We are spending 4 night in the Venice area. We were thinking 2 whole days in Venice and days in Burano and Murano with evening in Venice.
What do you think? Enough time in each? Too much ?
We love picturesque places with pretty views and squares. And thinking that Venice in the evenings will give us a feel for how it is with less tourists around.
Thanks for any input.
If you go to Burano, you can easily add a trip to Torcello from there.
We've been to both island several times just because we like them. Nothing wrong with a full day apiece, but if you get an early morning start you can probably see and do all you want in a full day.
Agree with TC.
hey photobearsam
we left early in the morning to murano, didn't really care for it, and then to burano. we went to mazzorbo first had glass of wine and a snack at restaurant right off vaporetto, walked around small island then crossed bridge to burano.
roamed around this cute island, all the pastel colors houses, window shopped, stop by carmelina's or constantini's bakery for their famous bussola cookie, lace museum, stop by bepi's house. sit down at a restaurant to eat early dinner or late lunch, check closing times, people watch. this is one of my favorite islands. (isoladiburano.com) has info there. check times for boats leaving back to venice, you can do this on your own. in venice, look at schezzini.it alessandro does a cichetti bar crawl, eat finger foods at the bar drink wine and learn history of venice. email him and he'll get back to you. walk the back alleys and canals, you'll have a great time.
aloha
Looks like a day each is the way to go. We do not get going before 9:30 out the door. We don’t drink so bar hop not an option but love stopping in a restaurant and people watch. I love taking photos so thinking a full day in Burano will be nice. Maybe a 1/2 for Murano cause I’m less attracted to it but want to see it. Can’t wait to fall in love with Venice. I’m sure we will be compatible. LOL
Combine Burano with historic Torcello which is close by. Give Murano the least amount of time. In fact, I recommend skipping it.
We have been to all 3 islands twice: both times spending a day at Murano and a day at Burano & Torcello. Never got bored. Interesting churches, etc on each. Burano great for pictures, especially with early or late lighting. Visit Torcello mid day (and return to Burano) as places close early there. Murano glass works are famous but you have to search out those doing more than tourist stuff. (The little "candy twists" make good gifts as does some of the millefiore jewelry.) I paid a few euros to take pix of glass work in a couple of advanced glass shops. We are lucky where we live to have access to lots of NW USA/Canada glass works & museums, so can compare here with there. Also wife and I enjoyed talking with owners of the beautiful classic water taxis in Murano canals. They are very proud of them as they should be. I might suggest an evening vaporetto return by way of the outer lagoon islands. If you are lucky, you can often find some unusual gem in the most blah places. Enjoy your trip.
A full day each in Marano and Burano is way too long.
Venice has much more to see than what you can see in 2 days.
Fortunately this is not something you have to decide in advance since these islands are very close to Venice connected by frequent waterbuses(vaporetto). Take a waterbus in the morning and go back to Venice once you feel like it was enough. You may spend the whole day or return after 2 hours, as you feel.
"We don’t drink so bar hop not an option"
You don't have to drink alcohol if you go to a bar. You can drink coffee, mineral water, soft drinks(try a typical Italian soda like chinotto), juice
I'd do them as one long day - just getting there and back takes awhile (between the journey and maybe having to wait many minutes for the vaporetto - we had upward of a 25 min wait on Murano).
We did enjoy our visit to the Murano glass museum, but even that was maybe 75-90 min (this was some years back so I can't really recall). And you could walk around for an hour popping into shops (if you want to) and maybe stumble over a glass blowing display - we went into two - one we were beckoned in to - they let us watch for 5-10 min then took us to the expensive showroom. The other just had a sign out and we went in and watched him blow a glass horse - he had a can out for tips. But if you are there after noon, I think they are generally finished then.
I thought Burano was a photographers dream, but it isn't really huge, so even 3-4 hours there would probably be enough. Torcello you could visit for an hour or two.
((I'll just share my blog entry for when my mom came with us in 2014...
We decided today to go over to Burano for a few hours. Initially we thought to go to Torcello and look around Murano as well, but hubby was having a hard time getting going, so it was almost 11am before we finally got started.
It is a bit of a long haul to get to Murano/Burano. The ferry was quite crowded from Murano to Burano. Mom got a seat, but hubby and I had to stand for the ride - I think 30-40 min. (Well, it felt like it was that long). We roamed around Burano for a bit - it was close to 1pm by the time we got there, so we found a little spot to have to lunch and then wandered a little more. Burano is now my fav of the islands. Burano - for someone like me who likes to take photos - it is a dream. The bright colours contrasting with the blue skies, the laundry hanging to dry (I think they are contractually obliged to hang out white laundry for the tourists to take photos of - lol). We were tired from the long stand and walking around, so decided to skip Torcello and Murano and just head back to Venice))
Than you all for the great info.
Well, unless you are a fan of glassblowing, 1 day each...is really too much! I enjoyed a lot a couple of years ago adding some adventure experience close to Venice. 1 hour drive and you'll find rafting or canyioning tour! Believe, it's worth to try it....
Ondaselvaggia.com the company I joined for the tour, just in case you like the option.
À bientòt
Unless you are staying over on the islands, 1 day is plenty to browse both Burano and Murano. They are pretty little places but one can only watch glass being blown or look at Easter egg-colored houses for so long. Don't forget Torcello--the cemetery island. Slightly less touristy. Skip Lido.
Venice is the most beautiful city in the world. If you want to see the city at its best, get up at dawn for a coffee, get lost in the tiny back streets, take a long nap in the afternoon, then wander through San Marco at night, after the cruise ships have left. Take a boat tour of the canals (preferably propelled by oars rather than a motor) and see Venice as it was meant to be seen.
And read a Donna Leon mystery novel before you go. :)
I also recommend adding Torcello. I was pleasantly surprised by the peacefulness there. It was far less crowded than Murano and Burano, too. The last time I visited the islands, I followed a similar plan as Princess Pupule. Took tne boat to Mazzorbo, wandered through this area and over to Burano. Then I headed to Torcello. I also briefly stopped at Murano but it was packed and I had been there before, so I skipped it. I think your plan of a separate day for Murano is good. You can always head back to Venice early if you don't need all day. Whatever you decide, you can't go wrong. It's all wonderful!
4 nights gives you 3 full days. If you spend one each in Murano and Burano there is only one day left for Venice.
I would do Murano, Burano and even the Abbey at Torcello all in a day. Very doable in my opinion.
I have been to both Murano and Burano. I vote for Burano--it is adorable. I will NEVER go back to Murano--too touristy with shops galore. No thanks.
I highly recommend a half day each in Murano and Burano. Not sure a whole day in each city is necessary.
