Murano and Burano in a Half Day Boat Tour
Easily explore these colorful Venetian islands and see traditional glassblowing and lacemaking
Looking for an easy way to explore Murano and Burano while you’re in Venice? Avoid the chaos of public ferries or water taxis and join our small group tour to see the best of these two famous Venetian islands, with private round-trip transportation by water taxi. With an expert local guide, see the colorful houses and lacemaking traditions of Burano, and visit pretty Murano where you’ll witness the famous glassblowing techniques passed down through the generations.
- Comfortable boat trip from central Venice
- Explore Murano
- Visit artisan workshops
- Live glassblowing demonstration
- Visit Burano
- Take Instagram-worthy pics
- Live lacemaking demonstration
- Free time to explore
Getting to Murano and Burano from Venice can be a little chaotic if you're using the public ferries and water taxis, so this small group tour makes things a lot simpler! You'll meet your friendly local guide in central Venice, and soon you'll be cruising to these picturesque islands on a private speedboat. First stop will be the famous glass making island of Murano, where you'll have a live glassblowing demonstration. Next, visit the colorful nearby island of Burano, where you'll learn about the centuries-old lacemaking crafts that are still made today.
On this half-day tour, you'll also have free time to explore the islands by yourself before returning to Venice city.
Murano and Burano Boat Tour Description
Your 5-hour tour includes:
Round trip transportation from Venice by private boat
Tour and glassblowing demonstration in Murano
Tour and lacemaking demonstration in Burano
Free time to explore in Murano and Burano
Friendly, English-speaking guide
Maximum group size of 25
Murano
After meeting your small group in the center of Venice, your adventure begins with a short and comfortable boat ride to Murano. There’s a lot to see on the way, and your guide will keep you entertained with a stories of the sites you sail past. Soon enough, you'll arrive in beautiful Murano, a small island world-famous for its glass.
Once upon a time Murano glassblowers were the only people in Europe who knew how to create a mirror, and their skills were so valued that they were banned from leaving the city of Venice under threat of execution. The artisans are allowed to leave the island now of course, but the craft has stayed the same and you'll witness it first-hand at our first stop—a glassblower’s workshop.
Watch a master craftsman in action as he goes about his daily business and listen to a description of the process in English while he works. What gives the glass its color? How does silica sand become glass? Which is the most difficult part of his job? This is a real, working studio and your experience here will be as authentic as it comes. Afterwards you'll have time to browse the huge collection of glass art here and wander the island on your own for a while.
Burano
Our next stop is the colorful island of Burano, you'll be struck immediately by its old-world charm. Huddled tightly together along streets and canals, each house is painted a different color, with laundry strung up across the narrow streets. Legend has it that fishermen started this trend, painting their houses in bright shades so that they could see home from a distance.
However, Burano’s major claim to fame is its centuries-old tradition of lacemaking. Your guide will take you through the streets of Burano to a small building where women sit working feverishly, stitching lace like their mothers and grandmothers before them. Stay and watch their painstaking work, and hear how, in the age of sewing machines, these traditional methods are unique and highly sought-after.
When Michelangelo visited Burano he bought an altarpiece for the brand new Duomo in Milan, and there's no shortage of wonderful artisan shops to explore today either. You can spend your free time in the island winding your way along the kaleidoscopic streets and taking in the ambiance. We'd recommend trying the local cookies for one of the island's bakeries too—delicious!
What you get with this tour

See what people are saying
44 total reviews
Leave a reviewRichard Hendley
Wonderful Claire!
Sarah Johnston
Amazing guide - patient and insightful!
Worth Seeing
Kay Mariani
The Murano glass blowing is an amazing art! So glad we were able to witness it. Burano is such a cute, quaint town and so picturesque. The linens are beautiful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to meet?
The meeting point is just a short walk from St. Mark's Square along the Grand Canal. You will receive exact instructions upon booking.
What to bring?
Wear some comfortable shoes, and bring water and a camera. In the summer, we recommend sunscreen too.
Where to meet?
The meeting point is just a short walk from St. Mark's Square along the Grand Canal. You will receive exact instructions upon booking.
What to bring?
Wear some comfortable shoes, and bring water and a camera. In the summer, we recommend sunscreen too.
What if I'm concerned about my mobility?
This small group tour does require some walking and you'll need to get on and off the boat too. If you have concerns about your mobility, take a look at our Murano and Burano Private Tour which can be more easily tailored to your needs.
Does this tour use public transportation?
We book a private water taxi to take just our group out to Murano and Burano. You won't be on the main water bus with large crowds.