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Venice, Italy

Best places to shop in Venice

4 markets, malls and shopping districts in Venice — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.

Last updated 2026-08-08

1. Murano glass furnaces

Murano glass furnaces
Photo: Tara Sakhi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

The glass island — furnaces where Venetian glass has been blown since 1291, with showrooms attached and demonstrations daily.

Watch outA large share of 'Murano' glass sold around San Marco is imported from China. Free boat transfers to Murano offered on the street take a commission from the showroom they deliver you to — take the public vaporetto instead.

2. Rialto Market

Rialto Market
Photo: Childe Hassam · Public domain · source

The thousand-year-old market beside the bridge — the Pescheria fish hall and the Erberia produce stalls, supplying the city's restaurants.

3. Burano lace

Burano lace
Photo: Mrs. Fanny Bury Palliser, revised Margaret Jourdain & Alice Dryden · Public domain · source

The coloured fishing island where Venetian needle lace is made — a genuine, dwindling craft with a lace museum and a handful of real makers.

Watch outNearly all 'Burano lace' on sale is machine-made and imported. Genuine hand-made punto in aria takes weeks per piece, costs hundreds of euro, and comes with certification from the Consorzio Merletti.

4. Cannaregio and the artisan workshops

Cannaregio and the artisan workshops
Photo: Ambam Gorilla · Pexels License · source

The quieter northern sestiere — mask makers, bookbinders, gondola-oarlock carvers and printmakers working away from the San Marco crowds.

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