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Want a rowboat ride in Venice without forking over more than $100 for a tourist gondola?
Head down any street named "Calle del Traghetto" that leads toward the Grand Canal (marked by a yellow sign with the black gondola symbol) and hop aboard a traghetto da parada (ferry skiff).
These oversized gondolas rowed by two gondolieri cross the Grand Canal at seven intermediate points not covered by the Grand Canal's three bridges:
Fares went up tremedously in 2013 (to €2) and again in 2014 (to €4) after the city stopped subsidizing the service.
You now pay €4.
You hand your fare to the gondolier when boarding.
Most people ride standing up.
The ride only lasts five or six minutes (rather than 40 minutes for a tourist gondola ride), and most of that is spent boarding/disembarking.
However, it' is a thoroughly Venetian way of getting around—and way cheaper than a tourist gondola.
Planning your day: The ride in a traghetto takes all of 5–6 minutes—and most of that is the boarding and disembarking time. Still, it's fun—and handy. Venice itineraries
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