Ultimate Venice in a Day with Murano and Burano
Skip the lines at St. Mark’s and Doge’s Palace, ride a gondola, and meet artists on colorful islands
See Venice from every angle on this perfectly planned combo tour. Skip the lines at St. Mark’s Basilica, famous for its golden mosaics, and the Doge’s Palace, once the center of Venetian power. Then glide down the Grand Canal on a classic gondola ride before pausing for lunch of your choice. In the afternoon, a sleek private boat whisks you to Murano and Burano for glassblowing and lace-making demonstrations. With insider access and a local guide, this is Venice done right.
What You Get With This Tour
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Explore Venice from every angle
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Expert English-speaking guide
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Skip-the-line tickets for St. Mark’s Basilica
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Skip-the-line tickets for Doge’s Palace
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Guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace
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30-minute shared gondola ride
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Private boat ride to Murano & Burano
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Local glass blowing and lace-making demonstrations
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Free time on Burano
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Guide tips
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Lunch
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Private gondola
Tour Itinerary
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1
Meet your guide at St. Mark's Square
Your day begins in Venice’s centrally located and most iconic piazza. While your guide sets the stage for the day ahead, you’ll have time to take in the grand sight of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace towering nearby. -
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St. Mark's Basilica
Thanks to skip-the-line tickets, you’ll soon find yourself in one of Europe’s most dazzling churches. Learn how relics, art, and politics shaped this Byzantine masterpiece, and don’t forget to look up—the ceiling alone tells centuries of stories! -
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Doge's Palace
Next, fast-track entry gets you straight into Doge’s Palace, once home to Venice’s rulers and the seat of its government. Climb the Golden Staircase and wander grand halls filled with Renaissance art before taking a 10-minute break. -
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Gondola ride
After exploring on foot, hop into a gondola for a serene 30-minute ride through Venice’s canals. It’s a chance to see the city from the water, passing under historic bridges and alongside centuries-old buildings in true Venetian style. -
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Lunch break
You’ll have free time near St. Mark’s Square to enjoy a lunch of your choice. -
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Private Boat on Venetian Lagoon
Now, it’s time to visit the colorful islands of the Venetian Lagoon on a stylish boat reserved just for your group. Sit back, enjoy the breeze, and watch the skyline of Venice drift away in style. -
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Murano Island Glassblowing Demonstration
Your first stop on the Venetian Lagoon is an island famous for its glassmaking heritage. The boat will drop you directly at a working studio, where you’ll watch a master shape molten glass into intricate designs. -
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Burano Island Lace-making Demonstration
A short boat ride later, you’ll find yourself on Venice’s most photogenic island. Pause to admire rows of brightly painted houses before meeting local women who craft delicate lace by hand. -
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Return to Venice
With your day winding down, you’ll enjoy one last private boat ride back to Venice. This is the perfect time to ask your guide any lingering questions and get some insider tips for the rest of your stay. -
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Your Tour Ends Near St. Mark’s Square
Back at St. Mark’s Square, your Venetian adventure comes full circle. From skipping lines to gliding through canals and discovering artisan traditions, you’ve experienced the very best of Venice in one unforgettable day!
Additional Information
Good to know:
Dress Code: St. Mark’s Basilica is a sacred space, so both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Guests who don’t meet the dress code may be refused entry and miss part of the tour. Please avoid wearing sandals, hats, shorts, skirts, or tops that expose your shoulders.
ID Requirement: A valid government-issued ID is required for entrance into St. Mark's Basilica. The name on your ticket (entered at check-out) must match the name on your ID, or you will be refused entry.
Accessibility: This tour involves extensive walking, standing, and climbing stairs. It is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible and not suitable for guests with mobility issues.
Weather Advisory: Some activities on this tour may be closed unexpectedly and without much notice due to adverse weather events, maintenance, or safety reasons. If this occurs, you will be notified as soon as possible.
Guides: Please note that you will have two different guides for this experience. An expert guide will lead your tour through St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace, while a tour leader will guide your experience to Murano and Burano.
Lunch: This tour has a quick lunch break of 30 minutes between experiences.
Bag Policy: Large backpacks or bags aren’t always allowed inside the attractions, so please pack light.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.
Your 9.5-hour tour includes:
Expert English-speaking guide
Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica
Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of the Doge’s Palace
30-minute gondola ride
Round-trip private boat to Murano and Burano
Glassblowing demonstration in Murano
Lacemaking demonstration in Burano
Free time for lunch
Maximum group size of 20
What to bring:
Government-issued ID
Comfortable walking shoes
Water bottle
Covering for knees and shoulders
Camera
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Customer Reviews
We had an excellent day in Venice! Filippo, ur tour guide for the Doge's palace and St. Mark's Basilica, was great. Very knowledgeable. Only thing we would have changed is the cold weather. 😅 The gondola ride was amazing: life goal achieved! And the trips out to the islands were great fun too. I only wish I was rich enough to afford some of the Murano glass art!
We had an excellent day in Venice! Filippo, ur tour guide for the Doge's palace and St. Mark's Basilica, was great. Very knowledgeable. Only thing we would have changed is the cold weather. 😅 The gondola ride was amazing: life goal achieved! And the trips out to the islands were great fun too. I only wish I was rich enough to afford some of the Murano glass art!
The overall plan and itinerary were excellent, and it was clear a lot of care went into organizing the tour. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate, so I wasn’t able to participate in more than half of the planned activities. This was completely beyond the control of the tour guide or the company. The tour company provided a timely reimbursement for the portions I couldn’t fully take part in, and their customer service was excellent—quick, professional, and kind. I’ve taken other tours with this same company before, and they were absolutely fantastic. I’d definitely book with them again!
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
This is a walking tour that will include stairs and climbing into gondolas and water taxis.
What should I wear?
St. Mark's is a sacred place, so both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to a portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Venice are hot, so think light trousers or long skirts, or a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way, you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.
Does the tour always skip the line?
Yes, we buy Skip-the-Line tickets year round for St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace.
Is lunch included on this tour?
No, but you'll have a 30 minute break in between experiences.
Does this tour take the big ferry boat to the islands?
No, we arrange private transportation to Murano and Burano then back to Venice. This is faster and more comfortable than riding in the water bus.
Will I get to ride in my own gondola?
Please note that the gondolas are shared. The Gondolier will decide a proper canal route for your party, but is not a guide. This experience will last 30 minutes.
Does this tour include an entry ticket to St. Mark's Basilica?
This tour includes an entry ticket to St. Mark's Basilica, for which our cost is 12 euros per person.
