A shared gondola that is sure to pass under the Bridge of Sighs, starting a few minutes' walk from St Mark's Square. Best for one or two people.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, with a full refund
- Duration45 minutes (15-minute introduction, then a 30-minute ride)
- Starting timesSeveral departures a day, including evening slots; times show for your date when you check availability
- LanguagesEnglish
A gondola ride under the Bridge of Sighs costs from $44 per person on this listing, the most-booked ride that names the bridge on its route (2,560 reviews, rated 4.1). It lasts 45 minutes: a 15-minute introduction to gondolas, in English, then about 30 minutes on a shared gondola for up to five people. The route runs along the Rio di Palazzo between the Doge's Palace and the prisons, under the Bridge of Sighs, then through the canals of Castello and San Marco and out to Riva degli Schiavoni. Commentary comes from an app in five languages. One or two travelers pay less than the €90 official fare for a whole gondola.
Book a Gondola RideKey facts
bridge of sighs gondola- Duration
- 45 minutes (15-minute introduction, then a 30-minute ride)
- Starts
- Several departures a day, including evening slots; times show for your date when you check availability
- Meeting point
- Venice Tours office, Calle de le Rasse 4536, off Riva degli Schiavoni
- Price
- $44 per person
- Languages
- English
- Group size
- Up to 5 people per gondola
- Accessibility
- Not fully accessible for wheelchair users or people with reduced mobility
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, with a full refund
Included
- ✓ 15-minute introduction to gondolas and gondoliers (English only)
- ✓ About 30 minutes on a shared gondola
- ✓ Skip-the-line check-in
- ✓ Venice Gallery: a short VR film of Venice in the past
- ✓ App commentary in English, French, Spanish, German and Italian
Not included
- ✗ Live commentary by the gondolier, who only rows
- ✗ Pets
Meeting point
Calle de le Rasse, 4536, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy — From St Mark's Square, face the Basilica and turn right towards the Doge's Palace. Walk past the Bridge of Sighs onto Riva degli Schiavoni, continue for about 2 minutes, then turn left into Calle de le Rasse. The office is at number 4536; go inside to check in. Download the app commentary before you arrive.
Does this gondola ride really pass under the Bridge of Sighs?
Yes. The listing's route names the Bridge of Sighs first, with the Doge's Palace and the Prison Palace on either side. The bridge crosses the Rio di Palazzo, the narrow canal that runs between the Doge's Palace and the New Prison, so the only way to pass under it is by boat. The ride then winds through the canals behind St Mark's, past Campo Santa Maria Formosa, and comes out on the lagoon at Riva degli Schiavoni. The listing warns that wind or bad weather can change the route. The background on the bridge itself is in our Bridge of Sighs guide.
What the Bridge of Sighs is
The Bridge of Sighs is an enclosed bridge of white Istrian limestone, built from 1600 to about 1603. It links the Doge's Palace to the New Prison across the Rio di Palazzo. The name is a Romantic idea of the 19th century, given in English by Lord Byron: the view through its small windows was imagined as a prisoner's last sight of Venice. Seen from below on a gondola, it frames the narrowest stretch of the canal between two of the city's most important buildings.
Shared seats vs a whole gondola
On this ride you buy a seat, from $44, on a gondola shared by up to five people. The City of Venice fare for a whole gondola is €90 (about $100) for 30 minutes by day and €110 (about $123) for 35 minutes from 19:00. So one person pays well under half the boat fare, two pay about $88, still below the day fare, and three or more pay more than a whole boat would cost. At a station, the route is agreed with the gondolier, so if you hire a whole boat and want the Bridge of Sighs, ask for it before you pay. See how much a gondola ride costs for the full fare rules.
The 15-minute introduction and the app
Before you board, a guide gives a 15-minute introduction to gondolas, gondoliers and Venice's life on the water, in English only. The Venice Gallery adds a short VR film of the city in the past. On the water, commentary comes from an app in English, French, Spanish, German or Italian; the operator links the audio files on your confirmation, so download them before you arrive. The gondolier rows and steers. He does not guide, and several recent reviewers say theirs said little or nothing.
Finding the office on Calle de le Rasse
Check-in is at the Venice Tours office at Calle de le Rasse 4536, a narrow street off Riva degli Schiavoni. From St Mark's Square, walk to the waterfront, pass the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, go about 2 minutes along the Riva, and turn left. Three of the ten most recent reviewers found the meeting point vague or hard to find, one because a hotel shown on the map had gone. Allow 10 extra minutes. Seats are set by the gondolier according to weight, and the random-seating option can put your party in different boats.
How it compares with the other Bridge of Sighs rides
Two other listings take the same canal for about the same price. A small-group version at $44 caps each boat at you plus two other guests and has no introduction. An audio-guide version at $40 is the cheapest but rated lower. This one has by far the most reviews. To see the Bridge of Sighs from inside as well, the Doge's Palace tour with a gondola ride crosses it on foot through the prisons, then ends with a shared gondola.
| Option | Price | Boat | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| This ride | $44 per person | Shared, up to 5 | 15-minute intro, VR film, app commentary |
| Small-group Bridge of Sighs ride | $44 per person | You plus up to 2 other guests | App audio guide |
| Bridge of Sighs ride with audio guide | $40 per person | Shared | App commentary |
| Whole gondola at the official day fare | €90 (about $100) per boat | Your group only | Route agreed with the gondolier |
What reviewers consistently say
- All 10 of the most recent reviews (September and October 2026) give 5 stars.
- 3 of the 10 found the meeting point vague or hard to find; 1 found it easy.
- 3 of the 10 say the gondolier said little or nothing and does not act as a guide.
- 3 of the 10 describe the ride as quiet and peaceful.
- 1 of the 10 recommends an early-evening slot for the sunset.
- 1 of the 10 found the staff at the desk unfriendly; 1 calls the ride good value.
Who should not book this
- Groups of three to five, who pay less for a whole gondola
- Travelers who want only the ride and no introduction
- Wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility
- Anyone who wants the gondolier to talk or sing
-
Venice: Small-Group Gondola Ride Beneath the Bridge of Sighs
$44The same canal with at most two other guests in your boat and an app audio guide; rated 4.1 from 232 reviews.
Check availability -
Venice: Gondola Tour under the Bridge of Sighs & Audio Guide
$40The cheapest Bridge of Sighs ride, 30 minutes with app commentary; rated 3.9 from 802 reviews.
Check availability
How to book
Choose your date and time; check that the option you pick includes what you want, since inclusions differ by option. Download the app commentary from your confirmation before you go, and get to the office on Calle de le Rasse 10 minutes early. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancel for free up to 24 hours before. This site may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs?
Yes. The bridge spans the Rio di Palazzo, which gondolas use. This shared ride names the Bridge of Sighs as the first sight on its route.
How much is a gondola ride under the Bridge of Sighs?
From $44 per person on this shared ride, or $40 on the audio-guide version. A whole gondola at the official fare is €90 by day and €110 from 19:00, with the route agreed with the gondolier.
How long is the Bridge of Sighs gondola ride?
45 minutes in all: a 15-minute introduction, then about 30 minutes on the water.
Where does it start?
At the Venice Tours office, Calle de le Rasse 4536, a narrow street off Riva degli Schiavoni, about 2 minutes past the Bridge of Sighs along the waterfront.
Is the introduction in my language?
The introduction is in English only. The app commentary on the water is in English, French, Spanish, German or Italian.
Will my group sit together?
Up to five people share each boat and the gondolier seats people by weight. With the random-seating option your party may be split between gondolas.
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