A gondolier is a person who operates a gondola, the long, flat-bottomed boats that glide through the canals of Venice, Italy. Standing at the back of the boat, a gondolier uses a single long oar to push and steer through the narrow waterways between ancient buildings.

Venice is built on a group of islands connected by canals instead of regular streets, so gondolas became the city's traditional form of transportation centuries ago. Today, gondoliers are famous for their skill in navigating the crowded canals and their distinctive uniform: a striped shirt and sometimes a straw hat with a ribbon.

Becoming a gondolier requires training and passing an exam that tests knowledge of Venice's history, foreign languages, and rowing technique. The job often passes down through families, with parents teaching children the centuries-old craft. While tourists now use gondolas mostly for scenic rides, gondoliers still need the same balance, strength, and knowledge of the canals that their ancestors used when gondolas were Venice's taxis, ambulances, and delivery trucks all in one.