Venice: Grand Canal by Gondola with Live Commentary
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
✨ Experience Venice from its most iconic perspective — a guided gondola ride paired with a journey into gondola history and tradition.
• Walking Introduction – Secrets of the Gondola Begin with a short walking tour as your expert guide reveals the fascinating history of gondolas and gondoliers, sharing hidden legends and stories passed down through generations. • Gondola Ride – Venice on Water Glide through quiet canals and iconic sights like Mozart’s House, La Fenice Theatre, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Sail past the domes of the Salute Church and Punta della Dogana, ending with breathtaking views of St. Mark’s Campanile and the Doge’s Palace. • Gondola Gallery – History & Innovation Step inside a Venetian palace to explore a real gondola up close. Touch handcrafted parts, learn how it's built, and enjoy a virtual Grand Canal journey through the ages — just like Venetian nobles once did. A truly unforgettable expierence!
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 and Spanish. 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
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
PRIVATE GONDOLA RIDE OPTION: 30 minutes gondola ride WITHOUT commentary
Journey in the past by gondola Virtual Reality Experience (not included in the private option)
SHARED GONDOLA RIDE OPTION: Live commentary in English, French and Spanish
SHARED GONDOLA RIDE OPTION: 30 minutes gondola ride with commentary
SHARED GONDOLA RIDE OPTION:App commentary in Italian, German, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi and Russian
Gondola Gallery: a unique vr experience of venice in the past (not included in the private option)
SHARED GONDOLA RIDE OPTION: 20 minutes introduction to the gondola experience
Hotel pickup
Audio devices
Earphones
What To Expect
We will pass trough the Gran Canal terrace of Ca Giustinian, one of the oldest Palace overlooking the Canal Grande.
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.
Options
English: St. Mark Gondola
Bridge of Sighs Gondola Ride
Starting point:
Venice Tours, Calle de le Rasse, 4536, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy
Private Gondola Ride- No Guide
Private Gondola Ride: Private Gondola option does NOT include the commentary.
Starting point:
Campiello Traghetto, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Gondola Ride & Casanova Palace
English: Sail on shared gondola ride along the Grand Canal. Then visit Ca’Rezzonico, a stunning 18th-century palace from Casanova time
Starting point:
Venice Tours Srl Close to St.Mark’s Square, Calle S. Gallo, 1093/b, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
French- Guided Gondola ride
Shared Gondola Ride
Starting point:
Calle larga de l'Ascension, 1257, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
English - Guided Gondola ride
Grand Canal Gondola Ride
Starting point:
Calle larga de l'Ascension, 1257, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Spanish - Guided gondola ride
Shared Gondola Ride
Starting point:
Calle larga de l'Ascension, 1257, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Discount Gondola (1 seat)
Random Seat English Option: The guide will ASSIGN you the seat.
Starting point:
Calle larga de l'Ascension, 1257, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Reviews
3,849 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Not again for me
alan s,
Sep 29, 2025
- Viator
2.00Couldn't understand him on the boat ride. Glass tour was ok but nothing special. Only showed us the lace store after asking.
Gondola ride
Janice S,
Sep 29, 2025
- Viator
3.00The gondola was very pleasant. We paid for a gondola ride with live commentary.. The live commentary lasted for the 10 minutes walk from the meeting point to the gondolas. If you're expecting more history on the canal you are on or the buildings you pass by, this is not what you want. Our gondolier was a handsome young man who talked to another gondolier in the boat next to us about dinner or food at a party. My Italian is not good but I could understand the food dishes and wine they discussed. It was cute and entertaining!
Great tour
Amy C,
Sep 22, 2025
- Viator
5.00We got more than we expected. Our tour guide was excellent. She was well versed in the culture and history of the city and gondolas. Although we shared the gondola it was only 5 people per boat.
Great experience!
Marlene C,
Sep 22, 2025
- Viator
5.00The walking tour was very informative and the gondola was a great experience. Would recommend this tour.
A must do in Venice
Toni R,
Sep 21, 2025
- Viator
4.00The meeting point doesn’t really give the overall tour and experience the best start. The chap is ‘grumpy’ and terribly unhelpful. However, stick with it. The actual guides are helpful, friendly and enthusiastic. We had a shared gondola and it made no difference to us as to the overall experience. I had read mixed reviews of the gondola drivers before we booked and I was a little nervous but prepared for unhelpfulness - that’s not what we got at all. Smiling, cheery and honestly a little comedic. I really do recommend it.
Related Experiences
Operated by CITY TOURS CO. LTD