Are you thinking of doing a Murano and Burano tour from Venice?
There are many Murano and Burano tours and half-day excursions you can join to be able to explore these splendid Venetian islands. Boats normally depart from various locations such as Piazzale Roma and Riva degli Schiavoni, near San Marco.
Discovering Murano and its glassworks, Burano and its colours in less than 5 hours is possible! But why even join a Murano and Burano boat tour? Because half day tours to the islands are perfect for those who don’t have much time available.
For most visitors to Venice, these tours are highly convenient because boats leave from popular locations near St. Mark’s Square or Piazzale Roma and by booking online in advance you don’t have to queue at the tourist offices in Venice.
Murano and Burano tour from Venice
I want to start off by saying that in my opinion, a visit to Venice can’t be considered as fully complete without visiting the islands of Murano and Burano.
There are many things to do in Venice, but to start off this guide, and before we look at the these island tours, let’s look at where both Murano and Burano are located. Also, some of the reasons why you would choose to visit them in the first place.
Where are Murano and Burano?
Murano and Burano are islands that belong to the Venetian lagoon, and located between Venice (to the north) and the mainland, in northern Italy.
Murano is based on many small islands divided by canals, like Venice. It’s famous for its glass making factories which attract visitors from all over the world.
Burano is further away from Venice and it’s a fishermen’s village known for its rainbow coloured houses and its lace work, which is a tradition that locals have kept alive and handed down through many generations.
It’s worth noting that Burano is connected to the Mazzorbo island by a bridge. This is one of the least visited islands of the Venetian lagoon but still worth visiting.
💡 Local Tip: I recommend visiting Mazzorbo to eat at the restaurant Venissa, the green Michelin starred restaurant whose mission is to enhance and celebrate the flavours of native Venice.
Are Murano and Burano worth visiting?
Yes, Murano and Burano are both worth visiting. See a few reasons why below:
- Murano is worth visiting to closely watch glassmaking masters. Since the 13th century, Murano has been the hub of the Venetian glass industry, whose techniques have been handed down from generation to generation. The tours include a demonstration by master glassmakers of Murano glass making and the creation of beautiful objects.
- Burano is one of the most picturesque villages in the lagoon and Veneto region with its lively and colourful houses. According to the legend, local fishermen wanted their houses coloured to recognize them on the way back from the sea on days of thick fog.
- Another reason to visit Burano is to watch handcrafted lace created by local lacemakers on the streets. It’s quite rare to find Burano lace due to the industriousness of the technique, called the bobbin lace. This ancient technique allows the creation of lace of sublime grace and with truly complex designs.
How far are Murano and Burano from Venice?
Murano and Burano are both north of Venice and Murano is 1.5 kilometres from Venice, while Burano is 7 kilometres away. The only way to reach them is by vaporetto (water bus).
The main lines depart from the Fondamenta Nove water bus stop, which is 10 minutes away from the Rialto Bridge, and 16 from St. Mark’s Square on foot.
The best way to move between the islands is to get a daily water bus ticket online.
- To Murano: get the water bus lines 3 from the railway station, 4.1, 4.2 from both the train station and Fondamenta Nove, 12, 13 and N from Fondamenta Nove only. There’s also the seasonal line number 7 from San Marco Zaccaria to Murano main stops. It’s advised to get off at the Murano Navagero terminal to visit the island and to do that use the line Fondamenta Nuove-Murano Navagero 4.1 that takes 17 minutes. You can see this guide on how to get from Venice to Murano for more detailed advice.
- To Burano: get the water bus lines 12 and N. The best terminal to get off is the Burano C vaporetto terminal. The best line to get is 12, Fondamenta Nuove-Burano C and it takes 45 minutes. You can get from Murano to Burano with the line 12 Murano Faro-Burano C in 30 minutes.
Best time to visit Murano and Burano
The best time to go on a Murano and Burano tour is from late spring to early autumn. Visiting these islands on the shoulder seasons is advised, if you want to avoid long queues at the vaporetto stops and to visit the main attractions.
I’ve spoken about visiting Venice in May before, but in this case I would recommend avoiding the weekends, when many people go on excursions and day trips to these islands. Spring and autumn are therefore ideal to avoid large crowds, and enjoy pleasant temperatures (can go over 20 °C on a warm sunny day).
Of course, there’s a higher chance of rain compared to the summer, but keep an eye on the forecast and plan your stay in Venice around that, when possible.
The best time of the day to visit them is early in the morning and normally, half a day is enough to cover the main sights of Murano and Burano. If you’ve decided to travel there by water bus then you can spend as much time as you want.
Will you be visiting these Venetian islands from May to September? Remember to carry with you a pair of sunglasses and a good sunscreen to protect your skin.
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Best Murano and Burano tours
Let’s now take a look at the best Murano and Burano tours. They all leave from Venice city centre, more precisely Riva degli Schiavoni, which is a few minutes walk from St. Mark’s Square or the train station Santa Lucia.
Burano and Murano Boat Tour with Glass Factory Visit
This Burano and Murano boat tour (with glass factory visit) is one of the most popular excursions leaving from Venice to visit the two popular islands.
One of the great things about this excursion is that you can leave from San Marco or in front of the railway station and head over Murano first and then Burano.
In Murano you’ll visit a glass factory and learn everything about the Venetian glassmaking techniques. This is a good time to buy some glass works at the factory shop or after the demonstration, whilst visiting Murano’s artisan shops.
You’ll then head over to Burano and spend time on this island too. In Burano you can take some time to stroll around the streets and admire the iconic coloured houses that make this island one of the most colourful places to visit in Europe!
The tour lasts 4 hours and a half and includes: boat transportation, guide, tour of the islands and demonstration of glassmaking processes with a visit to the factory.
Murano and Burano Excursion
During this Murano and Burano excursion you’ll be guided by a local guide to discover the best sights of these two islands. Meet the guide near St. Mark’s Square, where you’ll board a private boat to the islands. The first stop is Murano.
Here you’ll visit the ancient Church of Santa Maria and San Donato and then visit a traditional glass factory. You can take some time to stroll around Murano’s streets and go souvenir shopping, if you want. Your private boat will take you then to Burano, the rainbow coloured island.
Here you’ll wander around its streets and get lost admiring the fishermen’s houses and lacemakers working on the streets. In Burano it’s like taking a step back in time and where you can enjoy a slower pace to life.
Have lunch at Trattoria al Gatto Nero and try the traditional risotto di gó. On the way back, you can have a glass of Prosecco wine to finish the excursion in style.
Murano Glass Factory Tour & Glass Blowing
If you would prefer to arrange your own transportation to Murano, you can join a tour of a Murano glass factory with glass blowing demonstration.
Don’t miss the chance to see glass blowing masters creating unique glass objects closely and learn the secrets of this ancient technique.
During the tour you’ll visit the Gino Mazzuccato glass factory, one of the few glass factories creating amazing glass artefacts and shipping them worldwide!
On this tour the entrance fees and admission ticket are included, as well as the multilingual guide that will accompany you around the factory and explain the glass working processes. To get to the factory, get off the water bus at the stop ‘Murano Colonna’, the first one in Murano.
Murano and Burano Panoramic Boat Tour
This Murano and Burano boat tour is perfect to enjoy fantastic panoramic views of the Venetian lagoon before arriving and after leaving the two islands.
The boat will leave from Riva degli Schiavoni, near Piazza San Marco and get back to the same location. You’ll go first to Murano and then to visit the beautiful Burano. The tour lasts 4 hours and a half and it’s perfect if you don’t have much time for a self-planned day trip to Murano and Burano.
The first stop is a glass factory in Murano, where you’ll watch a glass blowing demonstration. You can buy some souvenirs to take home with you from the factory shop and use a 20% discount.
After that, your boat will take you to Burano where you can enjoy free time exploring its streets, small piazzas and churches.
Take pictures of the coloured houses, buy lace souvenirs created by the wise hands of local lacemakers and try the bussolai, traditional biscuits from the island.
During this tour there’s no guide to accompany you around the islands, but only a multilingual assistance on the boat.
Murano and Burano tour from Venice
If you are travelling to Venice and don’t have much time but want to visit these two islands, then these Murano and Burano tours are what you’re looking for.
They last approximately 4 hours, often include a local guide and always the admission ticket to a glass factory and demonstration. You won’t have to think about how to get there and how to move from one island to the other.
For all these reasons, I believe that a day trip to Murano and Burano is possible from Venice whether you end up planning it by yourself or joining a guided tour.
Will you be travelling to Venice soon? While you’re here, be sure to see my guide on day trips from Venice which shows you a list of other places to visit near Venice.
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