Cost of Gondola Venice
Jan 4th, 2004 | 05:34 PM
#21
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
I don't know how old your granddaughters are, but you might want to consider a nighttime gondola ride, particularly if you're there in a relatively busy time of year. I've heard many people complain that the canals were so busy with other tourists that they didn't get the "romantic" historical gondola ride they'd imagined. (By romantic, I don't mean fostering romance, I just mean having the ability to imagine Venice as it once was, getting caught up in the romance of the city, if that makes sense).
Try walking around both during the day, and imagining what your gondola ride will be like, and walking around at night to imagine the same thing.
My husband and I took our gondola ride at night, and while we WERE looking for a traditional romantic ride (which we had), we also greatly appreciated the relative peace and quiet of a nighttime ride. It's very peaceful - you can hear the water lapping up on the sides of the gondola, and the buildings look wonderful lit from the inside, and it's easier to imagine that you're in Venice a hundred years ago.
(Also, as the other posters have said, you and your granddaughters may decide that the vaporettos are fine, and that you don't need to do it after all - if it's not important to you all, no problem!)
Try walking around both during the day, and imagining what your gondola ride will be like, and walking around at night to imagine the same thing.
My husband and I took our gondola ride at night, and while we WERE looking for a traditional romantic ride (which we had), we also greatly appreciated the relative peace and quiet of a nighttime ride. It's very peaceful - you can hear the water lapping up on the sides of the gondola, and the buildings look wonderful lit from the inside, and it's easier to imagine that you're in Venice a hundred years ago.
(Also, as the other posters have said, you and your granddaughters may decide that the vaporettos are fine, and that you don't need to do it after all - if it's not important to you all, no problem!)
Jan 4th, 2004 | 07:01 PM
#22
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 0
If you ask around, you can find a gondolier who will give you a ride at the posted price--we've never had a problem with some patience. Riding a gondola and riding a vaporetto are two very different experiences.
As pointed out, the vaporetto is the city bus of Venice--and it is fabulous for viewing the scenery along the larger canals. But the gondola can get you into wonderful areas on smaller canals that many tourists never see--in fact, I wouldn't recommend taking a gondola on the Grand Canal at all, a vaporetto can handle that just fine. Have your gondola ride only on the smaller canals and get a good look at lesser seen Venice.
Gondola rides are best NOT taken at extremely low tide or high tide.
As pointed out, the vaporetto is the city bus of Venice--and it is fabulous for viewing the scenery along the larger canals. But the gondola can get you into wonderful areas on smaller canals that many tourists never see--in fact, I wouldn't recommend taking a gondola on the Grand Canal at all, a vaporetto can handle that just fine. Have your gondola ride only on the smaller canals and get a good look at lesser seen Venice.
Gondola rides are best NOT taken at extremely low tide or high tide.
Jan 7th, 2004 | 10:49 AM
#23
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Just returned from Venice last night. Wonderful trip to Italy, with 3 nights in Venice to cap it off. We paid 70 Euro for what amounted to a 20-25 minute gondola ride. Did we feel ripped off? Yes. Was it worth it anyway? Yes.
The ride was awesome, and really gave us a different perspective on the city than one can get from walking or riding the vaporetto. We encountered only one other gondola during the whole part of the ride that had us in the side canals, so it was quiet and peaceful the entire way.
I'm glad we did it, and in the grand scheme of things the cost was irrelevant (considering the overall cost of the trip). Would a more ethical and eager to please gondolier have made the experience better? Absolutely. But we knew we were taking a chance when we bargained him down from his initial request of 100 Euro. What we didn't know was whether we would ever be in Venice again. No regrets.
The ride was awesome, and really gave us a different perspective on the city than one can get from walking or riding the vaporetto. We encountered only one other gondola during the whole part of the ride that had us in the side canals, so it was quiet and peaceful the entire way.
I'm glad we did it, and in the grand scheme of things the cost was irrelevant (considering the overall cost of the trip). Would a more ethical and eager to please gondolier have made the experience better? Absolutely. But we knew we were taking a chance when we bargained him down from his initial request of 100 Euro. What we didn't know was whether we would ever be in Venice again. No regrets.
Jan 7th, 2004 | 01:46 PM
#24
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
Hello Nlingenfel,
We were in Venice last week. We took a gondola ride for 100 euros - the gondolier told us that there were 3 price levels - for 80, 100, 120 euros. The 100-euro ride was about 30 minutes, going through the small canals (we passed by houses where Marco Polo, Casanova were born). We found another couple to split the ride with, so we paid 50 euros.
For the Grand Canal, we just took vaporetto #1 (we had a day pass for 9 euros; one ride is 3.50 euros).
We also checked with the American Express office and they quoted us 31 euros per person - we did not get any more details (they told us there will also be other people in the group . . . I think this was on the Grand Canal, but confirm this).
None of the gondoliers agreed to the 62 euros (which was the "official" rate). We met many other tourists who were looking for the 62-euro ride and were puzzled why none of the gondoliers would agree to that!
'Hope that helps!
We were in Venice last week. We took a gondola ride for 100 euros - the gondolier told us that there were 3 price levels - for 80, 100, 120 euros. The 100-euro ride was about 30 minutes, going through the small canals (we passed by houses where Marco Polo, Casanova were born). We found another couple to split the ride with, so we paid 50 euros.
For the Grand Canal, we just took vaporetto #1 (we had a day pass for 9 euros; one ride is 3.50 euros).
We also checked with the American Express office and they quoted us 31 euros per person - we did not get any more details (they told us there will also be other people in the group . . . I think this was on the Grand Canal, but confirm this).
None of the gondoliers agreed to the 62 euros (which was the "official" rate). We met many other tourists who were looking for the 62-euro ride and were puzzled why none of the gondoliers would agree to that!
'Hope that helps!
Jan 7th, 2004 | 02:26 PM
#25
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 0
An alternative - or perhaps an addon is this. If the lodging you are staying at does not offer a transfer from the airport to your hotel...take one of the private water taxis...it's an expense, but my fondest memory of Venice transport is a sleek mahagoney cruiser taking us to the doorstep of our hotel on the Lido a few years back...I felt very wealthy....oh, be sure to have the girls watch the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley before you go.
Jan 7th, 2004 | 02:36 PM
#26
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Three ladies and I (another lady) found a nice gondolier around dusk who looked rather bored so we struck up a conversation with him and didn't bargain but arranged a trip around back canals ending up at a restaurant with a gondola landing.
We set the price and he even said if we weren't satisified we could pay him what we thought he deserved!
We had a wonderful time and just enjoyed the romance of the city, he pointed out sites and joked around.
We paid about 100 euro for an hour's ride and it was the highlight of our trip. If you and your granddaughters want to do it, for goodness sakes, shell out the money and it will be an experience they will always remember grandma treating them to.
We set the price and he even said if we weren't satisified we could pay him what we thought he deserved!
We had a wonderful time and just enjoyed the romance of the city, he pointed out sites and joked around.
We paid about 100 euro for an hour's ride and it was the highlight of our trip. If you and your granddaughters want to do it, for goodness sakes, shell out the money and it will be an experience they will always remember grandma treating them to.
Jan 7th, 2004 | 04:18 PM
#27
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
I was in Venice in October and the price I was quoted was 80 Euro for 40 minutes. So for 2 people it was 40 Euro each. If we had a few more people it would have been cheaper. We did try to haggle the price down but they did become very nasty when we tried to do this.We did the route previously mentioned going by Marco Polo's and Casanova's homes.
Jan 7th, 2004 | 05:19 PM
#30
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 0
or.....just go to Vegas to the Venetian Hotel and take the ride there...no worries about haggling or figuring out Euros! 
Why it's just the SAME! (honestly I overheard someone at "Paris" saying it was exactly the same as being there)!
Seriously...it's your GRANDDAUGHTERS...are you really going to deny them anything?
You'll go on the ride, get your vacation pictures back, send them to everyone in the family, the kids will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience with their Grandparent and 5 years from now all you'll remember is the experience, not the cost.
Regards,
Melodie
Why it's just the SAME! (honestly I overheard someone at "Paris" saying it was exactly the same as being there)! Seriously...it's your GRANDDAUGHTERS...are you really going to deny them anything?
You'll go on the ride, get your vacation pictures back, send them to everyone in the family, the kids will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience with their Grandparent and 5 years from now all you'll remember is the experience, not the cost.
Regards,
Melodie
Jan 8th, 2004 | 05:32 AM
#34
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
I was in Venice in June of 02 (left my heart there!) and the Gondoliers will start with ridiculous prices - most of the people on this board are wary of it, so you haven't heard it yet. With us they started at 120 Euros! We walked away twice and had a man follow us. We haggled for a 45 min ride to the canal nearest our hotel (we were sick of walking!) for 80 euros. He kept saying 'but if you come to this point you get the full hour'. We didn't care - we just wanted the relaxing ride and it was wonderful! Worth every penny. The best part for me was when we left the smaller canals and entered the grand canal - what a sight! You felt every bit as small as you were - I wish we had spent more time out there.
One thought is to bring your own drinks, (not sure how old the granddaughters are). We brought our own bottle of sparkling wine and it was a great idea! Enjoy!
One thought is to bring your own drinks, (not sure how old the granddaughters are). We brought our own bottle of sparkling wine and it was a great idea! Enjoy!
Jan 8th, 2004 | 08:03 AM
#37
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
Reposted: .02 on Gondola rides in Venice.
An off topic repost:
Take gondola rides, as you go on more trips, your appreciation will increase significantly. Ride a private gondola if you have the money and/or take many more rides with other people.
As with other fun experiences, the first time everything is new, the second you'll notice much more, later, everything starts to really sink in and enjoyment reigns supreme.
You are allowed a maximum of six people on a traditional styled gondola, if you do not have a six person group, assemble your own.
We found some people are put off by the high prices of gondola rides, but were quickly willing to hop on board for "ten bucks". You might have to be a tad gregarious, but the people we approached were very open to the ideal.
Experimenting with different locations, we found the small, somewhat out of the way bridges, with a single gondolier standing around hoping to entice someone onto his boat, are not the best places to find people to share. The pedestrians were too few or their interests were not on taking a gondola ride.
Some of the main walking streets, Rialto down to S. Marco, cross bridges that offer gondola rides. There are huge numbers of people, but most are simply moving about or window shopping.
West of San Marco, the huge gondola staging area we've named, "Gondola Central" and the Rialto and Academia Bridge, (least favorite route) were places people happily join us on a gondola ride.
Once on the boat, we would all take turns moving around the gondola, allowing everyone a "private photo", with the gondolier in the background and then a photo in the front of the gondola with the canal in the background.
Although, Gondola Central is packed with boats and the route is well trodden, it's still our favorite route in Venice.
Starting from Gondola Central, you'll travel through some of the oldest areas in Venice. On some parts of the route, you'll be lovingly ogled by pedestrians walking on streets alongside the canal, or people looking down from a busy bridge. You'll also pass through some quite, narrow and historic canals that are lined with beautiful buildings, (the oldest in Venice). Later, you'll emerge out to the Grand Canal and pass under the Rialto Bridge.
The crowds that line parts of this route are not at all bothersome, this route also passes by a few spacious tree lined campos and you might hear some free music from passing gondolas.
You could point out that other gondola routes are less trodden, quieter or simply, that a canal is a canal, but for our money, the other routes do not have the variety or scenic beauty.
Outside the oldest parts of Venice, (San Marco to Rialto), the gondola rides we've taken offered little more than a few "highlighted" buildings, used some canals simply as routes to get from here to there or have stayed on the Grand Canal for too long.
Weekends are the best, the delivery boats during the week can really cut into a pleasant experience, not to mention the occasional traffic jam.
Sunset is a tricky time, you might be able to shoot something on the Grand Canal, but smaller canals get dark quickly, and "dark" is not good for photos. Flash photos on gondolas look terrible.
Traghettos are no substitute, but use em' to get around. One day, we planted ourselves at one station, riding across and back several times, just for the ambiance.
Given another chance, we would splurge on a night ride on the Grand Canal, cuddling in the back of a darkened gondola, with the lights of the Grand Canal on either side, might just make someone's list of 1,000 things to do before they die.
Whether taking a gondola ride in Venice is a must do.... who knows? But, for us, Venice sure felt different, took on a new meaning and seemed like a different city when skimming and sloshing on the water.
An off topic repost:
Take gondola rides, as you go on more trips, your appreciation will increase significantly. Ride a private gondola if you have the money and/or take many more rides with other people.
As with other fun experiences, the first time everything is new, the second you'll notice much more, later, everything starts to really sink in and enjoyment reigns supreme.
You are allowed a maximum of six people on a traditional styled gondola, if you do not have a six person group, assemble your own.
We found some people are put off by the high prices of gondola rides, but were quickly willing to hop on board for "ten bucks". You might have to be a tad gregarious, but the people we approached were very open to the ideal.
Experimenting with different locations, we found the small, somewhat out of the way bridges, with a single gondolier standing around hoping to entice someone onto his boat, are not the best places to find people to share. The pedestrians were too few or their interests were not on taking a gondola ride.
Some of the main walking streets, Rialto down to S. Marco, cross bridges that offer gondola rides. There are huge numbers of people, but most are simply moving about or window shopping.
West of San Marco, the huge gondola staging area we've named, "Gondola Central" and the Rialto and Academia Bridge, (least favorite route) were places people happily join us on a gondola ride.
Once on the boat, we would all take turns moving around the gondola, allowing everyone a "private photo", with the gondolier in the background and then a photo in the front of the gondola with the canal in the background.
Although, Gondola Central is packed with boats and the route is well trodden, it's still our favorite route in Venice.
Starting from Gondola Central, you'll travel through some of the oldest areas in Venice. On some parts of the route, you'll be lovingly ogled by pedestrians walking on streets alongside the canal, or people looking down from a busy bridge. You'll also pass through some quite, narrow and historic canals that are lined with beautiful buildings, (the oldest in Venice). Later, you'll emerge out to the Grand Canal and pass under the Rialto Bridge.
The crowds that line parts of this route are not at all bothersome, this route also passes by a few spacious tree lined campos and you might hear some free music from passing gondolas.
You could point out that other gondola routes are less trodden, quieter or simply, that a canal is a canal, but for our money, the other routes do not have the variety or scenic beauty.
Outside the oldest parts of Venice, (San Marco to Rialto), the gondola rides we've taken offered little more than a few "highlighted" buildings, used some canals simply as routes to get from here to there or have stayed on the Grand Canal for too long.
Weekends are the best, the delivery boats during the week can really cut into a pleasant experience, not to mention the occasional traffic jam.
Sunset is a tricky time, you might be able to shoot something on the Grand Canal, but smaller canals get dark quickly, and "dark" is not good for photos. Flash photos on gondolas look terrible.
Traghettos are no substitute, but use em' to get around. One day, we planted ourselves at one station, riding across and back several times, just for the ambiance.
Given another chance, we would splurge on a night ride on the Grand Canal, cuddling in the back of a darkened gondola, with the lights of the Grand Canal on either side, might just make someone's list of 1,000 things to do before they die.
Whether taking a gondola ride in Venice is a must do.... who knows? But, for us, Venice sure felt different, took on a new meaning and seemed like a different city when skimming and sloshing on the water.
Jan 8th, 2004 | 09:59 AM
#38
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
The price also depends on where you pick the gondola up. the stations near San Marco and Riualto where the traffic is high they don't go down as much and start higher. Their rides are also more "route-oriented" then time-oriented. For example, "I will take you here, here and here and when we are done ride ends". I think I "negotaited" them down from 110 to 70 for a ride around sunset but my ride was nowhere near 50 minutes (more like 35).
Tip: They also charge a lot more if you want to go from location to another instead of a return to the pickup spot.
Tip: They also charge a lot more if you want to go from location to another instead of a return to the pickup spot.
Jan 8th, 2004 | 11:30 AM
#39
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
My wife and I were in Venice in October and debated whether to go to the expense of a gondolla ride! We went after bargaining, walking away, etc. Cost us 50E plus a tip 5E. It was worth it. We rode in the "waterbus" (great) and a watertaxi (neat)but the quiet "backstreet" time (30 min) in the gondolla was something we were glad we did not pass up. Granddaughters will love it!
