Grand Canal Private Boat Tour: Murano and Burano

Set the route through Venice's lagoons and let the guide handle the navigation

A four-hour private boat tour of Venice covers the Grand Canal, St. Mark's Square, the glass-blowing workshops of Murano, and the lace-making island of Burano, with hotel or cruise terminal pickup included and an English-speaking guide. The boat is yours alone except for a shared shuttle from Murano to Burano operated by the glass factory. You choose the pace and can ask the guide to linger at stops or detour into quieter neighborhoods along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. St. Mark's Squarepassing by
2. Grand Canalpassing by
3. Murano1h
4. Burano1h

Venice Grand Canal and Islands Tour

• Pickup at hotel or cruise terminal
• Pass by St. Mark's Square
• Pass by Grand Canal
• Visit Murano for glass-blowing
• Visit Burano for colorful homes and lacemaking

The experience

The tour starts with pickup at your hotel or cruise terminal, then heads straight onto the Grand Canal: the main waterway cutting through Venice's center. Your private boat and guide mean you're not waiting for other groups or following a fixed schedule. If a palazzo catches your eye or you want to photograph a particular bridge, you say so. The Grand Canal itself is the route: you're moving through the city's architecture and history rather than walking its crowded streets.

Murano comes next, the island famous for glass-blowing. You'll visit a working studio to watch artisans shape molten glass. The process is the draw here, not a shop visit. From there, a shuttle (which may include other visitors from the same factory) takes you to Burano, where narrow canals run between houses painted in bright yellows, pinks and blues. The lacemaking tradition is still practiced on the island. The guide explains what you're seeing as you walk. St. Mark's Square and the surrounding neighborhoods fill out the remaining time, with the guide pointing out details most visitors miss.

Four hours is enough to move through all four stops without rushing, though you're not spending hours at any single place. The boat does the heavy lifting: no walking long distances between islands, no figuring out which vaporetto goes where. Dress is smart casual, and the boat is wheelchair accessible if you let the operator know when you book. Infants can travel in a pram or stroller. If you're arriving by cruise ship, have your ship's name, docking time and re-boarding time ready at booking.

What’s included

• Private boat for the full four hours.
• English-speaking guide.
• hotel or cruise terminal pickup and return to San Marco.
• entry to a glass-blowing studio on Murano.
• shuttle from Murano to Burano (shared transfer operated by the glass factory).

Information

Lasts 4h, from € 824 per group, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 4 Jul 202710 departing soon ›

GroupPrivate10 group tours ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to1d before

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Top Venice

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private boat with a guide who knows the lagoon. You set the pace and choose where to stop, rather than following a fixed itinerary with a group.

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Top questions

What exactly happens when we get to Murano?

Murano is the glass-blowing island, and you'll enter a working studio to watch artisans heat and shape molten glass into vases, bowls and ornaments. The demonstration is live. You see the process, not a finished product display. After the studio, a shuttle boat takes you onward to Burano.

Is the whole tour just the three of us on the boat?

Yes, the private boat is yours alone for the Grand Canal, St. Mark's Square and the ride to Murano. The only shared leg is the shuttle from the glass factory to Burano, which may carry other visitors from the same studio.

How much walking is involved in Burano and Murano?

Both islands are small and walkable, but there's no long-distance hiking. You'll stroll through Burano's narrow streets and colorful squares, and walk to and from the glass studio on Murano. The boat handles the travel between islands, so your legs are mostly for exploring once you arrive.

Can we skip a stop or spend more time somewhere?

Yes, the four-hour window is yours to shape. If you want to linger in Burano or skip a detour, tell the guide. The private boat means you're not locked into a group schedule.

Do we need to buy anything at the glass studio or lace shops?

No. The studio visit is to watch the craft. There's no obligation to purchase. Same with Burano's lace shops. You can browse or walk past. Food and drinks aren't included, so plan accordingly if you want lunch or coffee.

What happens if we're arriving by cruise ship?

The tour includes pickup at the cruise terminal. When you book, provide your ship's name, the time you dock, when you disembark, and when you need to be back aboard. The guide and boat timing work around your ship's schedule.