Canal Grande
Canal Grande
4.5
About
Venice's main water thoroughfare, lined with great Renaissance palaces, is a colorful and busy spectacle of gondolas and vaporetti.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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The area
Neighborhood: San Polo
The Rialto Bridge is the most famous sight along the Grand Canal in San Polo, smallest of Venice's six sestieri (districts) and by far the busiest neighborhood. Morning Venetians arrive to peruse the markets for fish, fruit and vegetables, while shops display goods from cheese to wine to desserts. San Silvestro and Rialto Market vaporetto (water taxi) stops add to the steady stream of foot traffic. San Polo is defined by churches including Basilica dei Frari, one of the most important churches sought by art lovers.
See what travelers are saying
  • tinylass
    Sheffield, United Kingdom4,399 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing!
    Got to be one of the prettiest places in the world! The views from the bridges up and down the canal are breathtaking. We arrived at our hotel via private water taxi which took us the whole length of the canal; this was an amazing way to get a closer look at the whole of the canal which I would highly recommend. Make sure you have a decent camera and note that it does get extremely busy in places!
    Visited March 2023
    Written April 1, 2023
  • Lnihiser
    Dunedin, Florida145 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awesome awesome
    There are no words to express how absolutely gorgeous the grand canal is. It literally takes your breath away as you stand on top of the bridge looking outward I recommend this when you come to Venice it’s a must as the other events are also. Venice is a very beautiful place and I highly recommend you try and visit Venice once in your lifetime.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written May 11, 2023
  • Zfy Ed
    Singapore, Singapore8,646 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning and awesome scenic view!
    The Grand Canal, known as the Italian Canale Grande, is the main waterway in the City of Venice, Italy, following a natural channel that traces a reverse-S course from San Marco Basilica to Santa Chiara Church and divides the city into two parts. The wide canal is used by passenger ferries, which are the only means of public transport around the islands in Venice. The lines 1 and 2 of the so-called Vaporetti (name of the ships in Italian) travel along the entire length of the canal. The Canal Grande is the most important waterway of the lagoon city and therefore very busy. During our visit here in Venice, we had walked around through the several bridges that link from one island to another and also took the gondola service around. It was stunning and awesome scenic view of this "water city"! It's great to visit here as the city has been submerging in water year by year and flooding seemed more often according to our guide.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 26, 2023
  • need2trvl
    Miamisburg, Ohio471 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must do in life!
    Venice and the Grand Canal should be on everyone's bucket list. Sit and have a cup of coffee or glass of wine and just take it in. Just be in the moment. You are staying overnight. Go early in the morning and go at night. It's so much different when the day tourists have left. Amazing.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 30, 2023
  • WanderingOttersons
    Denver, Colorado1,380 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Iconic - you can't miss it
    When in Venezia, it's hard to miss the Grand Canal. It winds through the middle and if you're walking you have to know where the very few bridges are to cross it (hint - there are only four and three of them are in the northern half of the city). The best views for us were from Ponte dell'Academia, which is also the only southern bridge so your sure to cross it at some point.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 19, 2023
  • Phill147
    Sydney, Australia889 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastiv
    Is what it is.. "the Grand Canal" no where in the world can you experience a place like Venice! head there before they stop the masses and or make it even more expensive then what it already is. A good tip is to purchase a regular ferry ticket and cruise up down all day for the one price its a great way to explore Venice.
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 28, 2023
  • Kallang
    370 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highway of Venice
    A good way to see the grand canal is to take a water taxi from the train station to your hotel. Our hotel booked us a water taxi in advance as there was quite a queue to get one from the train station. Many old and ornate buildings unchanged for centuries line the canal.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written July 30, 2023
  • Kendot52
    Denton, Texas389 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Know Before You Go
    Along the shores of the Grand Canal are so many beautiful and truly historic buildings. Take a few minutes before you go to Venice and research the canal so you will recognize those places as you pass them. Your pre-trip preparation will be totally worth the time.
    Visited June 2023
    Written August 3, 2023
  • GAR
    243 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the world’s most beautiful places
    It was a very happy accident that I ended up seeing the canal from the water. I ended up getting the Line 1 vaparetto from Lido to the train station, and the public transport boat meanders through the entirety of the Grand Canal. It was a surreal experience and I recommend doing this - much cheaper than a gondola!
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written August 21, 2023
  • Ken T
    Glen Oaks, New York609 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely Canal of Venice
    Water taxis are busy with tourists but definetely a must do in Venice. You can see the pretty canal, boats, gondolas and all the beautiful buildings from the taxi vantage point. Venice is such a picturesque city from the Canal grande.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written September 29, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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SmileyKay
Cluj-Napoca, Romania1,423 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
When in Venice, a cruise along the Grand canal is a must! You can easily do it by using the "Linea 1" vaporetto line, which takes you from San Marco right until Piazzale Roma. The vaporetto runs every 20 min. (a single ride is 7.5 eur per person) so it is easy to catch a ride both ways. Some of the major attractions on the way are Rialto Bridge & Market, Accademia Bridge (Ponte dell'Accademia), Santa Maria del Giglio Church, Basilica della Salute, Goldoni House, many foreign embassies and ancient palaces.We took the ride close to sunset, which made it even more magical.
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MoonaMuslim
729 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
Unique and a must when visiting Venice.
The Grand Canal (Canałazzo) divides the city in half and is the largest waterway in Venice. In addition to a view of the Grand Canal, a boat trip is required, past the over 100 palaces and under bridges, such as the most famous Rialto Bridge.
There is the possibility to take a water taxi (Vaporetti / Vaporetto), this is cheaper. Or the stylish and romantic gondola rides.

The Grand Canal and a boat trip are definitely a great experience, steeped in history, and allow a great view of the ornate and beautiful buildings and the city.
However, also here - high activity, like on the highway.
Due to the many tourists and queues, it is advisable to book gondola rides and entry to sights online in advance.
Written June 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alantomkins
Lundin Links, UK126 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The water can be choppy, we took a 2 Euro Gondola ferry crossing across, I loved it but my Wife does not have sea legs and you satnd up. I highly recommend you take hte number 2 water bus from St Marco (anti clockwise) or San Zaccaria (clockwise) for 7.50 each. It'sa 75 minute trip and takes you around Dorsodura past the cruise terminals and up (or down) the Grand canel. Amazing views and a cheap trip.
Written January 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

The Reynards
Isle of Wight, UK509 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Canal Grande, is the main artery of Venice offering the only alternative transport other than walking to get around this wonderful city. It is crossed in only four places so water taxis or the local vaporetti continually ply up and down. The number 1 & 2 are the main vaporetti for this route stopping frequently at most stations, recognised by their yellow markings, at the waterside stations. A trip on the canal really should not be missed, to view the many renaissance palaces which line these waters. A boat tickets cost €7.50, or you can purchase travel cards for varying amounts of time starting @ €20, for one day. There are many gondola stations near to prominent places where gondolas can be hire for a trip on the canal, (€80 for half hour) however in my opinion better views can be obtained from the vaporetti. There are a couple of places along the river where you can catch the local gondola which is basically just a quick canal crossing and it costs €2, but at least you can say you been on a gondola.
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

R V
57 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
You can save a lot by riding around the Grand Canal on one of the vaporettos (water buses) ans still see everything. There are regular stops along the canal. It is about €20 to ride from the top near tje train station (Santa Lucia) to the bottom, for 2 people or around four times that for a water taxi.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

McKenna N
Gainesville, FL119 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
Venice is best seen by water. We did this tour shortly after arriving, and it was a great way to absorb the magic and get a sense of bearing. We got on at the train station and listened to the Rick Steves audio tour right at dusk to see a little in the light and a little in the day. It's just stunning!
Written February 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

thenorthlondonguy
London, UK88 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
We opted to not bother with water taxis, instead me and the wife preferred to take everything in at our own pace on foot and try to avoid the lumped together tourist blobs.

There's plenty of major bridges to take in all the sites. You can get especially great views around the back of the Peggy Guggenheim museum! (Obviously this costs admission fees but also recommend).
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mlbtravels
Noosa, Australia2,767 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Friends
We were able to get onto the water twice during this visit to Venice. The first time was via water taxi from the station to our hotel. The second time was by taking the vaporetto (local water bus) for Euro 7.50 per person. This is the cheapest way to get onto the water. It is crowded as it is used by tourists and locals to travel up and down the water ways. Fairly rough boats but a thoroughly enjoyable experience. On our next visit we will likely do a full circuit. Highly recommended.
Written October 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

J H
Toronto, Canada43 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
I was there in late September so it wasn't as crowded as it might be at other times of the year. It is definitely worth it to get a daily or even a multi-day pass to ride the water bus (Vaporetto) while travelling in Venice. Walking is also a great method to move around, but seeing Venice from the canals and being able to take it all in was really worth it, too.
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

duck8to
Montville, NJ6,864 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
The Canal Grande has been a water-traffic corridor since ancient times. During Roman Times it was referred to as the Rio Businiacus and was possibly a branch of the Bienta River. At that time the Adriatic Ventiti people lived on fishing fishing and salt commerce. It winds its' way through Venice in an "S" shape configuration. The canal is 2,4 miles long with an average depth of 16'. One end of the canal leads into the lagoon near Santa Lucia railway station while on the other end leading into the basin at San Marco.

Over the centuries Venice developed by virtue of many influences that formed its' character. In the early 9th century the doge moved his seat of power from Malamocco to a safer Rivoaltus site in Venice, thereby laying the foundation of economic expansion. Fondaco houses (warehouse + merchant residence) were established along the canal and still exist today. The Fondaco del Torchi (13th ) is a prime example. The canal at the Rialto bridge, the first bridge to cross the canal, became the center of commerce and finance. Byzantine influences came with the crusades and the sack of Constantinople in 1204 in terms of sculpture, friezes, columns and capitols which decorated patrician homes. The Polychrome, three partitioned facades which are still very evident on the canal represents another major architectural feature of the canal. The Venetian Gothic design of the Doge;s Palace is yet another example of influences which took hold along the canal. The Renaissance brought Venetian Baroque in the form of Palazzo Balhi (1582) to prominence. It features cornices, broken pediments and ornamental motifs. The Santa Maria Della Salute (1631) near San Marco Square is another example of this style of architecture.

While the beauty of its' many architectural styles enhance the appeal of the Grand Canal, it is the total ambiance of the water, vaporettis and gondolas, restaurants and art galleries, that create the magic of this city.
Written May 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Canal Grande - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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