Venice gondola ride or boat tour: which one to choose

6cruises compared
€12.50lowest price
30 min to 5 htime on the water
6boarding points

The cruise to check first

Shared gondola ride from St Mark's

30 min · from €42 · 7.4/10 (2,888)

Check dates and price

Updated 4 October 2026

Miniature model of Venice with a sightseeing boat on the Grand Canal and the lagoon

Which one, depending on what you want

Start here

Shared gondola ride from St Mark's

30 min · 7.4/10 (2,888)
from €42
Lowest price

One-hour Venice boat trip

1 h · 7.7/10 (302)
from €12.50
Best rated

Venetian galleon dinner cruise

3 h · 9.5/10 (1,273)
from €120

Cruises in Venice side by side

For most visitors the answer is a shared gondola ride of about 30 minutes, booked ahead from €42 per person, because a gondola is the only boat that goes into the small canals. If the view of St Mark's from the water matters more than the boat itself, the one-hour boat trip from Riva degli Schiavoni costs far less, from €12.50.

The other choices are about time and money. Murano and Burano take five hours and start from €18. The galleon dinner cruise takes a whole evening and starts at €120. A private gondola starts at €145 for the boat. None of the gondola listings we compared includes a serenade, and none of the boat tours sails the length of the Grand Canal.

Boat trips in Venice compared by type, duration, boat, food, price and rating
Cruise	Duration	Open or covered	Food	Price	Rating
Shared gondola ride from St Mark'sSightseeingOur pick	30 min	Open boat	No food	from €42	7.4/10 (2,888)
Shared gondola ride under the Bridge of SighsSightseeing	30 min	Open boat	No food	from €36	7.3/10 (1,223)
Private gondola ride from Santa Maria del GiglioPrivate boat	30 min	Open boat	No food	from €145	5.8/10 (8)
One-hour Venice boat tripSightseeing	1 h	Not stated	No food	from €12.50	7.7/10 (302)
Murano and Burano boat tripSightseeing	5 h	Not stated	No food	from €18	7.3/10 (6,195)
Venetian galleon dinner cruiseDinner cruise	3 h	Covered with open deck	Dinner	from €120	9.5/10 (1,273)

Boat sheets

One sheet per cruise, same fields in the same order. Open a sheet for the pier, the commentary and what is included.

Sightseeing · Day · SunsetOur pick

Shared gondola ride from St Mark's

A 25 to 30 minute ride in a gondola shared with up to five passengers, along a stretch of the Grand Canal and the small canals around La Fenice.

from €42

7.4/10 from 2,888 reviews on Civitatis

30 min
Open boat
No food
Calle Larga Ascensione (Poste Italiane)
Free cancellation up to 24 h before

Who it suitsSolo travellers, couples and trios who want the gondola experience at a per-seat price and do not mind sharing. It has the most reviews of any gondola listing here, 2,888, with a score of 7.4.

Pick something else ifSkip it if you need the Bridge of Sighs (take the San Zaccaria gondola), if you travel with a pushchair (not allowed on board or left at the quay), or if you use a wheelchair, since the listing marks it as not accessible. Wheelchair users are better served by the one-hour boat trip.

Check dates and price

Boarding, commentary, what is included

Boarding point: Calle Larga Ascensione (Poste Italiane). Meet on Calle Larga Ascensione, in front of the Poste Italiane post office just around the corner from the Correr Museum, off St Mark's Square. Look for the sign reading 'Gondola Tour'. The voucher asks you to be there 15 minutes early. The listing shows departures at 11 am, 3 pm, 5:15 pm and 6:30 pm. Open pier on the map
Open or covered: A traditional open gondola with no roof or cover, holding a maximum of five people. The gondolier decides who sits where, so you may not get the padded double seat at the back and may sit beside strangers.
Commentary: None. The listing is explicit that gondoliers are not guides and give no commentary, and that this is not a serenade gondola.
Included: Shared gondola ride of 25 to 30 minutes
Route along the Grand Canal towards Santa Maria della Salute
Small canals around the Teatro La Fenice
Not included: Guide or commentary
Serenade or music
Passage under the Bridge of Sighs
Choice of seat
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. After that, or if you do not show up, there is no refund.

Sources: Civitatis catalogue. Checked on 4 October 2026.

Sightseeing · Day

Shared gondola ride under the Bridge of Sighs

A 25 to 30 minute shared gondola ride from San Zaccaria through the narrow canals behind the Doge's Palace, passing under the Bridge of Sighs when the tide allows.

from €36

7.3/10 from 1,223 reviews on Civitatis

30 min
Open boat
No food
Campo San Zaccaria 4683/G
Free cancellation up to 24 h before

Who it suitsPeople for whom the Bridge of Sighs seen from below is the reason to get in a gondola, and anyone who wants the lowest gondola price in the catalogue, from €36.

Pick something else ifSkip the economy seat if you are a couple or family, because you can be split across boats. Skip the whole product if you want the Grand Canal, which the listing does not mention, or if you travel with a child under 3, the stated minimum age. The shared ride from Calle Larga Ascensione covers both cases.

Check dates and price

Boarding, commentary, what is included

Boarding point: Campo San Zaccaria 4683/G. Check in at the shop at Campo San Zaccaria 4683/G, in front of the church of San Zaccaria, 15 minutes before your slot. Staff then walk the group to the gondola station. The voucher warns that the wait to board can be long when several groups are booked for the same day. Open pier on the map
Open or covered: An open traditional gondola shared with other passengers. Two seat types are sold. With the economy seat, people on the same booking can be put in different gondolas. The standard seat keeps a booking in one gondola but still does not guarantee sitting side by side or getting the best seat.
Commentary: The listing includes only the ride. No guide, audio guide or serenade is listed, so expect a quiet boat.
Included: Shared gondola ride of 25 to 30 minutes
Escort from the meeting point to the gondola station
Not included: Guide or audio guide
Serenade or music
Guaranteed seats together (economy seat)
Guaranteed passage under the bridge at high tide
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. No refund after that or for no-shows.

Sources: Civitatis catalogue. Checked on 4 October 2026.

Private boat · Day

Private gondola ride from Santa Maria del Giglio

A 25 to 30 minute gondola ride with nobody else on board, from the Giglio station past La Salute, La Fenice and onto the Grand Canal.

from €145

5.8/10 from 8 reviews on Civitatis

30 min
Open boat
No food
Campo Santa Maria del Giglio
Free cancellation up to 24 h before

Who it suitsCouples marking an occasion, and groups of four or five, for whom a whole boat from €145 can cost less than five shared seats. The only rate shown is labelled 'up to 2 people', so confirm the price for your group size before paying.

Pick something else ifSkip it if you were hoping for music or a longer ride: you get the same 25 to 30 minutes and the same silence as the shared boat. It is also a new listing with only 8 reviews and a 5.8 score, so cautious bookers may prefer the shared ride with thousands of reviews.

Check dates and price

Boarding, commentary, what is included

Boarding point: Campo Santa Maria del Giglio. Meet at the Giglio gondola station in Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, by the traghetto landing near the Hotel Gritti. The voucher gives a map link and asks you to arrive at least 15 minutes early. Open pier on the map
Open or covered: An open gondola reserved for your party, with a capacity of up to five people. You choose your own seats, which is most of what the extra money buys.
Commentary: None. The voucher states that the gondolier gives no commentary and that this is not a ride with a serenade.
Included: Gondola ride of 25 to 30 minutes
Private boat with no other passengers
Not included: Serenade or music
Guide or commentary
Passage under the Bridge of Sighs
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. No refund after that or for no-shows.

Sources: Civitatis catalogue. Checked on 4 October 2026.

Sightseeing · Day

One-hour Venice boat trip

A one-hour motor boat loop from Riva degli Schiavoni past St Mark's and the Doge's Palace, along the Giudecca Canal to San Giorgio Maggiore and the Molino Stucky.

from €12.50

7.7/10 from 302 reviews on Civitatis

1 h
Not stated
No food
Riva degli Schiavoni 4142 (Presidio Militare Cornoldi)
Free cancellation up to 24 h before
Wheelchair accessible

Who it suitsAnyone who wants an hour of Venice seen from the water with someone explaining it, for a fraction of the gondola price. It is also the short trip the listing marks as wheelchair accessible, with a companion and advance notice.

Pick something else ifSkip it if you want the inside of the city. This boat stays in the wide water of St Mark's basin and the Giudecca Canal and never enters a small canal. For that you need a gondola. Non-English speakers get little from the commentary.

Check dates and price

Boarding, commentary, what is included

Boarding point: Riva degli Schiavoni 4142 (Presidio Militare Cornoldi). Go to Riva degli Schiavoni 4142, opposite the Presidio Militare Cornoldi, on the waterfront east of the Doge's Palace. Arrive 15 minutes early and look for the blue Consorzio Vidali sign. Open pier on the map
Open or covered: The listing does not say which boat you get, and the operator's fleet page lists several motor vessels without assigning one to this tour. A catalogue photo shows rows of seats on deck, but do not count on outdoor seating.
Commentary: An English-speaking tour escort is included, and the listing is tagged as English only. No audio guide in other languages is mentioned.
Included: One-hour boat trip
English-speaking tour escort
Not included: Hotel pickup
Stops ashore
The Grand Canal or small canals
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. No refund after that or for no-shows.

Sources: Civitatis catalogue and vidaligroup.it. Checked on 4 October 2026.

Sightseeing · Day

Murano and Burano boat trip

A five-hour boat excursion across the northern lagoon with an hour on Murano and an hour and a half on Burano, guided on board and free on the islands.

from €18

7.3/10 from 6,195 reviews on Civitatis

5 h
Not stated
No food
Riva degli Schiavoni (Caserma Cornoldi) / Santa Lucia (Ponte della Costituzione)
Free cancellation up to 24 h before
Wheelchair accessible

Who it suitsVisitors with at least two full days in Venice who want both islands in one go without working out waterbus connections. From €18 it is the cheapest long boat ride in the catalogue, and the listing marks it wheelchair accessible with a companion.

Pick something else ifSkip it on a one-day visit, since it ends at 3:30 pm and takes the heart of the day. Skip it too if you dislike fixed stops: an hour on Murano includes the glass factory. If you have a train or flight that afternoon, the voucher itself advises against booking tight connections.

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Boarding, commentary, what is included

Boarding point: Riva degli Schiavoni (Caserma Cornoldi) / Santa Lucia (Ponte della Costituzione). You pick one of two piers when booking. Santa Lucia pier is at the Ponte della Costituzione beside the KFC at the railway station, leaving at 10 am. Riva degli Schiavoni is at the Vidali Group meeting point 'Caserma Cornoldi' in front of Palazzo Cornoldi, leaving at 10:30 am. Arrive 15 minutes early to validate the ticket. The operator may cancel your place if you turn up at the wrong pier.
Open or covered: The voucher describes a blue boat marked Consorzio Vidali Group. Neither the listing nor the operator says whether seating is indoors or on deck. The trip runs in rain, and the voucher tells you to bring a waterproof jacket.
Commentary: An English-speaking guide speaks on the boat, and the voucher adds that the tour is conducted in several languages. On the islands you are on your own apart from the glass factory and lace workshop visits.
Included: Transport by boat
English-speaking guide on board
Glass factory visit with a glassblowing demonstration on Murano
Lace workshop visit on Burano
Not included: Lunch and drinks
Lace Museum entry
Torcello
Return to Santa Lucia (10 EUR in cash)
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. No refund after that or for no-shows.

Sources: Civitatis catalogue and vidaligroup.it. Checked on 4 October 2026.

Dinner cruise · Sunset · Night

Venetian galleon dinner cruise

A three-hour evening cruise on a galleon-style ship into the northern lagoon, with Prosecco on arrival and a multi-course dinner cooked on board.

from €120

9.5/10 from 1,273 reviews on Civitatis

3 h
Covered with open deck
Dinner
Riva San Biasio (Museo Storico Navale)
Free cancellation up to 72 h before
Wheelchair accessible

Who it suitsCouples and small groups who want one long evening on the water with dinner taken care of. Its 9.5 score from 1,273 reviews is far above every other boat product in the Venice catalogue.

Pick something else ifSkip it if €120 and up per person is more than you would spend on dinner ashore, or if you mainly want to see Venice: much of the route is open lagoon after sunset. The one-hour boat trip shows the St Mark's waterfront in daylight from €12.50.

Check dates and price

Boarding, commentary, what is included

Boarding point: Riva San Biasio (Museo Storico Navale). The pier is on Riva San Biasio, directly in front of the Naval Historical Museum, a 15 minute walk east from St Mark's Square along the waterfront. Be there 15 minutes early to validate your ticket. The voucher says time changes are not permitted. Open pier on the map
Open or covered: A galleon-style ship with two table categories. Main deck tables are outdoors and described as having the best views and privacy. Prow and stern tables cost less but are indoors with limited visibility, and you may share with another couple. In summer dinner is served in the open unless it rains. From October to May the boat is covered and heated.
Commentary: The listing does not mention a guide or commentary. Treat it as a dinner with a moving view, not a sightseeing tour.
Included: Three-hour cruise on the Venetian lagoon
Glass of Prosecco DOC and appetisers on arrival
Dinner prepared by the on-board chef (fish, meat or vegetarian menu)
One bottle of wine for every two adults
Water
Not included: Hotel pickup
Extra drinks
Guide or commentary
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 3 days before the day of the cruise. After that there is no refund, so this is the strictest policy of the six.

Sources: Civitatis catalogue and jollyroger.it. Checked on 4 October 2026.

Three questions, one cruise

Tell us how much time you have, whether you want to eat on board and when you can go.

Sunset in Venice today Plan a sunset cruise

/ How much time do you have?

Next: food on board and time of day

Still deciding?

One page per decision, with the cruises it compares.

Shared or private gondola in Venice: which to book

One or two people who only want to tick off the ride should book a shared seat, from €36 to €42 each.

Is a gondola ride in Venice worth it, or should you take a boat tour?

A gondola is worth it if what you want is the narrow canals, because no other boat in the catalogue goes there.

Is the Murano and Burano boat tour worth it?

Yes, if you have two or more days in Venice and want both islands with no planning: from €18 it is the cheapest long boat ride in the catalogue.

Where to board gondolas and boat tours in Venice

The six trips use five meeting points, all within a 15 minute walk of St Mark's Square except the Santa Lucia option for Murano and Burano.

Questions about boat trips in Venice

How much does a gondola ride in Venice cost?

Booked ahead through the catalogue, a shared seat costs from €36 to €42 per person and a private gondola from €145 for the boat. Prices on these listings are dynamic, so check your date.

How long does a gondola ride last?

The listings give 25 to 30 minutes, in line with municipal regulations, with slight variations for canal traffic.

Can I book a gondola ride with a serenade?

Not among the listings we compared. The shared and private gondola vouchers both state that the ride is not a serenade and that the gondolier gives no commentary.

Which gondola ride goes under the Bridge of Sighs?

The shared ride from Campo San Zaccaria. The rides from Calle Larga Ascensione and the Giglio station say explicitly that they do not, and even the San Zaccaria ride takes another route when the tide is too high.

Is there a boat tour of the Grand Canal?

The catalogue has no boat tour running the full Grand Canal. The one-hour boat trip covers St Mark's basin and the Giudecca Canal, and the shared gondola from Calle Larga Ascensione covers a short stretch of the Grand Canal near La Salute.

Which Venice boat trips are wheelchair accessible?

The listings mark the one-hour boat trip, the Murano and Burano tour and the galleon dinner cruise as accessible, in each case with notice at booking. The shared gondola is marked not accessible.