burano murano torcello tour

Premium Lagoon Excursion: Murano Glass Making, Burano & Wine Tasting

• Explore Murano and Burano, two ancient islands only accessible by boat, where Venice's authentic traditions still run deep.
• Visit a secret island vineyard, today part of a Michelin Star restaurant, and enjoy an exclusive wine tasting.
• Sit back and relax on our private boat, taking you and your small group of just 20 guests maximum from island to island. There's no need to worry about finding your own way around.
• See Murano’s spectacular glassmaking tradition come to life at a private demonstration in a gorgeous old church.

Tour description

Spend one perfect day exploring venice’s charming islands and enjoying vip treatment..

This Murano & Burano tour takes you away from the crowds of central Venice to the city's outlying islands, bursting with authentic history and culture. Explore Burano and Murano by private boat, complete with an exclusive wine tasting at a Michelin Star restaurant and a private glassblowing demonstration.

Say buongiorno to your guide and small group in central Venice, then enjoy a short walk through a picturesque neighborhood to your boat to begin your Murano & Burano tour. You’ll make a brief stop along the way for a photo op at one of Venice’s most recognizable spots.

Once aboard the private boat, you’ll slip away from the city center and catch breathtaking views from the water. Pass by legendary sights such as St. Mark’s Square, the Doge's Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. Throughout the pleasant hour-long ride, your guide will also point out some lesser-known gems that you’ll want to explore during the rest of your time in the city.

Explore picture-perfect Burano with a knowledgeable guide.

You’ll disembark at Burano and pop over to a secret vineyard—now part of a Michelin Star restaurant. Relax and enjoy the views of the vineyards from the restaurant’s stunning tasting room as you sip a glass of excellent white wine served with homemade snacks in an exclusive tasting that’s not available with any other operator.

After your VIP wine tasting, you'll discover the center of Burano Island, home to the famous colorful houses which have been the homes of Venice’s legendary lacemakers since the 16th century. Enjoy a stroll around the island with your guide, taking in the charming streets and sights like the old fish market (no longer in use) and the main church. After the guided portion of your visit, you’ll have the option to accompany your guide to a traditional lacemaking workshop or enjoy some free time on your own.

See Murano’s glassmaking tradition come to life.

Your next stop is the island of Murano, known for its respected tradition of glassmaking since the 13th century. After a 40-minute boat ride, you'll disembark on Murano and head into a formerly abandoned medieval church. Visited by Casanova and Venetian nobles in its heyday, this fascinating space is now a glassmaking workshop. Marvel at a private glassblowing demonstration and learn about the storied history of this local tradition.

After your Murano tour, you'll have some free time to explore the island. Finally, hop back aboard your private boat and we’ll have you back in central Venice by late afternoon. Alternatively, you can choose to stay in Murano for a bit longer on your own, with instructions from your guide on how to make your way back to Venice via public transport.

You’ll return to Venice with a new perspective on the Floating City and some of its lesser-visited (yet no less charming) islands. Thanks to the stories from your guide that bring the islands and their traditions to life, your Murano & Burano tour will provide you with a greater appreciation for the rich cultural heritage of the lagoon.

Sites visited

Verified guest reviews, oct 05, 2023.

Barbara was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour. We enjoyed Burano and Murano very much

Sep 30, 2023

Tour guide made the experience even better!

Sep 23, 2023

Lace making was a 2 minute example then heavy selling by store. Wine tasting was 1 wine only. Murano Glass blowing was good. Overall poor value for money.

Sep 16, 2023

Violet (Viola?) from our Dodge's Palace and Basilica evening tour was amazing! Her passion for sharing the history and interesting facts was evident. Easy to understand and the tour didn't feel rushed! Well worth it!

Aug 12, 2023

I really enjoyed my tour, Jennifer was a fabulous tour guide she was so knowledgeable. Well worth the experience, Murano and Burrato are both stunning. Also our boat driver was excellent. Thank you

Know before you book

Similar tours, welcome to venice: walking tour, st mark's basilica & gondola ride, venice boat tour with grand canal & tower climb, venice in a day with st mark’s basilica, doge’s palace & gondola ride.

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Torcello Murano Burano Island tour: Full-day Venice Lagoon

Come and discover with us the wonderful lagoon of Venice and its main islands: Murano, Burano and Torcello. A 6.5 hours journey through the history of the lagoon! Join our guided tour through these unique islands, their environments and traditions.

• The tour is longer than the average and you have the opportunity to explore extensively  the islands
• Easily accessible starting points near St. Mark Square
• Departures are guaranteed!

Islands Tour from the Train Station

• kids 4 – 10 years: 20€

Islands Tour from San Marco

• kids 4 – 10 years: 15€

SPECIAL WINTER PROMO FROM 04/11/2023 TO 31/03/2024: DISCOUNT ON ALL TICKETS of €5.50 PER PERSON!

• Children’s menu 20€
• Full Menu:30€

Other practical information

CHANGES TO THE PROGRAMME:

• The timetables given in the programmes are only indicative and are subject to change; the order in which the islands are visited is also indicative and may be changed for organisational reasons.
• On days of large influxes, the order of visiting the islands Murano and Torcello could be converted, to ensure better quality of service and avoid overcrowding in the glassworks.
• The programme indicated may vary due to public events blocking navigation

Dates Excluded:

• 25/12/2023 CHRISTMAS
• 19/05/2024 VOGALONGA
• 01/09/2024 HISTORICAL REGATTA
• 27/10/2024 VENICE MARATHON
• 25/12/2024 CHRISTMAS

Spoken Languages

Included / excluded.

• Boat trip lasting about 6.5 hours with stops in the main islands of Venice (Murano, Burano and Torcello)
• A guide on board the boat, who speaks English,Italian, German, French and Spanish
• Visit to a glass factory in Murano with demonstration of a master glassmaker
• Lunch (if it is booked, according to choice)
• Entrance ticket  to the Basilicain Torcello (the entrance costs € 5.00 per person).
• Anything else not listed in the ‘included’ section

Sales Conditions

In case of cancellation and NO-SHOW (i.e. no show at the time and place indicated for boarding) there is no refund.

A 20% penalty will be withheld for cancellations up to 72 hours before the experience. A 50% penalty will be withheld for cancellations up to 24 hours before the experience.

With a minimum of 24 hours notice the date of use of the ticket can be postponed to another date.

In case of bad weather or exceptions that do not allow the tour, the experience will be postponed or refunded 100% at the discretion of the user.

Availability

Look at the calendar

• Pet Friendly
• Child Friendly
• Accessible with public transport

Try our Venice Lagoon full day-tour and visit the three most famous islands of Venice . With our full-day Murano Burano island tour you will also have the opportunity to visit Torcello island . 

Two departures are available: 

• From Riva degli Schiavoni, a few minutes walk from St Mark Square and the Doges palace .
• Piazzale Roma near the train Station

This tour is longer than the average boat trip to the islands of the lagoon and is active every day during the operational period. This gives you more time to enjoy in-depth visits to the three major islands of Venice. An opportunity for a more relaxed visit at an excellent rate from 30 euros per person, with discounts for children.

Murano Burano island tour: discover the gems of the lagoon

A journey through the history, the environments and traditions of the lagoon with our guided tour to the 3 famous islands. From the Murano glass to the Buranese lace, to the legends of Torcello, you will learn about Venice as you take this exciting journey on the waters through the geography of the lagoon. The islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello are certainly worth a full-day visit and with an optional lunch in Burano, you will save time!

Venice Lagoon Tour : the program

10.30 am boarding at Piazzale Roma (Fondamenta Santa Lucia) 

11.00 am boarding at San Marco , riva degli Schiavoni – Departure for the island of Murano –

11:30 arrival in Murano, stop of about 1 h , visit in a glass shop  

12.45 pm departure from Murano to Burano – stop about 2 hours (time for lunch)  

3.15 pm departure for Torcello – stop of about 1 hour .

4.30 pm – departure for San Marco – arrival 5.30 pm

6.00 pm – arrival in Piazzale Roma

*From 01/04/2024 departures from P. Roma and S. Marco will be brought forward by 15 min . The duration of stops on the islands, return times to the point of departure remain unchanged. It`s just a technical solution that will allow us to better manage the important influxes.

Please note that the programme and times are indicative and may be subject to change for organisational reasons.

The tour includes:

• Boat excursion with a stop on the main islands of Venice
• A guide on board who will speak English, Italian, German, French and Spanish.
• Entrance to a glass factory in Murano with the demonstration of a master glass-maker.
• Please note that the entrance ticket to the Cathedral in Torcello is not included , the entrance ticket costs € 5.00 per person.

This tour is longer than the average ! The 6 hours and 30 minutes gives you the opportunity to enjoy a good lunch in Burano Island or to spend time to an in-depth visit of the island. The 1.5 hour break in Murano gives you the opportunity to enjoy a glass demonstration and discover the island with a relaxed walk.

Venice lagoon Tour – departure points

Murano burano islands tour with torcello: meeting point.

The meeting points for the full-day tour of Murano, Burano and Torcello:

• Piazzale Roma, Fondamenta Santa Lucia
• Riva degli Schiavoni – at Cornoldi Palace . Recognizing it is easy: from St. Mark’s Square, leave the Doge Palace on your left and walk along the splendid Riva degli Schiavoni, with its breathtaking view of the St. Mark Basin. From here you will have to walk about 500 meters crossing four bridge (after San Zaccaria pietà waterbus spot). 

What to see in Murano, Burano and Torcello

Island by island, let’s see in detail what to see in Murano, Burano and Torcello.

Murano Island

Murano known as the capital of glass , has seen here arise one of the oldest known glass districts. There are traces of its existence from the XIII century , when the Serenissima decided to move the glass production on the island to avoid the danger of fires in Venice. During a visit to Murano it is therefore ideal to enter the glass furnaces and see the master glassmakers at work .

During the tour you will witness a demonstration of Murano glass blowing and you will discover all the peculiarities of this unique art product in the world. Leaving the furnace, we suggest you reach the center of the island and the beautiful Basilica of Saints Mary and Donato. In your walk it is likely that you will also cross the romantic Streetlights in Love , a mecca of lovers of the island.

Burano Island

Burano is instead known for its colored houses and exceptional lace . Burano lace was once a commodity worthy of kings and today it is nearly no longer produced because of the out-of-scale costs. However, you will find some lace makers working at lace making in some point of sale on the island, or just sitting outside of their home. It is certainly worthwhile to deepen the history of Burano lace by visiting the Lace Museum .

Thanks to the two-hour stop in Burano you will be able to immerse yourself in its rainbow of colors with no rush. A point of interest for the visit is also the Church of San Martino , where the relics of Santa Barbara are kept.

Torcello Island

Finally, Torcello , the oldest of the Venetian settlements and the ancient fulcrum of Venetian “civilization” in the lagoon, before the rise of Venice. In Torcello, a small green island inhabited by only 12 people, it is worth visiting the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, built in the XII century, with its splendid Byzantine mosaics. Not far away are the Church of Santa Fosca and the legendary Throne of Attila.

Venice island boat tour with Lunch included

During lunch time, you will be on Burano island. Since you will not have much time available (2 hours), we have arranged a special convention with a typical restaurant on the island. You can choose between meat menu, fish menu, vegetarian menu. You’ll find everything ready when arriving there so you can optimize your time and have free time in Burano, without sacrificing yourself with a sandwich or packed lunch.

Here are the menu options:

Children’s menu 20€ 

• Pasta al ragù o pomodoro, cutlet with potatoes, dessert and drink.

Full menu 30€ 

• First course: pennette alla marinara or first course of the moment choice
• Second course: mixed fry or fish – mixed salad
• Homemade dessert
•  ¼ of wine and ½ of water

2. Meat menu 

• First course: pasta peas and mushrooms, pasta al ragù, lasagne
• Second course: steak or chicken breast or chop with mixed salad

3. Vegetarian menu (vegan menu on request)

• First course: pasta piselli, funghi or vegetarian plate
• Second course: mix of cheeses o vegetable pizza

Are you interested in other boat tours in the lagoon? Here are some ideas: 

• Murano and Burano: half day morning tour
• Murano, Burano and Torcello : half day afternoon tour
• Punta Sabbioni to Burano Murano Torcello island tour
• Venetian lagoon: personalized excursions on ecological boats

Do not miss other experiences near you

Venice Gondola ride tickets online: 30 minutes at an unbeatable price!

Doges palace and st mark’s basilica tickets and guided visit, san francesco venice: discover it from burano.

Public transport Airport <-> Venice

Panoramic City Tour & Murano, Burano, Torcello

HIGHLIGHTS:

• ​Excursion by motorboat in the north of Venetian Lagoon
• Explore three famous islands Murano, Burano, Torcello
• Special offers for families : select "Panoramic City Tour and Murano, Burano, Torcello FAMILY"
• New departure from Venice Railway Station "Santa Lucia"
• Hear commentary provided by an expert guide
• Avaliable every day*, the tour departs near St. Mark's Square
• Duration 4 ½ hours approximately

* except for December, the 25th.

What you can expect:

This excursion will lead you in a awesome three-islands sightseeing tour, operated by boat, which starts from Venice Railway Station or from San Marco Giardinetti. The aim of our guided tour is take a small taste of the enchanting venetian Lagoon and its islands, first of all Murano, worldwide known for its handmade glasses. Then, the boat will proceed to the island of Burano, famous for its hand lacemaking and for brightly-coloured fishermen’s houses. From here, across the sandbanks, we will arrive at Torcello, where the former venetians settled in.

IMPORTANT INFO:

- Select "Panoramic City Tour and Murano, Burano, Torcello" or "Panoramic City Tour and Murano, Burano, Torcello FAMILY" (2 adults + 2 children until reaching the age of 12 years). - Select the date on the calendar, your favourite language and hour. - TIME: the departure from Venice Railway Station is moved up 30 min compared to scheduled timetable from San Marco. - QUANTITY: number of people for Murano Burano Torcello Guided Tour | number of packages for Murano Burano Torcello Guided Line Family (1 package = 2 adults + 2 children until reaching the age of 12 years ). - Children 0-5 years are free of charge.

You’ll receive an email at your registered address with your voucher in the file attached: you can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity at the meeting point. You have to arrive at the Meeting Point strictly 15 minutes prior to departure.

Meeting Point:

- Railway Station c/o Alilaguna ticket office located outside the station, at the corner of the Scalzi church -  San Marco Giardinetti c/o Alilaguna ticket counter, nearby Royal Gardens

The indicated time to select is referred to San Marco departures.  T he departure from Venice Railway Station is moved up 30 min compared to San Marco.

NOTE: In case of variation on your reservation please contact us by mail or phone 24 hours before your service (subject to avaliability).

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Alilaguna S.p.A. - Partita IVA e C.F. 02967180270 - Cap. soc. € 5.000.000 i.v.

Murano, Burano & Torcello Tours

Islands tour of three picturesque islands in the venice lagoon.

Make a tour by boat from Venice to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. The three picturesque islands in the lagoon of Venice Italy.

Boat trip to the islands in the Venetian lagoon

Venice is made up of over a hundred islands and some of them are more famous than others. You can visit a number of islands that do not belong to the metropolitan area of Venice, but are part of the municipal area of Venice . Consider, for example, Murano , a picturesque island which is about 15 minutes away by boat tour. Then go further to Burano and Torcello , almost an hour away from Venice. From Torcello you will then return your island tour in about 1.5 hours.

1. Glass art on Murano island

If you go to Murano, you can't miss the island's special glass art. Glassware is therefore not only an original souvenir to take back from your holiday, you will also see larger works of glass displayed in the open air. Visit the Glass Museum ( Museo del Vetro ), where you will not only learn more about the history (from the 15th century to the present), but also learn about the art of this Venetian craft. All over Murano there are several sights associated with glassware, such as the Vetreria Artistica Colleoni (Glass Factory).

The Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato is also worth a visit, because of the story that the bones of a slain dragon lie here. There is also the Chiesa di San Pietro Martire , which, despite the large and famous murals, looks different than many churches in Venice. Do you have enough time on Murano ? Then walk on to Parco degli Angeli , where you can enjoy the surroundings and the passing boats through the canal. The cicadas (tree crickets) in the park will keep you company.

2. The colored houses of Burano

Burano is by far the most beautiful island of the three islands! The island of Burano consists of four smaller parts, separated by canals. The island is best known for its brightly colored houses , where the colors often stand out against the blue-green water of the canal. Try to capture all the colors with your camera, because the bright pink, aqua blue, intense red, ocher yellow and light purple are really special to see. Sometimes the shutters in Burano are even painted in a completely different, contrasting color, compared to the house itself. These are the photos that you will have enlarged at home as a reminder of your time in Venice.

But Burano is more. Besides Venetian glass, this island is also known for its lace. To learn more about it, go to the Museo del Merletto (Lace Museum) on Piazza Galuppi , where you can learn more about how lace is actually made. A lace-making school was located at this location from 1872 to 1970. You will learn about the various lace techniques, see how lace has developed over the years and find out about the materials. The main church on Burano is San Martino . This church looks sober in appearance, especially compared to the brightly colored houses that surround it. Be sure to take a look at the large organ when you enter the church.

3. Torcello – churches and beautiful nature

Torcello is only a small island. The Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta – also known as Torcella Basilica – is the most famous church on the island of Torcello. The brick exterior shows a clear and simple structure, while the interior of the church has many more embellishments. The colored inside of the dome with figures and other paintings make the church more colorful, although the brick is still visible and predominates. If you like pure constructions, this church is definitely recommended.

Nearby is the Chiesa di Santa Fosca , also a church and like the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta made of brick. Few decorations are visible on the outside. No crowds with figures of saints and animals, no decorations that will catch the eye. The church isn't very high either, although appearances can be deceiving once you go inside and look at the ceiling. There are embellishments, but you have to look a bit more for them than at the other Venetian churches where all the splendor is emphatically displayed. The interior of the Chiesa di Santa Fosca , with the simple wooden benches and the few paintings, fits well in this environment.

Would you like to visit a museum on Torcello? Then you can view all kinds of Medieval artefacts and archaeological finds at the Museo Princiale di Torcello . All objects come from the area around Torcello itself. Another museum is Casa Museo Andrich , the place where the artists Lucio Andrich and Clementina de Luca used to live. Their house later became a museum, with approximately 1,300 works by both artists on display. With 11,000 square meters of museum you will enjoy the building and it's garden. In addition to art, there are also souvenirs for sale here, such as liqueurs, balsamic vinegar and pillows with artistic prints. The basic products for the liqueur and vinegar come from the land itself. Furthermore, the museum is located on a lagoon where flamingos live from March to September. The view over the lagoon will have a magical effect.

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a travel blog by renata green

MURANO – BURANO – TORCELLO: A Self-Guided Island Tour

Posted on 2023-06-25 2023-11-27 Author Renata 13 Comments

Sure, there is a lot to see in Venice’s Centro Storico, the   historic center, yet, there are also those smaller gems. In this guide, I show you how to visit Murano , Burano , and Torcello , comfortably on a self-guided tour. It’s actually pretty easy and inexpensive to visit these three islands on a day trip from Venice .

The Venetian Lagoon

Speaking about Venice, we are generally referring to the small, fish-shaped city center, the so-called Centro Storico .

However, that’s only one small island in the Venetian lagoon which spreads over 550 square kilometers and is located north of the Adriatic Sea. This lagoon emerged from the Brenta River and other waters from the Po valley around 4000 B. C. Only around 8 percent of the area consists of islands. The remaining surface consists of waters, mud flats, and marshland.

The lagoon forms the largest wetland connected to the Mediterranean Sea and has three outlets to the Adriatic Sea. This connection to the Adriatic causes strong water movements and spring tides. Therefore, the so-called acqua alta floods the Centro Storico regularly.

The northern part of the lagoon towards Torcello contains mainly fresh water. There is hardly any tidal range. It is therefore called laguna morta , which translates to dead lagoon. In contrast, the water level of the saltwater part – the laguna viva , hence, the living lagoon – rises and falls with the ebb and flow of the sea.

The Islands

As a matter of fact, there is a total of 120 islands in the lagoon. However, only 11 are permanently inhabited. Apart from the Centro Storico, there are at least three more islands you should not miss when visiting Venice:

Of all the islands in the Venetian lagoon, Murano is the third largest one – after the Centro Storico and the Lido . It has a size of a bit over one square kilometer and actually consists of seven small islets divided by eight channels and connected through bridges.

The island of Murano is located about 1.5 kilometers – or one mile – north of the Centro Storico. It once used to be an independent commune, but is now part of greater Venice.

Although there are some landmarks such as the Church of Santa Maria e San Donato, the Church of San Pietro Martire, and the Palazzo da Mula, most people visit Murano for the famous glass, sold in uncountable small stores. Another great attraction is the Murano Glass Museum, housed in the large Palazzo Giustinian.

In the 13th century, Murano was a summer resort for the Venetian aristocrats who built beautiful villas with orchards and gardens there. As the furnaces that were used for glass melting became a fire hazard to the Centro Storico, the Venetians outsourced the glass production to Murano.

This way, the island became Europe’s prime glassmaking center. The heyday of production was in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Heart of Glass

Murano wasn’t only famous for its outstanding quality. During the 15th century, the local glassmakers invented cristallo . It was almost transparent and became the world’s finest glass.

On the other hand, they also developed a white-colored glass, a milk glass called lattimo,  that looked like porcelain. Huge chandeliers, amazing mirrors, bowls and vases, jewelry, and beads were produced in large numbers.

To this date, glass is one of the most sought-after souvenirs among visitors to Venice.

In the 13th century, it took the nobles about an hour to row a boat from Venice to Murano – which, of course, they didn’t have to do themselves. Today, you can get there in about ten minutes.

Once in Murano, you need to

✔   learn about the history of glass making at the Museo del Vetro, Murano’s Glass Museum ✔   see some truly amazing contemporary art made from glass at the Fondazione Berengo Art Space ✔   attend a glass-working demonstration at the Former Church Santa Chiara – The Glass Cathedral  ✔   admire the paintings by Bellini at the Chiesa di San Pietro Martire ✔   enjoy a – yes, Bellini – on the Campo Santo Stefano under the Torre dell’Orologio

But there is much more to explore –  as you can read in my post .

Although Burano was already mentioned in 840, it remained a rather insignificant fishing island until the late Middle Ages. At that time, even Torcello and the neighboring island of Mazzorbo were more powerful.

Protecting Venice’s economic interests, fishing was heavily regulated although it was Burano’s main source of income. For instance, fishermen from Burano were only allowed to sell their catch on their own island and at the Rialto market. Trade with the mainland was banned. Obviously, this led to illegal business and smuggling.

At some point, Venice considered the security situation so pressing that Burano was divided into four quarters. It was prohibited to leave those by boat after dark under penalty of death. Hence, it’s no wonder that there were only two wealthy families on the island of Burano. The majority of the inhabitants were rather poor fishermen.

Nevertheless, men on Burano continued to make a living from fishing, while women dedicated themselves to lace embroidery. As a matter of fact, the lace school Scuola di Merletti picked up on this craft. Since 1872, it has created masterful copies of the old patterns and techniques.

In 1924, Burano became formally part of the municipality of Venice – despite the strong opposition of its residents.

Burano is located less than 10 kilometers northeast of Venice’s Centro Storico . Just like its big sisters Venice and Murano , Burano is actually a group of small isles – there is five of them – that are connected by bridges.

Today, with an area of ​​less than 2.5 square kilometers, Burano is one of the larger and with over 2700 inhabitants one of the most densely populated islands in the Venetian Lagoon.

Once in Burano, you need to

✔   learn about the history of lace making at the Museo dei Merletti, Burano’s Lace Museum ✔   take a souvenir picture in front of the colorful Casa di Bepi Suà ✔   take a good look around from the Tre Ponti bridge ✔   admiring Giambattista Tiepolo’s Crucifixion at the Oratory of Santa Barbara ✔   just stroll up and down Burano’s streets, getting dizzy from all those bold colors

As you visit the less than 0.5 square kilometers large island, it’s very difficult to imagine that Torcello gained importance as a center of politics and trade in the 7th century. Of all the important sacral buildings, today, only the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta remains.

Yet, excavations exposed a village of wooden houses from the 10th and 11th centuries. The houses overlooked canals, and numerous furnaces indicate the production of glass. Amphorae with rests of olive oil and wine from the Mediterranean reveal trade with distant places.

After all, back then, Torcello had about 20,000 inhabitants and was wealthier than Venice.

After the 12th century, this prosperous era ended, and the island lost its significance. The lagoon around Torcello swamped, and malaria epidemics became a constant threat. As many inhabitants left the island for Venice or Murano , they took everything valuable or even useful with them.

Consequently, Torcello was almost completely demolished. Around 1860, there were only around 360 inhabitants left.

Very little remains of the once magnificent buildings on Torcello. During the island’s heyday, there were twelve parishes and sixteen monasteries, albeit including other islands in the northern part of the lagoon. Today, all that’s left are the Basilica Santa Maria Assunta and the Church of Santa Fosca.

Over the decades, Torcello’s population shrunk to an all-time low of 15 permanent residents.

Once in Torcello, you need to

✔   awe at the mosaics of the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta ✔   visit the Chiesa di Santa Fosca ✔   trace the island’s history at the Museo Provinciale di Torcello ✔   dance on the Devil’s Bridge ✔   enjoy a snack and local wine at the Taverna Tipica

How to Get There And Around

While you can explore the Centro Storico, the fish-shaped historic center of Venice , by walking, this is not an option if you also want to visit the other islands scattered in the Venetian lagoon.

Fortunately, apart from public land transport, the ACTV transport company has also a comprehensive network of vaporetti , water buses, taking you to any place in the lagoon on a regular schedule.

There is vaporetto line #12 going from the stop Fondamente Nove on the northern edge of the Centro Storico to the islands I’m introducing in this post.

Vaporetto #12 makes its first stop at the lighthouse of Murano and continues in the early morning and late afternoon not only to Burano , but also to the island of Torcello. After 9 a.m. and before 5.30 p.m., it goes only to Burano. From there, you have to continue to Torcello by shuttle boat #9 . Conveniently, it’s going back and forth between those islands every 15 minutes.

Also, once the regular vaporetti are suspended, there is a nightly connection by line NLN ; hence, you never get stuck on any of the islands overnight.

ACTV has an excellent website and even an App for iOS and Android . To get an overview of your options, check out their very neat system map .

Which Ticket to Buy

While at 9.50 €uros, individual tickets are ridiculously expensive, there are travel passes that are actually not that bad. If you’re planning to visit the three islands from this post in one day, you definitely should opt for a day ticket.

However, the more days you buy, the cheaper are your rides. Here is a chart on how much you pay for a day pass in 2022:

Keep in mind that you can use the 24-hour ticket for two days. As a matter of fact, the clock starts ticking the moment you validate your ticket and lasts for 24 hours. With the other tickets, it’s the same, obviously.

Perfect Itinerary

Although it’s very touristy and can get really busy, a trip to the islands is a great addition to your Venice experience. Murano with its glass artisans, the fishing village of Burano with its lace industries, and the great church houses of Torcello are just beautiful.

As I said, especially during the high season, the islands can get really busy and the Vaporetti are packed with people.

You’ll have a much better and far more relaxed experience if you follow this itinerary: Take an early Vaporetto to Burano. Since most of the landmarks open only around 10.30 a.m., starting your trip around 9 should be fine.

If you’re already at the Centro Storico, you can hop on Vaporetto line #12 at the stop Fondamente Nove and go straight to Burano. However, if you’re coming from Piazzale Roma or the train station Venezia Santa Lucia, you’re better off taking the Vaporetto line #4.1 to the stop Faro on Murano and changing there to line #12 which takes you to Burano.

Once you’re on Burano, I recommend continuing to Torcello by Vaporetto #9 right away. You should arrive on the island around 10 a.m. The Basilica Santa Maria Assunta opens its gates at 10.30 a.m. so that you’ll be one of the first’n’few visitors.

On your way back, you spend a couple of hours in Burano before you end your day at Murano.

Following this itinerary, you strive a bit against the stream of visitors.

Getting There Organized

Another valid option is to visit the three isles on an organized tour. This option is even not more expensive than going by yourself. However, you have to stick to their schedule and itinerary which can be a bit of a drag. On the other hand, you don’t have to jiggle timetables and check out routes. You just hop on a boat and leave the planning and organizing to others*:

Which One is the Best?

As a matter of fact, I’m not a big fan of categorizing’n’comparing. We have different tastes and we like various things and enjoy distinct activities. So, I’d answer this question by “See for yourself”.

On the other hand, I understand that you’re in Venice for a couple of days and have limited time to explore. Therefore, I’ll give you an answer, and that would be Burano. The reasons are that it’s a bit of a drag to get to Torcello. Also, you have to go there via Burano, anyway. Unless you’re a historian and cannot live without seeing the admittedly amazing mosaics at the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, visiting exclusively Torcello would be a pretty bad effort-gain ratio.

Obviously, you can quickly cross the lagoon to Murano since this island is closest to the Centro Storico. However, to me, Murano is just a smaller version of the main island. So unless you want to see the cradle of the world-famous glass products, you won’t spot anything extremely different from what you see at the Centro Storico.

Burano, however, has a totally different architecture since it wasn’t home to wealthy families but to average fishermen. Instead of palaces, there are houses, and those come in all the beautiful colors of the rainbow.

Therefore, if you absolutely have to pick just one island, go to Burano.

What to Eat And Where to Sleep

Most visitors come to the smaller island on day trips which is fine with regard to the number of landmarks you’ll find there. Visiting Murano and Burano is mainly walking up and down alleys. In Torcello, visiting the landmarks takes about an hour and a half.

Yet, it is absolutely recommendable to stay the night as you get to know the places in a totally different atmosphere once the throngs of people are gone.

Here are links to some charming lodging options on Murano *, Burano *, and Torcello *.

Since the islands mainly cater to day-trippers, there are many restaurants serving all the nice treats you also get in Venice or on the mainland. Prices are approximately like in the Centro Storico.

Like in many places around Italy, you can save some money – and the environment more plastic – if you drink the water from the fountains you find in many places and on basically every square. Yes, for you Italy-rookies, those fountains might not look that trustworthy but don’t worry, unless there is a clear sign stating otherwise, it is tasty clean drinking water.

On this map, you see which places not to miss during your island hopping in the lagoon. Clicking on the slider symbol at the top left or the full-screen icon at the top right will display the whole map including the legend.

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Note: This post is being regularly completed, edited, and updated – last in November 2023.

13 Replies to “MURANO – BURANO – TORCELLO: A Self-Guided Island Tour”

Hi Renata. Thank you for this information. It’s so helpful for me as I try to plan my trip next month. I’m curious about the Hop On Hop Off option. Do the boats run frequently enough to make visiting all three islands possible? I’ve already made lunch reservations for a place on Burano, so I need to be there at a certain time. Thanks for you r help!

Hi Natalie, yes, the ferries are going so frequently that you can see all three islands in one day. However, you won’t have too much time to linger. I would take an early ferry to Burano and continue to Torcello. The trips between these two islands takes maybe ten minutes and ferries are going back and forth continuously. After maybe an hour, you go back to Burano, and after lunch, you explore Murano. Absolutely doable. I hope you’ll enjoy your day to the max! 🙂

Thank you! Are you suggesting the regular ferry (Vaporetto?) My other option is a private four hour tour. I’m not too interested in visiting a glass blowing factory, and it seems most tours include this.

I really don’t think an organized tour is necessary. Also: Three islands in four hours?! I would foresee an entire day. This way, you’ll have enough time to leisurly stroll alongside the canals, enjoy a coffee or an Aperol and take it all in. In Murano, I recommend to visit the Fondazione Berengo Art Space at Campiello della Pescheria 4 – if there is an exhibition going on so that they are open. They show absolutely incredible contemporary glass art!

These are my favorite part of Venice to see. I agree about the ticket, but did you know that sometimes you can buy it online. Sometimes the driver forgets to get to you and you get a free ride haha. Don’t follow my example! Burano is my favourite one but I like to go when it is off season and early in the morning.

Hahaha – I cannot promote criminal activities on my blog. However, the year before, it slipped my mind to buy a ticket here and there 😉

Would a three island, one day tour, work on a Sunday? Are things open on Sundays?

Yes, it works on a Sunday, too. I’d start as early as possible to have enough time. Also, everything is open on Sunday – local people live mainly from tourism 😉 Enjoy your stay – you’ll love it, I’m sure! 🙂

We only did Murano on a day trip. So it was good to know that when we head back to Venice we can plan a day trip and see Murano Burano and Tocello too. I love that each of the islands offers something a little unique. But they all look equally charming. We would have a fun day island hopping on the vaporettos on a day ticket! Or it might be fun to actually stay on one of the islands on one visit.

Yes, I might spend the night on my next visit – just to experience on of the places like a local 😉

I have a fascination with hand blown glass. Going to Murano has been on my bucket list for a while. I must admit, I hate sewing. But I think this just makes me appreciate the fine intricacies of the lace work all the more.

Then Murano would be paradise for you 🙂

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How to Day Trip to Burano, Murano, & Torcello from Venice

This isn’t an article to convince you to visit Burano, Murano, and Torcello – Venice’s “other” islands. Firstly, you’ve likely already heard of the formerly “hidden” gems of Burano and Murano, and secondly, I actually did not enjoy visiting the islands at all (more on that in the very bottom of this article, if you care). I know no online article or in-person advice would have ever convinced me to skip the islands, so I will not even bother trying to convince you to do that either.

This article is purely to help travelers who were in my shoes prior to visiting Venice , who are:

• unsure if they should only visit the most-popular two islands or try to squeeze in Torcello as well
• unsure exactly when and where best to purchase tickets
• unsure where to depart for the islands on the day of
• unsure of which order to visit the islands and how much time to spend

I want to help you make the best of the visit I already know you’re going to take (and to hopefully lower your expectations a bit so that you walk away not feeling disappointed like I did ). So keep reading for exactly how to visit Burano, Murano, and (maybe) Torcello on a day trip from Venice, how to get the best pictures possible, and how to do it all for the cheapest price.

WHICH OF VENICE’S THREE ISLANDS TO VISIT

Burano is the Instagram-famous one . You might worry that it’s all just a bunch of photoshop, but for as much as I didn’t enjoy visiting, I must admit, this place is made for Instagram. The buildings seriously are that colorful! That being said, of course this island should not be skipped.

I recommend visiting Burano as early as possible if you’re after empty pictures . I was on the first boat of the day. I got about fifty minutes to walk around the island before the next boat arrived and it became considerably more crowded. Once that second boat came, I was honestly pretty over it and wanted to leave.

I also recommend eating some breakfast before getting here or bringing some snacks with you. I was horrified to order my typical coffee and pastry at a seemingly affordable cafe, only to be rung up for the single most expensive coffee of my five weeks Italy trip ! If you are in Burano around lunch time, you might want to stop by Trattoria al Gatto Nero, where Anthony Bourdain had risotto on his show Parts Unknown. I wanted to, but it didn’t open until 11:00am, and I had to catch a train to Verona that afternoon, so I was on a schedule!

Recommending Reading: How Many Days to Spend in the Cinque Terre

Murano is the OG day trip from Venice, before Burano got “discovered” and stole some of its thunder. It’s known for glass-making , so while here, many tourists opt to view a glass blowing demonstration. These start at €7 to sit and watch the masters do their work. But if you’re on a budget like I was, you can just take a peak for free outside this place I’ve located on the map below for y’all!

When I visited, this island was the most crowded of the three. I almost didn’t get on my ferry because I had to push through such a crowd at the ferry station!

Besides the glass, Murano is basically a smaller version of Venice. The buildings are, pretty much, the same style and color. So, if you are pressed for time and have zero interest in glass, you aren’t missing much by skipping out on Murano .

Torcello? Yes, there’s a third island! Before my visit to Venice, I read a lot online about this supposed third island. Many Tripadvisor reviewers mentioned liking it better, that it had a seventh-century church, and that it’s a great place to eat. So naturally, me being my FOMO self and all, I couldn’t not check it out.

Honestly… I was disappointed . Yes, it’s way less crowded than the other two islands, but it’s because it has less to offer the typical tourist. I would only recommend visiting Torcello if you’re a total history buff and willing to pay the €5 entrance fee to enter the Cathedral of Santa Maria Dell’Assunta , or a foodie wanting a nice, peaceful meal.

Recommending reading: The Complete Liguria Travel Guide – there’s a lot more to Liguria than just Cinque Terre.

HOW TO VISIT BURANO, MURANO, & TORCELLO WITHOUT A TOUR

Now that you know about each island, how do you visit Burano, Murano, and Torcello from Venice in the first place? For starters, definitely don’t take a tour ! The cheapest tours cost just as much as a standard Venice all-day vaporetto (aka boat) pass, so why not just do it yourself to have more freedom ? Plus, with an all-day vaporetto pass, you can use the ticket for a sunset boat ride up the Grand Canal once you return from the islands ! This way, you get the biggest bang for your buck.

If you are 29 years-old or under, I highly recommend buying the Rolling Venice Pass . I wish I had known about it earlier! It costs €6, but in order to buy it, you must also purchase (at minimum) an unlimited three-day vaporetto pass for €22. With the pass, you also get discounts on many attractions, like a €12 discount entrance to the Doge’s Palace! The one-day transport pass alone costs €20, and the two-day pass costs €30, so getting the Rolling Pass quickly pays for itself . You can buy the pass online or in person once in Venice.

I didn’t reeeeally need a two-day transport pass, so I bought the normal one-day pass for €20, reasoning that it was cheaper than €6 + €22 for the three-day pass. Unfortunately, I didn’t see the €12 discount for the Doge’s Palace until after I already bought the one-day pass! *tear*

ONE DAY ITINERARY FOR BURANO, MURANO, & TORCELLO FROM VENICE

On the morning of your trip, head to Fondamente Nove (A) to depart for the islands. I’ve provided a map location below.

Like I mentioned, I recommend starting early and heading to Burano (the colorful one) first to beat the crowds and get (somewhat) empty photographs. This takes about forty minutes.  Next, head to Torcello, if you’ve decided to include it on your day trip. This is ten minutes from Burano and is the furthest-out from you’ll get from Venice. After Torcello, take the boat back towards Venice and stop at Murano. After Murano, travel twenty minutes back to Fondamente Nove (A) in Venice.

How long your day trip takes depends on how much time you spend in each island, and whether you eat meals at the islands. But as a minimum, budget at least five hours if planning to see all three islands.

Recommending reading: Free Cinque Terre Hikes – they’re better than the paid hikes (trust me – I did them all )

ARE VENICE’S ISLANDS WORTH IT?

Honestly? No. Yes, I just spent this entire article telling you exactly how to get to these islands. But if I’m being honest, I really didn’t like them ! I felt like the entire point of visiting them is for pretty Instagram photographs…yet it’s way too crowded to even get the nice photographs you came for in the first place. And unlike Venice (or Rome, or Florence) there is no cultural draw to to offset or justify the annoyance from the Instagram-crowds. It truly felt like a Disneyland.

But as I said at the start of this post, no one would have convinced me to not see them . So I am not trying to convince you of that either. I just want to lower your expectations , so you end up enjoying your trip more than I did!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Am I nuts to say that Venice’s islands are not worth it? Have you been to all three islands? What did you think? Let me know in a comment below.

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Further Reading...

15 Top Attractions and Things to Do in Verona, Italy

The Beginner’s Guide to Traveling New Zealand on a Budget

20 Top Attractions and Things to Do in Paris, France

17 comments.

Hi Em, I’m attracted to your refined and classy travel blog and more so your honesty about visits to these 3 Venetian islands. Unlike other travel blogger, they would be effusive in their praises of certain sites and then they insert their promotion of certain links to merchants. I can understand that the bloggers want to make some money but they are not as frank and honest as you are. So having taken your good counsel here, I’ll be following your itinerary to these 3 islands when I visit Venice the following weeks.

That Travelista

Thanks so much for your kind feedback! It means a lot 🙂 I hope you enjoy your time in Venice and touring these 3 islands. I’d love to know how you find them after visiting!

The Best of Italy: Ultimate Two Week Italy Itinerary

[…] overrated, but maybe I’m just bitter because I got bad weather? I have an in-depth guide on how to visit the islands from Venice, as well as what each island is all […]

tiana bantis

Lovely to read your opinion and I actually only made it to Burano and loved it! We went around 10am and wandered away from the main canal and saw very little people

Glad you loved Burano! That is true that the smaller streets were much less crowded!

This is exactly how I would like to visit Venice, without a tour and exploring on our own. My husband loves doing that. Although sometimes we do get lost. haha But that adds to the fun of it. 😛

I think it’s a great destination to explore without a tour! It’s crowded enough already, so it’s nice to be able to wander at your own discretion to hopefully avoid the crowds a bit 😉

I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy your visit! Sometimes I feel like Instagram skews our expectations of a place (Burano) – that’s definitely happened to me before.

Aw, thanks, Olivia! I’m still glad to have gone and seen for myself 🙂

Such a helpful post. I actually has no idea how Venice was laid out so this helps for my planning when I eventually (hopefully) get there. And the tip to get there early is a great one. Love the pictures, so colorful

Glad it was helpful! I was definitely a little confused on how to get there beforehand, so figured I’d share what I learned 🙂

Those colourful houses are so charming! This place is definitely on my bucket list 🙂

They definitely are pretty! I hope you get to see for yourself someday 🙂

Victoria Stadnik

I’m just in love with Italy and ready to return there again and again, at least reading your blog about the trip. Thanks for sharing!

I can totally relate! I’m always in a state of wanting to return to Italy!

Margarida Vasconcelos

Beautiful, colourful cities, thank you so much for sharing it.

Sharing is caring! 🙂

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Free Cinque Terre Hikes (With Better Views than the Paid Hike Trails)

The best of italy: ultimate two week italy itinerary (14 days), that travelista.

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