In a city with no roads, boats rule supreme. Locals might favor motors, but everyone needs to experience Venice by gondola at least once. Sit back and feel your cares melt away as your stripy-shirted gondolier glides you through a maze of waterways, before joining the central Grand Canal.

This once-in-a-lifetime experience just asks for a perfect picture. Luckily for you, with just five other people on board (including the gondolier), you have more than enough space for a selfie.

Don’t be surprised if you attract a little envy on this voyage. Most tourists easily part with a hundred bucks for a short gondola ride, while you’ll be parading over the water for a pittance. But that’s our secret… shhh!

Visit the Gondola Gallery to learn how Venice’s famous boats are made. See original tools, a gondola cross-section, and examples of traditional craftsmanship. Then, take a virtual gondola ride through the canals of Venice and learn about the city’s history and traditions.