Murano, Burano, and Torcello Half-Day Sightseeing Tour – Most Pleasant Way to Visit Venice!

Everyone wants to go to Venice. And for good reasons. It is one of the most romantic places in the world. And that is what makes the Murano, Burano, and Torcello Half-Day Sightseeing Tour such a delight.

Venice is beautiful. But some of its more interesting attractions remain hidden from those who refuse to go off the beaten path. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the more conventional tourist routes.

If anything, this tour is fantastic for anyone who wishes to visit Venice in the most pleasant way and fast! The excursion will make your voyage so much easier and it will leave you with plenty of time to see the rest of Venice!


Overview

Torcello, Burano, and Murano are Venice’s famous lagoon islands. They each feature a litany of distinct activities and attractions, ranging from the glass making at the Murano Glass Factory to the intricate weaving of lace on Burano – not to mention Torcello’s historically rich cathedrals.

This tour doesn’t just offer a glance at these sights. Visitors are afforded an opportunity to intimately engage the traditions that have garnered these islands their considerable fame.

The itinerary is quite loose and you will find that you have plenty of time to wander and explore.Murano islnd boat tour

What To Expect?

You won’t be left by yourself on the Venetian Lagoon. You will immediately appreciate the presence of your tour guide. He or she will tell you about the history of the Lagoon and its island.

It will be a bit difficult to know everything in just one hour. But the information they provide will surely enrich your mind with the history of this beautiful Lagoon.

Once the trip begins, your boat will take you to Murano, Venice’s glass-making hub. The schedule actually includes a visit to the glass factory. You will watch as the art of glass blowing is demonstrated.

You don’t have to participate in this activity. You could just as easily strike out on your own. So long as you respect the duration allotted to the Murano stop. No one will keep you from sightseeing alone.

Once Murano is done – the tour will transition to Burano from where you will marvel at all the handmade lace activity on display. Keep in mind that you can buy everything they make on Burano – in one of the local shops in Venice.

There’s a break of about 35 minutes on Burano during which you will have the option of doing further exploration on your own. Again, it is imperative that you respect the time allotted. Do not wander too far so you don’t miss your boat when you get back.

Torcello comes last. The Island, once the Lagoon’s largest center, is also the most ancient of the bunch – dating back to the 5th Century. You can see the island’s age in the structures it houses. Including the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Church of Santa Fosca.

Torcello is a surprisingly spiritual location. People come from all over the world to marvel at its artistic attractions.

This tour isn’t just about the Islands. The journey itself is relaxing since you get to cruise through the Lagoon of Venice on a boat. So you can look forward to some pretty impressive views.

It should be noted that the order in which you visit the Islands might vary depending on your situation and the schedule at hand.Burano island boat tour


Duration of the Tour

The tour itself takes about five and a half hours. You are expected to spend around forty-five minutes on each island. Depending on the time it takes you to jump from Island to Island, you could finish everything in as little as four and a half hours.

Where is the Departure Point?

The departure point is Riva Degli Schiavoni. Look for the Ponte Della Paglia.


When is the Best Time to Do the Tour?

These tours are available all year round, not including the 25th of December. So you can expect to have a good time regardless of the time of the year during which you choose to travel. However, bear in mind that Italy has hot, dry summers and wet, cold winters.
April, May, June, September, and October are the most pleasant months. In July and August, it’s hot and crowded!Torcello island boat trip


What Is Included?

If you are new to tours of this sort, you probably want to know what is included in the tour. Well, for the most part, expect the following:

  • A guide is available, one who is conversant in multiple languages.
  • You also get transportation via motorboat.
  • A visit to Murano’s glass-blowing factory is assured.

What is Excluded?

  • You don’t get food or drinks
  • There are no gratuities
  • Torcello Cathedral isn’t free for visitors. You must pay the entrance fee
  • Do not expect Hotel Pickups and Drop-offs

Who Is This Tour For?

This is the perfect tour for anyone who is looking for a pleasant and affordable activity to do while in Venice. This boat tour takes you to the most interesting Venetian islands. You’ll be able to appreciate the traditions of the city without having to worry about the traffic.


Why You Should Do This Tour?

The three islands are a great starting point for visitors because they do not attract large crowds. So you can enjoy their offerings in peace and tranquility.

Additionally, the tour is relatively short. So you can see everything Murano, Torcello, and Burano have to offer, and then get back to Venice’s central hub just in time to visit every other Venetian sight that might have piqued your interest.

Think of it as an experiment. It is affordable, enrich able and fun!


Pros

  • You get a knowledgeable multilingual guide 
  • The boat ride through the Venetian lagoon is relaxing
  • Nice way to visit the island off of Venice 
  • It is inexpensive
  • The three islands to which the tour takes you have smaller crowds than most other Venetian attractions.

Cons

  • Dogs of certain sizes are not permitted to come on the tour
  • The tour isn’t always friendly to people in wheelchairs

Conclusion 

When you come to Venice, it is imperative that you visit at least one Island. Only then can you hope to truly experience everything that the city has to offer. This tour allows you to do just that.

The price tag attached is friendly. The journey to the islands is, on its own, engaging. And you are provided a guide that will educate you on some of Venice’s more interesting aspects.


Other Articles to Read

Have you done this tour? If so, you are welcome to share your experience in the comments below.

12 thoughts on “Murano, Burano, and Torcello Half-Day Sightseeing Tour – Most Pleasant Way to Visit Venice!”

  1. Travelling has always been my passion and there is no one place on earth would not want to see…I love Italy and I love the description you gave of Burano and Murano. I have been to Vencei a few times but never had neough times to visit the entire area. After reading your post I will make sure next time around to make time to see these other beautiful places
    Thank you for the tips

    Reply
    • Hi Barbara,

      I am glad this post has inspired you!

      Let me know if you need help. I’ll be more than happy to assist!

      Thank you for your comment, and wish you a lovely day!

      Reply
  2. Hello Daniella, thank you so much for putting this up. This summer, it’s destination Venice and I know I might be a little late but I don’t mind. I just wanted to see some available affordable tours that I can get in and I think this one is just perfect for me. Seeing that there’s a multilingual guide is great. I see you say Venice is usually crowded in August, is there a reason for me to have concerns?

    Reply
    • Hi Henderson,

      You are very welcome!

      Well, it depends on your preferences. If you like the heat and crowd doesn’t bother you, then August will be the perfect time for you to do the tour. But if you don’t, then I would highly recommend you to go in September or October. The weather is more pleasant, and the crowd starts to go away.

      I hope it helped. Let me know if you need more info. I’ll be more than happy to assist

      Thank you for the comment and wish you a lovely day!

      Reply
  3. Hi

    Thanks for this great article with some tour tips for Venice. I need to tell you, today you make my day. I was thinking yesterday where we will go or next vacation. But couldn’t decide. Because you know when we think to go to an unknown place we have to keep a few things in our mind. And your articles gave all this answer. How beautifully you portrait everything here, so I don’t need to think about any other options. I have decided our next holiday destination will be Venice. Because I had a dream that if we get a chance then once we will go any Island and I think this Island will make my dream true. Thanks again for such a beautiful article.

    Reply
    • Hi Nahar,

      You are very welcome there!

      I am happy I made your day!

      This is an activity you can do while you enjoy your vacation in Venice:) Anyway, you can’t go wrong with Venice. It’s so beautiful. Where ever you go, you’ll be amazed by the arts, history, music, wine, food the views.

      I am sure you’ll have fun!

      Let me know if you need help with anything. I’ll be more than happy to assist!

      Thank you for the comment and wish you a great day.

      Reply
  4. Considering that this ticks the box of being a budget friendly  tour, it would be a nice addition to the list of things I must do when I travel to Venice next week. My company has an all expense paid trip to Venice this year and I’m looking forward to explore the best that the city has to offer. I like the tranquil serenity of these murano, bucano and torcello sites and would be great to be explored. Since it is just an half day tour, it would be great. I’m definitely going to book this when I get home today. Thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Darrick,

      Yes, this tour is an activity you can not afford to miss if you are in Venice:)

      If you book this tour, I wish you to have a wonderful time!

      Thank you for the comment and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day!

      Reply
  5. I have never visited Venice but I love Italy its one place on my bucket list.  I went to Sorrento a couple of years ago and it was amazing.  We also took a boat to the Isle of Capri and sipped Wine overlooking the port.  
    I am very interested in the sightseeing tour you have available here.  How much does this cost?

    Reply
    • Hi Darren,

      Sorrento is a beautiful place! I went there too last year and I absolutely adored strolling around this stunning coastal town.

      The Murano, Burano, and Torcello tour is very affordable, it cost only $23.58 for a half-day excursion around Venice. I am sure you’ll love it!

      Thank you for the comment and wish you a nice day

      Reply
  6. Your information is all encompassing.  I really like it. You have great pictures of yachting the Mediterranean.  What a fun, pleasant vacation website.  I am sure I will come back to this site quite often.  You made yachting feel so real, that I want to try it sometime.  How much does a cruiser cost to own?  It would be so fun to go to all of these places.  All the Best, Krista

    Reply
    • Hi Krista,

      Thank you, I am glad you enjoy navigating through my website:)

      I don’t sell boats, so I can not give you accurate information on this, but I guess it all depends on the type of boat you want to buy:)

      Thank you for passing by and for the comment

      I wish you a great day!

      Reply

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