Grand Canal Motorboat Sightseeing Cruise Venice

The Grand Canal, Venice's main waterway

The Grand Canal winds for about 3.8 kilometres through the city in a reversed S, from the railway station area to the basin in front of St Mark's, and it is lined by more than 170 buildings, most of them from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century. A Grand Canal boat tour is the easiest way to appreciate that continuous facade, because the palaces were built to be seen from the water, with their grand entrances facing the canal rather than the street.

The cruise lasts one hour and includes commentary in English. If you wonder how long a Grand Canal cruise takes, one hour is enough to see the highlights without tiring children, and it is quicker than a slow gondola ride. Morning and late afternoon give the best light on the palace fronts, and the water is often calmer then.

The Rialto Bridge and the old market quarter

The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the bridges across the Grand Canal and was rebuilt in stone in the late sixteenth century, with a single wide arch and two rows of shops. From the boat you see it in its full span, framed by the buildings of the Rialto quarter, the ancient commercial heart of the city, where merchants once unloaded goods along the water.

It is also the most photographed spot of the trip, so keep your camera ready as the boat approaches. You can cross the bridge on foot after the cruise, since it is a short walk from many vaporetto stops. Guests often ask whether the Rialto Bridge is worth visiting: the view from the water is the best introduction, and the crossing can come later.

Palaces on the water: Ca' Pisani Moretta, the Gritti Palace and more

Ca' Pisani Moretta is a fifteenth-century Gothic palace whose pointed windows and balcony show the style that defined Venetian houses for generations, and its rooms are known for Carnival balls. The Gritti Palace, once a noble residence and now a luxury hotel, stands near the mouth of the canal facing Santa Maria della Salute.

Your host names the palaces as you pass and explains how Venetian families displayed their wealth through carved stone, coloured marble and pointed arches. Look out for Ca' d'Oro and Ca' Foscari as well; the route can vary with boat traffic, so the palaces you see may differ slightly from day to day.

Santa Maria della Salute and the basin of St Mark's

Near the end of the canal the white dome of Santa Maria della Salute rises on the point at the entrance. The Baroque basilica was built in the seventeenth century as a thanks-offering after a plague and is one of the icons of the Venice skyline. Beside it, facing the water, stands the former Customs House at Punta della Dogana.

From the boat you also glimpse the entrance to the basin of St Mark's, where the Doge's Palace and the bell tower come into view. Early evening is the best time to visit for softer light and thinner crowds, and a cruise is a good way to orient yourself before a walking day. Food, drinks and tips are not included.