: Yes, I did the most touristy thing in Venice- I took the famous gondola ride and I absolutely enjoyed it! It’s now one of my fondest memories of Venice. After extensive research online & having the first-hand experience, I recommend that for your first time in Venice you should take the Grand Canal route southwest of Rialto bridge which also takes you to some narrow, quieter canals so that you get to experience the authenticity of Venice along with experiencing the feeling of crossing the most famous bridge of Venice - Rialto bridge. Just magical! Pro tip: Choose either early morning time or the time around sunset when the weather is pleasant (there’s no shade on the gondolas & you’ll be under full sun all the time) so that you don’t melt in the summer heat and can enjoy a relaxing gondola ride. We paid $80 for a private Gondola ride just before sunset & it’s one of the best $80 I’ve spent in Venice. You can always share the gondola ride ( Max 5 people /gondola) to save some bucks. #italy #gondola #venice #travelvenice #explore #canal #travel #travelgram #instatravel #traveltips #traveler #travelblogger #europe #europetravel #europe2022 #venicegondola