More about: 4 Best Day Trips to Murano and Burano from Venice
If you are going to be in Venice for several days, I highly recommend setting aside half a day to visit the other most important and beautiful islands in the Venetian lagoon: Murano, Burano and Torcello. Read on to find out about the best excursions to this idyllic place.
1. Half-day excursions to Murano, Burano and Torcello
If you have more time to visit the surroundings of Venice, I recommend this excursion to discover not only Murano, but also the wonderful islands of Burano and Torcello, and all for a really affordable price, starting at £26 With this half-day excursion (about 5 hours) aboard a cruise ship, departing in the morning or afternoon from Venice, you will discover the most authentic and colourful side of the lagoon.
The duration of these types of excursions to discover the islands of the Venetian lagoon range from 4.5 to 7 hours, so you can choose the one that best suits your trip. Here are some options for you to compare and choose the one you prefer:
- Boat trip to Murano, Burano and Torcello, from £26 Duration: approx. ** 6 hours**
- Excursion through the lagoon to Murano, Burano and Torcello, from £24 Duration: approx. ** 6 hours**
- Excursion to Murano, Burano and Torcello from the train station, from £33 Duration: approx. ** 6 hours**
- Boat trip to Murano, Burano and Torcello, from £32 Duration: approx. ** 7 hours**
What you will see on these excursions
- Murano. You will learn about the history of this beautiful town and enjoy a demonstration of how various objects are made from its famous glass during a visit to a traditional factory.
- Torcello. On this ancient island, you will visit the ancient Throne of Attila, the Devil's Bridge and the Church of Santa Fosca.
- Burano. You will tour this photogenic and beautiful island dotted with colourful houses and charming shops selling handmade lace.
2. Excursions with a visit to a glass factory in Murano
Many of the excursions offered to these idyllic islands from Venice include a visit to a glass factory in Murano. During the activity, there is usually a glass blowing demonstration, where you can learn about this ancient traditional technique of the lagoon.
In addition to booking an excursion that includes a visit to the glass factory, you can also book a glass blowing demonstration on your own, starting at £9 However, you will have to get to Murano and return to Venice on your own, aboard one of the many vaporettos that make the trip several times a day.
What you'll do at the factory
- You will understand why Murano glass is considered the finest handcrafted glass in the world.
- You will discover the history of this centuries-old art with a demonstration by a master craftsman who will reveal how molten glass is shaped through a combination of heat, blowing and sculpting techniques.
- In addition to seeing how it is made, you will admire works of art made from Murano glass in the factory's exhibition room.
- You will enjoy a 20% discount on the purchase of an item made from authentic Murano glass.
- You will also receive a small glass souvenir to take home with you.
3. Private excursion by water taxi to Murano
This is a private and exclusive excursion to discover Murano in the most comfortable way. For approximately 3 hours, you will travel by water taxi from Venice to this iconic island, famous for its centuries-old tradition of glassmaking. Return transport is included so that you only have to worry about enjoying the experience. If you are looking for even more exclusivity, we recommend booking the private tour of Murano with glass blowing demonstration, from £73
Accompanied by an expert guide, you will stroll through the charming streets and canals of Murano while learning about the history and global impact of its glass art. The highlight will be a visit to an authentic glass factory, where you can witness first-hand how master glassmakers transform molten glass into authentic works of art.
What this experience includes
- Private tour of Murano with an expert guide, lasting approximately 3 hours
- Transport by water taxi from Venice and back
- Visit to a traditional glass factory
- Live glass blowing demonstration by master craftsmen
- Tour of the streets and canals of Murano, with history and interesting facts about the island
4. Private excursion to Murano, Burano and Torcello with hotel pick-up
If you are interested in discovering the islands of the Venetian lagoon in a more exclusive, comfortable and personalised way, you can opt for this private excursion with pick-up from your hotel, which will take you on a typical Venetian motorboat to Murano, Burano and Torcello. Throughout the tour, you will have a private guide who will adapt the itinerary to your interests, ensuring you have a unique and unforgettable experience.
What you will do on this private tour:
- You will enjoy a motorboat ride from Venice with pick-up from your accommodation and direct transfer to each island.
- In Murano, you will witness a live demonstration of glass blowing, a centuries-old tradition that has made the island world famous.
- In Burano, you will stroll among the colourful houses and discover the tradition of handmade lace, as well as try the famous local biscuits.
- Finally, you will visit Torcello, considered the origin of Venice, where you can walk through one of the oldest settlements in the lagoon and experience its peaceful atmosphere steeped in history.
Please note that as this is a private and personalised tour, the itinerary can be adapted to suit your preferences.
How to get to Murano and Burano from Venice on your own
Getting to the most beautiful and important islands in the Venetian lagoon, Murano, Burano and Torcello, from Venice is very easy thanks to one of the organised excursions I mentioned or on your own, using the city's public water transport, the vaporetto.
You can take one of the vaporetto boats that leave frequently from Venice, every 20 minutes, and arrive at Murano, Burano and Torcello in about half an hour. The vaporetto boats leave from the Fondamente Nove stop and there are several lines, although I recommend taking number 12, as it stops at Murano and Burano on the same route.
Vaporetto prices
A single one-hour trip on the vaporetto costs £5.50, so if you plan to use this mode of transport to get around Venice and its surroundings, I recommend purchasing a city transport card.
These cards include access to all vaporetto boats that run throughout Venice and its nearby islands, with night-time trips along the Grand Canal, others to reach interesting neighbourhoods such as Dorsoduro, and even all buses to Lido, for a much more convenient price, as you pay for full days of unlimited use. The prices of the Venice transport cards, which can be used from 4.30 a.m. to 12.30 a.m., are:
- 1 day: £18.00
- 2 days: £30.00
- 3 days: £35.00
- 7 days: £60.00
Why it's worth visiting Murano, Burano and Torcello
Murano
On the island of Murano, you can stroll through a charming and authentic town surrounded by beautiful canals, streets and unique shops, where you will discover the variety of glass objects that the glassmakers can create.
Learning exactly how these unique pieces are created in one of the many factories in the centre of the island is one of the essential activities to do in Murano, thanks to the demonstrations by master glassmakers who preserve this tradition that made the town so prosperous between 1400 and 1500 as the nerve centre of glassmaking in Europe.
You can visit Murano any day, although it is best to avoid Saturdays, when the glass factories are usually closed. Also worth visiting in Murano are the churches of Santa Maria and San Donato and San Pietro Martire.
Torcello
In Torcello, you will discover the oldest island in the Venetian lagoon, founded between the 5th and 6th centuries. This town has a great historical heritage, full of ornate buildings, including palaces such as the ancient Throne of Attila.
Its famous Devil's Bridge retains the appearance of the old Venetian bridges, as do its churches, such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, founded in the 7th century, and the remains of the baptistery in the Church of Santa Fosca, a great example of Byzantine art located in Torcello's main square.
Burano
This picturesque village of no more than 4,000 inhabitants is famous for its biscuits, its prized seafood, for having produced the finest lace in Europe, a tradition dating back to the 16th century, and for its colourful fishermen's houses. Legend has it that sailors painted each house a different colour so that they could distinguish them from their boats and in the distance on foggy days.
To admire Burano's lace, visit one of the many local shops and craft stalls in the central square, Piazza Baldassare Galuppi, and visit the museum of the old Lace School. Burano does not have any major attractions apart from the slightly leaning bell tower of the Church of San Martino Vescovo, which can be seen from anywhere on the island, but just to lose yourself in its charming streets, it is well worth a visit.
Other interesting activities
If, in addition to getting to know the small islands of Venice, you want to explore the history and art of the city's main monuments, don't miss out on a visit to the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. Also, be sure to visit the impressive St. Mark's Square and take part in one of the city's most iconic activities: a gondola ride through the canals of Venice.
Here are my articles on the subject so you can find out all the details: Doge's Palace in Venice Tickets and Tours, St. Mark's Basilica in Venice Tickets and Tours and Venice Gondola Rides.