Venice Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Guided Commentary and Gondola Gallery Visit
by CITY TOURS CO. LTD
Choose from 5 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€76Overview
This about one-hour experience in Venice begins with a guided walk near San Moise Church, where the guide explains the history, legends, and traditions of gondolas and gondoliers. The tour continues with a 30-minute gondola ride on the Grand Canal, passing landmarks like Mozart’s House, La Fenice Theatre, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Punta della Dogana, and views of St. Mark’s Campanile and the Doge’s Palace. Up to five guests share each gondola, and live commentary is provided onboard in English, French, and Spanish, while other languages are available via an app. After the ride, the group visits the Gondola Gallery inside a Venetian palace for a guided tour. Here, participants see an original gondola displayed in sections, learn about its construction and craftsmanship, and watch a 3D video showing the Grand Canal through different centuries, replicating the experience Venetian nobles had. The private gondola ride option offers only the 30-minute ride with app commentary and excludes the gallery and 3D journey. The entire guided experience lasts about an hour. During the gondola ride, the route passes the terrace of Ca Giustinian palace on the Grand Canal, Teatro La Fenice opera house, Punta della Dogana customs point, and offers a view of the island of San Giorgio Maggiore with its Renaissance church and bell tower. The boat also approaches the Giardini Reali gardens with a view over St. Mark’s Square. The gondola seating is assigned by the gondolier based on guest weight. The ride may be rescheduled or refunded in case of bad weather or unusual tides, and the itinerary may change due to wind or weather conditions.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Ca Giustinian Terrace
The route passes the terrace of Ca Giustinian, one of the oldest palaces overlooking the Grand Canal.
5 min
Chiesa di San Moise
Near St. Mark’s Square, in front of San Moise Church and the gondola station, the guide introduces the history and traditions of gondolas.
Teatro La Fenice
Venice’s only opera house, once one of seven major city theatres, known for premieres by Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini, and Giuseppe Verdi.
Canal Grande
Known as the most beautiful road in the world, the Grand Canal presents views similar to those seen by Venetian noblemen and merchants over centuries.
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
Located at the entrance to the Grand Canal, this circular church commemorates the end of the plague and is notable for its imposing position.
Punta della Dogana
This point separates the Grand Canal from the Giudecca Canal and historically housed customs and salt warehouses since the fifteenth century.
Abbazia di San Giorgio Maggiore
The island features a Renaissance church designed by Palladio and a bell tower similar to St. Mark’s Square, formerly known as the Island of Cypress Trees.
Giardini Reali
At the end of the route, guests see a view of Saint Mark’s Square and the Royal Gardens, a subject often painted by artists.
Gondola Gallery Bookshop
A 20-minute guided visit inside a Venetian palace showing an original gondola in sections, with a 3D video journey through Venice’s history on the Grand Canal.
20 min
Meeting point
***PRIVATE GONDOLA RIDE-NO GUIDE***: ************************ GO to the Gondoliers landing stage in Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, in front of the Gritti Palace Hotel. Please go directly to the gondoliers for the check-in. Please be at the meeting point 10 minutes before the departure time.
End point
The gondola landing stage is located next to the Bauer Palazzo Hotel in Campo St. Moisé, near the entrance of St. Mark’s Square.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Venice Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Guided Commentary and Gondola Gallery Visit
by CITY TOURS CO. LTD
Choose from 5 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€76Overview
This about one-hour experience in Venice begins with a guided walk near San Moise Church, where the guide explains the history, legends, and traditions of gondolas and gondoliers. The tour continues with a 30-minute gondola ride on the Grand Canal, passing landmarks like Mozart’s House, La Fenice Theatre, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Punta della Dogana, and views of St. Mark’s Campanile and the Doge’s Palace. Up to five guests share each gondola, and live commentary is provided onboard in English, French, and Spanish, while other languages are available via an app. After the ride, the group visits the Gondola Gallery inside a Venetian palace for a guided tour. Here, participants see an original gondola displayed in sections, learn about its construction and craftsmanship, and watch a 3D video showing the Grand Canal through different centuries, replicating the experience Venetian nobles had. The private gondola ride option offers only the 30-minute ride with app commentary and excludes the gallery and 3D journey. The entire guided experience lasts about an hour. During the gondola ride, the route passes the terrace of Ca Giustinian palace on the Grand Canal, Teatro La Fenice opera house, Punta della Dogana customs point, and offers a view of the island of San Giorgio Maggiore with its Renaissance church and bell tower. The boat also approaches the Giardini Reali gardens with a view over St. Mark’s Square. The gondola seating is assigned by the gondolier based on guest weight. The ride may be rescheduled or refunded in case of bad weather or unusual tides, and the itinerary may change due to wind or weather conditions.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Ca Giustinian Terrace
The route passes the terrace of Ca Giustinian, one of the oldest palaces overlooking the Grand Canal.
5 min
Chiesa di San Moise
Near St. Mark’s Square, in front of San Moise Church and the gondola station, the guide introduces the history and traditions of gondolas.
Teatro La Fenice
Venice’s only opera house, once one of seven major city theatres, known for premieres by Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini, and Giuseppe Verdi.
Canal Grande
Known as the most beautiful road in the world, the Grand Canal presents views similar to those seen by Venetian noblemen and merchants over centuries.
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
Located at the entrance to the Grand Canal, this circular church commemorates the end of the plague and is notable for its imposing position.
Punta della Dogana
This point separates the Grand Canal from the Giudecca Canal and historically housed customs and salt warehouses since the fifteenth century.
Abbazia di San Giorgio Maggiore
The island features a Renaissance church designed by Palladio and a bell tower similar to St. Mark’s Square, formerly known as the Island of Cypress Trees.
Giardini Reali
At the end of the route, guests see a view of Saint Mark’s Square and the Royal Gardens, a subject often painted by artists.
Gondola Gallery Bookshop
A 20-minute guided visit inside a Venetian palace showing an original gondola in sections, with a 3D video journey through Venice’s history on the Grand Canal.
20 min
Meeting point
***PRIVATE GONDOLA RIDE-NO GUIDE***: ************************ GO to the Gondoliers landing stage in Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, in front of the Gritti Palace Hotel. Please go directly to the gondoliers for the check-in. Please be at the meeting point 10 minutes before the departure time.
End point
The gondola landing stage is located next to the Bauer Palazzo Hotel in Campo St. Moisé, near the entrance of St. Mark’s Square.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.