Mercato di Rialto

If you’re visiting Venice, then besides the obvious sightseeing spots, you absolutely must visit the city’s most famous market. Here you can find everything — and see where local restaurateurs buy their fresh fish, seafood, vegetables, fruit, and much more. In our opinion, it’s an essential place to experience, and we highly recommend going early in the morning. The market is officially open until 3:00 p.m., but vendors start packing up shortly after noon.

Mercato Rialto offers an experience you won't find in other parts of Venice. You can buy fresh fish, fruit and vegetables to your taste. If you want to smell the aromas and experience the real market atmosphere, I recommend coming early in the morning when the crowds are not yet there and the whole place comes to life. However, be aware that it is closed on Mondays and Sundays.

We always seek out the local markets and buy food for our dinner when we travel (we cook dinners in our AirBnB). Great seafood selection and the produce was bountiful! The reason for the 4 vs 5 stars is that there are several of the tourist t-shirt, trinket and souvenir stands as well. To be honest, Venice is full of these but we were so hoping to escape them a bit at the market.

“Where Venice Still Tastes Like the Sea” For centuries, this fish market has unfolded in the same place, beside the Rialto, feeding Venice with the daily catch since at least the 11th century. The canal runs just a few steps away, flowing into the Grand Canal and, beyond it, the Mediterranean Sea. Sometimes the gulls join the ritual, stealing a silvery trophy before disappearing over the water. Here, history, sea and routine meet every morning, especially before Christmas. + Instagram photos: @jor.escarra

This is a fun market to be able to walk through. There are lots of spices, noodles, fresh fish, and other fresh fruit and vegetables. It is very much a farmers market, but very fun to walk-through.

A nice market in the heart of Venice. There are some amazing and unique fish on display, along with food stalls, fresh vegetables, souvenirs, and more. Prices are on the expensive side.

Rialto Market is a true gem in Venice! The vibrant atmosphere, the freshest seafood, and the colorful local produce make it an unforgettable experience. It’s the perfect place to soak in the city’s culinary culture and see where Venetians shop for their ingredients. Whether you’re looking for the best seasonal fruits or just want to enjoy the lively market scene, this is the place to be. Highly recommended for anyone who loves authentic food and local traditions!

It is nice to see the city wake up at the market. The fish or seafood market has all the fresh seafood lined up and arranged so neatly. The vegetable and dry section didn’t have as many stalls open though. Still good variety. Enjoyed walking here.

Mercato di Rialto (Rialto Market) in Venice is a fresh food market with many different items in the surrounding area. I love to check out the fruits, veggies, seafood, and delicious salami. I found many fruits and vegetables I had never seen in the United States. The salamis tasted better than those in the supermarkets. They have many different items you can find at very affordable prices in the area. They have many choices of leather bags, belts, hats, and many, many other interesting inexpensive things catching my eye. This is a great way to relax after a whole day of sightseeing in Venice. The price tag is negotiable, at least for the leather items we bought in some of the stalls. Don't expect a significantly deeper discount. But you should get a few euros in savings if you ask, especially if you purchase multiple items. Try to group the things you will buy with your friends.

Pros: Excellent selection of fruits, vegetables, fish, and spices. Cons: There are very few Schlitz cocktail options.

Must see. A short stroll gives you shot of seafood adrenaline that you'll never forget. Fresh mussels, squid, clams, octopus, and every fish you can imagine. The sights, smells, colors and sounds are out of this world. Must see!!!

All of the fresh seafood and produce in Venice originates from the Rialto Market (Mercado de Rialto). Venetians have been shopping at the Rialto Market since the 11th century. After a destructive fire in the 16th century, the market was constructed to the west of the Rialto Bridge and has remained here ever since. The market is open in the morning from Monday to Saturday and the fish market is closed on Mondays. The stalls of the market are filled with fresh fish, seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh cut flowers, and spices. Arrive early in the morning to take in the action. Most of the market is picked off by the afternoon and many of the fishmongers have already closed for the day. Buy fresh fruit from the market and ask for a plastic bag to carry your purchase in. After you purchase your fruit stop by the fountain outside the market and wash your fruit. Enjoy your purchase on the Rialto Bridge and watch boats and gondolas pass by!

It's hard believe this Fish and produce market is over a 1,000 years old and operates daily. Get here early and you'll see the freshest fish packed on ice. There's also a good selection of fresh produce for purchase. The open stall market is a great place for pictures and people watching. You'll find the cuttlefish for the famous black ink pasta which is only available in Venice and there is a large variety of shellfish. If you're a foodie - This a must visit in Venice!

If you want to see the local side of Venezia, then wake up early in the morning to see the local market by the Rialto Bridge. Go early enough to the marketplace on the right day, and you may be among the seagulls that are following the fishing boats as you ride down the Grand Canal! Depending on the day of the week, Mercato di Rialto is either primarily seafood or produce. While I cannot vouch the seafood's price, the produce were actually fresh, cheap, and delicious! However for outsiders like me, the biggest draw of the market may be the seafood, even though I could not buy them because I had no kitchen. Caught fresh from the lagoon, vouched by the eager seagulls that followed from the lagoon, the Venetian seafood is an exotic sight! While few common fishes like salmon are recognizable, most are simply bizzare. Simply being there to see them is a feast for your eyes, and certainly gives many photo opportunities! Venezia isn't all about Piazza San Marco or canals, so even if you do not intend to buy anything, I highly recommend swinging by Mercato di Rialto to see the other side of the floating city. This market is one of the many reasons that make staying overnight in Venice worthwhile so you can see the Venice that daytrippers miss.

Quite a scene. Lots of produce, fish on ice, and spice pack rolls at 3 for 3 euros that make for non-breakable souvenir gifts

nearly closed as an empty market right on sunday afternoon, yes we were late, but we have expected a little bit more end of july 2015 On the other hand we have had the right time on a place, to see the offers and also to have a deep look at the surroundings. Beautiful.

Setting Up for the Day We wanted to get picnic supplies for the day, so we decided the market was the best place to get the freshest food available. Despite arriving before many of the stalls had opened for the day, there was a wide variety of everything we needed and the prices were very reasonable. The only regret was not being able to visit when the entire area was open for business.

We walked through during the off season, so there weren't a lot of vendors, but there was still plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers to see. I'm not adequately confident in my ability to speak Italian, so I didn't make any purchases. Other vegans should know the market is first and foremost for the sake of fish, so be prepared for that in all respects

One of the only places in Venice to get cheap, fresh produce. Avoid dried fruits and nuts as the prices are marked up like crazy. And keep in mind to ask before you touch the food!

This is a great place to catch some Venetian culture. There are tables of fresh fish of all shapes and sizes. Many of the shrimp and crabs are still clicking when they're sold. It disappears by midday so make sure you stop by in the morning if you want to see anything. It is an active market frequented by locals, so prepare to get some dirty looks if you stand around gawking while people are trying to buy something. They have pretty decent prices for fresh produce if you're in the mood for some strawberries or tomatoes!

Fun sight and seafood is fresh fresh fresh!! Definitely worth visiting. There is also a section next to the market that sells fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. This is a one stop shop for an awesome dinner

This is the marketplace in Venezia. It can be crowded though. It still a busy market, full of people.

If you want an eclectic selection of funky morano jewellery and stuff from local markets, bags, baskets and some exotic fish, a good and busy market of Rialto is a good place to be in Venice!