Why do tourists use gondola?

After all, they can't just hop in a car and drive through the water! That's why people in Venice move through the city in small boats. Visitors to Venice love to ride around in flat-bottomed boats called gondolas. People have used gondolas to move through the city's canals for hundreds of years.



People Also Ask

For centuries, the gondola was a major means of transportation and the most common watercraft within Venice. In modern times, the boats still do have a role in public transport in the city, serving as traghetti (small ferries) over the Grand Canal operated by two oarsmen.

MORE DETAILS

The gondola is a traditional venetian boat used to move around the city of Venice Italy. In the absence of roads, the inhabitants couldn't use horses, and the size of the canals required a thin and flat bottomed embarcation. The venitian gondola surely answers all those problems.

MORE DETAILS

In the old days, four gondoliers typically shared ownership of a single gondola, with three oarsmen to row the boat and an additional person on a dock who helped bring it ashore again. But modern gondolas and gondoliers are strictly controlled by a guild that oversees the boats' production, maintenance, and licensing.

MORE DETAILS

While tipping is not required, a 5% tip is appreciated if your gondolier is helpful and informative about local attractions and monuments.

MORE DETAILS

It is not that there are no female gondoliers, although that's how it was for 10 centuries. In 2010, Giorgia Boscolo became the first woman officially recognized by the Associazione Gondolieri di Venezia, or Venice Gondolier's Association.

MORE DETAILS

Yes. Your credit card details aren't introduced until the very last step of the booking process, at which point you'll be redirected to a completely secure bank server where you carry out your payment.

MORE DETAILS

Because gondolas are wildly expensive to build and maintain. They are fully handcrafted boats made out of wood using traditional techniques. There are only a few artisans left to build traditional Venetian boats and only the most skilled build and maintain gondole.

MORE DETAILS

What you can negotiate is the duration of your gondola ride. If you'd like a lengthier trip, just ask your gondolier if they would be willing to take you around the canals a bit longer. The price, in that case, is still regulated: a 45-minute ride costs €120 and an hour-long gondola ride runs €160.

MORE DETAILS

The ride is unique, and it's not something you can get anywhere in the world. Gondolas are part of the history and tradition in Venice. Most people find gondolas worth it because it's something different to do and it's an iconic way to explore Venice.

MORE DETAILS

How much can a gondola driver expect to earn? This is one of the most highly-regarded and sought-after professions in Italy. Its training may be rigorous, but it's certainly worth it - a Venetian gondolier can expect to earn around $150,000 each year.

MORE DETAILS

$31,500 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $64,000 is the 75th percentile.

MORE DETAILS

How many people can fit in a gondola? The gondola can carry a maximum of 5 people, including children.

MORE DETAILS

The gondoliers do not sing. To protect the income of professional singers and song writers, if a gondolier sings, he can be fined €1000. Also, there are 480 gondolas in Venice and most of the rowers are the sons of their gondolier fathers. A license can cost € 120,000, so they inherit their fathers' license.

MORE DETAILS

The northern Italian city of Venice is a notoriously expensive place for a vacation.

MORE DETAILS