Day trip to Murano from Venice

NOt a long ride and no it isn't rough. You can do Murano and Burano with no problem. Colorful houses on Burano make the trip very worthwhile.

The ride is not long - I think about 30 - 40 minutes and the lagoon is very calm (no problem with motion sickness). I also stopped at the Cemetery Island and took a look around, it was very interesting - several famous people buried there Ezra Pound, etc. They really decorate the graves and there are lots of photos on the headstones. We went from Cemetery to Murano and walked all over Murano, then hoped the boat to Burano. It started raining, so we didn't do too much and by then it was late afternoon.....so we went back to Burano the next day. (The trip to Burano is longer and required a change of boat in Murano -but still very calm.) I really recommend the Vaporetto pass it paid for the whole cost in just 2 days. We bought the 72 hour pass at the ticket window right outside
the Santa Lucia train-station, at the side of the canal. Very easy and they took a credit card.

We do it every time we are in Venice. Rick Steves' details it in his guide to Venice: which vaporetto to take, etc. The vaporetto rides are now €7.00 per ride, but the passes of 12, 14, 36, 48, 72, hours are a bargain for hop on-hop off convenience. By them at the Hello Venezia stand by the train station, or even online before you travel at HelloVenezia.com. If you have a day, go to Burano also, and to tiny Torcello, birthplaces of Venice. A trip like this makes your vap pass a real steal!

How long is the ride over? Is it rough, like for sea sickness?

Love visiting the islands when we visit Venice. Especially love Burano and the colorful houses. Was just in Venice in July for the 5th time and we always get a vaporetti pass. As Laurel stated above, they come in many different time increments. If you want to shorten your ride to the islands by quite abit you can easily walk to the Fondamente Nove vaporetti stop and get on here. This is located at the "top of the fish" and not far from the hospital. Whatever you do do not try and ride the vaporetti without a pass or ticket. Everytime we have seen people getting fined. I believe it is 50 Euros!

We only had one full day in Venice (last Friday) so we limited our lagoon travels to just one stop, Burano. It was well worthwhile. It's smaller than Murano, and while there were a lot of tourists on Burano, it didn't seem as hectic as Murano. The diminutive buildings and bright colors give Burano a Disney-esque quality. Photos here: https://picasaweb.google.com/103837507532952449461/September202013Venice#5925756747446913298
https://picasaweb.google.com/103837507532952449461/September202013Venice#5925756794235980642 https://picasaweb.google.com/103837507532952449461/September202013Venice#5925756699473547890 The Fondamente Nove vaporetto stop was an easy walk from our hotel, which was close to Piazza San Marco. Even if the water in the lagoon is rough (we saw whitecaps on the water, and the heavy boat traffic keeps the water churned up) the vaporetti are very stable and the ride is smooth. But they can be crowded, standing-room-only style. On our shortest vaporetto ride (Line 2 from Rialto to Santa Lucia station, only about 10 minutes) our tickets were checked by two different (and very polite) officers.

Save yourself lots of time by taking the Vaporetto from the Fondamente Nove stop. It's an easy walk from Rialto (follow the signs). The ride was probably about 15 minutes as opposed to a 30-45 minute ride from San Marco. If you decide to purchase anything there, please visit Pesce Pesce or Fiore Fiore on the main drag (opposite side of the blue Murano glass sculpture). You will find very unique pieces there at reasonable prices.

Very good advice from Gabriel about where to catch the vap. Gabriel, do you mean this blue sculpture on Murano? Murano blue glass sculpture

Yes, Michael, that's the one.

If you get Rick Steves Venice or Rick Steves Italy, the books have all the details about the trip from Venice to Murano. You will also learn lots more, including stuff you didn't even think to ask about, and they will be generally invaluable with the "nuts and bolts" of your trip (where's the entrance to this museum? which day is that sight open late, with shorter lines? etc.). I'll second the recommendation of the cemetery island (San Michele). But, if it's a hot day, bring an umbrella, as there is no shade there.

Well, San Michele does have some trees and shady places, but there's never a downside to being prepared for a hot sunny day. San Michele from above San Michele walkway

If you go to Burano, Torcello is just a short vaporetto ride away, quiet churches with great mosaics.

While in Murano be sure to see the Curch of St. Peter the Martyr. You cannot take pictures so we bought the book. You will not forget the wood carvings they are spectacular.