Best of Murano & Burano

https://www.visit-venice-italy.com/water-bus-venice-line-12.html

This is a link that will show you the route. I suggest going to Burano first, and get there before the shops open as it is very photogenic, but even better without all the tourists. Plus, if you go to Murano first you will be following the crowd of others that do the same thing, and you may encounter a long line up to get on the vaporetto to get from Murano to Burano. Although, it may still be early enough in the season that it won’t be a big problem, but when I was there in May there was a large crowd at the stop waiting to board to get to Burano, and I’m guessing people had to wait a couple boats.
Neither island is very big, particularly Burano so there is no need for a particular route. You can probably walk every street on Burano in about 45 minutes, and about twice that for Murano, but outside the main shopping area they are just residential. On both islands the main shopping street is right where you get off the vaporetto so just follow that first. Both places have a tower that is tall enough that you can use it as a navigation point, and for the most part you can just wander down side streets from the main shopping street and back again.

We like to buy from glassblower Carol Moretti at his store, L’Isola. The shop is in Venice proper as are the other the high quality glassblower’s pieces. We have bought several of Carlo’s pieces as wedding gifts.
We have been to Murano only one time, twenty years ago, and that was enough. We have returned to Burano and the close by, adjacent island of Torcello several times. Venice was founded on Torcello and today there is a lovely cathedral, not too much more. I encourage you to go there as it is so very close to Burano. I have bought lace on Burano but don’t remember from which shop.
Yes, you take the vaporetto from Fondamente de Nove to the islands. This is on the north side and very near where we stay in Cannaregio.

@theplanningqueen

Thank you for asking these questions!

We'll be there a bit later than you but I'm unsure whether to pop over to Burano and Murano or just wander in Venice. I've never seen either Murano/Burano on prior Venice visits, but I'll also have three males in tow who will be on their first visit. I've not asked, but anticipate a mild collective interest in glass blowing with potential for mutiny over anything beyond a fleeting exploration of lace making. All the same, the opportunity for a change of pace might be welcome, and we've plenty of time to make it happen.

It's nice to know these details if we pivot this direction. It's very possible someone posts something interesting here that makes Murano/Burano a definite addition to the itinerary.

You might download the CheBateo? app (the question mark is intentional)…it shows timetables, routes, the number of stops on your chosen route…and is great to find the next vaporetto in case your visit (or lunch!) runs a little longer than you planned. We’ve found it so helpful and plan to use it again in September.

I’ve taken the vaporetto from Fondamente de Nove out to Murano. But last time, we were interested in going out to Burano, and we were near San Marco. So, we just took the #14 vaporetto that was very handy from that vicinity.

Murano - if you are planning to purchase an exquisite glass art piece or something very traditional, definitely go out to the showrooms and see their inventory. If you have never seen glass blown, it is worth seeing. If those two reasons don’t apply, personally I would skip this island and spend your extra time in Venice.

Burano - I love to take beautiful photos, and this is the island to do it! Even being there late morning gave vivid hues to the photographs from the variety of colors of the buildings. I definitely recommend going if you’re interested in photo opportunities. Some of the lace shops had authentic lace that was expensive but gorgeous. Other shops were more the basics but still make a nice souvenir.

You don’t mention which day of the week you are planning on visiting Murano and Burano. If it’s a weekend, I would definitely follow Anita’s advice and take *#12 to Burano unless you get out really early. The #4.1 only goes to Murano and then you have to wait for the #12 to Burano. I know this because we traveled on a Saturday mid morning and just jumped on the 4.1. It was a long wait for the next boat filled with people who had gotten on in Venice and Burano was packed when we got there.

My husband is a glass-blower and he really enjoyed the glass museum on Murano. Our first trip out to Murano was only for glass blowing because he was so excited to see the place, and we went first thing in the morning. We didn’t need to see the glass-blowing demonstrations, so we just walked by the men standing by the vaparetto stop hawking their tours. We did end up buying a piece from a small shop and after talking with the owner, he bought us a drink as his son’s restaurant. One of the surprise places was a mosaic shop where he enjoyed chatting with the owner.

I used the Murano-Colonna vaporetto stop last year. From that stop most of the shops are to the right, and that's the direction most of the other passengers will go. I enjoyed browsing in two shops to the left of the vaporetto stop. Ferro Toso is a tiny place selling very inexpensive jewelry, mostly single-pendant necklaces. The youngish owner won't pressure you to buy anything. This is not the place to look for statement jewelry, but I thought the pieces were amoing the most attractive I saw in the under-€15 price range. You don't get sturdy metal jewelry at the low end of the price scale no matter where you shop, but the pieces here were definitely sturdier than most in their price range.

A little farther along is one of several stores in Venice run by Marina and Susanna Sent; I believe it's the largest of their shops. At least some of the goods--perhaps all--are their own designs. They have lovely glass jewelry and some other glass items. They aren't pushy. The quality here is good.

Elsewhere on Murano there are dozens of shops. The largest concentration is along the canal near the Colonna vaporetto stop. The left side of the canal is Fondamenta del Vetrai; the right side is Fondametra Manin.

One assumes there's some counterfeit (imported) glass masquerading as Venetian, though in theory you should be able to trust the labels. I think some shops sell a mixture, with Venice labels prominently displayed (quite possibly legitimately) on some items in the hopes that customers will assume everything in the shop is locally made.

I think it's risky to spend not much time looking around before buying something other than an inexpensive trinket. Looking at a lot of pieces is helpful in identifying quality items. It also gives you an opportunity to spot what looks like the same not-cheap item in a bunch of different shops (probably not the purchase you want to make).

I'd be reluctant to buy something of consequence from a shop also showing really cheap jewelry. A serious glass showroom probably isn't going to bother with €5 trinkets--or with heavy, clunky-looking drinking glasses. Those clunky glasses are one of the things I was really suspicious about last year, though I guess they may be blown in Venice by apprentices.

Burano first before the crowdes arrive or late at the evening when the sun goes down.

I've been there only some weeks ago (late at the evening) and as always everyone has stayed arround bridge Tre Ponti. It gets a little more quiet if you walk right to the east of Burano - towards Fondamenta Pontinello and Fondamenta Cao di Rio.

My favorite spot is the Wander bridge because the leaning tower of Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Martino Vescovo is reflected in the canal.

Torcello is directly adjacent to to Burano and doesn’t take long to see. It is where Venice was founded and there is a cathedral to see, not much more. Very worthwhile to visit. Spend less time time on Murano than Burano. Crowded, over touristed. The better glassmakers have nice shops in Venice. My favorite is
Carlo Moretti’s L’Isola.