Venice Grand Canal Gondola Ride

Venice is built on more than a hundred small islands, and its main street is the Grand Canal, curving in a great S past palaces built by merchant families. The classic way to see it is from a gondola, steered by a gondolier standing at the stern.

A ride lasts about half an hour and slips from quiet side canals out onto the Grand Canal. Afterwards, walk to the Rialto Bridge, St Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace, or take a vaporetto water bus to Murano, the island of glass-blowers.

Gondolas carry a small group, so families usually have one to themselves, and the late-afternoon light on the water is beautiful. Venice has no cars and many of its bridges have steps, so pack light.