Private gondola rides are charming, romantic, and expensive. They start at over $100 and that’s just the beginning. Add in a gondolier who sings “Figaro” and the costs balloon.
Granted, a gondola ride may be your must-do bucket list item when you visit Venice. But, if the cost scares you off or you just want a taste of riding on the Grand Canal in a gondola, I have some cost saving alternatives.
If you’re dead set on a private gondola ride, know this; you’re renting the entire gondola, no matter how many people in your party. Most often, couples canoodle on their 30 minute gondola excursion. But, gondolas can fit up to five passengers. By splitting it five ways, you can save a lot of money (and give up your privacy).
For a much cheaper gondola ride, consider a Traghetti. These are gondolas that ferry passengers across the Grand Canal at strategic locations where there is no bridge crossing.
The ride only takes a couple of minutes and costs a couple Euros per passenger. Gondoliers wait until the boat is filled before pushing away from the dock for a quick journey across the Grand Canal.
While it might lack the romance of a private gondola ride, I find taking a Traghetti utterly charming; such a Venetian way to travel!
Venice’s Marco Polo Airport has direct flights to most of Europe with a few (mostly seasonal) flights to North America. Trains and buses connect Venice to the rest of Italy.
It is easy to take the bus from the airport to the main station in Venice. Or, you can take a boat to the city. Private boats are luxurious and expensive. But, there are also public ferries from the airport that can take you to Venice. While the ferries are slower and make lots of stops, they’re also quite scenic. If I have time, I’ll take the ferry and think of my time on the boat as a less expensive sight seeing tour. Follow the blue signs in the airport to the ferry terminal. Note that lines can be quite long, especially during high season. You can save a little time by purchasing tickets in advance.
Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt” (Eckhartz Press) and the short story collection “That Bird.” He’s also written dozens of foodie travel guides on Destination Eat Drink, including several in Italy. Brent’s podcast, also called Destination Eat Drink, is available on all major podcasting platforms and is distributed by the Radio Misfits Podcast Network.
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