Venice Tours (City Tours Co.) · San Marco
A shared gondola for up to five strangers from Campo San Moisè, by St Mark's, past the back of La Fenice and out to the Grand Canal facing the Salute, after a short gondola-history intro with a VR headset. Pick it for the cheapest gondola seat in town, and know that it never goes near Rialto.
Let's start with what this is not: it is not a Rialto gondola. The boats board at Campo San Moisè, next to the Bauer hotel by St Mark's, wind through the canals behind La Fenice and come out on the Grand Canal near its mouth, facing the Salute and the Punta della Dogana. The Rialto Bridge is a 10 to 15-minute walk away and the gondola doesn't go there. We list it as the San Marco alternative: the cheapest way to sit in a gondola, close to the Piazza.
You check in at the Venice Tours office in Campo San Gallo, spend about 20 minutes in the company's Gondola Gallery (a real gondola, the craft behind it, a 3D ride through old Venice), then walk with a guide to the boats. The ride is listed at about 30 minutes in a gondola shared by up to five people, with seats assigned by weight. Commentary comes over a radio earpiece in English, French or Spanish, or through an app in other languages. A private boat is an option at a higher price, with app commentary only.
The 4.0 from 4,804 reviews is a split verdict. The intro and the guides get praise. The ride gets the complaints: gondoliers who say nothing or talk on the phone, a crowded boarding area, rides guests timed at 15 to 20 minutes, couples who expected a romantic boat and shared it with three strangers (guests report the private upgrade at about EUR 50 more). Do the maths too: two seats cost $84, close to the EUR 90 that buys a whole private gondola for 30 minutes at any station under the official city tariff.
Campo San Gallo, a minute behind St Mark's: arches on the right of the Piazza, right at the Olivetti shop, over the little bridge.
A real gondola, oars and forcole, and a short 3D journey through Venice's past.
With the guide and an earpiece to the gondola landing beside the Bauer hotel.
Canals by La Fenice, then out on the Grand Canal facing the Salute and the Dogana, and back to San Moisè.
★★★★★We loved it. We chose a shared ride, which next time I would do private just for pics. The gondoliers don’t talk to you so just expect that.
★★★★★Friendly guide, lovely gondola ride, nice VR experience at the start for the history. Meeting point could be a little clearer.
★★★★★Interesting history of the gondola before actual gondola ride. The tour guide Ellie was very knowledgeable and engaging.
Read next:
No. It boards at Campo San Moisè by St Mark's, goes through the canals near La Fenice and onto the Grand Canal facing the Salute. Rialto is a 10 to 15-minute walk away. For a gondola from Rialto, see the private ride from the Carbon station.
Yes, unless you buy the private option. Up to five people share a boat and the gondolier assigns seats by weight.
The listing says about 30 minutes, inside a one-hour experience with the 20-minute gallery intro. Some guests timed it at 15 to 20 minutes.
Per seat, yes: $42 against the EUR 90 a private boat costs for 30 minutes. For a couple the gap almost closes, and a private boat is yours alone.
Ready to book
The cheapest gondola seat near St Mark's: a shared boat, a gondola-history intro and about half an hour on the water.
Private Gondola Ride from RialtoThe only gondola here that leaves from Rialto: 45 private minutes from the Carbon station. No commentary.★ 3.8 · 45 minutes · from $321
Venice Walking Tour and Gondola RideA guided San Marco walk with a stop at Rialto, then a shared 30-minute gondola without the station queue.★ 3.8 · 2 hours · from $69
Private Gondola Ride to Hidden CanalsA private gondola from Piazzale Roma through quiet side canals. Only the 90-minute and 2-hour rides reach Rialto.★ 3.9 · 30 min to 2 hours · from $182