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Murano Tours
47 Tours & Activities

Burano Tours
4 Tours & Activities

Day Trips
140 Tours & Activities
From $48.29
Price varies by group size
Free Cancellation
up to 24 hours in advance
5 hours (Approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English and 1 more
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
Overview
Explore the intricacies of two famed Italian handicrafts with a day trip from Venice to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano. Watch centuries-old glassblowing techniques in Murano, and marvel at the detailed stitches of exquisite Burano lace. Your knowledgeable guide will share the history of these two artisan islands while you visit local workshops and wander the picturesque streets.
- Watch local craftsmen at work in a Murano glass workshop
- Browse an impressive collection of glass artwork
- See Burano lace being made by local islanders
- Visit the Burano Lace Museum independently
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Situated just across the Venetian Lagoon from Venice, the lovely islands of Murano and Burano are world-renowned for their traditional artisan crafts. You’ll meet up with your guide in central Venice for the short boat ride to Murano, a picturesque grouping of islands that has been home to some of the world’s finest artisan glassblowers since the 13th century.
Visit the workshop of a local glassblower to watch delicate forms take shape from molten glass through a combination of rolling, shaping with iron tools and blowing through a long metal tube. Learn tricks of the trade, like how minerals are added to give the candy-colored vases and chandeliers of Murano their vibrant hue. Enjoy some free time on the island to explore other workshops and perhaps pick up a souvenir to take home.
Hop back on the boat for the scenic ride to Burano, where traditional lacemaking workshops are scattered among the island’s brightly colored homes. Learn about the history of Burano lace and how it was once sought after by monarchs across Europe for its exquisite quality. You’ll get a chance to watch local craftswomen creating lace through a series of finely detailed weaving and stitching, carrying on a tradition that has thrived here for centuries.
If you like, visit the Burano Lace Museum on your own to delve even deeper into the history of this elegant craft. Enjoy free time to explore the island and peruse local shops before the return boat trip to Venice.
Visit the workshop of a local glassblower to watch delicate forms take shape from molten glass through a combination of rolling, shaping with iron tools and blowing through a long metal tube. Learn tricks of the trade, like how minerals are added to give the candy-colored vases and chandeliers of Murano their vibrant hue. Enjoy some free time on the island to explore other workshops and perhaps pick up a souvenir to take home.
Hop back on the boat for the scenic ride to Burano, where traditional lacemaking workshops are scattered among the island’s brightly colored homes. Learn about the history of Burano lace and how it was once sought after by monarchs across Europe for its exquisite quality. You’ll get a chance to watch local craftswomen creating lace through a series of finely detailed weaving and stitching, carrying on a tradition that has thrived here for centuries.
If you like, visit the Burano Lace Museum on your own to delve even deeper into the history of this elegant craft. Enjoy free time to explore the island and peruse local shops before the return boat trip to Venice.
Itinerary
The enchanting islands of Murano and Burano are the perfect change of pace from Venice’s crowded streets and waterways. And the perfect way to reach them is by private water taxi. Faster and sturdier than a gondola, nimbler and less crowded than a waterbus, water taxis are the premier way to travel in Venice. Few visitors get to experience them, but yours is included, along with an expert local guide who’ll explain Venice’s history as a titan of trade along the way.
Your first port of call is a specially chosen glassblowing workshop on Murano. In the Middle Ages, only Murano’s artisans possessed the secrets of this craft, and sharing them was punishable by execution. You’ll get to witness modern glassblowers wield those once secret techniques, shaping delicate and dazzling works of art from molten glass. Then admire the workshop’s finest work in its gallery, and perhaps take home a piece of your own – with a tour discount. Or explore more of Murano, including its peaceful canals and stunning Byzantine church.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
The locals of nearby Burano still maintain the island’s tradition of handmade lace, some of the finest anywhere in the world. You’ll get to observe lace being hand-stitched the way it has been for generations. Then visit the lace museum to see the island’s greatest work, or simply enjoy the photo opportunity provided by the colorful houses, brightly painted so sailors could see home as they returned from the sea. When you cross the lagoon back to Venice, you’ll have a renewed appreciation of the crafts that put the city on the map so long ago.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Traveler Photos
Traveler Tips
- "This half-day tour is very worthwhile, seeing the islands of Murano and Burano is a must during a visit to Venice!" See review
- "The trip to Burano and Murano is worthwhile for anyone spending more than a day or two in Venice." See review
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Product code: 3731MURANO
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