Venice: Rialto Market Street Food Tour & City Sights

Cicchetti & Campo: A Venetian Afternoon That Teaches You Where to Eat

You walk through the Rialto Market and main squares of Venice with a local guide, tasting cicchetti, regional cheese, and traditional biscuits at the bars and stalls where Venetians actually eat. The 2.5-hour tour includes all food samples and expert guidance on where to return on your own. Book early in your Venice visit so you know where to eat for the rest of your stay.

Step-by-step itinerary

Venice street food and sightseeing tour

• Start near Rialto Bridge
• Taste local specialties
• Explore Rialto Market stalls
• See Campo San Bartolomeo and Campo San Polo
• Visit Basilica dei Frari
• Sample cicchetti and regional cheese
• Try traditional cakes and buranelli biscuits

The experience

You land in Venice with an afternoon free and no idea where locals actually eat. The tour starts near the Rialto Bridge, right where the market stalls are still busy with vendors selling seafood, vegetables and fruit. Your guide is someone who knows which bars serve the best cicchetti (those bite-sized tapas that Venetians grab after work with a drink before dinner), and which ones are just for tourists. The whole thing takes 2.5 hours, which means you're not stuck on a long bus or boat. You're walking through the actual neighborhoods where people live.

The Rialto Market itself is the first real stop, and it's loud and colorful in a way that photographs don't quite capture. After that you move through Campo San Bartolomeo and Campo San Polo, past the Basilica dei Frari, seeing the main sights without the feeling of ticking boxes. But the food is what stays with you. You taste regional cheese, traditional cakes, buranelli biscuits. The kind of thing you'd buy in a pasticceria if you knew which one to walk into. The cicchetti come with wine or a spritz, and your guide explains what you're eating and why Venetians order it that way. It's not a cooking class or a fancy tasting menu. It's the street food version of how the city actually eats.

The guide handles the logistics (where to stand, what to try next, what the ingredients are), so you're not wandering the market confused or missing the spots that matter. Vegetarians can be accommodated if you note it when you book. The tour runs rain or shine, and the dress code is smart casual, which means you're not overdressed for walking and eating. If you're visiting Venice early in your trip, this is the kind of thing that changes how you navigate the rest of your days there. You'll know where to go back to, and you'll understand the rhythm of how Venetians actually spend their time.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English10:30 and 17:00

Guide in English10:30 and 17:00

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

What’s included

• Samples of different local specialties including cicchetti, regional cheese, traditional cakes, and buranelli biscuits.
• local expert guide who knows where Venetians eat.
• walking tour through the Rialto Market, Campo San Bartolomeo, Campo San Polo, and past the Basilica dei Frari.

Days and timesMon–Sat · 10:30 and 17:00

AgesAges 11+ · 5 to 10 years · Under 5 — Free

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends elsewhereMeeting point, per the operator: “Please meet the guide in Campo San Bartolomio next the statue. Your guide will be holding a sign written " Street Food Tour".”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h 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 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Italy Street Food Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to eat like a local instead of guessing at restaurants, and who'd rather not spend their first day figuring out where the good bars are. The guide does that navigation, and the food samples teach you what to order when you come back on your own.

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Top questions

Can children come?

5 to 10 years; under 5, 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 24h before the start.

How long is the Venice street food tour?

The tour takes 2.5 hours and starts near the Rialto Bridge.

What food do you taste on this Venice tour?

You sample cicchetti (Venetian tapas), regional cheese, traditional cakes, and buranelli biscuits at local bars and market stalls.

Can vegetarians do this tour?

Yes, vegetarians can be accommodated if you note dietary restrictions when booking. The tour does not accommodate vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free diets.

What sights do you see besides the market?

The tour includes Campo San Bartolomeo, Campo San Polo, and the Basilica dei Frari, plus views of the Grand Canal and Marco Polo's Home area.

Is the tour accessible for people with mobility issues?

The tour is not wheelchair accessible. It involves walking through markets and narrow streets.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

Yes, the tour takes place rain or shine.

Is there an entry fee to visit Venice?

On certain dates, day visitors from outside Venice may need to pay a €5 access fee. Check the official Venice tourism site for current dates and exemptions.

What should I wear on this tour?

Dress code is smart casual. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since you'll be on your feet exploring markets and streets.