A local guide, quiet lanes, the Rialto Bridge and a spritz stop, with a shared gondola you can add. A first-day orientation for Venice.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, with a full refund; in exceptionally high tides the walk is postponed to the next day or refunded
- Duration1.5 to 2 hours for the walk; up to 3 hours in all with the gondola option
- Starting timesWith the gondola option: English walks at 9:00, 11:00 and an afternoon slot with the gondola at 18:00; German 9:15; French 11:15; Spanish 14:00 and 15:30
- LanguagesEnglish, French, German, Spanish
This Venice walking tour starts at $30 per person for a guided walk of about two hours through the city centre, and you can add a shared gondola ride as an option. Run by City Tours and rated 4.4 from 665 reviews, it leaves from Campo San Gallo beside St Mark's Square. A local guide leads groups of up to 15 through side streets to the Rialto Bridge, Palazzo Grimani, Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo and Santa Maria dei Miracoli, with a stop at a bàcaro for a spritz. Walks run in English, French, German and Spanish. With the gondola option, you then get a 30-minute shared ride and a VR film of old Venice.
Book a Gondola RideKey facts
walking tour and gondola combo- Duration
- 1.5 to 2 hours for the walk; up to 3 hours in all with the gondola option
- Starts
- With the gondola option: English walks at 9:00, 11:00 and an afternoon slot with the gondola at 18:00; German 9:15; French 11:15; Spanish 14:00 and 15:30
- Meeting point
- Venice Tours office, Campo San Gallo, beside St Mark's Square
- Price
- $30 per person
- Languages
- English, French, German, Spanish
- Group size
- Up to 15 people on the walk
- Accessibility
- Not fully accessible for wheelchair users
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, with a full refund; in exceptionally high tides the walk is postponed to the next day or refunded
Included
- ✓ Group walking tour of central Venice
- ✓ Professional local guide
- ✓ 15-minute introductory walk about gondolas, if you choose the gondola option
- ✓ 30-minute shared gondola ride, if you choose the gondola option
- ✓ Gondola Gallery and a VR film of Venice in the past, if you choose the gondola option
Not included
- ✗ Hotel pickup or drop-off
- ✗ Food and drinks
Meeting point
Campo San Gallo, San Marco 1093/b, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy — With the Basilica behind you, keep to the right side of St Mark's Square and go under the arches. Find the Olivetti Museum, turn right, pass under the archways, cross the little bridge and go straight on to Campo San Gallo.
Where the walking tour goes
The walk starts by St Mark's Square and heads away from the busiest routes through narrow calli and small campi. The listing's stops are Piazza San Marco, the Ponte delle Tette, Palazzo Grimani, Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo and the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, and the description adds the Rialto Bridge, with its view along the Grand Canal. Along the way the group stops at a bàcaro, a traditional Venetian wine bar, for a spritz. Food and drinks are not included, so the spritz is paid on the spot. The Spanish walks at 14:00 and 15:30 are 90 minutes long and skip the spritz stop.
Adding the gondola ride
The gondola is an option, not part of the $30 starting price. With it, you get a 15-minute introductory walk about gondolas, a 30-minute ride on a shared gondola, and a visit to the operator's Gondola Gallery with a VR film of Venice in the past. There is a gap between the end of the walk and the gondola: for the 9:00 English walk the gondola leaves at 11:30, for the 11:00 walk at 13:30. The price with the gondola shows when you choose the option. The listing's review summary says some travelers wanted clearer notice that the gondola is optional and shared.
The gondola part, priced against the official fare
A shared seat costs you a share of someone else's boat. The City of Venice fare for a whole gondola is €90 (about $100) for 30 minutes by day, per boat, not per person. For two people, that is about $50 each for a boat of your own. On this site the cheapest way to add a shared ride after the walk is the shared Grand Canal ride at $41 per person, from the same operator and the same office. Adding the option here keeps it in one booking with a fixed time. The hidden streets combo listed below includes the gondola in its $76 price.
Times and languages
With the gondola option, the listing gives set times. English walks run at 9:00 (gondola at 11:30) and 11:00 (gondola at 13:30), and an afternoon English walk ends with a gondola at 18:00. The German walk runs at 9:15 (gondola at 11:50) and the French walk at 11:15 (gondola at 14:10). Spanish walks of 90 minutes run at 14:00 (gondola at 15:30) and 15:30 (gondola at 17:15). Without the gondola, check availability for your date.
Venice food tour or walking tour?
This is a history walk, not a food tour. The only food-and-drink stop is the spritz in a bàcaro, which you pay for, and the Spanish afternoon walks skip it. If your aim is a tasting tour of cicchetti and wine bars, look for a dedicated food tour. If you want an orientation walk with a local guide on your first morning, this suits better, and the things to do in Venice guide covers what to see next.
High water and other small print
The walk does not run in exceptionally high tides; the operator postpones it to the next day or refunds it. The tour is not fully accessible for wheelchair users, and hotel pickup is not included. Groups are capped at 15. The listing asks you to bring comfortable shoes. Check which option you booked, since inclusions differ by option.
| Option | Price per person | Gondola | Walk |
|---|---|---|---|
| This tour, walk only | $30 | None | About 2 hours, up to 15 people |
| This tour with the gondola option | Shown when you pick the option | Shared, 30 minutes | About 2 hours |
| Hidden streets walk and gondola combo | $76 | Included, weather permitting | St Mark's to Rialto, 3 hours in all |
| Walk only, then a whole gondola at the day fare | $30 plus your share of €90 (about $50 each for two) | Private, 30 minutes | About 2 hours |
What reviewers consistently say
- All 10 of the most recent reviews (August to October 2026) give 5 stars.
- 9 of the 10 praise the guide by name, most often for knowledge of the city's history.
- 3 of the 10 value routes away from the tourist crowds, outside the San Marco area.
- 2 of the 10 mention that their guide is from Venice.
- 1 of the 10 mentions the gondola ride; the others review the walk.
Who should not book this
- Travelers looking for a food tour
- Wheelchair users
- Anyone who expects the gondola in the starting price
- Couples who want a gondola to themselves
-
Venice: Hidden Streets Walking Tour & Gondola Ride Combo
$76The gondola is in the price: a 3-hour walk from St Mark's past La Fenice to the Rialto Bridge, then a ride through quiet canals, weather permitting. Rated 4.4 from 287 reviews.
Check availability
How to book
Choose the walk alone or the option with the gondola ride, then pick a time and language; with the gondola, the ride time is fixed by your walk. Meet at the Venice Tours office in Campo San Gallo. 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 the gondola ride included in the $30 price?
No. $30 is the starting price for the walk alone. The gondola is an option, priced when you choose it.
How long is the Venice walking tour?
About 2 hours, or 90 minutes for the Spanish afternoon walks. With the gondola option, allow up to 3 hours including the gap before the ride.
Does the walking tour visit the Rialto Bridge?
Yes. The listing names the Rialto Bridge, with its view of the Grand Canal, along with Palazzo Grimani, Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo and Santa Maria dei Miracoli.
Is the spritz included?
Food and drinks are not included, so you pay for the spritz at the bàcaro. The Spanish afternoon walks have no spritz stop.
Is the gondola private?
No, it is shared. A whole gondola at the official fare costs €90 by day for the whole boat, paid to the gondolier.
What happens in high water?
In exceptionally high tides the walk is postponed to the next day or refunded.
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