Escape the crowds and experience the timeless charm of Venice’s lagoon islands on this half-day guided tour to Murano and Burano, known worldwide for their centuries-old craftsmanship.

Start with a scenic boat ride from central Venice to Murano, where your English-speaking guide will share fascinating insights as you pass beautiful sights along the way. On arrival, visit a traditional glassblowing workshop, where you’ll watch a master craftsman demonstrate this ancient art. Learn how silica becomes glass, what gives it colour, and the challenges of this intricate craft. After the demo, enjoy free time to explore the island and browse unique glass art pieces—special discounts available in selected shops.

Next, continue by boat to the colourful island of Burano, famous for its vibrant houses and historic lace making. Discover the stories behind the island’s colours and visit a lace workshop where women still hand-stitch delicate patterns using traditional methods passed down through generations. Hear how this once-thriving trade is now a rare and treasured art form.

Stroll the charming canals, sample local cookies, or shop for unique souvenirs before heading back to Venice. This tour offers a relaxing escape and an authentic glimpse into Venice’s rich artistic heritage.

We were stunned by the beautiful boat we had, it was gorgeous. Romi was the perfect guide, knowledgeable and friendly. We had a great experience and enjoyed both islands, however it would have been even better to have more free time on each, but this was a great introduction to Murano and Burano. Would highly recommend.

Would have benefited by waiting to get to hotel to book excursions

Wonderful guide, Chiara, who was both knowledgeable and interesting, and had a great sense of humour. She really made the experience extra special, and looked after the group well. She also filled in for the Lace-making demonstration following a last minute change in the venue due to unexpected circumstances, and did an excellent job. We enjoyed the glassmaking demonstration and experience on Murano, and loved the colourful houses on Burano. We also enjoyed exploring both islands.

Tour well organised, Frankie the guide was great, very knowledgeable and informative. Watching the glassblowing live was great and some love pieces to purchase available in the gallery. Burano was nice enough but the town was dead, nothing open.

Our guide, Manuela, was great! She was very informative and interesting. The glass blowing was interesting and Burano is very picturesque with lots of photo opportunities. This is a trip everyone should take!

Why you’ll love this…

Visit the enchanting islands of Murano and Burano
Don't miss live demonstrations of glassblowing and lace making
Hear mesmerizing stories by your expert English-speaking guide
Enjoy a relaxing round-trip boat trip by a private boat, exclusive to your tour group

Important to know

Accessibility:

Not suitable for wheelchair users, and those with reduced mobility
Not suitable for strollers or baby carriages

Know in advance:

The Municipality of Venice has introduced an Access Fee that applies on specific dates. To avoid any inconvenience, please check the official guidelines on the official channels and complete the necessary registration
It is recommended that customers who are not familiar with Venice give themselves ample time to find meeting points
Groups at the demonstrations are no larger than 22 people
Please note that on Mondays, the typical lace making demonstration in Burano may not always be available. In such event, the tour still offers a captivating exploration of the island that showcases its unique charm and rich cultural heritage

Remember to bring:

A hat, a sunscreen, and a bottle of water

Cancellation policy

Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins.

What’s included

Glassmaking demonstration at a factory in Murano
Lace making demonstration at a shop in Burano
Discount at the glassblowing and lace-making shop where the demonstrations are given (10%+ depending on the item)
Round-trip transportation by private boat
English-speaking guide

What’s not included

Entrance fees to the Burano Lace Museum
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Gratuities

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.

Location

Riva degli Schiavoni, 4183, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy

Meeting point:

At the statue of Vittorio Emanuele II on a horse in Riva degli Schiavoni (San Zaccaria vaporetto stop), in front of the lagoon. Please arrive 15 minutes before scheduled time.

Provider

City Wonders

What people say about this experience

4.5/5

All reviews are verified

Based on 46 reviews

Review categories

Service

4.7/5

Staff

4.7/5

Safety

4.7/5

Value for money

4.7/5

All ratings (46)

5 stars (29)

63%

4 stars (13)

28%

3 stars (4)

2 stars (0)

1 star (0)

K
Karen Wiles
Traveled as a couple
October 1, 2025
5
United States of America
We were stunned by the beautiful boat we had, it was gorgeous. Romi was the perfect guide, knowledgeable and friendly. We had a great experience and enjoyed both islands, however it would have been even better to have more free time on each, but this was a great introduction to Murano and Burano. Would highly recommend.
K
Kay
Traveled as a couple
September 22, 2025
4.2
United Kingdom
Would have benefited by waiting to get to hotel to book excursions
S
Stewart
Traveled as a couple
March 19, 2025
5
United Kingdom
Wonderful guide, Chiara, who was both knowledgeable and interesting, and had a great sense of humour. She really made the experience extra special, and looked after the group well. She also filled in for the Lace-making demonstration following a last minute change in the venue due to unexpected circumstances, and did an excellent job. We enjoyed the glassmaking demonstration and experience on Murano, and loved the colourful houses on Burano. We also enjoyed exploring both islands.
C
Cathy verbraeken
Traveled as a couple
March 31, 2025
4.6
United States of America
C
Charles
Traveled as a couple
April 25, 2024
4.2
United States of America
Tour well organised, Frankie the guide was great, very knowledgeable and informative. Watching the glassblowing live was great and some love pieces to purchase available in the gallery. Burano was nice enough but the town was dead, nothing open.
F
FionaM
Traveled as a couple
March 1, 2024
5
United States of America
Our guide, Manuela, was great! She was very informative and interesting. The glass blowing was interesting and Burano is very picturesque with lots of photo opportunities. This is a trip everyone should take!