This is one of my longstanding life list items from the initial list that I wrote, because of course Venetian gondolas are iconic and legendary. It’s become an even more important life list item since I wrote it, given we’ve all become more used to hearing that Venice may not be around forever thanks to climate change, so I definitely wanted to get it done imminently.
So in June 2023, off we went to Venice! I’ll do another full write-up about the trip as a whole, but as this life list item was specifically about gondolas, this is what this post is going to focus on!
I was exceptionally excited to get on the gondola, but the first hurdle is actually getting on one, given the vast hordes of tourists who all want to do the same! It is, of course, not cheap either, but we decided to splurge on a private boat, and the longest route because of what a highlight of our Venice trip it was going to be.
We got on our gondola from the station in Piazza San Marco, not for any particular reason but just because we happened across it and there wasn’t a big queue! The gondolas themselves are very pretty and decorated very ornately, and surprisingly comfy honestly, with pillows and padded seats!
I really liked our gondolier, because he mostly gave us our privacy but also engaged in some cheeky banter occasionally, and he also shared some good tidbits of info about Venice as we were paddling along.
For me, the main highlight of the experience was seeing Venice from the canals. It was fascinating to see both the big tourist icons but also just daily local life happening from the gondola seat. It doesn’t hurt that the winding Venetian canals are incredibly picturesque – I took so many photos!
Here are some photographic highlights from our trip:
All in all, I highly recommend taking a gondola trip when you are in Venice. Don’t be put off by the crowds or by the prices, it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can’t be replicated anywhere else (not even in the gondolas of The Venetian in Vegas! 😅)
