Venice, Italy Hotels and City Guide

Venice - Shopping

Venice Shopping Guide

Perhaps best known for its glassware, jewelry, antiques and fabrics – notably lace, linen and silk - shopping in Venice can be a hit-and-miss affair where craftsmanship and tourist tat are uneasy companions.

Shops in Venice are normally open from 9am to 12:30 pm, then 4pm to 7:30pm. In less touristy areas, some shops close on Wednesdays. The annual vacation exodus during August brings the shutters down on many establishments in the city. It is worth checking with stores whether they participate in the 'Italy Tax Free' scheme offering buyer incentives for non-EU residents.

Venice Shops by Area

Beginning at St Mark's Square, a range of premium range shops occupy the area west of the square at Frezzeria. From St Mark's, head northwest to Rialto via the Mercerie, Campo San Luca and Calle dei Fabbri. Plentiful shoe shops and leather goods, fashion retailers, jewelers and antiques occupy this historic commercial thoroughfare.

At Rialto, sidestep the peddlers of plastic gondolas, cheap carnival masks and gaudy costumes and look instead for bargains in the stores on the San Polo side of the Rialto Bridge, for arty goods such as ceramics and marbled paper.

Visit the islands of Murano and Burano for the finest, colorful handmade glass and delicate lace, but still with a discerning eye for avoiding nasty examples. Original and repro antique glassware is also available in San Marco.

Other good shopping areas include the Frezzeria, west of San Marco, around Calle del Teatro and San Bartolomeo. Exclusive fashion and gifts can be had on Calle Larga XXII Marzo, the street that runs to Campo Santo Stefano from Piazza San Marco. Department stores are a virtual non-entity in Venice.

Food shoppers should not miss the Rialto markets - surely one of the world's most scenic bazaars that has been nourishing Venetians since the 11th century. Get to the Pescheria fish market early (traders set up from 6am) for the pick of the day's catch, which includes everything from eels and octopus to tasty lagoon shrimps. The Erberia fruit and vegetable market next to the Rialto bridge showcases the most flavoursome Italian produce: the market also offers flowers and souvenirs.

Hotels in Venice, Italy