2.5-Hour Food And Spritz Walk

Taste Venice Like a Local: Food, Wine & Spritz

★ 4.8 1,120 reviews

2.5 hours, free cancellation.

from $100 per person

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Duration: 2.5 hours
Meeting point: Campo de la Maddalena
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Run by: Intrepid Urban Adventures - Europe

Overview

This walk starts at Campo de la Maddalena in Cannaregio and spends the next two and a half hours eating and drinking its way toward the Rialto district. It is built around cicchetti, the traditional small plates of Venice, similar to Spanish tapas, so instead of one sit-down meal you move from bacaro to bacaro with a local guide. Along the way there are seven tastings, four glasses of regional wine including Prosecco, a Spritz, and a tiramisu to finish.

One unusual touch is the transport. At some point the group crosses the Grand Canal on a traghetto, the gondola-style ferry Venetians use for everyday trips. It is a short crossing, a few minutes at most, not a sightseeing ride. The rest of the route runs on foot through alleyways and local squares between Cannaregio and Rialto, ending at Campo San Bortolomio.

The tour suits travellers who want an orientation to Venetian food culture at the start of a trip, since guides hand out recommendations for the rest of your stay. One reviewer found the tastings substantial enough to serve as dinner that evening. Expect a small group, an English-speaking guide, and stops at family-run venues rather than restaurants aimed at tourists.

A Venice side canal in Cannaregio with a small neighborhood wine bar lit in the evening

What's Included

Included

7 traditional Venetian cicchetti tastings served across authentic local bacari
Venetian Spritz
4 glasses of regional wine, including Prosecco
Traditional traghetto crossing of the Grand Canal
Explore the local neighbourhoods of Cannaregio and Rialto
Visits to family-run eateries and hidden wine bars
Small-group experience
Local English-speaking guide
Expert local recommendations for the rest of your stay

Not Included

Tips

Itinerary

Meet at Campo de la MaddalenaThe group gathers at Campo de la Maddalena in the Cannaregio district. There is no hotel pickup; you make your own way to the square.
Cannaregio walk and tastingA guided walk through Cannaregio with the first food tastings, learning how bacari fit into everyday Venetian life.
Traghetto crossingThe group crosses the Grand Canal on a traditional traghetto, with a photo stop. It is a short ferry crossing rather than a sightseeing gondola ride.
Rialto market areaA walk and photo stop around the Rialto market, with a visit to the food market and regional food tasting.
Rialto Bridge bacariThe main tasting sequence continues near the Rialto Bridge, with cicchetti such as baccalà, saor prawns and meatballs, paired with wine and a Spritz, ending in tiramisu.
Finish at Campo San BortolomioThe tour ends at Campo San Bortolomio, with personalised recommendations from the guide for the rest of your stay.

Where this tour sits among 8 tours in Cicchetti And Bacaro Walks listed here (from-price per person, USD)

Sit-Down Dinner Included$59
2-Hour Cicchetti, 10 Tastings$65
10 Tastings, 30-Minute Gondola$99
2.5-Hour Food and Spritz Walk (this tour)$100
3-Hour Small-Group Tasting$101
Bacaro Walk, 3 Hours 30 Minutes$104.92
10 Tastings, 6 Wines$107.94
2-Hour Bacaro Walk$108.34

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you decide whether this fits your plans and your appetite.

Come hungry. Between seven cicchetti, a tramezzino, wine, Spritz and tiramisu, there is a lot of food. One reviewer said the tour easily served as dinner that evening, and another joked that the group could barely walk afterwards.
Pace and distance. The route covers about 2 km at a relaxed pace over 2.5 hours. The listing notes the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Group feel. Reviews describe groups of seven or eight people. Several travellers praised the guides for being engaging, warm and quick to break the ice.
The canal crossing. The traghetto is a working ferry, a crossing of around three minutes according to the listing. The listing spells this out clearly, and one reviewer felt the experience was oversold elsewhere. Treat it as local transport, not a gondola tour.
Best booked early. One reviewer recommended doing the tour at the beginning of a stay, because the guide's recommendations for further eating and drinking are more useful then.
Dietary needs. The listing says the tour can suit vegetarians, lactose-free guests and non-celiac gluten-free guests, though not every stop can adjust for every need. Tastings vary with the season and what the bars have that day, so some flexibility helps.

Common issues. The main complaint in reviews is the description of the canal crossing: one traveller felt it was presented as more of a gondola ride than the one-minute ferry it actually is. The route is not wheelchair accessible, and the exact order of stops can shift depending on opening times and crowds, with specific tastings varying by season. Tips and hotel pickup are not included.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

The price covers seven cicchetti tastings, four glasses of regional wine including Prosecco, a Venetian Spritz, a tiramisu, and the traghetto crossing of the Grand Canal. A local English-speaking guide and a small-group format are also included. Tips are not included.

Is Hotel Pickup Provided?

No. The tour meets at Campo de la Maddalena in Cannaregio and ends at Campo San Bortolomio, and you make your own way to the starting point. The meeting point address is given on the listing.

How Long Does The Tour Last And How Far Do We Walk?

It runs for 2.5 hours and covers about 2 km at a relaxed pace. The walking is broken up by food and drink stops, so it is not a strenuous route.

Can The Tour Handle Dietary Restrictions?

The listing says it suits vegetarians, lactose-free guests and non-celiac gluten-free guests. However, not every stop can adjust for all needs, so some flexibility may be required.

Is The Gondola Ride A Proper Sightseeing Trip?

No. The crossing is a short traghetto ferry ride over the Grand Canal, taking around three minutes. It is how Venetians actually cross the canal, but it is not a sightseeing gondola tour.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The listing does not state the terms for cancellations made after that point.