A private gondola from beside St Mark's Square, where you choose whether a musician comes aboard. Booked per person, so it suits couples best.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, with a full refund; the tour may be cancelled in bad weather
- DurationAbout 30 minutes
- Starting timesTimes show for your date when you check availability
A gondola serenade in Venice is not part of the gondola fare: you add it, and on this listing you choose it as an option on a private ride. The ride costs from $113 per person for about 30 minutes, run by Venice Boat Experience and rated 4.2 from 92 reviews. An assistant meets you at the entrance of the Museo Correr on St Mark's Square and walks you to the gondola. The boat follows the Grand Canal and then smaller canals. With the music option, a musician plays the accordion on board. Without it, the ride is quiet: the listing says the gondolier rows and does not guide or chat.
Book a Gondola RideKey facts
gondola serenade- Duration
- About 30 minutes
- Starts
- Times show for your date when you check availability
- Meeting point
- Entrance of the Museo Correr, Calle dell'Ascensione, St Mark's Square
- Price
- $113 per person
- Group size
- Private: your group only, up to 8 people
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, with a full refund; the tour may be cancelled in bad weather
Included
- ✓ Assistance at the meeting point and an escort to the gondola station
- ✓ Private gondola ride
- ✓ A musician on board, if you choose the music option
Not included
- ✗ Commentary or conversation from the gondolier, who only rows
- ✗ Gratuities
Meeting point
Piazza San Marco, 52, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy — An assistant waits in front of the Museo Correr entrance in Calle dell'Ascensione on St Mark's Square, holding a sign with your name, and walks you to the gondola station.
Do gondoliers sing in Venice?
A gondola fare in Venice does not include a song: a serenade comes from separate musicians, booked and paid on top. The City of Venice fare of €90 for 30 minutes by day, or €110 for 35 minutes from 19:00, pays for the boat and the gondolier's rowing. This listing makes the point plainly: the gondolier is not a guide and his job is to row. If you want music, you choose the music option, and a musician plays the accordion on board your boat. More on the tradition is in do gondoliers sing?
What the serenade option adds
The music option puts a musician on board your private gondola, playing the accordion as you move along the Grand Canal and into the side canals. The listing's description names the accordion; one recent reviewer describes a singer and an accordion player. Choosing the option raises the price shown at checkout; the $113 per person shown here is the starting price. The serenade is the reason to pick this listing over a plain private ride, so check that the option is in your basket before you pay.
Price per person, against the per-boat fare
This listing charges per person, and adult rates apply to every traveler, including children. Two people pay about $226 before the music option, more than double the official day fare of €90 (about $100) for the whole boat. Four people pay about $452. That premium buys an escort from St Mark's Square, a set time, free cancellation and, if you add it, the musician. For a couple who want music, it is the simple way to arrange it. For a family or a group without a musician, a plain private gondola at $156 a boat costs far less.
Meeting point and route
You meet an assistant in front of the Museo Correr entrance in Calle dell'Ascensione, on St Mark's Square. The assistant holds a sign with your name and walks you to the gondola station nearby. The ride starts close to St Mark's, runs along the Grand Canal past old palaces, then turns into smaller canals and under bridges before returning. Two recent reviewers found the meeting point tricky; one called the provider, and the assistant came to find them. Save the provider's phone number from your confirmation before you set off.
Who this serenade ride suits
This ride suits a couple marking an occasion who want music without arranging it with the gondoliers on the spot. It also suits anyone who wants a private boat, not a shared one, and does not mind paying per person for it. It does not suit travelers on a budget, larger families, or anyone who wants a guided ride: commentary is excluded. For other romantic add-ons, compare the ride with prosecco and the ideas in the most romantic things to do in Venice.
| Option | Price for 2 people | Music | Booked ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|
| This ride, without the music option | about $226 | No | Yes |
| This ride, with the music option | more; priced at checkout | Accordion on board | Yes |
| 30-minute Grand Canal ride with a serenade | about $419 | Singer and musician, always included | Yes |
| Plain private gondola on this site | $156 per boat | No | Yes |
| Official fare at a station, by day | €90 (about $100) per boat | No; arranged and paid separately | No |
What reviewers consistently say
- All 10 of the most recent reviews (July 2025 to October 2026) give 5 stars.
- 6 of the 10 describe the gondolier as friendly, funny or informative, although the listing says he only rows.
- 2 of the 10 found the meeting point tricky; in 1 case the assistant came to find them.
- 2 of the 10 booked the ride as a surprise or treat for a partner.
- 1 of the 10 mentions the singer and accordion player.
- 1 of the 10 fitted a party of five on one gondola, and 1 rode with a six-year-old.
Who should not book this
- Travelers on a budget: the per-person price adds up fast
- Families or groups who could share one boat at the per-gondola fare
- Anyone who wants a guided ride with commentary
-
Venice: 30-Minute Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal with a Serenade
$210The serenade is always included: a singer and musician perform as a group of gondolas moves along the Grand Canal together. Priced per person and rated lower (3.5 from 382 reviews).
Check availability
How to book
Choose your date and time, then pick the option with the musician if you want the serenade; the plain ride is the starting price. Every traveler pays the adult rate. On the day, meet the assistant in front of the Museo Correr entrance on St Mark's Square. 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
Is a serenade included in the Venice gondola fare?
No. The official fare of €90 by day or €110 from 19:00 covers the boat and the rowing. Music is arranged and paid separately; on this listing it is an option you add.
How much is a gondola ride with a serenade?
This private ride starts at $113 per person without music; the music option costs more and is priced at checkout. The always-serenaded Grand Canal ride costs $210 per person.
Where do you meet for the serenade ride?
In front of the Museo Correr entrance in Calle dell'Ascensione, on St Mark's Square. An assistant with a name sign walks you to the gondola.
Will the gondolier tell us about the sights?
The listing says no: the gondolier rows and does not guide or chat. Several recent reviewers still found theirs talkative and informative.
Do children pay less?
No. The listing says adult rates apply to all travelers.
Can the serenade ride be cancelled for weather?
Yes, the operator may cancel in bad weather. You can also cancel yourself for a full refund up to 24 hours before.
Sources