7 Food Markets In Venice Worth Your Time

Last updated on June 22nd, 2024

One of the best ways to taste Venice is by sampling all the local delicacies, street food and local produce at the daily markets scattered throughout the city.

In many instances, you may run into these per chance but if you have time to plan out your trip, I suggest penciling in these food markets in Venice into your Venice itinerary.

Living in Italy for over a decade now has given me a new appreciation for supporting local food systems, farmers and fishermen, making food markets one of my top priorities when traveling to a new city in Italy.

In this article, I will share with the best and most famous food markets in Venice worth your time including:

When they are open and their locations
What to buy at each one
Where to eat nearby
Tips for shopping at markets in Venice
Helpful vocabulary for visiting a market in Italy

Heading to Florence Next?: Be sure to check out Food Markets in Florence!

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Map Of The Best Food Markets In Venice

Food Markets in Venice – Quick Guide

Food Market In Venice	Location – Neighborhood	Open	Where To Eat Closeby
Rialto Market	San Polo (close to Rialto Bridge)	Tuesday to Saturday from 7 am to 1:30 pm	Osteria Bancogiro (great spot for cicchetti in Venice)
Santa Marta Market	Ex Church of Santa Marta – Dorsoduro (Southwest corner of Venetian mainland)	Monday from 7:30 am to 1 pm	OKE Zattere (one of Venice’s best gluten-free restaurants, 15 minute walk)
Rio Terà dei Pensieri Market	Rio Terà dei Pensieri (Dorsoduro)	Thursday from 9 am am to 5:30 pm	Bacareto da Lele
Santa Margherita Market	Campo Santa Margherita (Dorsoduro)	Daily from 8 am to 1 pm	Osteria Alla Bifora (one of Venice’s kid-friendly restaurants) or Panini E Vini Da Babbo for cicchetti
San Leonardo Market	Campo San Leonardo (Cannaregio)	Monday to Saturday 8 am – 5:30 pm (closing time may vary)	Sullaluna Libreria & Bistrot (a great spot for vegan food in Venice) or gelato at Bacaro del Gelato (one of Venice’s best gelaterie).
Lido Market	Riva Corinto (Lido Island)	Friday from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm	No personal recommendations
Sacca Fisola Market	Giudecca Island	Friday from 7 am to 2 pm	Majer Giudecca (a nice spot for dinner on the water)

Rialto Market

Best For: Fish and shopping in central location in Venice

The Rialto market, known as the mercato di Rialto in Italian is by far the most popular market in Venice for both locals and tourists.

Located just off the Rialto bridge, the market is divided into two sections, the Pescaria and the Erbaria.

The Pescaria is the fresh seafood section of the market consisting of countless fishmongers selling their daily catch. It’s hard to choose which one is right for you so just go by what fish you are looking for or what catches your eye. They really are all top quality.

The Erbaria section is the half of the Rialto market selling fresh produce from the Venetian lagoon. Here you will also find great food souvenirs such as spices, dried mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes.

Alongside the produce stands are various butches selling local cuts of meat, sausages and cured meats.

Shopping The Rialto: For more on the Rialto market, read my comprehensive guide to Shopping at the Rialto Market.

Santa Marta Market

Piles of scallops with a price tag at the market in Venice, Italy.

Best For: Foods from all over Italy

Although off the beaten track, if you happen to be in the mood for a morning stroll on a Monday to the outskirts of the Venetian mainland, the Santa Marta Market is the one for you.

Here you will find plenty of delicious produce from the Venetian lagoon but also goods from all over Italy including fresh cheese and other dairy products from the Dolomites, Southern Italian specialties, prosciutto and handcrafted small batch wines.

Rio Terà dei Pensieri Market

Piles of colorful vegetables with price signs at a market in Venice, Italy.

Best For: Sustainable food products

In Rio Terà dei Pensieri in Dorsoduro, we have the Altreconomia market focused on biodynamic, sustainable and organic agricultural food with attention to local communities and equity for all. This is my top choice for travelers in Venice looking for Fair Trade or organic food items such as fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, wine and honey.

Santa Margherita Market

People in a piazza in Venice, Italy. Large tree, souvenir stands, and benches in the piazza which is surrounded by colorful buildings, about 3-4 stories tall.

Colorful display of fresh vegetables with prices at the Rialto Market in Venice, Italy.

Best For: Spending the morning in one of the coolest squares in Venice

Campo Santa Margherita is one of the best squares in Venice for food, coffee, gelato, pizza, cicchetti and home to one of the best markets for basic produce and local ingredients in the area.

The square fills up with locals shopping for what they need for the day, friends mingling over coffee or tourists stopping in for a meal. It’s one of the coolest squares in all of Venice, off the beaten track, and full of life, no matter what time of day you come (including for nigh tlife!).

San Leonardo Market

outdoor market stand from side view with bananas and several kinds of peaches.

Best For: Getting a snack before boarding your train

Located in Campo San Leonardo not far from the Santa Lucia Train Station, this market is a great place to stop before catching your train.

The San Leonardo Market is not big but the vendors that sell here are always reliable and have good prices. They cater primarily to the local community including the Jewish community and large student body.

Lido Market

Freshly-caught scampi with prices at the Rialto Market in Venice, Italy.

Fresh radicchio in a wicker basket at the Rialto Market in Venice, Italy.

Best For: Sustainable produce and fish

The Lido market is located on the island of Lido on Riva Corinto, just South of the Venice mainland. This sustainable market is certainly off the beaten track, a longer vaporetto ride to get to (get off at Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta stop), making it not the most convenient market in Venice.

I suggest coming to the Lido market only if you are on the island for other reasons or you are staying in Venice for a longer period of time and wish to explore.

At this market, you can find local fish and produce. Get here early and see the fishermen chugging or sailing up with their catch of the day!

Sacca Fisola Market

Plastic and metal bins of spinach, artichokes and fresh veggies at the Rialto Market in Venice, Italy.

Best For: People looking for other items including household goods and clothes

The Sacca Fisola market is a small market catering primarily to locals on the edge of the island of Giudecca. It’s a little more expensive than other markets and includes other items such as clothes but the vendors aren’t always the same.

Just like the Lido market, I don’t suggest you go out of your way to come here but if you happen to be on Giudecca and want to pick up some snacks or local goods, come here!

Bonus: I Sapori di Sant’Erasmo

Covered market stall on a boat on a canal in Venice, Italy. Fruits and vegetables are stacked on the boat.

This isn’t a market per say, which is why I am adding it as a bonus. Rather, it’s a type of farm order that you can make if you are a student or a long-term visitor to Venice.

I Sapori di Sant’Erasmo is a farm on the Sant’Erasmo island where much of the local produce is grown for the city.

Sign up on their website and make orders for weekly pick ups in different locations throughout the city center on either Wednesdays or Fridays. This is one of the best ways to support local farmers for sure!

Foodies In Venice: Don’t miss my food itineraries for Venice – 24 Hours and 48 Hours.

Tips For Shopping At Open Air Markets In Venice

Piles of sundried tomatoes for sale at market in Venice, Italy.

Don’t be afraid to bargain with vendors. If you are buying multiples of the same items, many people are willing to take a couple euros off the total price. I wouldn’t haggle if you are buying a head of lettuce and a bag of apples.
Always bring a shopping bag to avoid wasting plastic. Without one, you risk being laden with a ton of small paper bags without handles.
Always greet the vendors even if you are just passing by.
Ask the vendors what is best or in season.
If you are curious to try cooking a new food, ask for some advice on how to do so. Most people are thrilled to share a quick tip or cooking technique to get you started.
Vendors generally prefer cash so keep plenty of €1 and €2 euro coins on you.
Keep my helpful table at hand and try to order in Italian. Venetians really appreciate the effort in my experience.
Don’t touch the produce. Ask the vendor what you will like and they will serve you. Feel free to indicate exactly which items you like or be specific in terms of size (for example, under ripe bananas, small apples, peaches that are just ripe).

Helpful Vocabulary For Shopping At Markets In Venice

Bunches of spicy peppers for sale in baskets at a market in Venice, Italy.

Italian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Vorrei…	vohr-reh…	I would like…
Posso provare…	poh-soh pro-vah-reh…	May I try…
Cosa c’è di stagione?	coh-zah cheh dee stah-joh-neh?	What is in season?
è locale?	eh loh-kah-leh	Is it local?
Cosa mi consiglia?	coh-zah mee cohn-seel-yah?	What would you recommend?
Ha…	ahh…	Do you have…
Buongiorno/Buonasera	bwohn-johr-noh/bwohn-ah-seh-rah	Good morning/afternoon
Arrivaderci	ahr-ree-vah-dehr-chee	Good bye
Per favore	pehr-fah-voh-reh	Please
Grazie	grah-zeeEH	Thank you
Dov’è…	doh-veh	Where is…
Mi scusi	mee scoo-zee	Excuse me
Quanto costa?	kwahn-toh coh-stah	How much does it cost?
mezzo	mehz-zoh	Half
intero	in-teh-roh	Whole
busta	boo-stah	Bag
Posso pagare con…	poh-soh pah-gah-reh cohn…	May I pay with…
una carta di credito	cahr-ta dee creh-dee-toh	A credit card
contanti	cohn-tahn-tee	Cash

Numbers In Italian

Number	Italian	Pronunciation
0	zero	tzeh-roh
1	uno	oo-noh
2	due	doo-eh
3	tre	treh
4	quattro	kwaht-troh
5	cinque	cheen-kweh
6	sei	say
7	sette	seht-teh
8	otto	oht-toh
9	nove	noh-veh
10	dieci	dee-eh-chee