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Murano & Burano Islands: Private Boat Tour with Craft Workshops, Traditional Artisans
4.7
7,810 Ratings
Venezia
Embark on a private boat tour of Murano and Burano Islands in the Venetian Lagoon. Witness traditional glassblowing on Murano and lacemaking on Burano, while enjoying discounts on souvenirs. Explore these vibrant islands and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Venice.
Embark on a private boat tour of Murano and Burano Islands in the Venetian Lagoon. Witness traditional glassblowing on Murano and lacemaking on Burano, while enjoying discounts on souvenirs. Explore these vibrant islands and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Venice.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Isola di Murano - The captivating islands of Murano and Burano offer a delightful escape from the bustling streets and waterways of Venice. The ideal way to reach them is by private water taxi. These taxis are faster and more robust than a gondola, and more agile and less crowded than a waterbus, making them the top choice for traveling in Venice….
- Isola di Murano - The captivating islands of Murano and Burano offer a delightful escape from the bustling streets and waterways of Venice. The ideal way to reach them is by private water taxi. These taxis are faster and more robust than a gondola, and more agile and less crowded than a waterbus, making them the top choice for traveling in Venice. While not many visitors get to experience this, it is included in your tour, along with a knowledgeable local guide who will share insights into Venice’s history as a major trade hub.
Your first stop is a specially selected glassblowing workshop on Murano. During the Middle Ages, only Murano’s artisans knew the secrets of this craft, and revealing them was punishable by death. You will have the opportunity to watch modern glassblowers use these once-secret techniques to create exquisite works of art from molten glass. Then, admire the workshop’s finest pieces in its gallery, and perhaps purchase a piece for yourself with a tour discount. Alternatively, explore more of Murano, including its tranquil canals and magnificent Byzantine church.
- Burano - The residents of nearby Burano continue to uphold the island’s tradition of handmade lace, renowned as some of the finest in the world. You will have the chance to see lace being hand-stitched as it has been for generations. Then, visit the lace museum to view the island’s most exceptional work, or simply enjoy the photo opportunities provided by the vibrant houses, painted in bright colors so sailors could spot home as they returned from the sea. As you cross the lagoon back to Venice, you will gain a renewed appreciation for the crafts that have long defined the city.
What's Included
- Glassmaking demonstration in Murano
- Round-trip transportation by private boat just for your group
- Lacemaking demonstration in Burano
- High-quality headset for clear audio and seamless commentary
- Enjoy a personal experience with an expert local guide
- Glassmaking demonstration in Murano
- Round-trip transportation by private boat just for your group
- Lacemaking demonstration in Burano
- High-quality headset for clear audio and seamless commentary
- Enjoy a personal experience with an expert local guide
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Embark on a private water taxi journey through the Venetian Lagoon and get familiarized with the craftsmen preserving Venice’s age-old arts. Witness firsthand the ancient art of glassblowing at Murano Island and the traditional craft of lacemaking at Burano Island. Avail discounts on memorabilia from both these demonstrating workshops. Discover plenty…
Embark on a private water taxi journey through the Venetian Lagoon and get familiarized with the craftsmen preserving Venice’s age-old arts. Witness firsthand the ancient art of glassblowing at Murano Island and the traditional craft of lacemaking at Burano Island. Avail discounts on memorabilia from both these demonstrating workshops. Discover plenty at both islands with sufficient time to wander.
- Please note that the order of island visits and demonstrations may vary due to local conditions and availability. Glassblowing and lace-making demonstrations are hosted by working artisans and may change without notice. The tour operates in all weather and involves moderate walking.
- The Municipality of Venice has introduced an Access Fee that applies on specific dates. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend checking the official guidelines and completing the necessary registration through the provided link before your visit. (https://cda.ve.it/en/ Official Link for Registration)
- 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.
Location
Monument to Victor Emmanuel II
Riva degli Schiavoni
At the statue of a man (Vittorio Emanuele II) on a horse in Riva degli Schiavoni (San Zaccaria vaporetto stop), in front of the lagoon.
The guide will have a City Wonders flag or sign with the name of the tour at the meeting point for easy recognition.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(7810 Ratings)
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Nomad29601040075
Feb 21, 2026
Well worth it! - Had a gorgeous day on the half day tour to Murano and Burano. Just enough time on both islands. Our tour guide, Elena, was full of energy and so knowledgeable. There were 17 of us on the tour. The boat was comfortable. There was also an option to make your own way back from Burano if you wanted to stay on. Really fun. Just enough time. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stay49529195161
Jan 5, 2026
A Tale of Two Halves - one hype, the other beauty! - A very worthwhile trip but with some odd context!
Our guide Serena, was very imformative and provided a running commentary during the boat passages. We arrived in Murano for the glass making experience which was only 10 minutes in length. We watched a master glass maker make a tumbler, then a small horse statute. The glass was already made in a molten state - so we didn't actually see them making glass. The artistry was fanstastic and he showed great skill.
This factory specialised in making very ornate chandeliers. After our brief demonstration, we went into their museum/shop. We understood that Murano glass was expensive but this shop really didn't cater for us budget minded travellers.
We were led to believe that only Murano factories could produce Murano glass and that it was only available on the island and not in the shops.
TOP TIP - after your glass making experience, take the time to wander to the shops in marina, they have very well priced Murano glass for sale and they actually have micro-furnaces for making their own works.
We then embarked for Burano to see the dying art of Burano lace making. The journey to the island was very informative and boat ride in the bright January sunshine was excellent.
When we arrived at the island, we saw straight away that the houses were very colourful and a sight to behold. Our troupe of travellers made our way to a distinguished lace making shop. We admired the skill of one of the last remaining lace master in Burano.
After the demonstration, we walked around the tiny island admiring the colourful houses; the selection of shops and restaurants, and the overall atmosphere. We preferred Burano to Murano, but that's just our opinion!
TOP TIP - find your way into the many alleys and side roads off of the main street; there you will find more houses to be admired and some local gardens.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wanderer43958262596
Nov 7, 2025
Best Experience!! - There are tours that you know are the best version of an experience. This is one. There are not enough superlatives for Elena our tour guide. She is kind, fun, personable but more than that - she loves Venice. Getting to experience Murano and Burano through her eyes was truly a gift. You simply can't go wrong - request Elena if you can!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deirdres929
Nov 4, 2025
Good Guide - Great tour with knowledgeable guide and a good driver of the boat. Great demonstration of glass blowing. Island of Murano and Burano are beautiful too.
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David
Oct 20, 2025
Had a great time with with Elena. She was very knowledgeable about the area and history. - We were very greatful for Elena. She was very knowledgeable about the history and the culture of the people on the islands of Murano and Burano.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarahmh3067ye
Oct 12, 2025
Murano Burano Tour - Amazing Murano and Burano tour Serena was fantastic knowledgeable friendly and fun. We really enjoyed the tour!!!!!!
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Snackyx
Oct 12, 2025
Great guide! - Anna was a great guide—supplied lots of interesting info on the trip to Murano and back. The glass demo in Murano was interesting, but the “shopping” was limited to one Murano glass gallery, which is very expensive
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Nahyrb2025
Oct 11, 2025
Great experience to see. - Great tour with Alice. Very informative and kind. Showed us recommendations and on the way on boat told us history of the islands around.
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Fearless822761
Oct 8, 2025
Eve was a great tour host provided us a history of Burano and Murano and the history of Venice and the people. Must See! - This was an unbelievable, great experience. our host Eva was fantastic with her knowledge of both islands and Venice history.. Must do!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N9160jswendyf
Dec 7, 2025
Luciano and Frankie made this experience! - Overall we enjoyed this excursion. Our guide, Frankie, was amazing. Very kind, knowledgeable, and fun to be with. She was the best part of it.
The glassblowing was also very cool, and meeting Luciano, a 70 year glass blowing master, was a once in a lifetime experience.
What I think you need to know though is that the glass blowing demonstration was about ten minutes, and the lace making demonstration was about two minutes. The rest of the day we were left to shop. So keep in mind that this is mostly a boat ride to the islands. If that’s what you’re looking for, great. Book it. I was expecting a bit more in the way of both demonstrations.
After the very quick glass blowing demonstration, they bring you to a gallery full of high priced glass items. (Most 20-100k) That part was interesting, the glass is beautiful. However the blond woman who worked there was very pushy. She saw me looking at jewelry and swooped. Started pulling out everything and trying to get me to try it on and when I refused to immediately buy a $500 bracelet, she sighed in exasperation, even though I explained I hadn’t gotten to look through the rest of the first floor yet and hadn’t even seen the second floor and I wanted time to keep looking before committing to what I was purchasing. I would have bought the bracelet but her attitude (and awful perfume that was making me sick) made it a no-go. I decided to spend my money in Venice instead.
In Burano, we were taken into a shop where a woman was sitting in the back making lace. We all crowded around her and were given a two minute description of what she was doing, told not to video, and that was it. The gelato on the island was very good, and I bought a soft cashmere scarf.
Overall the tour was a nice day and inexpensive, so I don’t regret going. I just expected a little more information and less shopping. But it’s a tourist attraction so I guess that’s to be expected.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
