Is Murano and Burano Worth Visiting? The Best Day Trip Itinerary
Wondering if it is worth it to visit Murano and Burano from Venice?
Yes! Murano and Burano are absolutely worth visiting, even with limited time in Venice. On our recent 3 day trip to Venice, we took a day trip to Murano and Burano and loved it. The escape from the crowds of Venice and the interesting history and culture in Murano and Burano made it worth visiting!
If you are looking for the perfect day trip from Venice, look no further than the beautiful islands of Burano and Murano. Below, you’ll find a perfect day trip itinerary to Murano and Burano, including how to get there and what to do on each island.
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Best Murano and Burano Tour
⭐️Murano and Burano Tour
✔️ Roundtrip Transportation
✔️ Murano Glass Demonstration
✔️ Explore Burano
✔️ Small Group
Burano and Murano are two islands located in the Lagoon of Venice, and are perfect places to visit as a day trip from Venice. Both Murano and Burano are worth visiting and have a unique story.
Burano is an island known for its pastel houses and lace-making, while Murano is world famous for it’s glass making. In fact, Murano glass is famous around the world for its unparalleled quality, craftsmanship, and incredible range of colors.
Is Burano and Murano Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! Burano and Murano are worth visiting. From the pastel colored houses in Burano to the intricate glass making in Murano, you are sure to enjoy visiting these two islands near Venice. Visiting Burano and Murano is a perfect day trip from Venice as it is easy to get there and a great way to escape the crowds in Venice.
Burano and Murano Day Trip Itinerary
Below you’ll find the perfect itinerary for exploring Burano and Murano as a day trip from Venice.
A Visit to Burano – Stop #1
Time Needed in Burano: 1-2 Hours
How to Get There: From Venice’s Fondamenta Nova ferry terminal (F.te Nova) take the vaporetto line 12 to Burano. This line also makes stops at Murano.
First up on this day trip itinerary is a visit to the island of Burano. Burano is known for its beautiful pastel houses and for its lace-making.
History of Burano
The island of Burano can trace its history back to the Roman times, when the island was first believed to be settled.
However Burano became famous in the 1500s for its intricate lace making. Lace became a status symbol for the wealthy in the Venetian Republic and this soon spread throughout Europe.
Burano was the heart of needle lace making and to this day Burano is known for its delicate and beautiful lace.
Why is Burano so Colorful?
The pastel colored houses in Burano are a vast difference from other homes found along the islands of the Venetian Lagoon.
The story as to why the locals painted their houses various bright colors is so that the fisherman of Burano could find their way home when the dense fog would cover the island.
Things to Do in Burano
☑️ Admire Burano’s Colorful Houses
By far the best thing to do in Burano is wander the charming streets and admire the brightly colored houses. Burano is worth visiting for anyone interested in photography, and the island is one of the most Instagrammable places in the larger area of Venice.
Make sure to check out Casa Bepi (Bepi’s house) as this is the most colorful house in all of Burano!
☑️ Visit the Lace Museum
The Lace Museum is located in the historic palace of Podestà of Torcello on Burano. This palace was once the seat of the famous Lace School in Burano.
Today, you can visit the Lace Museum to see an array of beautiful lace pieces, costumes, and vintage items.
The Lace Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10am until 4pm (last entry 3:30pm).
☑️ See the Leaning Bell Tower of Burano
The Leaning Tower of Pisa isn’t the only leaning tower in Italy! Burano has its own leaning tower, the Bell Tower that is on the back of the Church of St. Martin Bishop.
The best view of the Leaning Tower of Burano can be found on Terranova’s marble bridge or Giudecca Street.
☑️ Try Some Gelato
You can’t visit Burano without a Gelato stop! There is a great little Gelato spot located near the Vaporetto Station. Its the perfect treat before heading over to Murano.
A Visit to Murano – Stop #2
After Burano, head to Murano which is known for creating the beautiful Murano Glass.
Time Needed in Murano: 1-2 hours
How to Get to Murano: Take the vaporetto line 12 from Venice or Burano
History of Murano
The first records of glass making in Venice dates back to 982 AD, with the first mention of a Glass Maestro (Glass Master). However, glass making in the Venetian Lagoon is believed to have taken place for several years prior to this.
Murano became the home of Venetian glass making in the year 1291, when several large furnaces and glass workshops were moved to the island from the center of Venice.
For the next several hundred years, Murano held a monopoly on the glass-production in Europe.
Today, authentic Murano Glass is a luxury product, known for its handmade craftmanship, intricate details, and vibrant colors.
Things to Do in Murano
☑️ Watch a Glass Blowing Demonstration
Watching a Murano glass blowing demonstration is a must-do while visiting the island. You’ll have the opportunity to watch trained glass masters show their craft and create a beautiful piece of glass.
If you take a guided tour to Murano and Burano then this experience is included. However, if you go on your own then you can Book the Glass Blowing Demonstration Here.
☑️ Shop for Murano Glass at the Glass Factory
If you want a unique souvenir from Italy, a piece of Murano glass is worth getting. These pieces are handmade and full of beautiful details.
While some Murano Glass can be expensive, the Murano Glass Factory offers a number of small affordable pieces for less than €25.
Important Tip: If you by Murano Glass, make sure to buy it in Murano and not just at any shop in Venice. Murano Glass from Murano is 100% authentic, where as unfortunately some of the new “souvenir shops” in Venice sell cheap replicas.
☑️ Visit the Glass Museum
If you have extra time, you may choose to visit the Glass Museum. The small museum dives deeper into the history of glass making in Murano and the importance it had throughout the Venetian Empire.
The Glass Museum in Murano is typically open daily from 10am to 6pm.
☑️ Visit the Church of Santa Maria e San Donato
The beautiful Church of Santa Maria e San Donato in Murano is worth visiting while on the island. It is most famous for its 12th-century apse mosaic depicting the Madonna.
Not only does the church feature stunning architecture, but legend has it that there are dragon bones buried inside after a saint slew the giant beast.
☑️ Wander through the Grand Canal of Murano
The Grand Canal of Murano is much smaller than the one in Venice, but it is also much less crowded. The area has shops and restaurants, and is the perfect place for a relaxing walk while in Murano.
How to Get to Burano and Murano from Venice
There are two options when it comes to visiting Burano and Murano, either book a half-day guided tour or go on your own using public transport.
Surprisingly, the guided tours are pretty affordable, and so it is about the same cost as going on your own. So the choice just depends on if you enjoy going on a tour or having the flexibility of traveling on your own.
Take a Guided Tour
If you don’t want to worry about figuring out transportation or booking a glass blowing tour in Murano, taking this guided half-day tour is a fantastic option.
On this tour, you’ll have comfortable transportation to Murano and Burano. You’ll enjoy a glass blowing demonstration in Murano and have time to visit the factory and shop for authentic Murano glass. In Burano, you can enjoy a short walking tour or just take the time to explore on your own.
👉 Click Here to Book a Half-Day Guided Tour To Burano and Murano
Visit on Your Own Using the Vaparetto
Visiting Murano and Burano on your own is also a great option. I recommend following this Burano and Murano day trip itinerary, starting in Burano and ending in Murano.
To get to Burano, simply take the vaporetto (water bus) from Venice’s Fondamenta Nova ferry terminal (F.te Nova). Line 12 stops at Murano, Mazzorbo, Torcello, Burano, Treporti and Punta Sabbioni.
Next, to get to Murano, simply head back on Line 12 going towards Venice. If you plan to stop at both islands, the best option is to get the day pass which costs around €20 and can be bought at the station.
FAQ: Is Murano and Burano Worth Visiting?
Most people visit Murano first, and so it is best to visit Burano first to avoid the crowds. By visiting Burano first and ending with Murano you will also have a shorter ride at the end of the day back to Venice as Murano is closer.
It depends on your interests, if you are curious about Murano Glass or enjoy seeing how things are made than Murano is the best choice. If you enjoy charming towns and taking photos than Burano is sure to impress you. However, the best option is to just visit both places.
You can absolutely visit Murano and Burano in one day. In fact, visiting these small islands is the perfect day trip from Venice as both only require about 1-2 hours to see the highlights.
Murano is famous for its Murano Glass, which is handmade by Glass Masters that spend years perfecting the artesian techniques. Burano was made famous for its beautiful lace making, which spread throughout Europe during the middle ages. Today, Burano is most well known for its bright, colorful houses.
The Wrap Up: Is Murano and Burano Worth Visiting?
A day trip to Murano and Burano is totally worth it. Both of these islands have unique historical and cultural significance which make them worth visiting. Watching the glass blowing demonstrations in Murano and wandering the colorful streets of Burano are sure to make for a perfect day trip from Venice.
Visiting these two islands is a great way to escape the crowds of Venice, while also learning more about the history, culture, and traditions of life on the Venetian Lagoon.
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