Venice Like a Local: Food, Wine & Spritz Tour with Traghetto Ride
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Venice, Italy
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Taste your way through the backstreet bars of Venice—and discover sights and bites you'd be unlikely to find on your own—on this small-group tasting tour. Follow your local guide to a range of bars where Venetians go to drink and mingle. At each stop, sample regional wines alongside plates of the popular Venetian appetizers called cicchetti. Along the way, visit multiple neighborhoods and discover key city landmarks.
- Sample a generous range of traditional dishes, paired with local wines at every stop
- Enjoy an authentic Venetian traghetto gondola crossing, included in your tour
- Explore charming backstreets and neighborhoods away from the tourist crowds
- Small groups of max 10 people for a personal, intimate, and social food experience
Sample Menu
Starter
Rialto Seafood Tasting with Prosecco
Fresh seafood from the Rialto market, warm seasonal dishes, and a crisp glass of Prosecco.
Starter
Real Venetian Aperitivo with Spritz
Authentic Venetian aperitivo with a tramezzino, an ovetto, and a classic local Spritz.
Starter
Classic Venetian Cicchetti with Chardonnay
Traditional cicchetti—baccalà, saor prawns, and a warm meatball—paired with Chardonnay.
Starter
Hidden Rialto Backstreets Cicchetti with Red Wine
Meat or cheese cicchetti in quiet Rialto backstreets, served with local red wine.
Dessert
Sweet Finale with Sparkling Red Wine
Classic tiramisu in lively Campo San Bortolomio, paired with sparkling dessert red wine.
What's Included
- Enjoy 4 glasses of local wine (white, red, Prosecco, and a sweet dessert wine) & Venetian Spritz
- Taste seven authentic Venetian small plates (cicchetti) and finish with a homemade dessert
- Cross the Grand Canal like a local on a traditional traghetto gondola ferry
- Discover magical Venice with a local English‑speaking guide who brings the city’s stories to life
- Experience the art of cicchetti at hidden, family‑run bars in the Rialto area
- Stroll through Cannaregio, one of Venice’s most historic and charming neighborhoods
- Discover the spots where Venetians meet for lunch or an early‑evening drink
- Share the experience with new friends in a small group of max 10 guests.
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Campo de la Maddalena, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
Infront of Church of the Maddalena on the Maddalena Square, Cannaregio, Venezia
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Choose between lunch and dinner start times, and be sure to come hungry. Meet your guide (and group, if you've selected the small-group option) at a convenient location in Cannaregio.
Set off on foot through the residential neighborhood, and cross the Grand Canal via traghetto gondola. You'll admire the Rialto Bridge and discover other top sights and neighborhoods along the way. As you go, stop in atmospheric and tucked-away bars and enotecas to try a wide range of specialty cicchetti.
Step into more bars in central Venice, each with unique atmospheres. Taste different varietals of regional wine, and enjoy a Venetian spritz and a dessert to cap off your experience.
At the end of your tour, say farewell to your tour guide and fellow food lovers at Campo San Bortolomio.
Set off on foot through the residential neighborhood, and cross the Grand Canal via traghetto gondola. You'll admire the Rialto Bridge and discover other top sights and neighborhoods along the way. As you go, stop in atmospheric and tucked-away bars and enotecas to try a wide range of specialty cicchetti.
Step into more bars in central Venice, each with unique atmospheres. Taste different varietals of regional wine, and enjoy a Venetian spritz and a dessert to cap off your experience.
At the end of your tour, say farewell to your tour guide and fellow food lovers at Campo San Bortolomio.
1
Campo de la Maddalena
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Cannaregio
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Strada Nova
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Canal Grande
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Mercato di Rialto
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Ponte di Rialto
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Campo San Bortolomio
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Will I learn anything about traveling responsibly in Venice? Along the way, your guide will share simple responsible‑travel tips to help you explore Venice more sustainably and respectfully — just like a thoughtful local.
- Can the tour accommodate dietary restrictions? The tour includes a delicious mix of cicchetti and small plates at local establishments. It’s suitable for vegetarians, lactose‑free guests, and non‑celiac gluten‑free guests. However, not every stop can adjust for all dietary needs, so some flexibility may be required.
- Do I need to pay the Venice access fee? On select dates, day‑trippers staying outside Venice may need to pay a €5 access fee. You can check dates, exemptions, and full details at the official site:
- How much walking is involved? The tour covers about 2 km (1.2 miles) of easy walking through Venice’s scenic streets and canals — a perfect balance of strolling and tasting!
- Is the tour suitable for wheelchairs, strollers, or guests with mobility challenges? Venice is full of beautiful—but often steep—bridges, many of which are not wheelchair- or stroller‑friendly. Because of this, the tour may be challenging for guests with limited mobility. We want you to have the best experience, so please consider these accessibility limitations when booking.
- What happens if the weather is bad? In case of bad weather or high water, the traghetto gondola crossing may not operate, as these boats do not run in unsafe conditions. If this happens, your guide will offer an alternative walking route and the rest of the tour will continue as planned.
- Will the itinerary always stay the same? The exact route may change depending on the opening times or crowd levels at local bars and restaurants. Don’t worry — every spot we visit offers the same great quality, so you’ll always enjoy the full experience even if the order or venues shift a bit.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Elizabeth_P
This tour was the best part of our visit to Venice. Alessia was an amazing tour guide. She gave us so much valuable information and introduced us to some of Venice’s best food, wine, and spritz. We took this tour our first evening in Venice, which I would highly recommend, because we returned to several places we discovered on our tour. We tried lots of new wines and Venetian foods and had an authentic Venetian spritz. Such a great experience. Highly recommend!
Reviews
4.8
based on 1,873 reviews
Jonathan_S, Mar 2026
We had an excellent time touring with Ursula! She did a great job of giving us some background as we went and the food and wine we had at each stop was delicious. We went to places that we would have never known to stop and thoroughly enjoyed our time. This was a great experience!
Justine_v, Mar 2026
Our Guide was very friendly, passionate, and knowledgeable. The food was great and well-matched with drinks. Really nice to be in a small group and get to do some walking as part of the trip.
lisa_A, Mar 2026
Really enjoyed this experience with Camilla, she was knowledgeable about Venice as she has lived here all her life and was born here. She gave us help and advice of what to do in Venice and lots of helpful tips. We visited 5 bars and we ate well! Portions generous and plenty of wine and spritz. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Lisa,
We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience! We're delighted that Camilla's passion and expertise made your tour enjoyable and informative. It's wonderful to hear that the local tips, generous hospitality, and the culinary stops all contributed to a memorable day. If your journeys bring you back to Venice, we'd love to have you join us again.
Warm regards,
Intrepid Urban Adventures Team
Kara_K, Mar 2026
We had a wonderful evening touring Venice with Giorgia. She was an expert in the food and wine but also local history and information. It was a great help learning the signage! The spritz, wine and food were all really good. There was only one stop that had all only seafood if anyone in your group has an aversion. I believe we had an extra stop because the Gondola wasn’t running. Would highly recommend the tour and Giorgia as we had a nice night out with lots of laughs.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Kara,
It’s fantastic to know that you had such a wonderful night out with Giorgia guiding you through Venice! We're so pleased the local food, drinks, and especially her knowledge made the tour memorable for you. Thank you for noting the seafood stop, your feedback helps us continue to improve and accommodate all our guests’ preferences. We're happy you enjoyed the additional stop and grateful for your high recommendation. We look forward to welcoming you on another tour in the future!
Kind regards,
Intrepid Urban Adventures Team
Stephen_H, Mar 2026
This was absolutely an amazing night! We saw places in Vennice that we would never had seen. Definitely one of the best nights that when we return we will do again. Very informative with an introduction to 'real' family businesses the tour guide was fantastic and would recommend this to anyone looking for a holiday wanting to see the 'real' vennice. Undoubtedly worth every penny! Wow!!
Jen_T, Mar 2026
Local experience, family-run businesses, a little history, charming guide. We had a delightful time.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Jen,
We really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback! It’s fantastic to know that you enjoyed learning some local history and visiting our favorite family-run spots. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
Warm regards,
Intrepid Urban Adventures Team
Anna_D, Feb 2026
Perfect way to familiarize yourself with Venice streets, food and wine. Small and personal tour with very knowledgeable guide. Would definitely do it again!!
Elizabeth_P, Feb 2026
This tour was the best part of our visit to Venice. Alessia was an amazing tour guide. She gave us so much valuable information and introduced us to some of Venice’s best food, wine, and spritz. We took this tour our first evening in Venice, which I would highly recommend, because we returned to several places we discovered on our tour. We tried lots of new wines and Venetian foods and had an authentic Venetian spritz. Such a great experience. Highly recommend!
Daniel_F, Dec 2025
During my time in Venice I went on three different food tours this was definitely my least favorite. The guide didn’t seem super into it and it felt kinda rushed. The food and drinks were great but so were my other two tours. Maybe it was just my experience but I would have rather just gone out to dinner in contrast to the other two I was over the moon for (my gf feels the same way).
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Daniel, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that this experience didn’t meet your expectations, especially when compared with other tours you enjoyed in Venice. While we’re pleased to know that you still enjoyed the food and drinks, we regret that the tour felt rushed and that the guide experience didn’t resonate with you. This isn’t the standard we aim for, and your comments have been shared with our local team so they can review the pacing and guiding style for this experience. We appreciate your honest feedback, as it helps us improve, and we hope you’ll consider giving us another try on a future Urban Adventures experience.
Mon_J, Dec 2025
My tour guide Georgia was great! She knew about not just Venice but the whole Veneto region. The food was delicious and everywhere we went felt like a local spot and not a tourist attraction. She took the time to talk about the history and beauty of Venice along with the various food options. Her tour was my favorite part of the trip.
Nikki_H, Dec 2025
Our guide Olympia was amazing, the trip itself is amazing. Went to places and ate food and drink we wouldn't have otherwise. Highly recommend.
Jessica_M, Nov 2025
This was such an interesting experience! Giovanna showed us many interesting spots and provided interesting insights into the history of how Venice's governance shapes it still today (especially the language and food scenes).
I wish the pacing of food and tour had been a bit more balanced, and the gondola was NOT 15 minutes. But overall we very much enjoyed this
Laura_R, Nov 2025
Had a great time on the tour. Georgia was very welcoming and knowledgeable. Really enjoyed trying all the local specialities, very good value as there is a lot of food and drinks included. The tragetto crossing was a fun addition. Very much recommend this tour for the start of any trip to Venice as it helps you get your bearings with locations too.
Robert_S, Nov 2025
Loved the food and drinks. The guide was very informative and good at guiding us from one place to another.
Debra_M, Nov 2025
The tour guide Alice was great! Very knowledgeable of the cuisine and wines we were experiencing. The food choices(cicchetti) were interesting and all different
Nick_D, Nov 2025
Our tour with Giovanna in Venice was fantastic! She was incredibly knowledgeable about the city’s rich history, vibrant food culture, and hidden details that made the experience come alive. Her passion for Venice shone through every story and stop. Highly recommend her for anyone wanting to truly understand this amazing city!
RosaliciaFajardo, Nov 2025
We was not able do the tour. Was very far from the center of Venice. They want to charge us $160 to take us there. Impossible terrible experience we loose the money.
Tasha_W, Nov 2025
The tour was great - food and drinks were generous and delicious, and our guide “Ludo(?)” was amazing as well!
Joseph_D, Nov 2025
The tour was amazing, great food and great drinks. Our tour guide was awesome. She showed us where the locals hang out. You could tell she really loved her job. Definitely would recommend
Donna_M, Nov 2025
This is fabulous tour! Nice to have history of foods as well as local traditions. Tasty & informative as well as fun.
ReneeD, Nov 2025
Fantastic small-group food tour! The guide shared great insights on local foods and wine, and there was plenty to eat and drink throughout. Everything was well organized and ran smoothly—highly recommend for a fun and flavorful experience.
Joshua_S, Oct 2025
It wasn’t great but it was okay. The food and drinks were solid. The issue was the tour guide. She just wasn’t friendly or engaging which can make or break a tour. They need to get someone friendlier.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Joshua_S,
Thank you for sharing your recent experience with us following your time with us in Italy. We are sorry to know that you did not find the guide to be engaging- as we hope all of our guides to be. We understand that a guide really does elevate or detract from the overall enjoyment of one's time exploring new things. We will be sure to address this, and we have sent your feedback to the managers for further coaching. We are delighted to know that you enjoyed the food and inclusions for this tour, and in hopes of seeing you along again. We hope that you did manage to have a great time in Italy, and hope to see you again soon. thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
Joseph_C, Oct 2025
I would highly highly you recommend doing this experience, especially if you’re a little lost and what to do and where to eat. We came here for our honeymoon, and this was one of the best experiences we’ve had by far.
Phyllis_C, Oct 2025
Fabulous tasting of authentic Venetian cicchetti and wine in local kitchens. Our tour guide, Irena, gave us a bit of history and culture along our walks between restaurants in quiet Venice neighborhoods not frequented much by tourists. Our guide was the best - warm and welcoming. Such a fun authentic experience!
Cynthia_N, Oct 2025
What a blast! Our guide, Olympia, was engaging, knowledgeable, and very accommodating of food preferences. It was like a pleasant walk with an old friend (who happens to know a lot about the history of Venice). The food and wine were delightful! Be sure to state ahead of time your food preferences and show up hungry!!
Steven_G, Oct 2025
This was a small group trip as we were six in total. It was an amazing tour and a tremendous overview of the city of Venice with exceptional food and wine!
Ruth_S, Oct 2025
What a fun evening! Olympia was an excellent guide. The food and beverages were excellent. We had so much fun.
Julie_C, Oct 2025
It’s a tour where you get to leisurely amble around beautiful little bars & sample Venetian delights.
Karla_M, Oct 2025
It isn’t a proper meal. Rather than a lot of bread appetizers. Very full afterwards. Lots of knowledge and good tips about Venice. Tour guide was great!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Karla, Thank you for sharing your experience! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the Cicchetti & wine tour and found the guide knowledgeable and engaging. While the tour focuses on traditional Venetian small plates it’s designed to give guests a taste of authentic local flavours rather than a full sit-down meal. We're happy to hear you still felt full and satisfied! Your feedback is much appreciated, and we hope to welcome you on another experience soon.
Steven_R, Oct 2025
We have experienced numerous excellent food tours in different cities, and this tour matched our expectations. Our guide, Olympia, was a lot of fun, and helped guide us through many different street foods and drinks. By the end of the evening, we felt like locals. Being introduced to new foods opened up lunch opportunities for us in the days following. The tour is a great way to see Venice and learn about the cuisine. Highly recommend this tour.
From $104.44
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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