Murano & Burano Private Boat Tour from Venice
Explore colorful streets, plus lace making and glass making demonstrations with a personal guide
Venice’s islands are stunning, but getting to Murano and Burano on your own can mean crowded boats and rushed visits. This private tour offers a seamless escape, with your own guide and boat for a relaxed journey across the lagoon. Watch Murano’s master glassblowers at work, then explore Burano’s vibrant streets and lace-making traditions at your own pace. With personalized attention and no crowds to slow you down, it’s the perfect way to experience Venice’s iconic islands.
What You Get With This Tour
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Watch master artisans work
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Expert English-speaking guide
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Private mahogany boat transport
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Murano glassblowing demonstration
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Burano lace making demonstration
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Private group experience
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Guide tips
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Hotel pickup and drop-off
Tour Itinerary
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1
Board your private boat at San Zaccaria
Your tour begins at the Victorio Emanuele II monument, where you will meet your guide and board a private mahogany water taxi. Leave the crowded waterfront behind and cruise into the open lagoon, enjoying a unique perspective of the city's marble palaces that only a private vessel can provide. -
2
Witness a Murano glassblowing demonstration
Your first stop is a historic workshop on Murano, an island renowned for its glassmaking since the 13th century. Go inside the furnace to watch master artisans transform molten glass into intricate art. Your guide will explain the rigorous techniques and family secrets that have kept this craft prestigious for centuries. -
3
Explore the authentic streets of Murano
Following the demonstration, you will have time to browse the factory showroom or wander the local bridges to see how the island's cemetery of San Michele sits peacefully on the water. -
4
Pass by tiny Venetian islands
During your mini boat tour between islands, pass Torcello island, whose roots go back 1500 years. This was the very first island inhabited in the lagoon in the 5th century A.D. -
5
Discover the vibrant canals of Burano
Then cruise to Burano. This island is famous for its colorful fishermen's houses. Your guide will share the practical history of these bright colors while leading you to a lace-making atelier. Here, you will see local women practicing the painstaking, centuries-old needle-lace tradition that once graced the wardrobes of royalty. -
6
Enjoy flexible free time on the island
The visit concludes with time to explore Burano at your own pace. You can walk the leaning bell tower square, sample a "bussolà" butter cookie from a local bakery, or photograph the brilliant houses along the canals. Your guide remains available to offer recommendations for the best local seafood or hidden artisan shops. -
7
Your tour finishes at the Venice waterfront
After soaking up the island atmosphere, board your private boat for the relaxing return trip across the lagoon. Your tour finishes back at the original meeting point, where your guide can provide directions to the best nearby spots for a traditional Venetian dinner.
Additional Information
Discover what to expect, what’s included, and everything you need to know before booking.
Good to know:
Accessibility: As this is a private tour, the itinerary can be accommodated to be wheelchair or mobility accessible. Please reach out to us, after making the booking, to make the proper arrangements.
Please note: The itinerary of a private tour can be adjusted to your needs. Please reach out if you do not see a start time that fits for your party. We would be happy to check with our ticketing team to see if we can accommodate you.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.
Your 4-hour tour includes:
Expert English-speaking guide
Round-trip transportation by private boat
Glassblowing demonstration in Murano
Lace making demonstration in Burano
Free time to explore the islands
Private group experience
What to bring:
Government-issued ID
Comfortable walking shoes
Camera
Water bottle
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Customer Reviews
Information was shared naturally while walking or riding. It felt easy to listen and absorb without being overwhelmed.
The guide adapted naturally to our interests. That flexibility transformed Murano and Burano from attractions into places we genuinely understood through context, stories, and unhurried shared moments together that mattered.
No confusion, no chaos. Just a clear plan, good communication, and enough flexibility to make the day enjoyable.
Instead of highlights, we experienced continuity. Boat travel, artisan visits, and village walks connected smoothly into one cohesive, calming story that felt respectful to places and people alike throughout day.
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm trying to book, but I don't see any availability. Help?
If you are trying to book up to two weeks in advance, the website will show no availability. However, feel free to contact us and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
I have doubts about my mobility. Is this the right tour for me?
Since this is a private tour, we can adjust the walking pace to suit your needs. Please contact us in advance so we can ensure the boat and island workshops are fully prepared for your party.
Does this tour use public transportation?
No. You'll have your own private water taxi to travel to Murano and Burano. You won't be on the main water bus with large crowds.
Is this tour family friendly?
Yes, between the private boat ride and the "magic" of the glassblowing this tour is very engaging for children.
