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Raphael Tours & Events · Rialto and San Polo

Street food and the Rialto Market

A local guide meets you two minutes from the Rialto Bridge and leads a small group through the market and about five bacari and snack shops, ending with gelato. Pick it for the cheapest proper food tour around Rialto, and book a morning so the fish stalls are still open.

Venice Street Food Tour with Market Visit

About this experience

This is the walking version of a market food tour. You meet beside the Goldoni statue in Campo San Bortolomio, a two-minute walk from the bridge on the San Marco side, cross to the Rialto Market for half an hour, then work west through San Polo past Campo San Polo and the Frari. The listing ends the tour at Campo Santa Margherita in Dorsoduro. Guests describe five stops: cicchetti, fried snacks, regional cheese, buranelli biscuits and a gelato to finish.

Food is included; drinks are not, not even water. Some guests buy a glass of wine at a stop or two, and the stops are mostly standing room. Portions are tasting size, and most reviewers say they skipped lunch afterwards; one three-star reviewer in September 2026 found the samples small for the price. That review also points to the main trap: the fish market closes on Mondays, holidays and every afternoon, so an afternoon tour walks past empty stalls.

The operator, Raphael Tours, also runs the four-hour Rialto Market lunch with wine. If you want the drinks poured and a seat at some stops, pay the extra there. If you want to taste a lot for $50 and keep your afternoon free, this one does the job.

  • Half an hour in the Rialto Market with a guide
  • About five tasting stops, gelato to finish
  • Group of 14 at most
  • Meets two minutes from the Rialto Bridge
  • Ends near Campo Santa Margherita, a good spot for an evening spritz

How the day runs

  1. 5 min beforeMeet at the statue

    Campo San Bortolomio, beside the statue, guide holding a "Food Tour" sign. The guide waits 10 minutes at most and you can't join later.

  2. About 30 minRialto Market

    Fish in the Pescheria (Tuesday to Saturday mornings) and fruit and vegetables in the Erbaria, with what is in season.

  3. About 1 hourBacari and snack bars

    Cicchetti, fried bites and local cheese in San Polo, at bars the guide knows.

  4. About 45 minFrari and Campo Santa Margherita

    Past Campo San Polo and the Frari to the last stops, then gelato as the tour ends in Dorsoduro.

A fruit and vegetable stall at the Rialto Market with hand-written price signsA board of Venetian savoury pastries and pizzette on a food tourA fried Venetian snack on a skewer, held over a paper napkin

What's included

Included

  • Food tastings at about five stops
  • Local guide
  • Rialto Market visit

Not included

  • Drinks, water included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free menus (not offered)

Who it suits

Book it if

  • You want to know what to order in a bacaro before you go alone
  • Your budget is $50, not $100
  • You can book a morning between Tuesday and Saturday
  • You're happy to stand and walk for 2.5 hours

Skip it if

  • You're vegan, coeliac or dairy-free: the tour can't cater for you
  • You want wine included: try the cicchetti and wine tour instead
  • Your only free slot is a Monday or an afternoon and you care about the fish stalls
  • You need a seat at every stop

What guests say

★★★★★

We got to sample a lot of street food and got a history lesson too. [...] It was super cool to see the oldest bar. The samples were enough that you probably won’t eat lunch after ; plan accordingly.

Tammy_P · Oct 2026
★★★★★

Don’t eat before you go and bring a water bottle to fill along the way. Michaela was amazing. We tried sweet, salty, meats, and dessert.

Terri_D · Aug 2026
★★★★★

He was also very accommodating to those with mobility issues by moving more slowly and waiting at various points to explain things.

Abby_B · Sep 2026
★★★★★

I liked that she asked at each spot what we wanted. Encouraged us to try new things but respected our choice.

Kris_K · Oct 2026

Tips before you book

  • Book a morning, Tuesday to Saturday. The listing itself warns that the fish market is closed on Mondays, festive days and in the afternoon.
  • Bring a refillable bottle: there are public fountains on the way, and drinks are not included.
  • Be on time. The guide leaves 10 minutes after the start and you can't catch up along the route.
  • Vegetarians are fine if you say so at booking; nut allergies carry a cross-contamination warning.
  • Skip breakfast or eat light. Guests agree the tastings add up to a meal.

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Frequently asked questions

Are drinks included on the Venice street food tour?

No. The listing excludes all drinks, and water too. You can buy a glass of wine or a spritz at some stops; in a bacaro an ombra of house wine costs about EUR 1.50 to 3.

Will the Rialto fish market be open?

Only on Tuesday to Saturday mornings. The Pescheria is closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays and packs up early in the afternoon. The fruit and vegetable stalls of the Erbaria open Monday to Saturday mornings. See our Rialto Market hours guide.

Where does the tour end?

Near Campo Santa Margherita in Dorsoduro, about 15 minutes' walk from the Rialto Bridge. It's a lively square with cheap bars, handy for the rest of the day.

Can I do it with dietary restrictions?

Vegetarians, yes, if you tell the operator when you book. Vegans and gluten-free or dairy-free guests can't be accommodated, according to the listing.

Ready to book

Book Street food tour and market

Five food stops around the Rialto Market in a group of 14 at most. Morning slots catch the fish stalls open.

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Plan your date before you go

Five food stops around the Rialto Market in a group of 14 at most. Morning slots catch the fish stalls open.

Check dates for the street food tour