This is Venetian romance at its best: exploring the canals in a gondola as the paddling gondolier sings 'O sole mio'. Even a gondola ride of less than an hour will easily set you back 100 euros. There are, however, other ways to admire the Doge's Palace and Rialto Bridge from the water without going bankrupt. Here are 3 budget-friendly alternatives to the infamous gondola ride.
For those who are set on taking a gondola ride, it is good to know that there is no point in negotiating the price. All gondoliers are members of the Gondoliers’ Association which determines set rates: a 40-minute gondola ride during the day costs 80 euros and at night 100 euros. You can only negotiate the length of the boat trip: pay less and you get a shorter gondola ride. The price will only drop significantly if you share: a gondola ride for 2 is very romantic of course, but each gondola seats 6 people and the price remains the same.