Murano & Burano tour from Venice: Glassblowing and lace

A glassblower at work, a lacemaker at her frame, and the colored houses of Burano between them

A private boat tour from Venice to Murano and Burano islands with a guide in your language, visiting a working glass factory to watch a master glassblower, then crossing the lagoon to Burano for a lace-making demonstration and a walk through the island's colored streets. The tour runs four hours and includes the boat, both workshops, tasting of local cookies, and pickup from your Venice location.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Murano and Burano islands

• Private boat from Venice to Murano
• Watch master glassblower show
• Boat crossing to Burano island
• Walk around colorful Burano houses
• Taste typical bussolai cookies
• Visit historical lace workshop
• Return to Venice by private boat

The experience

You start from Venice and travel by private boat directly to Murano, where you'll step into one of the oldest glass factories still operating on the island. A master glassblower and his team work there daily, following techniques that have held for centuries. You watch the glassblowing demonstration (the furnace, the gather, the shaping), and see how a flat gather of molten glass becomes a finished piece. The factory visit is private, which means no crowds between you and the work.

From Murano, the boat crosses the lagoon to Burano, the island famous for lace and for the bright-painted houses that line its canals. You walk through the streets with your guide and taste bussolai, the traditional cookies Burano is known for. Then you enter a historical lace-making atelier where you meet a working lacemaker and watch the demonstration of how the patterns are built by hand: the needles, the thread, the geometry that takes years to master. This is not a museum display. It's a working workshop where lace is still made.

The return to Venice is by private boat, which gives you time on the water to see the lagoon itself: the light, the other islands, the way Venice sits in the water. The whole tour is four hours. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian or French, depending on which you choose at booking.

What’s included

• Private boat transportation from Venice to both islands.
• pickup from your Venice location.
• a private guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French.
• entry to the Murano glass factory with a live glassblowing demonstration.
• entry to the Burano lace-making workshop with a demonstration.
• tasting of traditional Burano cookies.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (1 to 14 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Shome Venice

Is this one for you?Four hours is enough to see both islands and watch the crafts without rushing, but it leaves your morning or late afternoon free. Book this if you're in Venice for a day and want to understand how the lagoon islands still work, not just photograph the houses.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 14 years).

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 24 h before the start.

What exactly happens during the glassblowing demonstration on Murano?

You watch a master glassblower and his team at work in the factory itself, seeing how they gather molten glass from the furnace, shape it, and finish a piece using techniques that have been passed down for centuries. It's a live working demonstration, not a performance staged for visitors.

What is the lace-making workshop like on Burano?

You visit a historical hand-made lace atelier where a working lacemaker demonstrates how lace is created by hand: the needles, thread and patterns. It's an active workshop, not a museum, so you see the craft as it's still practiced on the island.

Does the tour include food or drinks?

Yes, you'll taste bussolai, the traditional cookies Burano is famous for. The tour does not include other meals or drinks beyond this tasting.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

Yes, the private boat tour includes pickup from your Venice location. Your guide will confirm the exact meeting point when you book.

Will I need to pay the Venice access fee for this tour?

On certain dates, visitors staying outside Venice who are visiting for the day may need to pay a €5 access fee to the city. Check the official Venice city website (cda.ve.it) to see if the fee applies to your travel dates and whether you qualify for an exemption.