Murano

I have never had a tour of Murano, Burano or Torcello. Always on our own.

There is the glass museum - very interesting - on Murano, wandering the island, peeking in shops and artisanal workshops, watching groups going into the big places,

Good fun. Not my fav island.

Further out are Burano with the things it is famous for, I prefer it, and very close to Burano is the primitive island of Torcello. Love the mosaics in the church, the garden surrounding, a very relaxing place.

Been to Murano a number of times and always on our own. Just get an early start and one half day should be enough time. Burano , however, is, in my opinion, a much prettier island.

Murano is large and getting back from there in the late afternoon - depending on the month - can be a challenge with everyone coming back especially if you have a time you need to be back.

If you have a half a day it may be challenge to do Murano. If it's early you could head out and do a few hours and come back depending on the seriousness of your deadline for the afternoon. If you have an afternoon and no deadline for the evening you could do that as well.

Several vaporetto serve Murano - 4.1 and 4.2 are the most accessible and do the same route in opposite directions. You can also 3 and also 3, 7 and 12 but only from more limited stops.
https://www.visit-venice-italy.com/water-bus-venice-line-41.html

Burano is much smaller and served only by one line - the 12.
https://www.visit-venice-italy.com/water-bus-venice-line-12.html

At least in the summer this is a route they commonly check vaporetto tickets so always validate your ticket at the gate and know where it is if they ask.

Enjoy Venice,
=Tod

Murano is easy to do on your own. Wander through the shops and visit the museum. I haven't done a tour because if I see a "shiny object" I don't want to be limited to the tour itinerary, plus I don't see a benefit. It's easy to take the vaporetto as stated above. Go out early, wander, sightsee and shop. Then eat lunch. If your "half day" is four hours including half hour vaporetto each way, time will be tight, but it's very doable. Better in five to six hours.

Murano is for people really interested in glass (which I am). It is not especially pretty, so for others I'd suggest doing other things in Venice. It's a shame prettier Burano is so much farther out in the lagoon.

We visited Venice a number of times before deciding to take time out of our days in Venice in visiting the islands. We took the public transport on our own, no organized tour. Murano was fine, Burano was very cute, but Torcello was my goal, for the brilliant mosaics. I wouldn't have taken the time if I was only going to visit Murano, but it really it depends on what you want to see.