Murano & Burano: Glassworks & Lace Museum from Venice

The Glassblower Stops Mid-Swing: What You'll See on Murano and Burano

You travel by boat from Venice to Murano, where you watch a glassblower at work in a historic factory and explore the island at your own pace with an audio guide. Then you cross to Burano to wander the colorful streets and visit the Lace Museum, which traces centuries of lace-making tradition. The whole day includes boat transport and both museum entries, so you're not arranging tickets or timing yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Burano2h 30m
2. Venetian Lagoon2h · entry included

Visit Murano and Burano islands

• Boat ride from Venice to islands
• Visit Murano Glass factory and demo
• Explore Murano with audio guide
• Visit Burano Lace Museum
• Walk Burano's colorful streets

The Experience

The boat leaves Venice and cuts into the lagoon, and within twenty minutes you're standing inside a working glass factory on Murano watching a craftsman heat a rod of molten glass until it glows orange. He doesn't narrate or perform. He just works, turning the rod, blowing air through a pipe, shaping something that will cool into a vase or a figurine. You get maybe five minutes of this, which sounds short until you realize you're watching a technique that's been done the same way for centuries on this island. After the demonstration, the audio guide takes you through Murano's streets on your own, so you're not herded through a gift shop or stuck with a group moving at someone else's pace.

Then the boat carries you to Burano, and the shift is immediate. The houses are painted in colors that seem almost too bright to be real, and the narrow canals reflect them back like a doubled rainbow. You wander the hidden streets without a guide, which means you can stop for coffee, linger at a bridge, or duck into a small shop if something catches your eye. The Lace Museum is included, and it's genuinely worth the time. The pieces on display show how intricate the work is, and the museum explains the centuries of tradition behind it without feeling like a lecture. You're not rushed through. The tour gives you the afternoon to move at your own speed.

The boat ride itself is part of it. You see the whole Venetian Lagoon from the water, the way the islands sit in relation to each other, the light changing across the shallows. It's the kind of view you don't get from walking around Venice itself, and it settles something about how the city actually works. It's not one place, it's a collection of places connected by water.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Spanish15:00

Guide in English or Spanish10:20

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

What’s included

• Boat transportation from Venice to Murano and Burano.
• entry to a historic Murano glassworks with a live glassblowing demonstration.
• audio guide for independent exploration of Murano.
• free time to walk Burano's streets and canals.
• entry to the Burano Lace Museum.
• return boat transport to Venice.

Days and timesDaily · 2 departure times, from 10:20 to 15:00

AgesAges 6+ · Under 6 — Free

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends where it startsMeeting point, per the operator: “For the Murano only option, meet your assistant in the shop opposite the Church of San Zaccaria. PLEASE ARRIVE 15 MINUTES BEFORE DEPARTURE TIME”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by The Tour Shop

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see the lagoon islands without renting a boat or hiring a private guide. The fixed itinerary handles transport and museum entries, leaving you free to move through each island at your own rhythm.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Under 6, free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

Is the glassblowing demonstration included?

Yes. You visit a historic Murano glassworks and watch a live glassblowing demonstration as part of the tour.

Do I need to book the Lace Museum separately?

No. Entry to the Burano Lace Museum is included in the tour price.

Can I explore Burano on my own, or is it a guided walk?

You explore Burano independently. The tour gives you free time to walk the streets and visit the museum at your own pace.

Is the boat ride accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

What if I want to buy Murano glass? Is there time?

The glassworks visit includes a demonstration, and you have free time on Murano to explore the island, which includes shops, but the tour doesn't specify a dedicated shopping stop.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the boat departure point?

The tour departs from Venice. Public transportation options are available nearby to reach the departure point.