A traghetto is a gondola ferry that crosses the Grand Canal for €2. There are no bridges for long stretches of the Grand Canal, so Venetians use these. Tourists pay €80–150 for a private gondola. Locals pay €2 to cross the same canal standing up.
Plan your trip →Flat-bottomed gondola, no decoration, holds 10–14 people. You stand (locals stand, tourists can sit — but standing is the tradition). Cross the Grand Canal in 2 minutes. €2 per crossing (have coins ready, no card). Hand the money to the gondolier as you board.
Santa Sofia → Rialto Mercato (near Ca’ d’Oro, the busiest traghetto). San Tomà → Santo Stefano. Santa Maria del Giglio → Salute. San Samuele → Ca’ Rezzonico. Hours vary (typically 7:30am–7pm, some close at 12:30pm). Not all crossings operate year-round — fewer in winter.
The €2 traghetto is the closest you’ll get to a gondola experience without spending €100+. It’s authentic, functional, and the view from the middle of the Grand Canal — even for 2 minutes — is magnificent.