Gondola - Venice?

Question

How much is getting on the Gondola typically charge? What is the cheapest? Wht is the max number of people allow on it? Any tips?

Thanks

Answer 1

About thirty pounds for a half hour trip, which goes up if you want to go down the Grand Canal. They are best with just two passengers and used a lot by romantic couples. Better by far to use the water taxis.

Answer 2

Last January, a gondoliere wanted 100 euro for a short ride and 150 euro for a "longer" one. At night!  I was particularly unimpressed.

Answer 3

Gondola prices are set by the city of Venice, but it works like taxis in other cities - you may be charged more. 80 euro is fairly typical. Note that the price is for up to six people; you could cut your cost by sharing the gondola with others, but under some circumstances, that might defeat the purpose of the ride. The prices are also generally higher in peak tourist periods.

There is a tour company that offers 40 minute gondola trips for 43.50 euro per person or 90 euro per person including a dinner at a restaurant: http://www.affiliate.viator.com/brochure...

There are a lot of good suggestions regarding gondola rides at this website: http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/arti...

Answer 4

You can get up to 6 people on the gondola. the cost should be 80 Euro for approx. 45 minutes. The guys at Santa Maria del Giglo are pretty honest. Don't take the ride from anywhere close to Saint Mark's.

The only tip I can give you is to ask the Gondoliers at various parts of the city before you decide to take the ride.

Answer 5

Figure about 80-100 euro for 30-45 minutes.  The rate will go up with the number of people in the Gondola.  (ie if you share with another couple, they will charge each couple the same amount.)

A less expensive alternative for more people is the water taxi, negociate rates. A cheap alternative is the #1 Water Bus with the Rick Steves book - it narrates the waterway perfectly and is like 3 euro a person.

Answer 6

My husband and I asked how much it would cost-we were there this past September, and told we were told it was $150 Euro.  We looked at each other, laughed, and walked away.  The gondolier chased us, said there was a special, and we could ride for $120 that day.  Again, we looked at each other, laughed and walked away.

We bought a very nice painting in Venice instead-better than getting sea sick on a ride!

Answer 7

Depends on the day and where you pick it up. High Days and Holidays and locations near Rialto and San Marco are more expensive.

You're looking at about £70 for an hour, and very few gondoliers sing. Most seem to be quite sullen characters.

Apart from the mandatory trip down the dingy narrow canyon under the Bridge of Sighs (you get as good a view from the nearby footbridge) and a short dip into the Grand Canal area, all you see is the backs of tall buildings.

I have seen four people in one of these things.

TIP.

Unless you're Very Romantic, or have a lot of money to spend, you're better off buying a waterbus travelcard (about 20 euro) and travelling around the whole lagoon as and when you want.

If I seem jaded it's because I am. The gondoliers are basically rip-off merchants (as bad as the tacky shopkeepers) who rely on people who feel that they "must use a gondola when in Venice". There are actually tariffs set by the council which they cheerfully ignore because the tourists alow them to get away with it.

Venice is a beautiful city. You see much more on foot tha you ever would from a short gondola ride. The waterbusses and Alilaguna boats carry you anywhere and everywhere around the city and the lagoon very efficiently and cheaply. Don't use a water taxi, they're also a waste of money unless you're in a hurry.



It's a very expensive city even for hotels and basics like food and drink. So save your money for things that matter (like a trip to Murano and the cathedral and bell tower and ice creams). And do not buy Murano Glass from anywhere except Murano itself because 90% of it in Venice city is fake and you won't know unless you're an expert or find out when you get home.