Venice: Murano & Burano Boat Tour with Glass Demo

The Glass Master Shapes a Vase in Front of You, Then You're Off to Burano's Painted Houses

You board a panoramic boat at St. Mark's Square and visit Murano to watch a glass master at work in an active furnace, then Burano for 90 minutes of free time among the painted houses and lace demonstrations, with optional Torcello on the way back. A multilingual guide explains the lagoon's history and craft traditions throughout. The boat is covered, so the tour runs in rain, and you're back in the city by late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. St. Mark's Squarepassing by
2. MuranoEntry included1h 15m
3. Burano1h 15m
4. Venetian Lagoonpassing by

Venice Lagoon Islands Tour

• Meet at St. Mark's Square
• Visit Murano glass factory
• Watch glass blowing demonstration
• Explore Murano island
• Travel to Burano island
• Visit Burano main square and church
• Enjoy lunch on Burano
• Admire colorful houses of Burano
• Optional visit to Torcello island
• Return boat trip through Venetian lagoon

The experience

You're standing in a Murano glass furnace watching a craftsman pull molten glass from the kiln, and suddenly it's not abstract anymore. It's a person, a tool, and fire making something that will last centuries. That's the first stop on this Venice lagoon boat tour, and it's the moment you stop thinking about lagoon islands as a checklist and start understanding why people have been living and working out here for a thousand years. The tour departs from St. Mark's Square and takes you by panoramic boat to three islands, each one different enough that you're not just repeating the same experience three times over.

After Murano, the boat heads to Burano, and the shift is immediate, instead of furnaces and craft demonstrations, you're walking into streets where every building is painted a different color: deep reds, bright yellows, ocean blues, all of them reflected in the canal water. You get an hour and a half to walk around on your own, which is enough time to find a quiet corner, grab lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants, or just sit and watch the light change on the water. A lace-making demonstration happens while you're there, so if you want to see how that craft works, it's part of the tour. If you'd rather just wander, you can do that too. The multilingual guide is there to explain the history and point out the Church of San Martino if you want to see the Tiepolo painting, but the island itself is yours to move through at your own pace.

The third island, Torcello, is optional depending on which option you book, but if you choose it, you're going somewhere genuinely quiet. This is where Venice actually started, before the city moved to where it is now, and the oldest churches in the lagoon are still standing here. On the boat ride back to the city, you're watching the whole northern lagoon spread out around you, and the guide is talking about how the water, the islands, and the craft traditions all fit together. The boats are completely covered, so rain doesn't stop the tour. Bad weather that's truly exceptional might postpone it, but most days it runs.

Be at St. Mark's Square 10 minutes before departure. There's a €5 access fee for day-trippers on certain dates, which you can check before you book. Public transport gets you to the meeting point easily if you're staying outside Venice.

What’s included

Boat transportation by panoramic vessel between all islands, entry to Murano Island with a live glass-blowing demonstration at an active furnace, entry to Burano Island with a lace-making demonstration and 1.5 hours of free time to explore, optional entry to Torcello Island (depending on your chosen option), and a qualified multilingual guide throughout the tour who explains the history of the lagoon and local craft traditions.

Options for this experience

4 options

Ground floor islands cruiseGuide in 4 languages · 10:30Guided tour of the Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands in English, French, Spanish, German and Italian. Lasts 5 hours, times are approximate. The cruise boat is comfortable, built for a smooth ride and clear views.

Cruise from Murano to BuranoGuide in 4 languages · 10:30 and 13:00Guided tour of Murano and Burano Islands, available in Italian, English, French and Spanish. Duration is 5 hours, times are approximate. The boat is a comfortable speedboat built for a smooth ride and clear views.

Murano-Burano-Torcello CruiseGuide in 4 languages · 10:30Tour of the 3 Lagoon Islands, Murano, Burano and Torcello, in English, French, Spanish and Italian. Lasts approximately 5 hours. Travels on a double-decker panoramic boat.

Murano and Burano with food and wineGuide in 4 languages · 10:30Guided tour of the Murano and Burano Islands in English, French, Spanish and Italian. Lasts 5 hours, times are approximate. Includes 3 traditional Venetian cicchetti with a glass of wine. The boat is comfortable, for a smooth and relaxing trip.

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

Before you book

Lasts 5h–6h, runs every day at 10:30 and 13:00, from € 25 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:30 and 13:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Child (3 to 5 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 80

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French 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 due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by CITY TOURS CO. LTD

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the three most famous Venice lagoon islands without arranging separate boat tickets and timing each stop yourself. The guide handles the history and demonstrations, leaving you free to explore Burano at your own pace during the 90 minutes there.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 5 years); Infant (under 3): 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 24 h before the start.

What time does the tour start?

The tour departs from St. Mark's Square. You must arrive 10 minutes before departure. Exact start times vary by date. Check your booking confirmation.

How long is the tour?

The full tour duration depends on which islands you visit. Murano includes a glass demonstration, Burano gives you 1.5 hours free time, and Torcello is optional. Plan for a half-day or full-day experience.

Is lunch included?

No. You have 1.5 hours free time on Burano to eat at a local restaurant if you wish, but meals are not included in the tour price.

What if the weather is bad?

The boats are fully covered, so the tour operates in rain. Only exceptionally bad weather causes cancellation or postponement to another day.

Do I need to pay an extra fee to visit Venice?

Yes, on certain dates there is a €5 access fee for day-trippers. Check the official Venice city website to see if the fee applies to your visit date and whether you qualify for an exemption.

Is the guide in English?

Yes. The guide is multilingual and will explain the history and craft traditions in multiple languages during the tour.

Can I buy souvenirs on Murano?

Yes. During the furnace visit and free time on Murano, you can purchase local glass items as souvenirs.