Rialto Bridge

Venice showing a river or creek and heritage architecture
Cross the romantic old bridge, one of Venice’s most iconic and world-famous sights, now packed with souvenirs and street entertainers.

One of the most iconic features of the Venetian cityscape, the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) has stood on its spot over the Grand Canal for more than five hundred years. With its immediately recognisable V-shaped design, stone arcades and balustrades, it is a popular spot for photographers, lovers, tourists—any and all who flock to this beautiful city.

The legendary bridge was constructed by Antonio Da Ponte (Antonio of the Bridge, fittingly enough) who beat Michelangelo himself to secure the commission to build it. The Rialto Bridge stands at the same spot where a 12th century bridge once stood, and, at 7.5 metres at its arch, is tall enough to allow ships to pass underneath. Its central peak, as well as its symmetrical ends, make it by far the most famous and most photographed of the hundreds of bridges of all sizes that connect the different islands of Venice.

When you arrive on foot, head for one of the three walkways leading to the top of the Rialto. Two of them lie along the outer balustrade, while the central passageway runs between a row of shops in which you’ll find local Murano glassware, jewellery and other crafts on offer.

The Rialto of course is not merely a pretty, functional piece of city planning. It is a lively spot where local street vendors and entertainers flock to ply their trade. As the music plays and the crowds gather, from the top of the bridge you’ll be privileged enough to enjoy a mesmerising view of the Grand Canal wending its way through the city and its houses.

By night the bridge is a rather more peaceful, quieter spot. As the shops shut, the bridge lights up the way for all the couples ambling by on their romantic moonlit strolls.

About halfway along the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge links the market area of San Polo with the tourist focal point San Marco. You can reach the bridge by taking a vaporetto or gondola ride to the Rialto stop, or set off from St Mark’s Square on foot and head north.

Reviews of Rialto Bridge

4.5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
697
" "5 - Excellent 55.317460317460316%
4 - Good
467
" "4 - Good 37.06349206349206%
3 - Okay
86
" "3 - Okay 6.825396825396825%
2 - Disappointing
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" "2 - Disappointing 0.6349206349206349%
1 - Terrible
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" "1 - Terrible 0.15873015873015872%

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveller
20 Jan 2020

Cheap shops on a bridge with lots of people taking selfies.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
18 Jan 2020

Beautiful bridge. Swarming with tourists in the day.

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveller
29 Oct 2019

Go here really early and avoid weekends. It's one of the must see places but the crowds, tacky shops and incessant selfie takers really spoil it. By Saturday lunchtime, forget trying to get from one side to another. Got some good photos just after sunrise with hardly anyone about ;-)

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
29 Oct 2019

So busy here but we did a gondola ride which was a much better way to see the bridge. Our visit was October so good ness knows what it is like in the summer. There are many other (smaller) beautiful bridges in Venice which are also worth noting :)

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
14 Oct 2019

Try to avoid between about 11 and 5 as the cruise ships are in and you can hardly move for the crowd's.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
12 Oct 2019

Go early morning or late at night otherwise it is very, very busy

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