Murano and Burano

Suggestion -
Check out the Vaparetto (Water bus) schedules at:
http://www.actv.it/english/home.php -
You can take a vaparetto to Murano and then one to Burano and one back into Venice. It depends on how much time you want to spend in each place. I think the Vaparettos from Burrano (and Torcello) run late into the evening. If I am right you could spend time seeing what you want in Murano and even go to Burrano and have dinner there and return to Venice the night before you leave. If had kept my vaparetto schedule I would look it up for you. We did not get a chance to go to Murano, but did get to Burrano and Torcello. Be sure to buy an all day pass that lets you hop on and off the vaparettos as much as you want too.

I'd estimate you could see both by vaporetto in 4-5 hours. Both are distinct from Venice; Burano is my favorite because of the pastel colored houses and it's quieter. But both are worth seeing once you've spent a couple of days in Venice itself. Do it later in your trip when you've gotten the hang of the vaporetto routes and schedules.

I'd estimate you could see both by vaporetto in 4-5 hours. Both are distinct from Venice; Burano is my favorite because of the pastel colored houses and it's quieter. But both are worth seeing once you've spent a couple of days in Venice itself. Do it later in your trip when you've gotten the hang of the vaporetto routes and schedules.

Yes --- You can get to Murano basically two ways vaporretto and water taxi. The vaporettto takes a while because of the stops. For the water taxi there are always touts along Piazza San Marco that will arrange a tour for you for free. You take a water taxi to a show room on Murano watch a glass blowing demonstration and then get hit with a high pressure pitch to buy, If you buy enough they will give you a ride back. If not take the vapoeretto.

We went on the vaporeeto about mid morning did some shopping on Murano, had lunch and then took the vaporetto to Burano did a little bit of shopping and came back before very late in the afternoon.

Vaporetto No 42 from the main train station will get you to Murano. Get off at the Colonna, Museo or Da Mula stop and walk around the town. I've never been to Burano so I can't comment there. It's a slow trip each way so plan accordingly.

As mentioned above, you can get a free and fast water taxi ride to Murano followed by a high-pressure sales pitch at the glass-blowing factories. If you buy a certain amount, you get the free ride back. If you don't, you are cut loose. Also, mentioned above, very easy to walk over to the vaporetto and ride back that way.

Rick's Venice 2008 (and probably earlier) gives a good strategy for visiting the islands. San Michelle is very close, but is only a cemetery. You may want to skip that. Murano is also close. Burano is about an additional 40 minute vaporetto ride from Murano and then about 1 hour back to Venice (it's about 20 minutes to Murano from Venice). So assuming you're pretty good on hitting the vaporetto times, you can plan for about a minimum of 2 hours in transit alone. We waited on Burano for about 30 minutes the day we went. So if you are to leave in the morning, you should be back by the early to late afternoon, depending on how much time you spend on the islands.

We will only be in Venice for 1 1/2 days(2 nights). Do you think it is worth taking the time to see Murano and Burano or just narrow it down to Murano only?

Linda, With only 1 1/2 days in Venice, stay in Venice. Murano and Burano are cute, but not nearly the magnitude of Venice -- you can visit them the next time.

Definately stay in Venice. 1 1/2 days isn't enough there anyway!!!! We went to Murano and unfortunately only one glass blower was at work and we sort of sneaked in and watched him make the famous horse standing on its hind legs. Interesting- but not worth the 3-4 hours it took.

Thanks BG & Sally for the advise. Only Venice it is!

Definitely only Venice. Murano and Burano are both nice side trips but only after spending several days in Venice.

Definitely stay in Venice. We had four days in Venice this past fall and decided to visit Murano on a Saturday afternoon. Many glass blowing places were closed and fewer vaporettos were running on that Saturday. We waited over an hour for the return trip to Venice. We regretted going and taking precious time away from Venice.

Depends entirely on your priorities. We welcomed the quiet time in Murano one afternoon. But, we nearly missed the last Vaporetto back to Venice, and a water taxi would have been much more expensive.