Hidden Venice: Private 30-Minute Gondola Ride

Uncover the city’s timeless charm on a private gondola ride through quiet canals known only to locals.

Details

Begin your journey along canals that have shaped Venice’s story for centuries—aboard a traditional private gondola. As your gondolier navigates the waterways, you'll pass elegant palaces, centuries-old bridges, and quiet corners of the city that reveal its unique charm.

Gondolas have been part of daily life in Venice for over a thousand years. This ride lets you connect with that history while enjoying the city’s iconic views from a unique perspective.

You’ll travel along smaller canals as well as stretches of the Grand Canal, passing places that many visitors never see. It’s a chance to slow down and discover a quieter, more intimate side of the city—only visible from the water.

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Online Booking

What is included in activity

Approx 25-30 minutes private gondola ride
Choose from morning, afternoon or evening departure times to suit your schedule

What is not included

Food or drinks
Guide (the gondolier is only a driver)
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Important Info

• This tour is not guided, although the gondolier may chat and give you some local history
• Please check in15 minutes prior to the booked tour start time
• This activity is not wheelchair accessible
30 min
Private tour, group size up to 5 persons
Mobile ticket
English
Full refund for cancellations up to 24 hours
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund

Your motor boat

Please note that transport and route in different days subject to change.

Meeting point

15 minutes before at Campiello Traghetto, 30124 Venezia VE Santa Maria del Giglio Gondola station, Venice, next to the Hotel Gritti Palace.

Places you will see

• The Grand Canal
• Peggy Guggenheim
• Venetian Palazzi

Photos by travellers

Reviews by travellers

4.7 out of 5
2522 reviews
1950
280
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Fogarty2
Terrible experience and total waste of time and money! We were rushed out to a boat with a less than pleasant driver and basically went in a circle for 17 minutes when a 30 minute ride was paid for. Very sketchy business!!
about 21 hours ago
Bonnie T.
Beautiful sights and gondola. Water traffic was busier than expected but I know that can’t be controlled
5 days ago
Fabienne
The service and the contents of the gondola were wonderful. There was no waiting time.
8 days ago
Lidia
We loved it, although Gitero Dimitri had a lot to do with it, which we found very enjoyable and friendly
8 days ago
Nicole T.
This ride made me feel like a true Venetian noble. Absolutely magical!
9 days ago
Jeffrey C.
Romantic and timeless. Perfect for couples or solo travelers who want to soak up the atmosphere.
12 days ago
Irene
We had booked a gondola ride at 7.30pm only for the two of us. Since we had read in the reviews that the office is not so easy to find, we left earlier. With Googel Maps that was no problem at all. Since it was our turn earlier, the employee asked us if we wanted to drive earlier and where we were we said yes. She wrote a new time on the slip of paper we went to the stop at the Hard Rock Cafe where there was a long line but we were led straight to the next arriving gondola and off we went. It was a special experience from time to time we saw or heard the gondola with musicians. So I enjoyed it very much, I enjoyed it and it would not have occurred to me to look at the watch for how long we were on the road.
12 days ago
Arantza
We enjoyed the gondol ride through Venice with our gondolier who was Nice to tell us about the history and tips on where to eat, which was a great Italian restaurant.
13 days ago
Alex
Good experience on Gondola. 30 mins go by fast for the price paid, it is certainly an expensive ride. Our Gondolier is great, he was very skillfull, going around tight corners in the narrow river lanes. I'd highly recommend this for the beautiful views and experience.
16 days ago
Bertha M.
We booked a private Gondola which departed at St Mark's square. We arrived, queued a few minutes at the ticket desk andvthen went straight onto our gondola. Venice was really busy and I'm glad we prebooked as all other gondolas were sold out! There were others in Venice, nearer the station, however they went down the unknown little side canals, whereas we wanted to see the sights around St Mark's square. It was an unforgettable, albeit expensive, experience!
16 days ago
Route details changed.
More info
Starting point of the tour
15 minutes before at Campiello Traghetto, 30124 Venezia VE Santa Maria del Giglio Gondola station, Venice, next to the Hotel Gritti Palace.