Murano and Burano
Out in the lagoon, half an hour from the city by boat, are two islands that could not be more different: Murano, with its furnaces and showrooms of glass, and Burano, a village of fishermen's houses painted every colour there is.
- What it is
- On the water
- Time to allow
- 4 to 6 hours
- Cost
- Vaporetto or a boat tour
- Best time
- A sunny morning, leaving early
Venice this week
Why Murano and Burano is worth it
In 1291 the Republic moved its glass furnaces to Murano, partly for fear of fire and partly to keep the secrets of the trade. The island has made glass ever since, and its Glass Museum tells the story.
Burano, further out, is known for its lace and for its houses, each painted a strong colour. Beyond it, Torcello, the first settlement of the lagoon, keeps a cathedral with Byzantine mosaics.
What to see
Glass-blowing
The furnaces of Murano, where you can watch glass being blown and shaped.
Burano's houses
Rows of fishermen's houses painted red, blue, yellow and green along the canals.
Lace
Burano's lace, and the Lace Museum in its old school.
Torcello
The cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, with its Last Judgement in mosaic, on an island now almost empty.
How to do it well
- The public vaporetto from Fondamente Nove reaches all three islands: lines 4.1 and 4.2 for Murano, line 12 for Burano.
- Go early: Burano fills up by midday in summer.
- On Murano, be wary of the free taxi to a showroom: it ends with a sales pitch.
Where it is
Address
Murano, Burano and Torcello, in the northern lagoon
Nearest station
Fondamente Nove, on the vaporetto, for the boats to the islands
Museums and sights nearby
- Ca' Pesaro2.6 km
- St Mark's Basilica2.8 km
- Doge's Palace2.9 km
- St Mark's Campanile2.9 km
Distances are in a straight line.
Tickets and tours: Murano and Burano
Murano and Burano: common questions
- How do you get to Murano and Burano from Venice?
- By vaporetto from Fondamente Nove, or on a boat tour. Burano is about forty-five minutes away.
- Can you see Murano and Burano in one day?
- Yes, and Torcello too, in a full day or a long half-day.
- How much time do you need for Murano and Burano?
- Allow 4 to 6 hours. That is this site's estimate for an unhurried visit.
What visitors say about Murano and Burano
Rating from Google
Things to do near Murano and Burano
The nearest of this site's best things to do in the city. Distances are in a straight line.
- 14See modern art and Japanese armour at Ca' Pesaro2.6 km awayMuseum, 1 to 2 hours, ticket
- 6Cross the Rialto Bridge and shop at the market2.6 km awayWalk, 45 to 90 minutes, free to walk
- 17Eat cicchetti standing at the bar of a bacaro2.6 km awayWalk, 2 to 3 hours, what you eat, or a food tour
- 16Hear Vivaldi's Four Seasons in a Venetian church2.7 km awayShow, 1.3 to 1.5 hours, concert ticket
Artists to see near Murano and Burano
The museums nearest to here, and the most famous artists on show in each.
Ca' Pesaro, 2.6 km away
Doge's Palace, 2.9 km away
Where to eat near Murano and Burano
The nearest of the famous tables this site lists in Venice. Distances are in a straight line.
- Osteria Ca' d'Oro alla Vedova4.1Osteria, Strada Nova2.4 km away
- Al Covo4.5Restaurant, Castello2.6 km away
- Cantina Do Mori4.4Bacaro, Rialto2.6 km away
- Cantina Do Spade4.4Bacaro, Rialto2.7 km away
Hotels near Murano and Burano
The five-star hotels closest to it, of those this site lists in Venice. Distances are in a straight line.
- Hotel Londra Palace4.7Five-star hotel, Riva degli Schiavoni2.7 km away
- Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel4.5Five-star hotel, Riva degli Schiavoni2.8 km away
- Aman Venice4.8Five-star hotel, Grand Canal2.9 km away
- The St. Regis Venice4.6Five-star hotel, Grand Canal3.2 km away