Ultimate Venice in a Day with Murano and Burano
Skip the lines at St. Mark’s & the Doge’s Palace, ride a gondola, & 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, pre-reserved tickets 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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Timed-entry ticket for St. Mark’s Basilica
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Timed-entry ticket for the Doge’s Palace
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Guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica & the 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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Glassblowing demonstration in Murano
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Lacemaking demonstration in Burano
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Free time to explore both islands
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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 St. Mark's Square, 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. -
2
Enter 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 golden mosaic ceiling alone tells centuries of stories! -
3
Take a guided tour of the Doge's Palace
Next, pre-reserved tickets get you straight through the security line and into the Doge’s Palace, once home to Venice’s rulers and the seat of its government. Climb the Golden Staircase, cross the famous Bridge of Sighs, and follow your guide through grand halls filled with Renaissance art. -
4
Relax on a sightseeing 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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Take a lunch break
After your gondola ride, you’ll have a bit of free time near St. Mark’s Square to enjoy a lunch of your choice. Feel free to ask your guide for a quick local recommendation in the area. -
6
Board a private boat on the Venetian lagoon
After lunch, it’s time to visit the colorful islands of the Venetian Lagoon on a stylish boat reserved just for your group. Meet up with your new tour leader to board the boat. Then sit back, enjoy the breeze, and watch the skyline of Venice drift away. -
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Watch a Murano Island glassblowing demonstration
Your first stop on the Venetian Lagoon is Murano, 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. Then take a bit of free time to shop for a Murano glass souvenir or walk the town before boating to the next island. -
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Pause for a Burano Island lacemaking demonstration
A short boat ride later, you’ll find yourself on Burano, Venice’s most photogenic island. Pause to admire rows of brightly painted houses before meeting local women, who craft delicate lace by hand, for a demonstration. Then enjoy free time for photos among the vibrant streets. -
9
Ride the boat to return to Venice
With your day winding down, enjoy one last private boat ride back to Venice. This is the perfect time to ask your tour leader 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
Discover what to expect, what's included, and everything you need to know before booking.
Good to know:
Dress Code: Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women to enter St. Mark’s Basilica; entry may be refused otherwise. 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.
St. Mark's Basilica: Please note, the tour inside St. Mark's Basilica usually lasts around 20 minutes, as per the monuments rules and protocol.
Gondola Ride: The gondola ride is a shared experience, as each boat can hold up to 5 guests. While you will have a professional gondolier operating the boat, it is important to note that this portion of the tour is not guided. Please remember that the gondola ride is on a lagoon, so the water may have a strong smell for sensitive parties.
Tour Changes: All St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace tours are subject to potential time change due to ticketing. Please keep the date of your tour flexible. It’s possible that this itinerary may run in reverse, with Murano and Burano first.
Accessibility: This tour involves extensive walking, standing, and climbing stairs. It is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible and not suitable for guests with mobility issues. Please note that all guests will need to cross four bridges with their guide to reach the dock to board the private boat.
Weather Advisory: Doge's Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica may be closed unexpectedly and without much notice due to adverse weather events, maintenance, or safety reasons. High water may affect the boat tour. If these events occur, you will be notified as soon as possible with an alternative option.
Please note: As this tour includes a luxury private boat to Murano and Burano, it is very important that the group stays on time. Please be very aware of the meeting points given by your guide after free time on each island. The boat will need to depart at the scheduled time. Ferry transportation is available for return to Venice from Murano and Burano if you decide you'd prefer to stay longer on the islands.
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. Your tour leader will take you to the glassblowing and lacemaking demonstrations on each island, offer helpful insight toward your free time, and assist all guests while on the private boat transfer.
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. If you are late for your tour, reconnection is only possible during the lunch break.
Your 9.5-hour tour includes:
Expert English-speaking guide
Timed-entry ticket and guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica
Timed-entry ticket and guided tour of the Doge’s Palace
30-minute shared gondola ride (max 5 people shared experience)
Round-trip private boat to Murano and Burano
Glassblowing demonstration in Murano
Lacemaking demonstration in Burano
Free time to explore both islands
Free time for lunch
What to bring:
Government-issued ID
Comfortable walking shoes
Water bottle
Sunscreen (in summer)
Covering for knees and shoulders
Camera
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Customer Reviews
We had a great time!
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!
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.
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.
