The whole gondola for your group of up to five, booked for a set time from the waterfront by St Mark's. You pay for the slot, not for each seat.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, with a full refund
- DurationAbout 30 minutes
- Starting timesDay and evening slots; times show for your date when you check availability
- LanguagesEnglish, Italian, French, Spanish, German
A private gondola ride in Venice costs $156 for the whole boat on this listing, for up to five people and about 30 minutes. It is the most-reviewed private gondola among the 111 Venice gondola listings this site compared (5,344 reviews, rated 3.8). You check in at the Alilaguna ticket office on the waterfront in front of the Royal Gardens and board at San Marco Giardinetti. The gondolier takes your group along the Grand Canal and into smaller canals, by day or after dark. There is no guide, no commentary and no serenade. The official fare for the same 30 minutes is €90 (about $100) by day, so you pay roughly $56 for a fixed time and free cancellation.
Book a Gondola RideKey facts
private gondola ride- Duration
- About 30 minutes
- Starts
- Day and evening slots; times show for your date when you check availability
- Meeting point
- Alilaguna ticket office, in front of the Royal Gardens gate, Riva degli Schiavoni
- Price
- $156 per group
- Languages
- English, Italian, French, Spanish, German
- Group size
- Private: your group only, up to 5 people
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, with a full refund
Included
- ✓ Private gondola ride of about 30 minutes for your group only
Not included
- ✗ Serenade
- ✗ Commentary
- ✗ Guide
Meeting point
S. Marco, Riva degli Schiavoni, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy — Check in at the Alilaguna ticket office in front of the Royal Gardens (Giardinetti Reali) gate, where you swap your booking for a ticket. The gondola departs from San Marco Giardinetti. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed on board.
Is a private gondola worth booking ahead?
Booking a private gondola ahead is worth it if a fixed time and free cancellation matter more to you than the lowest price. The City of Venice sets one fare for a whole gondola: €90 (about $100) for 30 minutes from 09:00 to 19:00, and €110 (about $123) for 35 minutes from 19:00. You can pay that at any gondola station with no booking. This listing costs $156 for the same boat and roughly the same time. By day you pay about $56 more than the station fare; in the evening about $33 more. In return you have a set slot, you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead, and you skip haggling or queuing at a busy station.
What you get for $156
You get the gondola for your group alone, up to five people, for about 30 minutes. The price is per boat, so a couple pays $78 each and a group of five pays about $31 each. The route runs along the Grand Canal from the St Mark's end and into quieter side canals, past palaces and under bridges. The listing does not include a guide, commentary or a serenade: the gondolier rows. Rides run by day and at night, when the monuments are lit. The listing does not name a route that passes the Bridge of Sighs; for that, see the Bridge of Sighs ride.
The ride can be shorter than 30 minutes
The listing says the ride could last less than 30 minutes when the canals are busy, and that the gondolier decides how long it lasts. The listing's own review summary says some travelers felt their ride ran short and asked for the full time. If time on the water is what you are paying for, ask the gondolier before you set off how long the route takes, and choose a quieter hour. The official fare also buys 30 minutes by day and 35 minutes in the evening, so the same question applies at a station.
Finding the check-in office and the dock
You check in at the Alilaguna ticket office on Riva degli Schiavoni, in front of the gate of the Royal Gardens, a short walk from St Mark's Square along the waterfront. You are looking for a ferry ticket office, not a guide with a sign; one recent reviewer notes it is the same dock as the ferry. Recent reviewers say the gondola dock is several minutes' walk from the check-in office, so arrive 15 minutes early. Several reviewers who arrived late were moved to a later slot at no charge, but that is goodwill, not a promise in the listing.
Private gondola ride for 2 in Venice
For a couple, this ride costs $156, against about $100 at a station by day. Couples who want something added have three other private rides on this site. The private ride with prosecco adds a bottle on board for $185. The ride with a serenade option is priced per person and adds musicians if you choose them. The ride with a photographer adds a photo shoot for $328. If you want the plain ride at the lowest price, walk to a gondola station and pay the €90 fare, ideally in cash.
| Option | Price per boat | Length | Booked ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|
| This private ride | $156 | About 30 minutes | Yes, free cancellation to 24 hours |
| Official fare at a station, 09:00 to 19:00 | €90 (about $100) | 30 minutes | No, pay the gondolier |
| Official fare at a station, from 19:00 | €110 (about $123) | 35 minutes | No, pay the gondolier |
| Private ride through the hidden canals | $178 | 30 minutes to 2 hours | Yes |
| Private 30-minute Grand Canal ride | $155 | 30 minutes | Yes |
What reviewers consistently say
- All 10 of the most recent reviews (June to October 2026) give 5 stars.
- 3 of the 10 say the check-in office was hard to find or several minutes' walk from the gondola dock.
- 3 of the 10 arrived late or missed their slot and were moved to a later slot without charge.
- 3 of the 10 describe the gondolier as quiet; 1 found theirs talkative and knowledgeable.
- 2 of the 10 mention both the Grand Canal and the smaller canals.
- 1 of the 10 expected to pass the Bridge of Sighs and did not, but got the full 30 minutes.
Who should not book this
- Anyone on a budget who can pay the €90 fare at a station instead
- Travelers who want a guide, commentary or a serenade
- Groups of more than five
- Anyone set on passing under the Bridge of Sighs
-
Venice Private Gondola Ride: Tour Hidden Canals and Sights
$178A route through quieter side canals, with longer options of up to 2 hours; rated 4.3 from 1,204 reviews.
Check availability -
Venice: Premium Private Grand Canal Gondola Ride
$126A private Grand Canal ride with an optional audio guide; the listing quotes one fixed price per gondola for up to five, so check the total at checkout. Rated 3.9 from 2,991 reviews.
Check availability -
Venice: Private 30-Minute Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal
$155The same price for a fixed 30-minute Grand Canal route past Palazzo Contarini Fasan and the Punta della Dogana; rated 4.1 from 648 reviews.
Check availability
How to book
Pick a date and a time slot, day or evening, and book for your group of up to five. Reserve now and pay later if you like. On the day, go to the Alilaguna ticket office on Riva degli Schiavoni about 15 minutes early to swap your booking for a ticket, then walk to the dock. Free cancellation runs until 24 hours before the start. 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 a private gondola ride in Venice?
The official fare is €90 for 30 minutes by day and €110 for 35 minutes from 19:00, per gondola, paid to the gondolier. Booked online ahead, this private ride costs $156 for up to five people.
How many people fit in this private gondola?
Up to five. The price is for the whole boat, so it is the same for two people as for five.
Does the gondolier sing or explain the sights?
No. Serenade, commentary and a guide are all excluded. Some gondoliers chat; recent reviewers mostly found theirs quiet.
Where does the private gondola depart from?
You check in at the Alilaguna ticket office in front of the Royal Gardens gate on Riva degli Schiavoni, then board at San Marco Giardinetti, a few minutes' walk away.
Will the ride last the full 30 minutes?
Not always. The listing says the ride can be shorter when the canals are busy and that the gondolier decides its length.
Can I bring drinks on board?
No. The listing does not allow alcohol on this ride. The private ride with prosecco includes a bottle.
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