12 Venice Market Tours Worth the Early Start

1.Venice Street Food Tour with Local Guide with Local Food Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 822 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $53Our pick

Meet near Rialto Bridge for a 2.5-hour walk through Venice, with stops for cicchetti, regional cheese, cakes, buranelli biscuits, and other local bites. Your guide leads you from Campo San Bortolomio to Campo Santa Margherita, passing Rialto Market, Campo San Polo, and the Frari area. Food is included, but drinks cost extra.

“Very knowledgeable guide. Authentic Venetian foods. Experiencing after dark made for a nice atmosphere.”

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2.Rialto Market Food and Wine Lunchtime Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 383 reviews

Spend four hours walking from Rialto Market through Venice’s food lanes, stopping for cicchetti, regional wine, pastries, coffee, and tiramisu. An English-speaking guide such as Denis, Julia, or Anna leads the route, adding stories about Marco Polo, Casanova, churches, and Venetian coffee culture. Vegetarian options are available.

“Our guide was fantastic and it was only myself and my husband on the tour that day. We went to some fantastic spots in Venice and the food was outstanding. Finished with an amazing gelato! Highly recommend. Might want to ensure you don’t take this tour on a Sunday if you want to see the Rialto Market as it’s closed on Sundays. That was a bit of a disappointment for us. The description should have mentioned that so we knew prior to booking.”

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

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

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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4.Rialto Market Food and Wine Lunchtime Tour of Venice

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 278 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $113

Start near San Giacomo di Rialto at 10:45 a.m. for four hours of cicchetti, Italian wine, market browsing, and Venice history. Guides such as Denys, Dennis, Tone, and Julia are praised for personal tips and flexible food choices. Expect plenty of walking, seafood, and no vegan or gluten-free accommodations.

“We enjoyed trying new and local dishes. Our guide, Julius, shared history and background information on the food and restaurants. We visited parts of Venice we would not have seen on our own.”

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5.Private Secret Venice Tour; Rialto Market, San Polo & Food and Wine tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 220 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $257

Walk from Campo San Bartolomeo through the Rialto Market, Carampane, San Polo, and past historic Grand Canal buildings. Your guide explains Venice’s mercantile past, then takes you to an osteria for cicchetti and wine. The tour lasts about two hours, uses English, and ends near the Rialto Bridge.

“Would have been great I am sure but unfortunately we missed this tour and I couldn't write a review without giving a rating. We allowed 45 minutes to make the 20 minute walk to the meeting point but Google Maps and I became very confused. I led us in a wide circle that ended no where near the starting point. When I rang the tour company to say we wouldn't make it, they very kindly tried to arrange a meeting point with the guide on the tour, but this was too hard to coordinate. I very much appreciate them trying though. I strongly suggest purchasing a 3 paper map of…”

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6.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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7.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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8.Private Venice Food Tour with Rialto Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 103 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $361

This two-hour private tour follows Venice’s food traditions through family-run bacari, the Rialto Fish Market, a cheese shop, fruit stand, and a final risotto meal. Guides such as Francesca, Daria, Jennifer, and Manuela explain the city’s spice trade, cicchetti culture, and local ingredients. Tastings and drinks are included, with a short gondola ferry crossing.

“This was one of the best tours I have ever done. Julia was absolutely amazing. Knowledgeable, personable and fun. I would highly recommend this tour.”

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9.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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10.Semi-Private Venice Market and Cicchetti Food Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $179

Meet your English-speaking guide at San Giacomo di Rialto for a 2.5-hour food walk through Venice. Visit the Rialto Fish Market, stop for cicchetti and Prosecco at three bars, finish with gelato, and cross the Grand Canal by gondolino. Groups are limited to six people.

“Giulia was an amazing tour guide as we saw Venice and experienced the food and culture through her native eyes. The parts of Venice she was able to show us were the best because they were truly authentic, as she lives the culture every day. Seeing Venice through her eyes was a unique experience to capture the delicious foods, beauty of Venice and way of life in this beautiful city. Giulia was kind, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable in the rich history she shared as well as favorite culinary foods and stops along the tour that are true hidden treasures of Venice. If you are planning a trip to Venice, this…”

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11.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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12.Market Tour and Meal at a Local’s Home

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 3 reviews · from $214

Spend four hours with a Cesarina from Le Cesarine, visiting a local market before heading to her family home for a cooking demonstration and four-course lunch or dinner. Expect seasonal Italian dishes, regional wines, coffee, and a private setting. Hosts speak English or Italian, and dietary needs can be arranged in advance.

“Very good ! 4 great hours with the wonderful Cesarina Nadine. A great hostess. I immediately felt comfortable and learned a lot about the country and its people”

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