The traghetto: Venice's €2 gondola ride
Updated October 10, 2026
A traghetto is a gondola ferry that crosses the Grand Canal in about two minutes for roughly €2, paid in cash. Several crossings run during the day; hours vary by crossing and season.
What a traghetto is
With only a handful of bridges over the Grand Canal, Venetians have long used gondolas as shuttles from bank to bank. A traghetto is exactly that: a working gondola, rowed by two gondoliers, that crosses the canal and back all day.
It's not a tour. The ride is short, you usually stand, and nobody sings. But you are on a gondola, on the Grand Canal, for the price of a coffee.
Where to catch one
The crossings most often in service:
- Santa Sofia – Ca' d'Oro: Cannaregio to the Rialto market
- Riva del Carbon: San Marco to San Polo, by the Rialto
- San Samuele: San Marco to Dorsoduro
- Santa Maria del Giglio: San Marco to the Salute
- San Marcuola: Cannaregio to Santa Croce
When it runs and how to pay
Most crossings run in the daytime, typically from morning to early evening on weekdays, with shorter hours on Sundays and holidays. Schedules change, so check at the landing.
Have about €2 in coins ready and pay the gondolier as you board. Step in confidently, keep your weight low and hold on if it's choppy.
Rather book ahead?
Shared gondola tickets sell by the seat online, usually around €30–40 per person.
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Questions
Can I sit on a traghetto?
You can, and sitting is safer when the canal is busy. Standing is the local habit.
Is the traghetto a replacement for a gondola ride?
For the experience of being on a gondola, yes. For a 30-minute ride through the small canals, share a full gondola instead.
Keep reading
Prices checked October 10, 2026. Rates are set by the City of Venice; confirm the total before you board.