A shared gondola at dusk past the Salute church, priced per seat instead of the €110 evening fare for a whole boat. With an optional dinner after.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, with a full refund
- DurationAbout 50 minutes (20-minute introduction, then a 30-minute ride); longer with the dinner option
- Starting timesEvening departures; times show for your date when you check availability
- LanguagesEnglish, Italian
An evening gondola ride in Venice costs from $48 per person on this listing, a shared sunset gondola ride on the Grand Canal run by City Tours, rated 3.9 from 604 reviews. The experience lasts about 50 minutes: a 20-minute introduction with a gondola gallery and a VR film, then about 30 minutes on a gondola shared by up to five people. The route leaves from near Campo San Moisè, by St Mark's Square, and passes La Fenice, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Santa Maria della Salute. An option adds dinner at a nearby restaurant. From 19:00, a whole gondola at the official fare costs €110 (about $123) for 35 minutes, so one or two people pay less here.
Book a Gondola RideKey facts
evening gondola ride- Duration
- About 50 minutes (20-minute introduction, then a 30-minute ride); longer with the dinner option
- Starts
- Evening departures; times show for your date when you check availability
- Meeting point
- Venice Tours office, Calle San Gallo, near St Mark's Square
- Price
- $48 per person
- Languages
- English, Italian
- Group size
- Up to 5 people per gondola
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, with a full refund
Included
- ✓ 20-minute introduction to the gondola experience
- ✓ About 30 minutes on a shared gondola
- ✓ A short VR film of Venice's history aboard a virtual gondola
- ✓ Gondola Gallery: how gondolas are made, with tools and a cross-section
- ✓ Dinner at La Colomba restaurant, if you choose that option
Not included
- ✗ Drinks or extras at dinner beyond the set menu
- ✗ Smoking
Meeting point
Calle S. Gallo, 1093/b, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy — The listing has two meeting points and your option decides which one: the Venice Tours office in Calle San Gallo, or a point by Campo San Moisè. Check your confirmation. Large bags are not allowed.
Evening gondola fare vs a seat on this ride
The official gondola fare rises in the evening: from 19:00 a whole gondola costs €110 (about $123) for 35 minutes, against €90 (about $100) for 30 minutes by day. The fare is per boat. On this ride you pay $48 per seat instead. One person pays well under half the evening fare, and two people pay about $96, about $27 less than a whole boat. Three people pay about $144, more than the evening fare, and the ride is about 30 minutes, not 35. Groups of three or more do better hiring a whole gondola at a station, or booking a private gondola.
When is sunset in Venice for a gondola ride?
Sunset in Venice ranges from about 16:30 in December to about 21:00 in June, on the 15th of each month. In autumn it comes early: about 19:23 in mid-September, 18:26 in mid-October and 16:41 in mid-November. In spring it moves from 18:15 in mid-March to 19:55 in mid-April and 20:33 in mid-May. Summer sunsets fall around 21:00 in June, 20:56 in July and 20:19 in August. From late autumn to early spring the sun is down well before the evening fare starts at 19:00, so a winter evening ride is a ride after dark under the lights. Pick the slot nearest sunset for your dates when you book.
What the 50 minutes include
A host starts with a 20-minute introduction to gondolas and gondoliers on the walk to the boat. You see a gondola gallery with the tools and a cross-section of a gondola, then watch a short VR film of Venice in the past from a virtual gondola. Then comes about 30 minutes on the water, through hidden side canals and a section of the Grand Canal. The ride can be app-commented or live-commented, depending on the option you book; for the app version, download the commentary before you board. The gondolier rows and steers: he does not sing or guide.
The route at dusk
The ride starts from near Campo San Moisè, west of St Mark's Square, and the listing names four sights: the Grand Canal, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Santa Maria della Salute and La Fenice opera house. That is the lower stretch of the Grand Canal near its mouth, where the Salute's dome faces the water, plus the quiet canals behind La Fenice. The route can change, or the ride can be cancelled, in bad weather. For the Rialto Bridge or the Bridge of Sighs, choose a different ride; the best gondola routes compares them.
The dinner option
The dinner option adds a meal at La Colomba, a Venetian restaurant, after the ride. The listing sets the rules: courses cannot be swapped, and changes cost extra at the restaurant. Special requests such as candles, cake, prosecco or wine are not included. Tell the operator about allergies or food intolerances when you book. If you want a drink on the boat itself, the private ride with prosecco includes a bottle for the whole boat.
How late do gondolas run in Venice?
Gondolas carry passengers after dark: the City of Venice sets a separate evening fare, €110 for 35 minutes, for rides from 19:00. On this listing, the evening start times for your date show when you check availability. For station hours and the day and evening fares side by side, see Venice gondola hours.
| Party size | This ride ($48 per seat, about 30 min) | Whole gondola from 19:00 (€110, 35 min) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $48 | about $123 |
| 2 people | $96 | about $123 |
| 3 people | $144 | about $123 |
| 4 people | $192 | about $123 |
| 5 people | $240 | about $123 |
What reviewers consistently say
- All 10 of the most recent reviews (July to October 2026) give 5 stars.
- 4 of the 10 say the VR film and the introduction added useful history; 1 wanted only the gondola ride.
- 2 of the 10 expected the gondolier to talk or sing and say he did not.
- 1 of the 10 found the ride a little shorter than expected.
- 1 of the 10 missed their slot and was rebooked for the next day.
- 1 of the 10 mentions riding at sunset.
Who should not book this
- Groups of three or more, who pay less for a whole gondola at the evening fare
- Travelers who want only the ride and no introduction
- Anyone expecting a serenade or a talking gondolier
- Wheelchair users
How to book
Pick your date and an evening slot close to sunset, then choose app or live commentary and decide on the dinner option. Your option decides the meeting point, shown on your confirmation. Download the app commentary before you go. 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
How much is an evening gondola ride in Venice?
The official fare from 19:00 is €110 for a 35-minute ride, per gondola. On this shared ride you pay $48 per seat for about 30 minutes, with an introduction first.
What time is sunset in Venice?
On the 15th of the month, about 18:26 in October, 16:41 in November, 16:27 in December, 19:55 in April and 21:00 in June.
Is dinner included?
Only with the dinner option, at La Colomba restaurant. Drinks and special requests are not included, and courses cannot be swapped.
Does the gondolier sing on the evening ride?
No. The ride is commented by app or by a live guide, depending on your option. The gondolier rows.
How many people share the gondola?
Up to five. The gondolier assigns seats by weight to keep the boat balanced.
What if it rains?
The route can change, or the operator can cancel, in bad weather. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before.
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