Venice Islands Boat Tour: Murano, Burano & Torcello

Torcello has just over 10 inhabitants now, but its basilicas and bridges still draw visitors from everywhere.

A full-day boat tour from St Mark's Square visits three islands in the Venetian lagoon: Murano for a glassworks demonstration, Burano for its painted houses and lace heritage, and Torcello for the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and the ruins of early Venetian settlement. A multilingual guide leads the route, and the return journey frames views across the lagoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Murano1h
2. Burano2h
3. Venice Islands1h

Boat tour of Venice islands

• Board boat at Riva degli Schiavoni
• Sail to Murano
• Visit glassworks and watch glassmaking demo
• Explore Murano sights or lighthouse
• Sail to Burano
• Visit colorful houses and local attractions
• Sail to Torcello
• Visit Basilica and historical sites
• Return boat trip with lagoon views
• Disembark at starting point

The experience

The boat departs from Piers 1, 2 and 3 in front of Palazzo Cornoldi on Riva degli Schiavoni and heads first to Murano, where you spend one hour and 15 minutes. The centerpiece here is a visit to one of the island's glassworks, where you watch a master glassmaker demonstrate the craft for about 15 minutes. After that, you're free to walk to the lighthouse, visit the Basilica of Santi Maria and Donato, tour the Glass Museum, or explore Palazzo da Mula on your own.

Burano comes next, with roughly two hours to spend among its colorful houses. The leaning bell tower is the obvious landmark, but the Lace Museum in Palazzo del Podestà holds rare examples of the fabric that made the island famous. Bepi Suà's house is another stop many visitors seek out. Then the boat carries you to Torcello, where the first Venetian settlements took root in the 7th century when people fled barbarian invasions. You have an hour there to see the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, the ruins of the Baptistery of San Giovanni Evangelista, Attila's Throne, and the Devil's Bridge, which local legend still wraps in mystery. The return trip lets you take in the lagoon itself before the boat brings you back to where it started.

A multilingual guide travels with the boat and speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language. You can book the full three-island route or choose a shorter option that includes only Murano and Burano. Depending on the date and your residency, a €5 Venice access fee may apply. Check the city's official site for exemptions and which days the fee is in effect.

What’s included

• Boat transport to all three islands.
• visit to a Murano glassworks with a master glassmaker's demonstration.
• a multilingual guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language.
• return views of the Venetian lagoon.

Before you book

Lasts 7h, runs every day at 10:45, from € 32.50 per person, with live guides in 5 languages and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:45

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by ABSOLUTE ITALY SpA

Is this one for you?Choose the full three-island option if you want to see where Venetian civilization began and have time to explore each stop at a leisurely pace. The shorter Murano and Burano route works if you have less time or want to focus on the glassmaking and lace heritage without the historical sites of Torcello.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What exactly happens during the glassmaking demonstration in Murano?

A master glassmaker performs a live demonstration lasting about 15 minutes at one of the island's furnaces, showing the traditional craft. After the demo, you're free to explore the rest of Murano on your own: the basilica, the Glass Museum, or other sites.

How much time do I actually get to walk around each island?

Murano has one hour and 15 minutes total. The glassworks demo takes about 15 minutes, leaving you roughly an hour to explore independently. Burano gives you approximately two hours, and Torcello gives you one hour.

What is Torcello known for besides the basilica?

Torcello is where Venetian civilization began in the 7th century, when settlers fled to the lagoon islands to escape barbarian invasions. Today the island holds the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, the ruins of the Baptistery of San Giovanni Evangelista, Attila's Throne, and the Devil's Bridge, which is said to carry an old legend.

Can I visit the cathedral in Torcello, or is there an extra fee?

The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta is the main historical site on Torcello. Entrance to the cathedral depends on which tour option you book. Check the details at checkout to confirm what is included in your choice.

Does the tour include lunch or drinks?

Lunch and drinks are not included. You'll have free time at each stop to eat at local restaurants or cafés, but you'll need to budget for meals separately.