Murano & Burano Islands Fully Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat
» Venice » Venice » Venice
From $42.70
2,129 reviews (4.50)
Price varies by group size
Lowest Price GuaranteePricing Info: Per Person
Duration: 5 hours
Departs: Venice, Venice
Ticket Type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Free cancellation
Overview
Cruise the Venetian Lagoon by private water taxi and meet the artisans keeping Venice’s traditional crafts alive. You’ll see demonstrations of traditional glassblowing on the island of Murano, and traditional lacemaking on Burano. The tour includes discounts on souvenirs from both demonstration workshops. Both islands have plenty to see, and you’ll have ample time to explore.
What's Included
Discount at the glass gallery and lacemaking shop where the demonstrations are given
Glassmaking demonstration in Murano
Lacemaking demonstration in Burano
Professional guide
Round-trip transport by a private boat
Small groups of up to 20 people for a more personalized experience
What's Not Included
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Traveler Information
- INFANT: Age: 0 - 1
- CHILD: Age: 2 - 14
- ADULT: Age: 15 - 99
Additional Info
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Some sites visited lack shade and can be hot under direct sunlight. We recommend bringing a hat, sunscreen and a bottle of water in warm weather.
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Some sites visited lack shade and can be hot under direct sunlight. We recommend bringing a hat, sunscreen and a bottle of water in warm weather.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Experience may be cancelled due to Insufficient travelers
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
What To Expect
Isola di Murano
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.
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.
2 hours • 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.
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Reviews
Nice trip!
Susan_C, 22-12-2022
Easy to find the guide. Good commentary. Great for a first time visit to Venice. Good to have free time on the islands to see other glass factiries and shops.
Worth a visit!
Yvonne_C, 21-12-2022
Burano is a quaint little town with lovely colourful houses. Worth while to to visit. Not much to see with the lace making but the walk around makes up for it. Wished we had more time for lunch and take in the atmosphere.
Cristina is fun and very informative!!
Victoria F, 20-12-2022
The tour was the perfect amount of time in each island. Cristina did a great job of giving us the history of Venice and the islands. She has a true passion for sharing the love of these islands with everyone and it really shows! Great tour if you’re wanting to get a taste of these beautiful islands!
Francesca gin is the best!!!
tgriga03, 18-12-2022
Francesca Gin was great! Everyone in my family loved her and her insight and humor was very energetic/ entertaining! I highly recommend asking for her!
A colorful and impressive experience
paulaG1408KT, 18-12-2022
We loved our tour of Murano and Burano. Serena was a fantastic guide, she is extremely knowledgeable about the surrounding areas, having grown up in Venice. This was a wonderful way to get to know areas surrounding Venice. Watching the glass master and strolling the colorful streets of Burano was an amazing experience.
Beautiful day out
jammiek2014, 23-12-2022
Our tour was smooth and well organized. Our tour guide Serena was very informative and helpful. We purchased beautiful Maruno glassware and had lovely hour on Burano Island.
Murano, Burano, flamingo!
Rbaker1974, 28-12-2022
This was a brilliant tour and whilst Venice and it's historic islands were the stars of the show, they were ably asissted by the wonderful Antonella. The tour gives you the perfect amount of time to explore both islands. The glass factory on Murano is a wonder, with the opportuity to watch the amazing craftsmen at work. Couldn't afford to buy any, but great to see it being made.
We were also lucky enough to see one of the lace ladies at work, even though it was off-season, when we went to Burano. We had a good amount of time to explore the island and a few people on our group also had sit down meals, whereas we grabbed a pizzeta on the go.
Whilst in transit, on the very nice little boat, Antonella filled the time with some great stories about Venice and with her great knowledge of its histroy. She's a proud Venetian, but also very honest, brutally at times, about its history, which I really enjoyed.
We also saw flamingos!
We were also lucky enough to see one of the lace ladies at work, even though it was off-season, when we went to Burano. We had a good amount of time to explore the island and a few people on our group also had sit down meals, whereas we grabbed a pizzeta on the go.
Whilst in transit, on the very nice little boat, Antonella filled the time with some great stories about Venice and with her great knowledge of its histroy. She's a proud Venetian, but also very honest, brutally at times, about its history, which I really enjoyed.
We also saw flamingos!
Amazing tour guide and lovely afternoon
Cara_W, 28-12-2022
We loved the tour, especially the detailed stories and history shared by our guide, Antonella. She was a wealth of knowledge and also managed our group very effortlessly.
Loved it!
Chloe_C, 27-12-2022
Amazing tour guide, really cool to see the glass making process, delicious food recommendations, free time to explore, well structured day! 100% recommend!
One of the best tours in my life!
mario f, 25-12-2022
This was one of the best tours I have ever taken in my life! One reason was our wonderful tour guide, Sylvia, who was so knowledgeable, personable, and fun to have. She was so cordial to everyone. My two grown daughters and I enjoyed this tour! It was well worth the money and time! I highly recommend it!
Perfect tour
Tal_R, 25-12-2022
Serena is a fantastic tour guide. Knowledgeable and organized. She kept us informed and entertained. Highly recommend.
Worth doing!
k_grace255103, 09-01-2023
Christina our tour guide was very knowledgeable and provided an overview of the history of Venice and Murano & Burano.
We watched a glass blowing demonstration and then had 45 minutes to explore the island. In Burano we visited a lace store and had 1.5 hrs free time which was enough to have lunch and explore the island. On both islands Christina provided with an idea of where to head during the free time.
Our children (13 & 11) enjoyed the tour despite, initially not wanting to go.
We watched a glass blowing demonstration and then had 45 minutes to explore the island. In Burano we visited a lace store and had 1.5 hrs free time which was enough to have lunch and explore the island. On both islands Christina provided with an idea of where to head during the free time.
Our children (13 & 11) enjoyed the tour despite, initially not wanting to go.
Great tour. Serena was...
Carolyn_H, 08-01-2023
Great tour. Serena was great. She told lots of interesting stories about the Venetian islands and stops in Murano and Burano.
Murano and Burano are worth the trip!
Jeff_R, 08-01-2023
This tour was an excellent way to visit these two amazing islands. We were a family of five in a small group of about 15 people. It is nice to have a private boat and a guide along for the day. The guide was informative and shared insights during the boat rides. The glass making demo was impressive and Burano was amazing to see. Some points to consider: arrive early for the tour given the meeting spot is hard to find. We had to ask some people for the statue designated as the meeting point. The glass making demo is at a store. This store gives you a “discount” but I’m pretty sure the prices are marked up so much that you overlay by a lot. They don’t give you as much time as I would have liked to shop individually on the island, so leave once the demo is done and head to other shops. It’s a 3-5 minute walk from the demo store to anything else. If you plan to buy items, don’t spend your shopping time in the demo shop unless you’re ok with its prices (each shop has unique pieces, so if you love what you see, it may be worth it to you). Burano was beautiful. We had a nice lunch there as well in a cafe. I’d recommend this tour. You can visit the islands by water taxi, but we liked the guide, the glass making demo, and the help finding everything. We wish we had. Ore time to shop on Murano.
Nice but quick visits to both islands
Dawn W, 07-01-2023
Our guide Selena was amazing, she gave a great history of the islands as we cruised the lagoon and explained the other islands we passed as well as giving us background on Murano and Burano. She was very friendly and witty. The biggest downside was the limited time in Murano, while the glass blowing demo was excellent the limited remaining time on the island restricted visitors to the gift shop at the factory where selections were limited and pricy. Burano was beautiful and we had time to browse around and grab a quick lunch…the patate fritte at the restaurant near the boat dock was great. Overall it was a decent value and a great way to spend the day learning a bit about the history and people of Venice.
Islands
Y4401OVkathyg, 07-01-2023
The tour seemed very commercially focused by visiting only one establishment in each place. There was no opportunity to see what other outlets had to offer. In effect it was an organized shopping expedition, particularly in Murano. We saw only one place where lace is made as well. Too bad.
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