Living Like a Local: What Venetians Love
To catch a glimpse of authentic Venetian life, try to embrace their daily rituals and favorite haunts.
- The Art of the Aperitivo: The evening aperitivo is a cherished ritual. Venetians gather in a campo (square) or along a fondamenta (canal-side walkway) for a spritz and some conversation. Head to the Fondamenta dei Ormesini or Fondamenta della Misericordia in Cannaregio for a strip of lively, local-favorite bars.
- Bacaro Hopping for Cicchetti (Venetian small snacks): Forget a formal lunch and do as the locals do: go on a giro d’ombra, or a pub crawl of sorts. Hop between bacari (traditional wine bars), enjoying small snacks called cicchetti (think Venetian tapas) and a small glass of wine (un’ombra). All’Arco and Cantina Do Spade near the Rialto are legendary, but every neighborhood has its beloved local spots.
- Morning Coffee Ritual: Start your day like a Venetian: standing at the bar of a pasticceria with a quick coffee and a pastry. Avoid the tourist-trap cafes in Piazza San Marco and find a local spot like Pasticceria Tonolo or Pasticceria Rizzardini.
- Rowing in the Lagoon: Many Venetians are passionate about rowing. While you can’t join a club, you can experience this core part of Venetian culture by taking a rowing lesson with an organization like Row Venice, where you’ll learn to pilot a traditional batelina through the quieter canals.
- Shopping at a Neighborhood Market: While the Rialto Market is a must-see, locals also shop at smaller neighborhood markets. Look for the floating fruit and vegetable boat near Campo San Barnaba or the street market on Via Garibaldi for a more local shopping experience.
- Escaping to the Other Islands: On a sunny day, many Venetians escape the main island altogether. They might head to the Lido for a beach day, take a boat to the sleepy island of Vignole for a meal at a traditional trattoria, or visit Pellestrina for a long bike ride along the sea wall.
