Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands Tour
A visit to Venice is not complete without a day trip to the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello, world-famous for their history, centuries-old traditions, or colorful houses. You can take this trip either on your own, using Venice's public transport, or by booking one of the many organized tours to Murano-Burano-Torcello. The prices for both options are similar, but each comes with different advantages and disadvantages. Here is what you should know so you can choose the best option for you!
Murano, Burano, and Torcello on Your Own
If you go on your own, you will need to inform yourself beforehand and find your way among the countless water buses, the piers they depart from, and the route schedules. It will be useful to know that the line connecting the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello is vaporetto line no. 12, which departs from Fondamente Nove in Venice, first makes a few stops at Murano, and then goes towards Burano, sometimes stopping on the way at Torcello, depending on the run. From Burano to Torcello, you can also use vaporetto line no. 9.
Another disadvantage is that, due to the crowds of tourists, the water buses are very crowded, so you should be prepared to wait in line or potentially not be able to board the first vessel that arrives and have to wait for the next one.
The obvious advantage is that you will make your own schedule, staying on each island for as long as you wish (and, of course, as long as the vaporetto schedule allows).
To visit the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello by vaporetto, a single ticket will not be enough; instead, you will need a 1-day transport pass. Its price is €25. If you want to visit the islands on different days, you can use 2, 3, or 7-day passes.
Organized Tours to Murano, Burano, and Torcello
Booking a tour to the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello (or just to Murano and Burano) can save you a lot of headaches. First, you will no longer have to handle the organization, but only be at the meeting point at the established time. You can choose the tour so that the departure point is close to where you are staying. In addition, on board the vessel, you can learn various pieces of information about the history of the places you are about to visit.
The disadvantage of organized tours is that you will be among other tourists (sometimes quite a lot of them) and you will have to stick to the tour's specific hours and schedule, meaning the time allocated to each island is quite short.
Useful information about organized tours from Venice to Murano - Burano - Torcello:
- The price of a shared tour is around €25-€45.
- There are also private tours, which can be convenient if you are traveling with a group of friends.
- Generally, the duration of a trip is 4-6 hours, and the stops on the islands are about 40-45 minutes.
- The explanations on board are usually in English, Italian, Spanish, French, and/ or German.
- The first stop is on the island of Murano, where a short visit to a glass factory is usually included, sometimes offering a discount on purchases from the factory shop (expect products to be promoted to you insistently).
- On the island of Burano, some tours include a demonstration at a lace workshop.
- Tours that also include the island of Torcello in the program usually do not include the entrance ticket to the cathedral or the museum.
- Food, drinks, or entrance tickets to tourist attractions are not included.
