When it comes to gondola rides in Venice, your choices are limitless. A ride can be something romantic shared by two, or it can be a fun filled excursion for groups of friends and family. Taking a gondola ride during the morning, afternoon or evening are all possibilities as well as whether the ride is short or long. Locations off the main stream and rides along the Grand Canal are also good choices, proving endless options abound.

A gondola ride can be caught at several different locations. Letting your hotel work out the details is a popular and easy way to catch a ride because they’ll find bargains for you or they may even include a gondola ride in your package. When traveling is required to get to your embarking point, the hotel can many times arrange this for you too.

If finding places to board yourself, the main tourist areas are the best places to look. Although Venice offers a few ports, it can be hard to find them as the city is one big tourist attraction. Simply boarding at famous attractions such as the Piazzale Roma and the Doge’s Palace in Piazza San Marco are good options.

Men offering gondola rides at the pedestrian crossing of the secondary canals can be a good way to save some money as it’s usually less crowded therefore less expensive rides can sometimes be found. However it’s important to exercise caution when dealing with vendors in these areas. Although most are there to make a living, there is a small chance of running into a con artist.

The Grand Canal stretches 2 miles long and offers some of the most spectacular sights there are. It’s the most popular place for gondola rides because sights of places like the Basilica di San Marco and the Campanile can be seen. Because of its popularity, rides along the Grand Canal tend to be higher than the other areas of Venice.

Currently, prices for gondola rides range from about $220 per hour, to $120 for about 40 minutes worth of a ride. These are the official rates of the city and are ignored by most vendors so the prices can range dramatically depending on where and when you want a ride.

It is normal and expected to bargain for gondola ride rates; however it’s important to remember the basic principle of supply and demand. Because there are more tourists than there are available gondolas, the demand is high. Sharing a gondola with up to 6 other people is a good way to save money.

The cost is high, but well worth it. If however you feel the cost to be too much, remember that the gondoliers are there to make a living. To hassle them to lower their fairs or making them hassle you for a fair rate isn’t worth it, so consider some of the other hundreds of things to do in Venice that works for your vacation budget.

The rides are quite fun for those choosing to pay for it, although the romantic aspect can be mixed. With thousands of people watching from the bridges and streets that line the Grand Canal, it takes a special person to ignore them and focus on the scenery and each other.