Gondola Ride Photoshoot

A gondola ride photoshoot

A gondola ride is the most requested addition to any Venice session. It's the unmistakable Venice photograph and a quiet half hour together on the water. A gondola is built by hand from several kinds of wood. It's deliberately asymmetrical so the gondolier can row from one side, and the iron prow, the ferro, is said to represent the six districts of the city.

How much does a gondola ride cost?

The City of Venice sets official fares (Decree 89/2023): €90 for a 30-minute ride during the day (9am–7pm) and €110 for 35 minutes in the evening (7pm–4am), per gondola of up to five people, with extra time charged proportionally. Check current fares before your ride.

Proposals and ceremonies on a gondola

A gondola proposal works best with us on the bank at a planned point, or in a second boat. You can't marry legally on a gondola, but a symbolic exchange of vows or a blessing on board is possible. See our wedding boat guide and can you get married on a gondola?.

How a gondola photoshoot is planned

• We choose the route and the gondola station together, based on the light and how quiet you want the canals.
• We agree with the gondolier the points where the boat will slow down.
• During the ride, we photograph you from the bank and the bridges along the route.
• For close moments on board, we can join you in the gondola for part of the ride.
• At the end, a few portraits at the gondola station with the boat behind you.

Gondola rides through the seasons

In summer, evening rides are the most comfortable, as the canals are cooler and the light is warm. Spring and autumn are perfect at any time of day. In winter, gondolas provide blankets, and a ride in the fog is unforgettable. During acqua alta, low bridges may limit some routes.

Photo ideas on a gondola

Sit close together on the cushioned seat with the gondolier rowing behind you; lean back and look up at a bridge as you pass under it; share a toast with a glass of prosecco. From a bridge above, the gondola gliding through a narrow canal is one of the most beautiful images of Venice.

Bring a light wrap for the evening: it's cooler on the water than on land.

Where gondola rides start

Gondola stations (stazi) are spread across the city: near St Mark's, at Rialto, by the Accademia, in Castello and in Cannaregio. For quieter canals, we usually suggest a station away from St Mark's. The Grand Canal and the Bridge of Sighs are the two most requested routes.

A short history of the gondola

Gondolas have been part of Venice for about a thousand years. Once there were thousands of them, painted in bright colours, until a law of the Republic in the 16th century required them to be black, to curb displays of wealth. Today a few hundred licensed gondoliers keep the tradition alive, rowing with a single oar from the back of the boat.

Booking a gondola for a photoshoot

You can take a gondola from any official station (stazio) or book it in advance through a planner. Official fares are set by the Comune and are per gondola, not per person. Tell the gondolier the route you'd like and that a photographer will be following: most are happy to slow down at the right places.

A gondola on your wedding day

Arriving at Palazzo Cavalli by gondola, leaving a church by water or taking a short ride between ceremony and reception are some of the most photographed moments of a Venice wedding. Some couples also choose a symbolic exchange of vows on a gondola. See can you get married on a gondola?.

If it rains

Gondolas don't have roofs, so heavy rain means rescheduling. In light rain, umbrellas and blankets make a romantic, cosy scene, and the canals are almost empty.

Tips for a photoshoot at Gondola ride

• Book a gondola at sunset or blue hour for the best light.
• Agree the route with the gondolier so we can be on the right bridge.
• Official fares are per gondola, not per person.

Gondola ride: frequently asked questions