Venice: Food & Wine Tasting Tour with Cicchetti & Spritz

Summary

Venetian cicchetti bars grand canal crossing and spritz tastings

You’ll wander Venice’s Cannaregio district with a local guide, tasting cicchetti and sipping regional wines in lively bars. Cross the Grand Canal by traghetto like a true Venetian and end near Rialto Bridge with homemade tiramisu. Expect laughter, insider stories, and flavors you’ll remember long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed in Venice wasn’t the water or the bridges—it was the smell of frying anchovies drifting out from a tiny bar near Campo San Bartolomeo. Our guide, Marco, waved us over like we were old friends. He had this habit of pausing mid-sentence to point out things I’d have missed: a faded lion carved above a doorway, a woman chatting with her neighbor in Venetian dialect. We started walking through Cannaregio, dodging delivery guys on bikes and hearing church bells echo off the stone. It felt like the city was still waking up—except for the bars, which already buzzed with locals ordering their morning spritz.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much on a food tour. At one stop near Rialto, Marco tried to teach me how to say “sarde in saor” without mangling it (I failed; he grinned anyway). We tasted black ink calamari that left my lips tinged dark and polenta topped with seafood so fresh it almost bounced. The cicchetti came fast—little plates passed around like secrets—and I kept losing track of which wine we were on. There was a bar run by two brothers who argued about whether you should ever put ice in your spritz (apparently not). Crossing the Grand Canal on a traghetto felt wobbly but oddly peaceful—just us and some locals, no cameras out.

The last place was tucked behind a busy alley, quieter than I expected for being so close to Rialto Bridge. The risotto was creamy and rich; someone at our table said it tasted like home, even though none of us were Venetian. Dessert was tiramisu—soft, cold mascarpone with bitter cocoa that stuck to my spoon. Marco scribbled down extra tips for places to try later (“avoid anywhere with pictures on the menu,” he warned). I left full but not just from food—the whole evening felt like being let in on something private. Sometimes when I think back, it’s not even the taste I remember most—it’s that soft gold light over the canal as we walked back.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Venice history and local cuisine

• Visit historic square with chimneys
• Walk down Strada Nova in Cannaregio
• Explore Cannaregio's historic area
• Take traditional Traghetto gondola ride
• Stop at Rialto eatery for local dishes
• Visit cozy bar for sandwich and spritz
• Discover hidden spots near Rialto
• Enjoy historic Cicchetti bar tasting
• Visit bohemian bar for wine and cicchetti
• Taste Risotto, Lasagna or Pasta and Tiramisu

Top questions

How long is the Venice food & wine tasting tour?

The tour covers about 2 km (1.2 miles) and lasts several hours as you walk between stops in Cannaregio and Rialto.

Is hotel pickup included for this Venice cicchetti tour?

No hotel pickup is included; you’ll meet your guide at an easy-to-find spot in central Venice.

What foods are included in this Venice cicchetti tasting?

You’ll try seven different cicchetti dishes plus dessert—think black ink calamari, polenta with seafood, tramezzino sandwiches, risotto or lasagna, and tiramisu.

Are drinks included on this Venice wine tour?

Yes—four glasses of local wine plus one Venetian spritz are included during your stops at various bars.

Is this tour suitable for vegetarians or people with allergies?

The tour can accommodate vegetarians and some dietary needs (like lactose-free), but not all locations can handle every allergy or restriction.

Will we ride a gondola on this Venice day trip?

You’ll cross the Grand Canal on a traditional traghetto gondola ferry—just like locals do—not a full private gondola ride.

How big is each group on this Venice food tour?

The group size is capped at 12 guests for a more personal experience.

Where does the tour end?

The tour finishes near Rialto Bridge at Campo San Bartolomeo after dessert and final tips from your guide.

What’s included

Your day includes guided walks through Cannaregio and Rialto neighborhoods with an English-speaking local guide, tastings of seven cicchetti dishes plus dessert, four glasses of regional wine and one Venetian spritz at different bars along the way, as well as a traditional traghetto gondola crossing over the Grand Canal before finishing near Rialto Bridge—with plenty of insider tips shared throughout.