Venice Walking Tour & Gondola Ride: Hidden Canals & Landmarks

Uncover Venice’s secret art spots and glide past Marco Polo’s historic home

This guided walking tour combines Venice's famous landmarks, St. Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs, with off-the-beaten-track locations like Marco Polo's House, then adds a 30-minute shared gondola ride through the city's iconic waterways. A qualified guide leads the walking portion in your choice of language, and the Gondola Gallery shows you how these boats are built before you board one.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each5 stops

1. St. Mark's Square20m
2. Marco Polo's Homepassing by
3. Rialto Bridgepassing by
4. Venice Islandspassing by
5. Bridge of Sighspassing by

Venice walking tour and gondola ride

• Morning walking tour of Saint Mark’s Square
• Visit Marco Polo's Home
• Discover Rialto Bridge
• View St. Mark’s Basin and S.Giorgio Island
• See the Bridge of Sighs
• Enjoy thirty-minute gondola ride
• Explore Gondola Gallery and virtual gondola experience

The experience

The tour starts at St. Mark's Square, where your guide explains the main monuments and then steers you into the quieter Venice most visitors miss. You'll see the Rialto Bridge, the city's first urban center, and Marco Polo's House, marked by a white plaque and now used as a theater. The walk takes in views of St. Mark's Basin, the Bell Tower, and Palazzo Ducale from across the water, ending at the Bridge of Sighs for the most romantic angle on it.

After the walking portion, you visit the Gondola Gallery to learn how these boats are made: you'll see original tools and a detailed cross-section showing the craftsmanship that has shaped gondolas for centuries. Then you board a shared gondola, maximum five people per boat, for a 30-minute ride through Venice's canals. The gondolier assigns your seat based on weight distribution, and multilingual assistance is provided as you embark. Audio commentary accompanies the ride, so you hear the history and tradition as you glide through the waterways.

The whole experience runs two and a half hours. The tour operates in English, Spanish, French, and German, and it's suitable for all fitness levels. Bad weather or exceptional high tide can cause postponement or refund. A €5 access fee applies on certain dates for day-trippers from outside Venice. Check the city's official site for exemptions and which days it applies.

What’s included

• Guided walking tour with a qualified, experienced guide.
• introduction to the Gondola Gallery with tools and cross-section display.
• 30-minute shared gondola ride.
• audio commentary during the gondola portion.
• multilingual assistance for boarding.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in Spanish14:00 and 15:00Guided tour in Spanish: a walking tour followed by a charming gondola ride

Guide in English11:00Guided tour in English: a walking tour followed by a charming gondola ride

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 2h 30m, runs every day at 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00, from € 47 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and French, in groups of up to 15 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00Tuesday to Thursday: 11:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (2 and older) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by CITY TOURS CO. LTD

Is this one for you?Choose this if you've already seen St. Mark's and the Rialto Bridge. It swaps the crowded squares for hidden canals and lesser-known palaces, with a gondola ride woven through the walk rather than booked separately.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English, at 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00. In Spanish and French, at 14:00 and 15:00.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 2): free.

What exactly is the Gondola Gallery part of this tour?

The Gondola Gallery is an exhibition showing how gondolas are constructed, with original tools and a detailed cross-section of the boat on display. You see it before boarding the gondola itself, so you understand the craftsmanship before you experience the ride.

Can I choose where I sit in the gondola?

No, the gondolier assigns your seat based on weight distribution to keep the boat balanced. Multilingual staff help you board safely.

What happens if the weather is bad or the tide is too high?

The tour does not operate in case of exceptional high tide. It can be postponed to the next day or refunded. The itinerary may also change if wind or bad weather occurs on the day.

How many people ride in each gondola?

Each gondola holds a maximum of five people, and the ride lasts 30 minutes with audio commentary included.

Do I need to pay anything extra for entry to the sites we visit?

No entrance fees are included in the tour price. However, on certain dates, day-trippers from outside Venice must pay a €5 city access fee. Check the Venice city council website to see if it applies to your visit date.