servizio Gondole stand.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.1
(99 Ratings)
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Tammy_o
Jun 4, 2024
Best investment while visiting Venice - Luca was the perfect host - could not have asked for a better gondoliere. This was the highlight of our visit to Venice. The 1.5 hr excursion was relaxing for the entire family.
Review provided by Viator
Jay
Jun 2, 2024
Fabulous - A must is a visit to the Island of Murano. Famous hand blow glass factory. The island do Burano is a beautiful place so shop and eat . You have to take a water taxi.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roberta_e
Jun 1, 2024
Beautiful - Off the beaten path with a slower, enjoyable experience. The gondolier was an amazing addition with his knowledge. I would recommend this to anyone who visits Venice.
Review provided by Viator
Barbara_d
May 30, 2024
Gondola ride away from the crowds. - We arrived early and were able to board the gondola right away. We enjoyed the quiet ride away from the busyness of the other main routes. The only thing I regretted was not booking a longer ride.
Review provided by Viator
Gemma_b
May 22, 2024
Fantastic - Very authentic Venetian gondola ride. I did this the first day in Venice and I was absolutely amazed. Can’t explain the excitement I had. Worth every penny. The gondolier was very friendly and knowledgeable - he was a local
Review provided by Viator
Andrea_h
May 18, 2024
Great service - Our Gondolier Fabio was really friendly and told us lots of information about Venice and life as a Gondolier. Would definitely recommend going off the beaten track rather than down the Grand Canal which looked more touristy. Easy to find the pick up point and Fabio accommodated the fact that we had arrived 30 minutes early.
Review provided by Viator
Matthew_j
May 21, 2024
100% worth it - Easy to find meeting point. Look for your name on a post at the meeting point if you are not sure. Nice and quiet private ride away from the hustle and bustle. It’s double the cost of the standard gondola ride but 100% worth it. We also took the standard £30 (each) gondola ride and it was chaos finding where to go and actually getting the ride. Only downside is you don’t get long really. We only got 25 minutes I think. But again, still 100% worth doing when going to Venice.
Review provided by Viator
Endoedibles
May 21, 2024
A must - Currently 90 Euros for a 35 minute ride, cash only, a Gondola ride in Venice is a part of the experience. Launched from a number of points the price doesn't vary, so pick your spot and set off for a peaceful ride. For our trip we had both a pro and his pupil, a lack of songs replaced by information on the occupation and how to maneuver the boat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lisaeve_c
May 29, 2024
The gondola ride itself... - The gondola ride itself was nice. The views of the back alleys of the city were intriguing. However, our gondolier was on his phone quite a bit. Even though, if we did ask him a question about something, he was there to answer.
Review provided by Viator
Safari41415913759
Jun 2, 2024
No reason to walk to this one. - Eh. Just get a ride close to your hotel. This ride is close to city center. There are multiple rides near almost every bridge. These guys don't care. No reason to walk to this one. Crappy customer service
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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