A day trip to Murano and Burano done right: complete travel guide

Organizing a day trip to Murano and Burano is the perfect addition to your Venice trip, especially if you are looking for an excuse to escape the crowds of tourists for a day. Both islands are very unique – Murano being renowned for glassmaking and Burano for lacework. In this article, we will guide you through all you need to know to plan a day trip to Murano and Burano from Venice, with tips on how to get there and what to do on each island.

Are Murano and Burano worth visiting?

Before we start with the day trip guide to Murano and Burano, let’s address the elephant in the room, as this is the question we are most often asked.

To make it simple: yes, Murano and Burano are definitely worth a visit if you would like to:

• Explore more of Venice than just the city center
• Have a day trip away from the tourist crowds
• Get to know more about the crafts of glassmaking and lacework

For us, this was definitely a yes. Spending a day visiting Murano and Burano just makes the whole Venice trip complete because it gives you a completely different picture of what life is like in the islands of the Venetian Lagoon. I have been to Venice over seven times now, and every time I am in town for more than two days, I try to squeeze in a visit to the islands.

How to get to Murano and Burano from Venice?

The best way to get to Murano and Burano from Venice is by taking the Vaporetto, which is the waterbuses that comprise Venice’s public transport.

Going to Murano and Burano with the Vaporetto

The last station on Venice’s main island to get the Vaporetto is called Fondamente Nove. We recommend hopping on the boat from there to benefit from the round ticket prices for Murano and Burano (unless you already have a day or multi-day ticket).

From Fondamente Nove, the only line that will get you to both islands in the same run is the number 12. However, there are also lines 4.1 and 4.2 that offer a round-trip from Fondamente Nove to Murano – and from there, you will have to take the number 12 for the second island.

The timetable varies throughout the year, with more boats going during the high season when the demand is also higher. We recommend checking it directly at the ACTV website or at the ticket booth.

The boat ride from Fontamente Nove (Venice) to Murano takes around 15min and, from there, it will be another 30-40min to Burano.

Vaporetto to Murano and Burano from Venice – Prices

Here are the ticket options for going to Murano and Burano from Venice using the Vaporetto:

• Single traghetto ride from Fondamente Nove to Murano – 5,00 € (the Traghetto is considered just a crossing from one station to the other, that is why it is a cheaper option)
• Return traghetto ticket from Fondamente Nove to Murano – 10,00 €
• One-way ticket (valid for 75 min) – 7,50 €
• Daily pass – 21,00 €

For this day trip to Murano and Burano, buying the daily pass is the best option to visit both islands on the same day. Otherwise, the entire trip would cost you 22,50 € with three one-way tickets.

Another advantage of purchasing the day ticket is that you can then use it to go back to your hotel or take a night Vaporetto ride through the main canal.

You can purchase the Vaporetto ticket directly at the ticket booth at Fondamente Nove, or any other ACTV ticket booth. You can also avoid the lines and purchase the ACTV day ticket upfront through the Venezia Unica website.

Read more: All about the transport system in Venice and how to get around

Pro tip: Check the timetable to plan your rides so you don’t lose too much time waiting for the next boat. If you time your trip just right, you will be able to catch the sunset from the Vaporetto on the way back to Venice – it is an amazing view! See below.

How long do you need to visit Murano and Burano?

What makes Murano and Burano such a great option for a day trip from Venice is that they are both small and easily explored within the same day. We recommend starting with Murano and staying 3 hours on this island, then moving to Burano, where you will also want to stay at least 2-3 hours. Of course, these times are just a starting point, you can adjust them as you wish. We recommend stopping for lunch in Burano, so you can add some more time to your itinerary in order to do that.

The best option is to start your day early, getting the Vaporetto to Murano at 8h. At this time, you will have the island mostly empty, as the shops will be starting to open. Stay in Murano until just before lunchtime, then get to the Vaporetto to Burano around 11h30.

You will arrive in Burano at the perfect time for grabbing lunch (see our restaurant recommendations in Burano). Walk around the island to explore the stores and the small alleys for the next few hours, and then hop on the Vaporetto back to Venice.

Extra tip: If you still have time, you can also extend your trip by visiting the island of Torcello, located right in front of Burano. Torcello is also very unique, completely different from the other two.

What to do in Murano for a day

Murano is the most interesting of both islands in our opinion.

Murano is a small island, located only 3.5 km away from Venice. In many ways, it looks like a smaller version of Venice, with buildings that are more modest but not lacking in beautiful canal views.

Glass-making is the most important and lucrative activity in Murano. They are known for being masters in the glassblowing technique, an artisanship being practiced in the area since the 10th century. Murano’s glassmakers produce almost anything made of glass, from household items to incredible sculptures and art pieces.

The glassmakers were originally located in Venice, but the government banned the furnaces in 1291 as a precaution against fire, since the buildings were mostly made of wood. By relocating them to Murano, the government also had another objective: to isolate the glassmakers so they wouldn’t share the secrets and recipes that made their craft so valuable and unique.

Interesting fact: At some point in time, glassmakers were considered royalty in Venice. They could even carry a sword and had immunity from prosecution.

Here are the main attractions that we recommend visiting when in Murano

1. Visit the Murano Glass Museum

To learn more about the glassmaking process and see historical pieces, the best place to go is the Murano Glass Museum. They hold one of the most comprehensive collections in town, with glass pieces from the 15th to the 20th century.

The museum is open every day from 10 to 17h and the tickets cost 10 €, with a reduced option for children and elderly visitors. Purchase your ticket directly at their website.

2. Visit the galleries and small factories to see glassblowing in action

Once in Murano, don’t miss the chance to visit one of the glass factories and see the glass blowing in real time. You can either go to the Murano Glass Factory where they hold guided presentations for 5 € (from Wednesday to Sunday), or you can stroll around the streets and check out one of the smaller galleries that offer a free presentation.

It is not hard to find galleries offering glassblowing presentations. The free ones are usually held for a small number of people at a time, and you will end the tour at the shop so you will have the chance to buy something if you wish.

3. Shop for Murano glasses

One of the best things to do in Murano is to walk along the streets and see the little stores and galleries. If you would like to take home a souvenir, this is the best place to buy a piece of Murano glasswork.

Pro tip: Be very careful when you purchase any piece to make sure it is authentic and from Murano. Unfortunately, there are a few stores in Venice that sell counterfeit products.

4. Stroll along the small canals in Murano

My favorite thing to do in Murano is to wander through the less-explored alleys. Once you go out of the main canal, you will see the streets are very quiet and have a very simple but homey style to them. One can really start to wonder if this is what life used to feel like in Venice if it wasn’t such a hot spot.

Unfortunately, the beautiful Comet Glass Star that used to be on display at Campo San Stefano, in front of the Murano clock tower, was no longer there when we visited in February 2022. However, this same spot is known to host different glass sculptures that tend to change over time. When you visit Murano, make sure to pass by this square and you may be surprised by what you find.

What to do in Burano

Burano is located further away in the Venetian Lagoon, but it is one of the most picturesque islands we have visited.

Burano is a fisherman’s village mostly known for its colorful houses and their traditional lacemaking. The artisanship of lacework is to Burano what glassmaking is to Murano. This craft is practiced on the island since the 16th century, even though recently it is becoming harder to find artisans that make laces using traditional techniques.

The colorful houses of Burano may seem like just a pretty view, but they were painted with bright colors for practical reasons. According to the legend, fishermen made use of colors to make it easier for them to identify their homes when returning on the boat on foggy days, which are more common than you would imagine. Nowadays, the bright-colored houses have become a symbol of the city, regulated by the local government. If a resident wants to paint their home, they must go through an application process.

Here are the main attractions that we recommend visiting when in Burano

1. Visit the Burano Lace Museum and shop for Burano laces

The best way to get to know more about Burano’s lacemaking tradition is by visiting the Lace Museum. The museum is open every day except Mondays, from 10h to 16h. Tickets cost 5,00 € per person and you can buy them online here.

Whether or not you decide to visit the museum, we strongly recommend you visit a few lace shops to see their work. In some shops, you may be able to find the artisans themselves, proudly showing their pieces that vary from little umbrellas to tablecloths, etc.

2. Explore Piazza Galuppi and stop for a café or a gelato

Piazza Galuppi is the main street of Burano and where you will find the largest selection of cafes and bars. It is the perfect place to stop if you want to make a quick break for a drink or for gelato. If you choose the latter, we recommend going to Dai Fradei Gelateria.

Pro tip: Just like in Venice, most tourists get to Burano and don’t even leave the main street. Don’t make this mistake. Piazza Galuppi is a must-see, but exploring the quieter areas of the city is how you will really take in the vibe of this cute little island.

3. Take time to explore Burano’s quieter alleys

If you make your way out of the main streets, you will see that Burano is so much quieter than Venice and Murano. Our favorite thing to do in Burano is to walk along the canals and discover a bit of the island by ourselves. We guarantee you will find many photogenic spots along the way.

4. Stop for lunch to enjoy the fresh seafood

The best restaurant in Burano is Trattoria al Gatto Nero. They are known for making excellent seafood dishes, especially their signature dish – risotto ai gò, made with ghiozzi (a fish from the lagoon). We recommend booking ahead if traveling during the high season to make sure you will get a place.

Another great restaurant option in Burano is Trattoria da Romano, where we recommend you try the black risotto made with squid ink (risotto al nero di seppia).

5. Admire the Burano leaning tower

Located next to the San Martino Church, you will easily spot Burano’s leaning bell tower. In fact, the tower is visible from many parts of town since there aren’t many tall buildings around. However, the best place to see it is Terranova’s marble bridge.

The tower is 53 meters tall and you can visibly see that it is leaning forward, for almost 2 meters. Some say the reason for that is due to the land giving way, others say it is due to miscalculations during construction, which lead to excess weight on the building.

Disclaimer: Our SD card with most Burano pictures broke down, so we had to use stock images for the purpose of this article since we still wanted you to have a visual of how beautiful this island looks.

Would you prefer to book a tour for this day trip to Murano and Burano?

Which is better: Murano or Burano?

After visiting both Murano and Burano, we constantly got the question about which one is better and the truth is that it is hard to decide. They are both so different and unique, that I think the best option is to include both Murano and Burano on your day trip instead of picking one or the other. 

However, Burano holds a sweeter spot in our hearts just because of how unique it is. We love the quieter canals and the bright-colored houses, so it has a vibe that is more our style.

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