Rialto Bridge facts at a glance
The Rialto Bridge is a stone bridge with a single arch. It crosses the Grand Canal between San Polo and San Marco, beside the Rialto market district. The architect was Antonio da Ponte, and the bridge dates from the late 1500s. The story behind it is on the Rialto Bridge history page.
Visiting costs nothing. The bridge is a public footpath over steps, and there is no ticket for it. If you want company on the way, a Venice walking tour from Rialto crosses it as part of a longer route.
Our pick: the bridge with a guide
Our take: this walk starts a few steps away and gives the numbers a setting.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours that cross or start near the Rialto Bridge
Walking tours and food tours around Rialto, San Polo and the market, with live prices and availability.
Measurements of the Rialto Bridge
The key numbers in one table.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 48 m |
| Width | 22 m |
| Span of the arch | 28 m |
| Height of the arch | 7.5 m |
| Construction | Single arch of stone (Istrian stone) |
| Shops | 24, part of the structure |
| Architect | Antonio da Ponte, with his nephew Antonio Contin |
| Built | From 1588 to 1591 or 1592 |
The arch height and span describe the arch itself. They are not the height of the whole bridge with its shops, and 7.5 m is not a clearance figure for boats. Measuring points vary, so treat the numbers as good approximations.
Architecture of the stone arch
The bridge is one arch of stone, built from Istrian stone. Its 24 shops belong to the construction and are not later add-ons.
The 24 is a building count. It does not tell you how many shops are open on the day you visit, and shop hours are not the access hours of the bridge.
The Ruga degli Oresi, also written Ruga degli Orefici, is the shopping street in the market district that leads to the bridge.
Foundations under the Rialto Bridge
The bridge stands on timber piles driven into the ground, with planks above them. The piles are elm or mostly alder, with larch planks and further larch or other conifer piles. Estimates run from about 6,000 per side to 12,000 in total.
In short: thousands of wooden piles carry the arch, in a build-up that is more complex than a single layer of piles.
Restoration and money
The big works of the 2010s.
Sponsor
OTB won the city's sponsor tender in 2012 and provided €5 million. Renzo Rosso, OTB and the OTB Foundation were involved in the project.
Timing
Work began in May 2015. The main works are dated to 2016 or 2017, with later phases on the arcades.
Today
The bridge is open as a public footpath over steps.
Practical facts for visitors
- Access: free, public, by steps. Do not count on a step-free crossing. The city's step-free route to the market district goes by boat, to the Rialto Mercato stop, and does not cover the bridge steps.
- Opening times: there is no daily closing time for the footpath. Events or closures can still affect it, so check the current notices on the day.
- Day-visitor fee: the city's access fee is separate from the bridge. It applied on selected days from 3 April to 26 July 2026, from 08:30 to 16:00, at €5 when paid up to the fourth day before the visit and €10 when paid in the last 3 days. It ended on 26 July 2026. The details are with the Venice access fee guide.
- Groups: guided groups are limited to 25 visitors, not counting one guide. Guides carry a visible badge. Groups must not block the flow of walkers on bridges, and loudspeakers are not allowed.
- On the steps: sitting or lying on bridges, steps and quays is not allowed. Fines run from €100 to €200.
Rialto Bridge facts: frequently asked questions
How long is the Rialto Bridge?
48 m long and 22 m wide. The single arch spans 28 m.
How high is the Rialto Bridge?
The arch is 7.5 m high. That figure describes the arch, not the whole bridge with its shops, and it is not a guaranteed clearance for boats.
How many shops are on the Rialto Bridge?
The structure has 24 shops. The number says nothing about how many are open on a given day.
What is under the Rialto Bridge?
Timber piles with planks above them. Estimates run from about 6,000 piles per side to 12,000 in total, and the wood is elm or mostly alder with larch.
Do I need a ticket for the Rialto Bridge?
No. It is a free public footpath. The city's day-visitor fee, which applied on selected days until 26 July 2026, is not a bridge ticket.
Is the Rialto Bridge accessible without steps?
Do not count on a step-free crossing. The step-free route in the city leads to the market district by boat and not over the bridge.
Is this the official website of the Rialto Bridge?
No. This is an independent guide, not run by the city of Venice or any operator.