5 Market and Cooking Class Tours in Venice Worth the Early Start

1.Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Local Venetian Chef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 313 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $127Our pick

Meet near the Crai supermarket by Rialto Market, shop for seasonal ingredients with chefs Filippo or Vanessa, then cook fresh pasta or gnocchi, a local dish, and tiramisu. The four-hour class includes wine, Spritz, food, tools, and a meal in a private courtyard. Groups are limited to eight.

“Superb experience! Very informative market tour and personalized meal for our small group. Food was delicious and he made the meal prep seem so easy! We are excited to try to make our own fresh pasta when we get home.”

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2.Rialto Market Tour, Cooking Class, and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 119 reviews · from $146

Meet Lorenzo, Rosanna, or another local chef at Rialto Market for a guided food walk, then head to a Venetian home kitchen. Choose seasonal ingredients, make pasta, sauce, a fish or vegetable dish, and tiramisu. The small group, capped at eight, shares the meal with wine and digital recipes.

“We loved the activity. Lorenzo was a brilliant host and chef. Very enjoyable day.”

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3.Rialto Market Tour & Private Cooking Class in the Heart of Venice

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 106 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $149

Spend about four hours with Massimo, a Venetian host and Merchant Navy officer, shopping at Rialto Market and cooking in his historic San Marco home. The private class includes handmade pasta, focaccia, seasonal dishes, wine, and a relaxed meal. You can choose lunch or dinner, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available.

“Fabulous experience! Creating a traditional seafood dish with mussels and tuna and making pasta and focaccia created one of the best meals we had in Venice. Other dishes and wines rounded out the meal. A lovely and delicious afternoon!”

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4.Rialto Market Tour with Hands on Cooking Class, Wine & Tiramisu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 66 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $155

Meet your chef guide at Rialto Market at 9:30 a.m., shop for seasonal ingredients, then walk to a home kitchen in Cannaregio. Make pasta, a fish or vegetable main course, tiramisu, and cichetti with a group of up to eight. Lorenzo and Rosanna are among the hosts.

“Lorenzo was amazing. He gave a wealth of info about Venice on our walk from the market to his home. He taught us to make 3 appetizers, a fish course and gnocchi from scratch, all of which were delicious. We also were able to taste special wines that did not disappoint. It was super cool hanging out and cooking with a true local Venetian. I would highly recommend.”

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5.Ancient Venice and its spices: cooking class and market tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews

Join Massimo for a three-hour private experience that begins at Rialto Market and continues in his old Venetian home. Shop for local ingredients, learn how Venice’s spice trade shaped its cooking, then help prepare an ancient-style meal with pasta, wine, dessert, and stories of Marco Polo and Casanova.

“Perfect! Highly recommended!!!! SO MUCH FUN!!! This was our favorite activity during our entire trip to Venice!! Massimo was extremely knowledgeable, kind, gracious, and SO MUCH fun!! My sister and I had the best day ever while we were with Massimo! It was also the best meal we had while in Venice!! I wish we could have spent more days exploring Venice and cooking with Massimo! Yes…it was that Great!! Best Birthday I’ve had in many years because he made it so fun & Special!!! You will adore him!!! Honestly, I cannot say enough great things about Massimo and our experience with him!! :)”

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