Everything about the Gondolas in Venice

Everything about the Gondolas in Venice.

Venice is one of the most romantic cities in Italy, and when we talk about the city, the famous and iconic gondolas come to mind. However, do you know how much it costs, where to get it and other details about the Venetian gondolas? If you are planning your trip to Venice and want to take a gondola ride, this post is for you! Here at Your Travel to Italy with Ana Patricia you make the trip of your dreams!!! ALSO: see our “Accommodation in Italy – Tips for your holidays!”

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Gondolas in Venice

Introduction

Oh, Venice! Magic, romantic and full of charms! Located in the Veneto region, it is one of the most visited cities in Italy and considered, by a large majority, the city of lovers. With unmissable attractions like St Mark’s Square, Ponte Dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) and many others, Venice is also famous for its canals and, of course, for its iconic gondolas.

A Little abou Gondolas

Gondolas are wooden boats 11 meters long that weigh about 600 kilos; master artisans, called squeri, make them manually. Professional gondoliers row the gondola, and, already in the 12th century, it was the most popular means of transport in the city; despite being a Venetian symbol of the city’s history, tradition and romance, the city, of course, has modernized and the gondolas have become a tourist attraction. Read also: How to use the vaporetto in Venice?

Why ride a gondola? Because it is a unique tour in the world! Venice offers you, with its gondolas, a unique experience and, if you want to venture through the city’s canals and see Venice from another point of view, in this post we have gathered all the information you need about gondolas.

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How much is it?

The most common question: how much will I pay for a gondola ride? Well, it depends! Several factors such as the period you are traveling, where you take the gondola, whether you are going to do the tour alone, as a couple or with more people, but the fixed price for the ‘basic’ tour is 80 euros. Ah, the ‘basic’ rides last an average of 35 minutes! We will see more details later.

What are the hours?

The times established by the Municipality of Venice are from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, however gondoliers can run until 3:00 am, and the value increases: it goes from 80 to 100 euros. Remembering that the maximum occupancy of the gondolas is a maximum of six people.

Gold Tip

Agree with the gondolier the amount to be paid BEFORE getting on the gondola!

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How is calculated the extra amount to be charged if the tour exceeds 35 minutes?

They calculate 40 euros every 20 minutes more, if it is during the day and 50 euros every 20 minutes more, at night. Important: pay A LOT of attention; the “night” tours start from 07:00 pm! In addition, remember that the prices are FIXED; therefore, all gondoliers must respect them!

Good to Know…

Not all gondoliers accept credit cards, but depending on where you take the gondola, you can use your card without any problem, although I suggest you pay in cash and, at the end of the tour, if you want , you can offer a tip to the gondolier! (remembering that it is not mandatory!).
You can also choose to take the tour with other people; some gondolas accommodate up to 6 people. The cost of the tour, divided, drops to 20 euros (more or less, taking into account the total value of 80 euros and dividing by 4 people), depending on where you take the boat. Venice: Traditional Shared Gondola Experience

Curiosity

Do you know how a person prepares to be a gondolier? Aspiring gondoliers need to take a course at a gondola school, where they study a foreign language, the complete history of Venice and Venetian art. Then they take a written test and a practical test, if they pass, before starting to work professionally, they need to do an internship that lasts between six months and one year! Read more: Venice: Grand Canal by Gondola with Commentary

Where to take the gondola?

Below you will find a map with the location of some gondola stations in Venice:

The main stations, and the classic itineraries, are as follows:

Rialto
Danieli: leaving here you will visit, by water, the main points of the city; we depart from the San Marco Basin, in front of the Danieli Hotel (near the pier of line 1 ACTV S. Zaccaria). The tour starts with the canals of the old city, crosses the Palazzo River, passes under the Bridge of Sighs and crosses the Santa Maria Formosa and San Severo rivers.
Trinità: the gondola departs near the Hotel Bauer, in Campo S. Molise, and covers the area of the Barcoli River. From the gondola, you can see the famous Mozart’s house. Then we continue to the Scoacamini River, from where we see Goethe’s house and then we go to the Grand Canal, snowing across the San Luca and Campo Manin River. It is the ideal itinerary for architecture lovers.
Bacino Orseolo
Railroad
Dogana: for those who leave here, the Itinerary starts on the Grand Canal, a few steps from St. Mark’s Square, in front of Bar Harry. Following along the main canal in Venice, you pass places like Chiesa della Salute and Palazzo Cà Dario, arriving at the Guggenheim Museum. Then the gondola enters smaller channels, but not less beautiful, and passes Teatro dell’Opera della Fenice, the House of Mozart and the Church of S. Moisè.
San Marco
Piazzale Roma
Santa Sofia
San Tomà
Santa Maria del Giglio

Tips

Ask at the hotel front-desk if they have a gondolier to refer you; it is not difficult that they have great contacts and leave close to your hotel. ALWAYS ask about the itinerary, as they change depending on where you take the gondola.
On this website, you will find the contact details of the gondoliers indicated by the Municipality of Venice; if you are traveling during high season, I suggest you book in advance! You can click HERE!

SKIP THE TICKET LINES IN VENICE!

Buy your tickets to the Doge's Palace and Gondola Ride now!

Curiosities…

Do you know why gondolas have these ‘teeth’? These symbols refer to parts of the city! The sparkling frieze that adorns each gondola is the “fèro”, in the shape of an S, and pays homage to the course of the Grand Canal. The 6 prow teeth (at the front) represent the six districts of the city and are divided as follows: a telescope, placed under a stylized ducal horn (which represents the Rialto Bridge) and the stern “risso” (at back), represents the island of Giudecca.

For us it may not make much sense, hahaha, but for Venetians it does, and a lot! They are proud of these details! Below we can observe and understand these tributes a little better!

Are you going to stay in Venice? So you can get our exclusive hotel tips!
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Plus: read our tips and advices about the Venice neighborhoods and where to stay! Here you will find the perfect hotel for you and for your needs, respecting you budget! Also: booking at booking.com, you will help us to keep our blog and for free! No fees, no click baits, no fake news!

Hotels I recommend in the San Marco area

San Marco is the most famous neighborhoods of Venice and, at some times of the year, it is difficult to walk around, because the city is crowded.

If you want to save money a great option is to stay in some B&B or rent an apartment; click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion, make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

If you prefer a good hotel, I have some options for hotels that I really like, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion, make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

Do you like luxury accommodations? Are you on your honeymoon or celebrating something special? Then see some luxury accommodation options in the best area of Venice.

Hotels I recommend in Castello Area

Castello is the largest of all the “sestieri” (neighborhoods) and has an incredible waterside for good walks, in addition to being full of cafes, bars and shops. They are not cheap places to stay, but it facilitates access to the most famous tourist spots and, with that, saves on transportation, as it is possible to do everything on foot!

If you want to save, a great option is the B&B or an apartment, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion, make your reservation and guarantee good prices

If you prefer a good hotel, I have some options for hotels that I really like, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

Hotels I recommend in Cannaregio or Dorsoduro Area

If you want something calmer, choose Cannaregio or Dorsoduro; in the latter, the nightlife is particularly active, ideal for lovers of busy bars and places to have good drinks!

If you want to save a great option is the B&B or an apartment, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion, make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

Hotels I recommend in the San Polo Area

San Polo is ideal if you want something comfortable, close to some sights, but more modest. I think this neighborhood is a great position so I recommend it a lot.

If you want to save a great option is the B&B or an apartment, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion, make your reservation and guarantee good prices

B&B Exclusive
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Hotels I recommend in the Santa Croce Area

Santa Croce is home to the important bus station in Piazzale Roma, which makes it very easy to get off the beaten track, including going to Santa Lucia if you want to make a stopover.

If you want to save a great option is the B&B or an apartment, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion, make your reservation and guarantee good prices

Don’t want to stay on the island? No problems! Search for Mestre, Campalto or Favaro Veneto, which are the mainland cities of Venice and offer excellent accommodation options. A little further from Piazzale Roma, about 20 minutes by water transport, they do not have magnificent views from the bedroom windows, but it is ideal for those who want to save on accommodation.

Tips

The tip to save A LOT is to book your hotel in advance.
As we also mentioned: beware of excess baggage! It is very complicated to get around with large volumes in Venice because of the bridges, stairs and narrow streets.

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Conclusion

Everything about the Gondolas in Venice? A gondola ride, of course, is not mandatory for anyone in Venice, but if you can, do it! It is a unique, special and, be sure, UNFORGETABLE experience! And if you feel insecure, have no time, and need help to organize your trip, don’t hesitate to contact me! I will love to help you make your dream trip to Italy come true. And how can I do that? Keep reading this post until the end and you will understand how we make your life and your trip much easier. 🙂

Did my post help you? If so, be sure to post your comment below, but if you still have questions just send me a message I will answer you as soon as possible!

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