Private Gondola ride in Venice: a memorable experience!
Listed among the things to do at least once in your life, the gondola tour in Venice is truly special. Join us for a time travel on the smaller canals of the city and discover the Venice from the past ! And the best of all : you get gondola just for you !
Book now your private gondola ride and admire the splendid city on the water from its best perspective!
WHY DID WE LIKE THIS EXPERIENCE SO MUCH?
- The best way to discover Venice is observing it from the water!
- Because it allows you to visit the Accademia, Rialto but also the minor canals!
- Because it is unforgettable experience to do in Venice!
Price
Availability
Everyday
Duration
30 minutes
Features
- Child Friendly
- Private Experience
- Sustainable
Choose a private gondola ride in Venice is highly recommended to get in touch with the spirit of the city. The canals that run among the endless islets that make up the city’s historic center were once the main routes of travel for the Venetian nobility; the precious facades of their rich palaces overlook the water, and all these historic buildings retain an entrance to board the gondola directly.
If you really want to get to know Venice, this experience is a must. Only in this way will you be able to understand that the foundations of Venetian palaces rest directly in the water or that the gates you see half submerged are nothing but cavanas, or garages for boats! When you arrive in Venice, you will understand that the city is unique precisely because of this, and only with a gondola ride will you truly appreciate it!
Best private gondola ride in Venice
Every year thousands of people who come to Venice treat themselves to the thrill of a gondola ride through the canals of the historic center. That Venice can claim copyright on this craft is beyond doubt, but only after you try it will you fully appreciate its magic and beauty.
Gondolas are true gems of Venetian craftsmanship, a work of ingenuity that has evolved and been passed down through the centuries in Venetian squeri. You can really find many different kinds of gondola rides in the city.
Here we offer a private gondola ride in Venice that you can customize according to your preferences. Each gondola can accommodate up to a maximum of 5 people on board, plus the gondolier, and will be reserved just for your group.
The gondola ride lasts about 30 minutes and is available virtually year-round. Departures are every half hour from 9:30 am until 6:30 pm. From April to October, when the days get longer, there are additional evening departure times.
Private gondola tour Venice: which route ?
As you walk around the city, you will encounter many embarkations (which in Venice we call stazi) and each embarkation corresponds to a different gondola ride. For the classic private gondola tour, we have selected 3 route suggestions:
- San Marco area with departure from Stazio Gondola Danieli;
- Canal Grande area with departure from Stazio Dogana-Vallaresso;
- San Tomà-San Polo area with departure from Stazio San Tomà.
Gondola ride in St. Mark’s area from Danieli gondola station
Boarding is at the gondola station in front of the Hotel Danieli, a short walk from St. Mark’s Square. The gondola ride begins with a passage through the scenic St. Mark’s Basin before heading into the small canals of the old part of the historic center. It follows the Rio del Palazzo, passing under the famous Bridge of Sighs, then the Rio di Santa Maria Formosa and the Rio di San Severo before returning to the starting point.
From April to October, the tour is also available with an additional evening departure time, until 7:00 p.m.
Private gondola ride in Venice’s Grand Canal area
This itinerary begins at the stazio Dogana, a short distance from St. Mark’s Square. As you sail along the Grand Canal, you’ll enjoy a unique view of the Salute Church and pass the Guggenheim Museum; afterwards, you’ll enter some smaller canals and see the Teatro la Fenice and the Church of San Moisè from the gondola before returning to the boarding point.
Private gondola ride in the San Tomà and San Polo area
You start from the stazio San Tomà, in the San Polo sestiere, near the Frari Church. You will travel along the Grand Canal and enter the San Polo Canal along which you can admire several palaces of the Venetian nobility. Once back on the Grand Canal, on the way back to the embarkation point, you can see other magnificent historic buildings up close such as Palazzo Barbaro, Palazzo Corner Spinelli and Palazzo Pisani Moretta.
From April to October, a tour of the Rialto area is also available in the more evening hours only.
Private gondola ride Venice with prosecco and/or serenade
To personalize your private gondola ride in Venice, making it even more exclusive and romantic, you could add these services:
Gondola Serenade
A singer and a musician will board with you. The experience is then available for up to 3 people and obviously very romantic for couples. Available on all 3 routes.
Gondola aperitif
A bottle of Prosecco with bucket & flutes. Available only on the San Marco area tour starting at 6 pm.
Aperitif and serenade
Choose both services to experience a truly exclusive and even more unforgettable gondola ride in Venice. Available only on the tour in St. Mark’s area starting at 6 pm.
Private gondola ride in Venice: book before you go
Nothing is more magical than viewing Venice from the water aboard a traditional gondola. This experience is certainly one of the most sought-after and most popular. For this reason, especially in the warmer months when tourist flows in the city increase, thinking of arriving in Venice to search directly locally for a free gondola is an undertaking that is not advisable. You would certainly lose a lot of time in the queue and possibly still be stranded.
By booking your private gondola ride first, you will be able to take your time choosing the route and the area where you will do it from the several available, choose the time you prefer, and perhaps some extra services such as an aperitif or serenade on board. You’ll be able to compare prices and just arrive at the departure station about ten minutes early.
VivoVenetia, your venetian tour operator
Vivovenetia stands out as a tour operator in Venice and the Veneto region by offering a comprehensive range of classic tours, such as full-day trips to Murano and Burano and guided tours of the Doge’s Palace or Basilica St Mark.
However, our primary mission is to promote sustainable tourism. To achieve this, we offer much more experiences as Venice walking tours in less frequented areas and in lesser-known locations or visits in traditionnal workshops. It allows you to discover authentic and preserved aspects of the city while respecting the environment.
We organize unique experiences in the Venetian Lagoon, ensuring a rich and respectful tourism experience for both travelers and the local community. Through our curated guided tours, Vivovenetia aims to provide an enriching journey that highlights the beauty and heritage of Venice.
If your would like to discover more options about best gondola ride in Venice:
- Venice gondola ride tickets: take a 30-minute gondola ride during the day in shared mode
- Gondola ride with music: enjoy an evening group gondola ride with serenade
Guided tours