Venice islands: Murano, Burano, Torcello and the rest of the lagoon

The Venetian Lagoon is scattered with islands, and four or five of them are worth a trip in their own right: Murano with its glass furnaces, Burano with its lace and painted houses, Torcello with the oldest basilica in the lagoon, and then Giudecca, San Giorgio Maggiore and the Lido, a few minutes by vaporetto from St Mark’s. Getting there is easy and fairly cheap: with a 24-hour ACTV pass (€25, official price) you can cover all the northern islands in one day.

On this page you will find a comparison of the islands, the vaporetto lines that reach them, the maths of a DIY trip against a boat tour, and two itineraries, one for half a day and one for a full day. Each island then has its own detailed guide.

The islands compared

The northern islands (Murano, Burano, Mazzorbo, Torcello) fit neatly into one day because they are all on line 12. Giudecca and San Giorgio are practically an extension of the centre, a stone’s throw from St Mark’s. The Lido is another world: it has roads, cars and buses, and in summer people go mainly for the sea.

How to choose

• You have half a day and care about glass: Murano, with a furnace demonstration and the Glass Museum.
• You want the photos and the postcard atmosphere: Burano, ideally early in the morning or late in the afternoon, with a walk over to Mazzorbo.
• You are into art and early history: Torcello, where the Last Judgement and Madonna Theotokos mosaics justify the trip on their own. It is the island the cheap tours treat worst, with barely 30–40 minutes.
• You only have a free hour between museums: San Giorgio Maggiore or Giudecca on line 2.
• You are travelling in summer and want the sea: the Lido.

Getting there by vaporetto: lines and times

Almost every departure for the northern islands leaves from Fondamente Nove, on the north side of Cannaregio. From Rialto it is about a 15–20-minute walk; from the station take lines 4.1/4.2 or 5.1/5.2.

Timetables change with the seasons: the times above come from the ACTV line PDFs and should be checked before you set off. Line 12’s first boat from Fondamente Nove is around 04:20 and the last around 22:25. Watch out for Torcello: in the daytime line 12 does not stop there, so get off at Burano and take the line 9 shuttle.

A single ACTV ticket costs €9.50 for 75 minutes. A day on the islands takes at least four or five rides, so the 24-hour pass at €25 almost always pays off: it covers lines 3, 4.1, 4.2, 7, 9, 12, 13 and 14. All the fares are in the ACTV vaporetto guide. If you would rather not depend on timetables, a water taxi from the historic centre has official fares of €60 to Murano and €115 to Burano or Torcello, for the whole boat.

DIY or boat tour?

The most useful comparison is between four options: the vaporetto with an ACTV pass, two group tours sold on Tiqets, a tour on a traditional boat and Alilaguna’s Green Line excursion. Prices are current and may change.

None of these options includes museum entry or the Torcello basilica. The glass demonstration on group tours takes place in a partner furnace and usually ends in the showroom: watching is free and buying is not compulsory. The real advantage of the cheap tours is the price (€20 against €25 for the pass) and not having to think about connections; the downside is that the boat sets the pace. If Torcello is the main reason for the trip, go on your own or choose the traditional boat.

Half-day itinerary

Murano and San Michele (about 4 hours). From Fondamente Nove take line 4.1 or 4.2 and get off at Cimitero for a walk through the monumental cemetery of San Michele, among the cypress avenues and the Renaissance church of San Michele in Isola; it usually opens from early morning until late afternoon, with shorter hours in winter. Take the 4.1/4.2 again to Murano Colonna and follow the Fondamenta dei Vetrai with a furnace demonstration; then the Glass Museum (Museo stop) and the basilica of Santi Maria e Donato, a few steps away. Return on line 3 towards Ferrovia and Piazzale Roma, or on the 4.1/4.2 towards Fondamente Nove.

Alternatively, Burano and Mazzorbo (about 4 hours). Line 12 to Mazzorbo, a walk past the vineyard and over the wooden bridge to Burano, the Lace Museum and a seafood lunch, back on line 12 from Burano.

Full-day itinerary: Burano, Torcello and Murano

1. Around 08:30, Fondamente Nove → Burano on line 12 (about 41 minutes). Heading first to Burano, the furthest island, gets you there before the groups.
2. Burano, 09:15–10:15: the painted houses in the morning light, Bepi’s House, the leaning bell tower of San Martino.
3. Line 9 shuttle to Torcello, 10:30–12:30: the basilica of Santa Maria Assunta with the Last Judgement and the Madonna Theotokos, the bell tower (combined ticket €9), the Torcello Museum (closed on Mondays) and Attila’s Throne.
4. Back to Burano for lunch on the 9, then the Lace Museum (open 10:00–16:00, closed on Mondays).
5. Line 12 from Burano to Murano Faro (about 32 minutes), an afternoon of furnaces, the Glass Museum and the lighthouse. In summer the Glass Museum stays open until 18:00.
6. Return on line 3 to Ferrovia or on the 4.1/4.2 to Fondamente Nove, or on line 7 to San Zaccaria.

Transport cost: a single €25 24-hour pass. If you visit all three museums, the Island Museums ticket (€20, reduced €10, valid three months) costs less than three separate entries (€15 + €7 + €7 = €29); the Torcello basilica ticket is extra.

The islands and the access fee

Venice’s access fee (€5 or €10 on designated days, from 08:30 to 16:00) does not apply on Murano, Burano, Torcello, Mazzorbo, the Lido, Pellestrina, Sant’Erasmo and the other minor islands, which have so far always been excluded from the calendar. Giudecca and San Giorgio, on the other hand, are part of the historic centre. Mind your route too: if you are a day visitor and pass through the historic centre to reach Fondamente Nove or San Zaccaria on a charged day during charged hours, you must pay or register. Guests staying in accommodation within the municipality, Mestre included, are exempt but still need to get the QR code. Full details on the access fee page.

Practical tips

• Start early. Mid-morning boats to Burano and late-afternoon boats back are the busiest; in summer, board before 09:00.
• Check the pier. Fondamente Nove and Burano have several piers marked with letters: line 12 to Burano leaves from pier A at Fondamente Nove, and line 9 to Torcello from pier A at Burano.
• Mondays: the Lace Museum and the Torcello Museum are closed; the Glass Museum and the Torcello basilica stay open.
• Winter: museum hours are shorter (Glass Museum until 17:00) and fog can slow the boats. Ideas for the cold season are on the Venice in winter page.
• Civic Museums: if you are also visiting the Doge’s Palace, the €50 Museum Pass includes all three island museums; compare the options on the passes and combos page.