danaeye

I have heard conflicting reports of smelly canals at night that may dampen a gondola ride? Anyone have first hand experience?

almesq

We were just in Venice last week, and I had inquired about best time for ride before we left. We ended up taking ours at night, around 10 pm and it was wonderful. No problem with smells at all, it was nice and quiet, not nearly as much boat traffic as during the day, and seeing the light dance along the dark water was amazing. I highly recommend a night ride.

TexasAggie

I've been to Venice 3 times and have never encountered a smelly canal.
I'd also opt for an evening gondola ride. It's more expensive but also more romantic and magical.

DianeP

Another vote for a night ride. We just returned and took our ride on Saturday night at about 8:00pm. Very romantic!

Infotrack

I would time it for evening, but as the sun sets. That is beautiful.

--Marv

SeaUrchin

I like the sunset rides and especially when you can get dropped off at the end of the ride at a restaurant open to the canal, it makes quite an entrance and is so romantic.

lesliec1

If you follow the advice of Sir Laurence Olivier's character in a cute movie called (I think) "A Little Romance", you will ride in a gondola beneath the Bridge of Sighs and kiss your true love precisely as the bells strike midnight and something good will happen. Your love will last forever, or you'll get to marry Diane Lane, or something...!

diddl_maus

Fewer tourists, much more romantic at night. I have never experienced smelly canals.

ira

Hi dana,

At sunset, just as the lights are coming on.

In all of my many visits to Venice, I don't recall smelly canals.

hlphillips2

As leslie mentions, we took our gondola ride as the bells were tolling ("A Little Romance" mentions at sunset - which we tried to do but in July it was tough). We were off on timing by about 30 seconds - but fortunately had told our gondolier ahead of time what we wanted to do. He actually poled the gondola backwards so that we could have our kiss at the right moment. Dusk was a perfect time for a ride. And despite many people who told us Venice is smelly, we didn't notice anything worse than any other general seaport or beach.

elaine

what smelly canals?

suze

Never took a gondola ride... but in two trips to Venice (both in August no less) the only time I smelled ANYthing bad was when I walked over a bridge where the canal was drained and they were doing construction repair work.

nytraveler

Ditto for night - the lights are enchanting - but we did after dinner - and had them return us directly to our hotel - whcih had its own little dock.

Have never encountered smelly canals. And even if they were smelly - why would it be at night - tides operate 24 hours - not once daily by the amount of light.