If you’re visiting Venice, Italy, for a few days and are thinking about going to Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands, we’ll tell you it’s well worth it! The problem that most people have is determining if it is worth taking a day away from Venice to visit these beautiful islands. This post will explain how to get to Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands and what to do on each island. We’ve also included an itinerary to ensure you make the most out of your day trip!
Is It Worth Leaving Venice?
YES! Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands are the most popular islands, aside from Venice, and are a must-visit. Each island has its own unique qualities, and while you can visit these islands as part of a tour, we recommend visiting them on your own!
How to Get to Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands from Venice
This took a little bit of strategizing for us to get to the islands, but we were so happy with the way it worked out. Some Murano glass factories will actually arrange transportation to get you to their factory from your hotel. We recommend checking with your hotel concierge to see if they can help you arrange this!
This “free” water taxi is a great way to get to Murano. Once in Murano, then you can take the Vaporetto/Water Buses to the other islands and eventually back to Venice. The glass factory may offer to take you back to your hotel, but we would recommend going to the other islands!
Water Taxi (Private)
While the most convenient option is to explore Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands, a water taxi will cost anywhere from €100-150 (one way) to get from Venice to the islands and vice versa. We strongly recommend taking the water bus/Vaporetto. But as we mentioned, take the free transportation to Murano if you can! Â
Water Bus/Vaporetto
ACTV is the public transit company that runs the ferries/water buses around Venice. They have several different ticketing options, but we opted to purchase our tickets from the kiosks at each stop.
Of course, this must come with a warning that on weekends and in the summer months, the wait can be long to get on the ferry. For us, the line from Murano to Burano looked massive; however, it moved fast and we only waited 25 minutes (they had said it would be 90 minutes). This was in May, so in the summer, the waits will be longer. For this reason, we recommend starting your day as early as you can when exploring Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands.
Murano – Burano
Line 12 (33-minute ride)
Stop (to catch ferry): Murano Faro
Burano – Torcello
Line 9 or 12 (5-minute ride)
Stop: Burano (the only stop on the island) at this stop, there are a few docks that may differ depending on if you are taking the 9 or 12 line.Â
Torcello – Venice
Line 12 (42-minute ride)
Stop: Torcello (the only stop on the island)
Things to Do on Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands
What to Do: Murano Island
Murano is famous for its blown glass. In the 8th century, Murano began moulding crystals. In order to prevent fires on land (that started from the glassmaking process), Murano was elected as a floating factory.
A visit to Murano isn’t complete without visiting a Glass Factory (which is likely how you will get to the island). We visited Vetreria Nuova Venier, one of the largest in Murano. Also, if you’re lucky, they may even let you try blowing glass yourself! It is really worth the tour – the process of blowing glass is so fascinating and mesmerizing. Of course, afterward, they may try to get you to buy something, but we never felt pressured. And, viewing the works of art and their price tags was a lot of fun! Of course, in the end, we bought a few smaller souvenirs.
TWT Tidbit: The entire reason we went to Venice and, really, Italy was because Madison was cleaning one day and broke a small blown glass figure Liam had gotten from Murano years ago. We made a deal that one day, we would have to go back and replace it, so we did just that! Little did Liam know that the workers at the glass factory would make me my favourite animal, in my favourite colour, for free while we were there! Needless to say, Liam’s fish was replaced with a purple dolphin!
After visiting the glass factory, we took a stroll through Murano, all while trying to find the ferry station to Burano. After walking around in circles and ending up back at the glass factory, we thought we found the right stop, but nope! We were wrong! We had to ask a few people but eventually made it. Along the way, we stopped in a few shops to pick up some other souvenirs and also took a trip through the Glass Museum.
Note: The glass factories are the only places to guarantee 100% authentic Murano glass (aka the prices are higher, but come with a fancy sticker and certificate to guarantee your purchase). If you’re purchasing anything big, they will also look after shipping and insurance! However, if you are just looking for a cute souvenir, we recommend any of the shops in Venice or Murano – you’ll find things much cheaper; we just can’t guarantee they are 100% Murano glass!
Read More
How to get a Free Murano Glass Factory Tour from Venice
The Best Hidden Photo Spot in Burano, Italy
24 Hours in Venice Itinerary: 5 Things You’ll Love
What to Do: Burano Island
For anyone active on social media, especially Instagram, you will have seen the notorious colourful Burano buildings. But did you know Burano is also known for its lacework? In the 16th century, Burano lace became famous, and in the 1800s, the first school of lace was created in Burano.
Once you get to Burano, you will likely want to stop and have something to eat! The options are endless! We were the first ones off the water bus, which gave us the advantage of getting ahead of the crowds. Once you arrive, stroll down the main entrance, Viale Marcelo. Once you get to the canal, the main photo spots can be found to your right; however, we found an awesome hidden photo spot to the left and went in that direction. You can find ample food and shops by going in both directions!
After eating, we recommend taking your time to stroll around the island to find the perfect backdrop for your photoshoot. We will warn you – Burano gets very busy! Tourists fill the island, especially the main canal. We were able to find a much more private area where there were fewer people to get in the way of our shots!
Our favourite Burano photo spot to get your shot without the crowds.
Depending on the length of your photoshoot, you can plan to spend about 2-3 hours in Burano. Our photo shoot, of course, went a bit longer, but half of that was just finding the hidden canal and colourful homes!
What to Do: Torcello Island
Torcello, the third of Venice’s must-see islands, is known for its archaeological heritage and remote population. During the fall of the Roman Empire, Torcello was where the Venetians fled from the mainland to take refuge from barbarian invasions. Today, there are only 17 residents on this island, making it the perfect place to visit!
A few hours in Torcello is the best way to wind down after a busy day. Compared to the other two, this island is more remote and less visited by tourists. It is great just to walk around, taking your time to explore the island at your own pace – going for a stroll along the river, then to the Devil’s Bridge, and into the town’s square.
If you like museums, the Museum of Torcello is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. You can also arrange private tours of Torcello’s Basilica.
Once finished, head back to the Water Bus station and catch Line 12 back to Venice!
Day Trip to Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands
No trip to Venice is complete without visiting Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands. We recommend saving at least one day to explore these islands in addition to Venice. Below is an itinerary that we created for our trip, and we recommend the following if you want to visit all three islands in one day.
8:00 am – Leave Venice
9:00 am – Glass Factory Tour/Shopping
10:00 am – Explore Murano, make way to Murano Faro (Water Bus Station)
11:20 am – Depart for Burano
12:00 pm – Arrive in Burano, Eat Lunch
1:00 pm – Start taking photos
3:00 pm – Depart for Torcello
3:15 pm – Arrive in Torcello, Explore the island
5:00 pm – Depart for Venice
