How to Visit Murano and Burano from Venice: The Ultimate Guide
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Want to take an epic day trip from Venice? Look no further than the quaint, vibrant islands of Murano and Burano!
Just a stoneโs throw from Venice, these adorable islands in the Venetian Lagoon draw day-trippers for many reasonsโฆ
For starters, Burano is one of the most colorful places on earth and Murano’s blown-glass galleries are second to none. Meanwhile, the islandsโ peaceful vibes feel a world away from bustling San Marco!
Ready to jump on a boat and leave the busy canals of Venice behind? Endless charm, fresh-caught seafood, friendly locals, quiet canals, stunning art galleries, and cute backstreet bacari (Venetian bars) await.
In this guide, discover everything you need to know to visit Murano and Burano on a day (or half-day!) trip from Venice.
Why You Should Visit Murano and Burano
Wondering if Murano and Burano are worth visiting? Short answer: they are. But here’s why…
Every year, Venice grows in popularity as a tourist destination, making authentic experiences, restaurants, and neighborhoods more difficult to find…
Thatโs not the case in Murano and Burano, though. On these islands, youโll be surrounded by true Venetians and easily glimpse into their real daily lives.
Similar to Venice, Burano and Murano feature a grand canal (though you wonโt find any gondolas!), lined with cafes, restaurants, and gelaterias, as well as quieter backstreets and smaller canals.
Seeing Buranoโs ridiculously colorful buildings and houses with your own eyes – is reason enough to visit!
Plus, Murano and Burano are loaded with unique things to see and do. Whether you want to discover locally-made arts and crafts, stroll (with your camera in tow!) along empty canals, eat local seafood, browse souvenir shops, or kick back and sip a spritz, youโll be spoiled for choice on these wonderful islands!
Getting to Murano and Burano is easy too!
From Venice, Murano is just 13 minutes away. And from Murano, the island of Burano is only another 30 minutes further. All you have to do is book this small-group guided tour to Murano and Burano (which I highly recommend!) – or read on for self-guided transportation details.
In other words, a half-day or full-day trip to Murano and Burano is the perfect addition to your Venice itinerary!
READ MORE: 2 Days in Venice, Italy: Perfect Venice Itinerary for First-Timers
Murano vs. Burano
Comparing the two islands is like comparing Florence to Siena; theyโre similar, but also quite different.
Murano is the second-largest island in the Venetian Lagoon, famous for its world-class glass-blowing workshops and galleries!
As you shop, youโll see that prices for Murano glass vary widely by quality and detail; cute souvenirs can go for โฌ20 or โฌ50, while fine art pieces in some galleries cost upwards of โฌ50,000! Youโll be tempted to ship a box of glassware halfway across the world as a stunning reminder of your trip to Veniceโฆ
Beyond glass-blowing, Murano is home to 7,000 locals and the medieval Glass Cathedral (Chiesa di Santa Chiara), which features ornate blown-glass chandeliers.
Burano, on the other hand, is much smaller (only 4,000 people live here!) and oozes charm. I promise, youโve never seen a more adorable place in your life.
Locals go above and beyond to make their homesโ facades super cute; the potted flowers, vibrant ceramics, striped curtains, hanging laundry, and window shutters all add to the islandโs endless whimsy.
This colorful oasis is famous for Burano lace-making, a 160-foot leaning tower, and buttery-lemony Bussolร cookies.
How to Visit Murano and Burano from Venice
Weโve covered the background details, so letโs dive into the logistics!
Itโs easy to visit Murano and Burano from Venice by booking a chartered boat tour (like this one – I highly recommend it!), taking the public water bus, or hailing a private water taxi.
Guided/Organized Tour of Burano & Murano
I decided to squeeze this half-day trip to Murano and Burano into my last two-day Venice itinerary, and Iโm so glad I did!
On this Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat, youโll hop aboard a nice, privately chartered boat (for up to 20 guests) in Venice, accompanied by a local guide, and dive deep into these two artisan islandsโ crafts.
Guided Tour Itinerary
Considering booking a guided tour? Hereโs how our guided half-day trip wentโฆ
Visiting Murano
After a short boat ride, we docked at one of Muranoโs best glass factories for an incredible glass-blowing demonstration.
During our demo, the glass master made a beautiful carafe and a small ornamental horse in just minutes. It was very, very impressive! Then, we roamed the amazing gallery, in awe (and sticker shock) at the stunning fine-art pieces.
Next, we had about an hour to explore Murano on our own. We considered visiting the Glass Museum and the Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato.
But in the end, we just roamed the canals and found a cute cafe for an Aperol spritz…
Exploring Burano
Next up, we hopped back on our boat to reach Burano!
Along the way, our fantastic guide, Elena, shared interesting facts and stories about Murano, Burano, Venetian culture in general, and different points of interest in the lagoon.
Then, she took us on a short walking tour of Burano to point out the leaning bell tower and some of her favorite canals, before leading us to a Burano lace demonstration.
And finally, we had an hour to stroll Burano on our own. We explored the canals, colorful streets, and hidden courtyards, and took lots of photos – before meeting in the main piazza to cruise back to Venice!
All up, the tour was about five hours long, which allowed us roughly two hours on each island (plenty of time to see it all!).
The convenience and affordability of this tour make it the best option for exploring Burano and Murano. Prices vary based on availability, but we paid about โฌ44 per person – a steal!
I highly recommend booking this tour.
Click here to book your Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat!
Self-Guided Day Trip to Murano and Burano
Want to go on a self-guided trip? Hereโs what you need to know.
First of all, you should get a day ticket for Veniceโs public transportation network.
A 24-hour ticket costs โฌ25; a two-day pass costs โฌ35; and a three-day pass costs โฌ45. Choose whichever makes the most sense for your overall Venice itinerary! You can purchase tickets at the main ports throughout Venice, including at the airport; find more details here.
With this pass, you can use the vaporetto (public water bus) as much as you want. It includes the Murano, Burano, and Torcello network so you can easily explore at your own pace.
FYI: Torcello is another popular island near Burano, known for the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta and its Venetian-Byzantine mosaics. You may want to add it to your list!
You can check out the vaporetto timetables here and a route map here.
Venice > Murano
You can catch the vaporetto to Murano from any terminal on the outer ring of Venice.
If youโre staying near Saint Mark’s Square, head to S. Marco – San Zaccaria โDโ. Board Line 4.1 (anticlockwise) or Line 4.2 (clockwise) vaporetto for Murano. These services depart every 20 minutes.
For the shortest vaporetto journey from Venice to Murano, depart from the northern terminal, Fondamente Nove. This is where Line 12 begins, connecting Venice to Murano AND Burano. After leaving Venice, the first stop is Murano Faro A.
This is the main terminal, which provides easy walking access to Muranoโs glass-blowing workshops, galleries, and the Grand Canal.
Murano > Burano
To get from Murano to Burano, depart from Murano Faro A station on vaporetto Line 12. The route operates every 30 minutes.
Burano > Venice
To return to Venice, jump on Line 12, but keep in mind a transfer is necessary at Fondamente Nove if your final destination is St. Markโs Square.
Alternatively, if you want to loop around the lagoon, catch Line 14. It operates every 30 minutes and stops at Lido Island before terminating at St. Markโs Square, S. Marco – San Zaccaria โDโ.
What to See & Do in Murano
Wondering what to do in Murano? Murano, which is made up of seven individual islands, is an absolute treasure trove of authentic Murano glass.
1. See a Murano Glass Factory & Glass-Blowing Demo
Deep dive into Murano glass-making with a factory tour! This is, by far, the best thing to do on the island.
Donโt worry, if youโre going on this Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour then a demonstration is already included! Click here to book it.
Watch in awe (and extreme warmth!) as a Murano glass master places silicon sand into a furnace until it liquefies at around 2700ยฐF (1500ยฐC). In front of your eyes, theyโll place a blob of piping hot, red liquid glass onto a long pole, spinning, blowing, and contorting it, as it slowly cools to form ornaments, tableware, and other beautiful objects. They make it look so easy – though it definitely isnโt!
After your tour, check out the exquisite showrooms displaying everything from bracelets and earrings to ornate chandeliers, dinnerware, and table ornaments.
We really enjoyed the blown glass tour at New Murano Gallery – included in our guided Murano & Burano Islands Tour! It featured a demo of two glass objects, plus a tour of the factory and showroom.
Visiting on your own? Check out this glass-blowing demonstration; a booking is required but you can arrive any time.
2. Visit the Murano Glass Museum
Murano glasswork skills and traditions have been passed down through generations; the art youโll see is nothing short of dazzling.
Interested in tracing the history of Murano glass through the centuries – from Muranoโs first factories to when Angelo Barovier invented the first clear glass in the 15th century?
Consider visiting the Murano Glass Museum! It costs โฌ10 to enter.
3. Stop by the Church of Santa Maria e San Donato
The Church of Santa Maria e San Donato is one of the oldest churches in the Venetian lagoon, dating back to the 7th century.
Interestingly, the bones displayed behind the altar are rumored to belong to a dragon slain by Saint Donatus.
What to See & Do in Burano
Burano is an incredibly colorful island (actually, a cluster of four islands, connected by walking bridges) on the northern end of the Venetian lagoon; itโs full of colorful houses, Burano lace workshops, an iconic leaning tower, gift shops, and delicious seafood restaurants.
1. Wander the Colorful Canals and Streets
Walking straight across Burano takes just ten minutes, so you can see the small island in an hour or so!
Make sure you meander the canals and side streets, pop down quiet alleyways, and stumble across adorable courtyards full of color. Donโt forget your camera!
2. Visit the Church of Saint Martin Bishop & the Leaning Tower
If youโve ever visited Bologna or Pisa during day trips from Florence, youโve seen some of Italyโs most iconic โleaning towers.โ Burano has one too!
Standing in the middle of town, The Church of Saint Martin Bishop features a 160-foot-tall leaning tower (dating back to the seventeenth century) with Renaissance and Neoclassical elements.
3. See Burano Lace-Making
While in Burano, browse one of the many beautiful lace shops scattered in town; if youโre lucky, a lace master might be at work!
Dating back to the sixteenth century, intricate Burano handmade lace usually requires five collaborators who specialize in a different weave or knot. The process is painfully slow and meticulous; a piece the size of a napkin can take up to 100 hours to make!
During our guided tour, we saw one of the needle lace makers working on a traditional piece – and heard about her life story, family traditions, and the younger generationsโ perspective on lace.
4. Visit the Museo del Merletto
The lacework youโll find in the shops is incredible enough already. But if you want to see even more, then visit the Museo del Merletto (Lace Museum) – youโll see handmade lace dating back to the early sixteenth century on display!
Entry is โฌ5. The museum closes around 4 or 5 PM.
5. Dine at Burano Seafood Restaurants
Looking for a local restaurant? Consider Osteria Al Museo (in the piazza of the Church of Saint Martin Bishop) or AI BANKY for casual dining.
The Ultimate Guide to a Day Trip to Murano & Burano
Trust me, you wonโt regret including a day trip to the vibrant islands of Murano and Burano in your Venice itinerary!
Charming canals, incredible galleries, friendly locals, peaceful vibes, and sweet backstreet bacari awaitโฆ And, seriously, never have I ever witnessed such a fascinating art demonstration or a more colorful destination. Iโm sure youโll feel the same.
With this ultimate guide at your fingertips, youโre ready for the perfect self-guided day trip to Murano and Burano from Venice. (Or, just book the guided tour I highly recommend!)
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Visiting Burano and Murano: Travel FAQs
Itโs impossible to say Murano is better than Burano – and vice versa. Both islands are super quaint, beautiful, and easy to visit on a half-day or full-day trip from Venice. Murano is much larger, a little busier, and famous for its incredible blown glass factories and galleries (the quality is unparalleled the world over!); while Burano is a fraction of the size, incredibly colorful, and known for meticulous lace-making. In my opinion, you donโt need to choose one over the other. With this guide to visiting Murano and Burano, you can easily visit both islands in one day!ย
Yes! You can easily visit Burano and Murano in one day, on a half-day or full-day trip from Venice. Itโs easy to take the vaporetti from Venice to Murano, Murano to Burano, and back to Venice in one day. In total, youโll spend about 1 to 1.5 hours in transit – the rest of your time will be spent exploring the colorful canals of Burano and a glass-blowing factory in Murano. This guide includes the perfect Murano and Burano day trip itinerary – whether you want to go on a self-guided or organized tour!
Murano and Burano are pretty close to each other. From Murano, the public vaporetto (water bus) journey to Burano takes about 30 minutes.ย
Murano is famous for glass-making. For centuries, master glassmakers have been blowing glass into beautiful, high-quality, world-renowned pieces. Plus, in the 15th century, on the island of Murano, Angelo Barovier invented the worldโs first transparent glass! On the other hand, Burano is famous because itโs one of the most colorful places in the world; the houses and shops that line the cute streets and quaint canals feature every color of the rainbow. This island is a photographerโs dream! Additionally, Burano is famous for its traditional lace production and painstaking by-hand techniques.ย
Yes, you can visit Murano and Burano on your own, thanks to Veniceโs affordable, quick, and easy-to-use vaporetto (water bus) system. For the shortest journey, you can take Line 12, starting from Fondamente Nove station in the Cannaregio neighborhood of Venice. You can also access Murano via Line 4.1 or 4.2, departing from S. Marco – San Zaccaria โDโ (near St. Markโs Square). Read this guide to visiting the islands of Venice for more details and must-know tips!
