Venice: Cicchetti & Wine Walking Tour with Local Guide

Three Hours in Dorsoduro: Where Venetians Actually Drink

You walk three hours through Dorsoduro with a local guide, stopping at five wine bars carefully chosen for their authenticity and their wine. You taste six cicchetti, one prosecco, three regional dry wines, and a dessert wine: all from the Veneto. You see where Venetians actually drink, not where tourists are told to go. The guide handles the route and the knowledge. You just show up on time and bring an appetite.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Dorsoduro2h
2. Campo Santa Margherita10m

Venice wine and cicchetti tasting tour

• Pass by and admire local sights
• Walk with guide off tourist path
• Try local cicchetti specialties
• Visit Banksy's graffiti at Campo Santa Margherita
• Explore locals' favorite wine bars
• View frescoes on ceiling if open

The experience

So yeah, your guide is going to laugh when you mispronounce cicchetti the first time, and then you'll understand why after the third wine bar, when you're standing in a corner with a glass of natural Veneto wine and a plate of tiny, perfect things that taste nothing like what the restaurants near San Marco are selling. Three hours sounds short until you're walking it, because the streets in Dorsoduro don't move in straight lines, and neither does the tour. You stop where locals stop. You taste what they taste. The guide (young, actually from Venice, licensed) knows which bars keep their wine list honest and which ones still have the frescoes on the ceiling if the owner's in a good mood.

The cicchetti come in six rounds across the evening, each one paired with a different drink: you start with prosecco, move through three regional dry wines (some natural, some not), and finish with a dessert wine that makes sense only once you've had it. Campo Santa Margherita is on the route. You'll see the Banksy graffiti there, but the real moment is when the guide stops you in front of a wine bar that has no sign, just a door, and tells you this is where the conversation happens. Not the performance. The actual thing. Dorsoduro is where that distinction matters, and after an hour of walking, you'll feel the difference between a place that's been polished for tourists and one that's just been lived in.

The tour runs in all weather, which means you dress for it and keep moving. If you show up late (and they're serious about this), the group doesn't wait. Ten minutes, then they go. It's not harsh. It's just how a small group stays small and stays on time. Vegetarian options exist if you ask when you book. Gluten-free and vegan don't. The €5 Venice access fee applies on certain dates if you're coming from outside the city, so check the dates before you arrive.

What’s included

• Your evening includes a guided walk led by a local Venetian expert through the back streets of Dorsoduro, six traditional cicchetti (Venetian-style tapas) and a sweet treat, one glass of prosecco, three regional dry wines from the Veneto (including natural wine options), and one dessert wine.
• All stops are at carefully selected wine bars chosen for the quality of their food and drinks and the authenticity of the location.
• Vegetarian options are available if you request them at booking.

Before you book

Lasts 3h, runs Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 17:00, from € 109 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 8 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesTuesday, Wednesday, Friday and SaturdayDeparts at 17:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Streaty Food Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to taste Venice the way locals do without spending the evening hunting for bars or worrying about which ones are real. The guide knows them, the selection is already curated, and three hours is enough to feel the difference between a tourist route and an actual evening.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the tour?

Three hours of walking and tasting, starting in the evening.

What's included in the price?

Six cicchetti, one prosecco, three regional dry wines, one dessert wine, and a guided walk through Dorsoduro with a local expert.

Is it vegetarian?

Yes, if you request it when booking. Vegan and gluten-free options are not available.

What if I'm late?

The guide waits ten minutes. After that, the group leaves and no refund is given for late arrival.

Do I need to be fit?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it involves three hours of walking through narrow streets. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What about the Venice access fee?

On certain dates, visitors from outside Venice pay a €5 fee to enter the city. Check the dates online before you arrive.