The Grand Canal at a glance
The Grand Canal is 3,800 m long, 30–70 m wide and at most 5 m deep. It runs in a reversed S from the northwest to the southeast, probably along an old riverbed, and locals call it the Canalazzo. Four fixed bridges cross it: the Rialto Bridge, Ponte dell'Accademia, Ponte degli Scalzi and Ponte della Costituzione. Counts of the palaces on its banks run from at least 170 to more than 200, depending on what is counted.
You see the canal best from the water. The cheapest way is Vaporetto Line 1, which stops at the train station and runs to San Marco. A gondola is the classic way, and the fare is for the whole boat, not per person. A water taxi is the quickest door to door. This guide covers all of them, plus the palaces, museums, bridges, the Salute church, the Regata Storica and the practical details. Prices are in euros for 2026, and they change.
Getting here is simple. Piazzale Roma is the car terminal, with a Vaporetto stop right beside it. The train station stop is called Ferrovia. Both are at the northwest end of the canal, where Line 1 starts.
Our picks: Grand Canal boat tours and gondolas
Our take: the small-group boat with an expert guide is the pick if you want the palaces explained. The motorboat ride covers the canal in an hour, and the shared gondola is the cheapest way into a gondola.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Grand Canal by boat with an expert guide
- Local English-speaking guide
- Group of up to 8
- Headset
A guided boat trip along the whole canal in a group of up to eight, with commentary on the palaces.
Check availability →
Grand Canal motorboat ride
- Motorboat on the Grand Canal
- Hostess on board
A one-hour ride along the canal past the Rialto, without walking.
Check availability →
Shared gondola on the Grand Canal with app commentary
- About 30 minutes on the water
- App commentary
- 20-minute introduction
The shared way to ride a gondola on the canal, priced per person. A Ca' Rezzonico ticket and a private boat come only with the matching option.
Check availability →Grand Canal tours and boat trips
Gondola experiences, boat tours and trips on the Grand Canal, with live prices and availability.
Ways to see the canal
Start with how you want to travel, then open the page for the details.
Grand Canal tours compared
Water bus, gondola, shared gondola and water taxi: length and price side by side.
Gondola ride
€90 for 30 minutes by day, €110 for 35 minutes at night, per boat.
Vaporetto Line 1
Every stop from Piazzale Roma to San Marco, fares and travel time.
Water taxi
Door-to-door rides, airport transfers and what to ask before you board.
Traghetto
Cross the canal by gondola ferry for €2, with the hours of each crossing.
What you pass and when to go
Palaces, bridges, museums and the seasons of the canal.
Grand Canal palaces
Ca' d'Oro, Ca' Rezzonico, Palazzo Grassi and the other houses on the banks.
The four bridges
Rialto, Accademia, Scalzi and Costituzione, and who built them.
Museums on the canal
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Ca' Rezzonico and Ca' Pesaro with prices and hours.
Santa Maria della Salute
Free main hall, the sacristy and the festival on 21 November.
Regata Storica
The historic boat parade on the first Sunday of September.
Grand Canal history
Where the name Rialto comes from and how trade shaped the banks.
Grand Canal facts
Length, width, depth, bridges and the palace count.
The canal at night
Evening gondolas, night fares and the late water bus.
Best time to visit
Monthly climate, high water and the MOSE barriers.
Where to stay
Which district on the canal suits you, and how to get around.
A few things to know before you go
Short notes that save time and money on the water.
Ca' d'Oro is closed to visitors
The gallery has been closed for works since 2 February 2026, and reopening is planned for spring 2027. The facade can still be admired from the water.
Palaces →Gondola fares are per boat
€90 buys 30 minutes between 09:00 and 19:00. From 19:00 to 04:00 it is €110 for 35 minutes. Up to 5 passengers share that one price.
Gondola ride →Line 2 is not a canal express
Line 2 makes fewer stops than Line 1 and skips Ca' Rezzonico and the Salute on the through daytime trip. Its stopping pattern depends on the trip. Line 1 serves the full run of stops along the canal.
Line 1 stops →The Salute main hall is free
You can enter the large rotunda without a ticket. The sacristy has an entry fee. Opening times change by season, so check the current hours before you go.
Santa Maria della Salute →The traghetto is a crossing, not a tour
The gondola ferries cost €2 and take you from one bank to the other. Several crossings keep short hours, and two are closed.
Traghetto →The day-visitor fee has seasons
In 2026 the access fee applied on 60 selected days between 3 April and 26 July, from 08:30 to 16:00. Check the city's calendar for the next season before you plan a day trip.
Facts →Which way along the canal suits you
Prices are those for 2026.
| Option | Time | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaporetto Line 1 | About 44 minutes, end to end | €9.50 for 75 minutes, €25 for 24 hours | The full canal on a budget |
| Gondola, by day | 30 minutes | €90 per boat, up to 5 people | A short, quiet ride |
| Gondola, from 19:00 | 35 minutes | €110 per boat, up to 5 people | An evening ride |
| Traghetto | A few minutes | €2 | Crossing from bank to bank |
| Water taxi | Set when you book | Ask for the full price first | Luggage and hotel piers |
For most first-time visitors, ride Line 1 once from Piazzale Roma to San Marco and add a gondola if you want a slower hour on the water.
Beyond the canal
Places nearby that have their own guides.
The square at the southeast end of the canal has its own site, St Mark's Square. For the rest of the city, the lagoon islands and the visitor fee, see Venice and its islands.
More independent guides to Venice
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one part of Venice.
Venice
The whole city: sights, the Doge's Palace, St Mark's Basilica, gondolas, islands and the access fee.
St Mark's Square
The square itself: Campanile, Clock Tower, Museo Correr, cafés, acqua alta and Carnival.
Rialto Bridge
The bridge, the Rialto Market, food tours with cicchetti and walks through San Polo.
Grand Canal: frequently asked questions
How long is the Grand Canal?
The canal is 3,800 m long, 30–70 m wide and at most 5 m deep. Line 1 takes about 44 minutes from Piazzale Roma to San Marco Vallaresso on a sample trip, with a stop every few minutes.
How much does a gondola ride cost?
The listed fare is €90 for 30 minutes by day and €110 for 35 minutes from 19:00, for the whole boat of up to 5 passengers. A shared gondola experience is priced per person and starts at €42.90. See the gondola ride page.
What does a Vaporetto ticket cost?
A single ticket is €9.50 and lasts 75 minutes. Passes cost €25 for 24 hours, €35 for 48 hours, €45 for 72 hours and €65 for 7 days. Children under 6 travel free; check the rules if your child is exactly six. Details are on the Vaporetto Line 1 page.
Are the palaces on the canal open to visit?
Some are museums, some are private. Ca' Rezzonico costs €15 and is closed on Tuesdays, Ca' Pesaro costs €15 and is closed on Mondays, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection costs €17 and is closed on Tuesdays. Ca' d'Oro is closed for works until spring 2027. See museums and palaces.
Can I swim or jump into the canal?
No. Swimming, jumping and bathing in the canals are not allowed. Do not feed pigeons and gulls, and do not sit or picnic on bridge steps.
Is grandcanal.org run by the city or a boat operator?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the city, the public transport company, the gondoliers, any museum or any tour company.