Venice: Grand Canal by Gondola with Commentary | La Vacanza Travel

Venice: Grand Canal by Gondola with Commentary

Duration: 30 to 50 minutes
Destination: Italy, Veneto, Venice
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  • 30 to 50 minutes
  • Venice
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

Glide through the canals of Venice on a gondola ride with a live guide who explains the stories and secrets of the fascinating palaces around you.

The expert gondoliers will drive you along Venice's hidden passages and canals, reachable only by gondola, admiring the breathtaking Venetian landscape.

Pass beneath centuries-old bridges and take in the famous Grand Canal with its amazing views of stunning palaces.

The guide will narrate to you the fascinating history of gondolas and gondoliers! On board, you will hear all about the palaces, churches, and attractions around you. 

Lastly, experience a ride in a unique virtual reality as you glide over the Grand Canal's tranquil waters at sunset over the centuries, and then discover the craftsmanship and secrets behind Venice's iconic boat with an up-close look at a sectioned model.

If you want to live an exclusive experience, book the private gondola and enjoy a ride with only you and your partner or friends!

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Ombra del Leone, Sestiere San Marco 1364, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy

We will pass trough the Gran Canal terrace of Ca Giustinian, one of the oldest Palace overlooking the Canal Grande.

Duration: 5 minutes

Pass By: Chiesa di San Moise, Salizzada S. Moise San Marco 2058, 30173 Venice Italy

Close to San Marco Square, in front of St Moise (Moses) Church and the Gondola station, the guide will introduce you in the elegant and romantic world of the Gondolas.

Pass By: Teatro La Fenice, Campo San Fantin San Marco 1965, 30124 Venice Italy

Once one of 7 major theatres in the city, today the Fenice is Venice’s one and only opera house. It is surely a jewel among European theatres, and began to shine from the beginning, as the best composers of the age wrote and performed their operas here, among which Bellini, Donizetti and Rossini. But it was Giuseppe Verdi who is most attached to the Fenice and to Venetian memory.

Pass By: Canal Grande, 30100 Venice Italy

The most beautiful road in the world”, this is how the Grand Canal is known as. If you look around, what you will see is almost exactly what a nobleman in the 18th century might have looked upon, and before him a Renaissance courtesan and before him a merchant in the Middle Ages.


Pass By: Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Campo de la Salute Dorsoduro 1, 30123 Venice Italy

Here, as you come into the Grand Canal you admire the church of the Madonna della Salute.

The first thing that strikes a viewer is how imposing the church is, strategically placed at the entrance of the Grand Canal looking out onto the rest of the city in every direction, thanks to its circular shape.

Today, ever 21 November the city celebrates the Madonna della Salute in memory of the end of the plague


Pass By: Punta della Dogana, Sestiere Dorsoduro 2, 30123 Venice Italy

Punta della Dogana separates the Grand Canal from the Giudecca Canal. For its strategic location it was the house of the Custom and of the Salt Warehouses. During the fifteenth century, the Sea Customs House, which had previously been near the Arsenale, was transferred to the western point of Dorsoduro borough.

Pass By: Isola San Giorgio Maggiore, 30133 Venice Italy

You will have a view of the Island of san Giorgio Maggiore, with its beautiful Renaissance Church built by Palladio in the Renaissance and the belltower resembling the bigger one in St Mark’s Square. The island was once known as the Island of Cypress Trees before it became an important Benedectine monastery.

Pass By: Giardini Reali, Riva degli Schiavoni, 30122 Venice Italy

At the end you will enjoy a wonderful overview of Saint Mark’s Square. This is a spot which painters from all over the world have tried to capture in its uniqueness, but we can only recommend that you sit back and take it all in.

Inclusions
  • SHARED GONDOLA RIDE OPTION: 20 minutes introduction to the gondola experience
  • SHARED GONDOLA RIDE OPTION: 30 minutes gondola ride with commentary
  • SHARED GONDOLA RIDE OPTION: Live commentary in Italian, English, French and Spanish
  • SHARED GONDOLA RIDE OPTION:App commentary in German, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi and Russian
  • PRIVATE GONDOLA RIDE OPTION: 30 minutes gondola ride WITHOUT commentary
  • Journey in the past by gondola Virtual Reality Experience (not included in the private option)
  • The Yard of Venice: discover the secrets of a sectioned gondola (not included in the private option)

Exclusions
  • Hotel pickup
  • Audio devices
  • Earphones
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Each gondola can host maximum 5 people; the seat aboard cannot be chosen but will be assigned by the gondolier depending of guests weight.
  • The Gondola Ride does not operate in case of exceptionally bad weather or high/low tide (in these cases it can be postponed the days after otherwise it will be refunded)
  • The itinerary may change in the event of wind or bad weather
  • The guide will be only on one gondola, the participants on the others gondola will listen to her/him with the audio-devices
  • The live commentary will be only in English, French, Spanish and Italian. The commentary on German, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi, and Russian will be provided by mobile app downloaded on the own devices.
  • The live commentary IS NOT included in the PRIVATE OPTION
  • Please be at the meeting point 10 minutes before the departure time
  • On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 5 travelers
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Departure Point

1: gondola ride, Calle larga de l'Ascension, 1257, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
2: Gondola Bauer, Calle Larga XXII Marzo, 2091/b, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy


Return Details

Returns to original departure point

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

Duration

30 to 50 minutes


User's Reviews

Maria T

27 Mar, 2024

First time in Venice. Liked the short walk guided commentary from meeting place to the gondola boarding area. Some history in Venice and gondolas and gondoliers. Once on the gondola I thought we would continue to get a guided commentary about the area & sights we were passing through but No commentary was given during ride except when we asked simple questions about the sights we were seeing. We had our own gondola (family of 4) which was good bc the description did state max of 5 people per gondola. The ride seemed shorter than the 30 mins through the grand canal and I don’t even think we were on it the entire time. Once we ended at the starting point it seemed chaotic as our original walking guide was nowhere to be found and we just left our “radio” sets on a pile. I don’t I would choose this tour option again if I return to Venice.

Hemanth_P

26 Mar, 2024

Horrible experience. It’s like a factory floor! No commentary was provided despite having paid for one. Time on Grand Canal was less than 2 mins (to take a turn from one of the side canals to another). Gandolier was browsing on his phone, highly disinterested.

Christine_C

25 Mar, 2024

There was no commentary on the gondola though the tour description said there should be. Supposed to be half hour gondola ride but only 20mins

thomasgE7129BX

25 Mar, 2024

The commentary took place before the gondola ride on a 5 min walk to the gondola. Not worth an extra €40. Recommend just going up and getting your own gondola without the “tour.”

Gemma_B

24 Mar, 2024

We shared with three other people and they seat you in order of weight - I would recommend you just book when you get there it’s cheaper and you can sit alone with your partner! No commentary

User's Picture Gallery

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Good short intro gondola ride for first time in Venice.

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Venice gondola ride

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First time in Italy!

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Great experience for first time visitors

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TOUR WITH RICCARDO

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Three cheers for the gondoliers!

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DO NOT ASK FOR A REFUND

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Ricardo was so lovely and very helpful

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Great Gondola experience on Valentine’s Day!

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Must do

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Gondola tour

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Benvenuti Venezia

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Riding gondola in Venice

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I enjoy it

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Terrible experience!

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Ok ride and a flavor of the Grand Canal.

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Friendly and informative quick tour

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Perfect sampling of a Gondola Ride experience.

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Lovely gondola ride

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Fun Ride

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Nice time

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Disappointing gondola ride

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Fantastic Opportunity!

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Great trip

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