Romantic Gondola Ride In Las Vegas at the Venetian Hotel

A visit to Las Vegas goes far beyond casinos and shopping. You have the chance to transport yourself to another exotic destination, and there's no better way than heading to the Venetian Hotel for a gondola ride with singing gondoliers. A relaxing ride on the gondolas at the Venetian in Las Vegas lazily floating down their canal will put you in the mood for romance.

Gondola rides take you either along canals through a man-made Italian Village full of quaint shops, or outside under a bright blue southern Nevada sky.

Choose an Indoor or Outdoor Ride

Outdoor gondola rides will take you under a bridge and for a quick tour along the front of the resort. The best time to ride the outdoor Gondolas is right around dusk because the light is perfect for great photographs, and if you set the shot up just right, your Las Vegas gondola ride will look just like it's in Europe. The indoor Gondola ride feels like it lasts longer and the scenery is of cafes and shoppers along the Grand Canal Shoppes.

The Gondola Experience

It might seem a little out of place to have a UNLV student singing to you in the middle of a casino, but the Venitian's crooners do a good job of imitating the real thing. The gondolas make their way through the Grand Canal Shoppes as people line the canals and take pictures of the ride. If you are in the right frame of mind, the gondola ride can be very romantic—just imagine yourself under an Italian sky floating past ancient buildings.

The Venetian's gondola rides, which start out from the dock near the Grand Canal Shoppes, are very popular and the lines can be long, so plan accordingly. The ticket booth is open most of the day, and rides are offered as a shared experience for four passengers, or as a private two-person ride.

Go Beyond the Gondola

If floating down an indoor canal among shoppers doesn't quite do it for you, there are still opportunities to be part of the gondola experience.

• Learn to be a gondolier: You can try your hand at being a gondolier for a few hours through the Venetian's Gondola University. The program, limited to nine participants per day, shares the “ins and outs” of piloting a gondola. Once you graduate from your short-course you'll receive a gondola hat and T-shirt, a souvenir photo, and a degree certificate from Gondola University.
• Witness the gondolier march: The gondoliers are not limited to boat duty. Starting from the turn-around point in the Grand Canal Shoppes, the Venetian's team of singing gondoliers parade and sing along the indoor canal. You have two opportunities to catch the fun: first at 9:50 a.m., and again at 4:20 p.m.