The Islands of Murano and Burano are located pretty close to the main Island Venice, the actual physical distance being around 6 – 9 km. Each of these islands are special in their own ways and make a visit there totally worth your time!

If you wish to go by car it’s around 62 km driving. Instead, the easiest way to reach these islands is to take Vaporetto number 12 from Fondamenta Nove (in Cannaregio). It departs every 30 minutes and first makes a stop at Murano before arriving to Burano.

If you are not staying in this area you can easily take Vaporetto number 3 – The Murano Express (from Piazzale Roma) or Vaporetto number 7 (from San Zaccaria at St. Mark’s, NOTE : This runs only during the high season) that is headed for Murano and transfer on the island itself to number 12 that will take you then to Burano. If you go for the second option you need to walk through Murano to get to the right stop next to the lighthouse tower (Murano Faro).

From San Zaccaria, you can also hop on a Vaporetto number 14 that will take you directly to Burano.

Get down at the stop called Murano Colonna.

1. Walk along its main canal

That’s right! Unlike Venice, with its gazillion Canals and Bridges, Murano has very few with one central canal flowing through its centre and bridges connecting its two halves. Lined with small shops selling locally made glass curios and eateries selling gelato, a stroll along the canal is as relaxed as it gets!

2. Watch Glass Blowing LIVE

Fragile as they are, glassware never fail to be beautiful and fascinating. Ever wondered how they are made, like I did? Well, find your answers here. Some of the bigger curio shops, sell glassware made in their own work rooms and you can actually get to watch glass blowing here.(Just be polite, and buy a souvenir after 😉)

We visited the Murano Glass Company.

Glassmaking is an art like any other, and to actually see how all these beautiful pieces are made from small coloured rods or moulds of glass, is sheer wonder!!

3. Visit the Glass Museum – Museo del Vetro

This museum is dedicated to the history of Glass, including the story of glass making in Murano.

The collection of the museum, one of the most complete in the world, ranges from antiquity to 20th century works from the Barovier & Toso glass company and glass textiles designed by Carlo Scarpa in the late thirties. There are exhibits of the various types of glass elements from which the raw material for glass is procured.

A  very informative and beautiful stop to make.

Opening Hours – 11am to 5pm

Entry Fee – 10 E per person

You can also use the Venetian ‘Museum Pass’ for €35. This pass will grant you access to 10 beautiful museums of the MUVE. But it’s most impressive feature is that with this pass you can skip the line!

A third option is to go for the combination ticket of €12 that allows you to visit the Burano Lace Museum and the Murano Glass Museum.

Here you can read all possible information on entries to Museums and other major attractions in Venice – We have an entire post dedicated to it!

4. Walk to the Lighthouse

Follow the main canal, with its romantic wooden piers, till you get to the Lighthouse (a course you need to walk, if you want to travel from Murano to Burano). The piers and the lighthouse alike make for beautiful Instagram spots!

Get on the Vaporetto 12 from the Murano Faro and head out to Burano.

Colours! Who doesn’t love colours? Wanna bet to find a house in every colour of the rainbow? I bet you will do, on the colourful island of Burano. This UNESCO protected island has got to be on your bucket list (if already not)!!!

1. Visit the colourful Fishermen’s Houses

Wanted to walk through a Rainbow? You can do it here in Burano. The houses keep their vibrant colours and are repainted every 2 years.

Families used to paint their homes in bright colours to mark where their family’s property ended and the neighbour’s began, as well as to make their homes more visible from the sea. The only rule? They can’t paint their house in the same colour as the one next to it.

It’s such a serious matter that, if people wanted to paint their house a certain colour they first had to file an application with the local community government.

What colour would your house be, if you lived in Burano?

2. Check out the Locally made Lace

One of Burano’s specialities is the fabrication of lace. In the 16th century, the women of Burano started stitching lace. Every woman specialises in one single stitch. Since there are seven different stitches in total, each piece was passed on from woman to woman to finish. Nowadays most of the lace that is being sold on the island is made by machine. But there are still some shops where you can catch a glimpse of the old tradition.

Make sure to buy a souvenir to take home <3 (Look out for the lace tourist traps, selling cheap fake Burano lace that is actually made in China! How can you tell? Well, know that hours of hand labour don’t come cheap)

3. Visit the Lace Museum – Museo del Merletto

A museum dedicated to history of Lace, the formation of its industry and the story of its rise to its present day status? Yes that’s right, you will find all these in the Burano Lace Museum.

From 1872 until 1970 this place used to be home to the Burano Lace School. In this part of the museum you can see how the older local women of Burano do their craft.

Opening hours – 10am to 5pm

Entry Fee – €3.50 per person

You can also use the Venetian ‘Museum Pass’ for €35. This pass will grant you access to 10 beautiful museums of the MUVE. But it’s most impressive feature is that with this pass you can skip the line!

A third option is to go for the combination ticket of €12 that allows you to visit the Burano Lace Museum and the Murano Glass Museum.

4. Check out the Chiesa San Martino

Thought only Pisa has a leaning tower? Well, you are wrong!

Built in the seventeenth century, the leaning tower of the Church of St. Martin Bishop has a square shape and Renaissance and neoclassical architectural features. The height of the tower is 53 meters and because of land subsidence it is inclined of 1.83 meters respect to its axis. The best location to admire Burano’s leaning bell tower is the Terranova’s marble bridge or the Giudecca’s street.

5. Check out the beautiful view of the Venetian Lagoon

Try and catch the sunset here as the sun goes down into the beautiful Adriatic See, where the lagoon meets it!

6. Visit Mazzorbo

When you’re done exploring Burano, cross a wooden footbridge to reach Mazzorbo, a tiny island where, tucked within ancient walls and in the shadows of the bell tower – lies one of a handful of Venice’s secret vineyards – The Venissa. where the lagoon’s famous Dorona golden grape, once enjoyed by the Venetian Doges, grows!

So now you see, why it’s totally worth it to take a day trip from Venice to Burano! It’s the perfect way to escape the crowds in Venice and still enjoy some beautiful island time.