Vaporetto to Murano, then Burano, then back

Here is the official website with schedules.

https://actv.avmspa.it/en/content/orari-servizio-di-navigazione-0

If you are going to use a 24-hour pass, buy it from a machine near the dock before your trip starts, and be sure to validate it before boarding the vaporetto each time you use it. The first validation starts the 24-hour clock.

You can get timetables on the ACTV website.

https://actv.avmspa.it/en/content/water-bus-service-timetable-0

It's best to have a ticket/pass before getting to docks so you don't potentially waste any time waiting in line.

https://actv.avmspa.it/en/content/prices

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/venice-day-trips

As to timing, we usually leave Venice Fondamente Nova about 930 AM. That departure point is the shortest route. If you want a grand tour/long ride, leave from near San Marco and the vaporetto goes all the way around the east end of Venice.

We like to have lunch at Mazzorbo, the stop before Burano. You can walk to Burano from Mazzorbo. Try to go to Torcello, too. A whole different experience, where Venice was born.

I learned to my surprise last year that at some of the less-busy vaporetto stops, there is no way to buy any sort of ticket or pass, so it's very smart to have one in hand before arriving at the dock. As it happens, Fondamente Nove is an important stop, so tickets and passes are available there. I can tell you from unfortunate personal experience that the same is not true of the neighboring stop to the northwest, Madonna dell'Orto. Show up at Madonna dell'Orto without a ticket and you'll be walking over to Fondamente Nove, which is farther than it looks because of the need to find bridges to cross side canals.

My guess is that the glass shops selling less expensive merchandise (some have necklaces under 15 or even 10 euros) are a bit likelier than the high-end shops to open at 9 AM. There are tons of shops on Murano--practically every door along the main canal leads to a glass shop. It would take multiple days to visit all of them, so take a look at the window displays to get an idea of what's inside. Places a bit off the main drag may be somewhat less expensive if you're looking for cheaper items. For that purpose, I liked the little Ferro Toso shop to the left of the Muranno Colonna vaporetto stop for single-pendant necklaces. Also in that direction is the Marina and Susanna Sent store with high-end glass jewelry and some other items. I mention those two places because they are in the opposite direction from most of the glass shops, so you're unlikely to see them if not looking for them. I don't think they open at 9 AM.

Again for possibly-less-expensive options, it would be worth checking out the courtyard cutting off the southeast side of the main canal. There are a few shops there that don't seem to get as much foot traffic. I don't think you'll have trouble locating that courtyard. Looking at the Google map, I think it's shortly after you pass the second bridge across the canal. I don't know that I'd want to buy anything other than inexpensive jewelry there, though.

Most of the very best shops on Murano ($$$) are located along the main canal. It's great to look at their goods even if you aren't prepared to spend that kind of money. There are also some good shops in Venice proper, but there's more variety on Murano, and there are more inexpensive but decent-looking options there. There is definitely glass sold in Venice/Murano that wasn't made there, but if you don't spend very much money and you like your purchase, is that a disaster?

I have found that many of the small shops on Murano want cash, and the atm by the Coop store charges very high fees, so come prepared. The bigger shops with the more expensive items gladly accept credit cards.
I walked into one small shop, and the owner was working on a necklace piece with her Diet Coke. She didn't speak much English, but saw my Diet Coke. Was a cute bonding, using many gestures, and I purchase a few of her beautiful pendants, all stamped Murano on the back, about 20 euros each.
Have a great time.

Ciao travelers!

Hoping to piggyback here to ask about the time commitment to pop over to Murano/Burano/Torcello.

I can figure out the vaporetto time tables, but am looking for a feel of what is reasonably accomplished in a half day or so. I know some will counsel lingering, but I'm not sure that my crew will need an extensive visit on any of the three - ambling the lanes, stopping for gelato and not doing any formal tours/museums/etc. would be fine for us.

We've got an empty day but need to be in place at the station for an early evening train to Firenze (after collecting luggage from our San Stae area hotel.

How much should I allot for a cursory amble hitting these areas?

On Torcello there's an 8-minute (though flat) walk from the vaporetto stop to the church, which is really the major reason to go to Torcello. (Photographers note: The mosaics are striking, but photos are most definitely not allowed.) I don't believe the vaporettos are very frequent, so including Torcello could chew up quite a bit of time.

Burano with its extremely colorful houses is the most interesting place to wander, I think, unless you want to at least window shop for glass on Murano. Unfortunately, it takes quite a long time to get to Burano from Venice. If I wanted to limit myself to about half a day, I'd anticipate skipping either Torcello or Murano. I'd go to Burano first and leave when I was ready rather than on a fixed schedule. Then I'd make a decision about heading a bit farther out in the lagoon to Torcello (making the trip back to Venice longer--check the vaporetto schedule carefully!), going straight back to Venice or stopping off on Murano. I spent about a day and a half on Murano alone, I think, but I'm a glass nut.

If you are going to do Murano/Burano/Torcello all in one day then I would suggest buying a day pass and head out to Burano first as it’s the furthest away. It’s nice to get there before the shops open and get some photos before the crowds arrive. It’s much more picturesque than Murano. It’s also fairly small and you can probably walk every street in less than an hour. Then make a quick stop at Torcello and then head back to Murano which is larger and has a lot more to see. If you stop at Murano first you will find getting on the vaporetto to go to Burano will be more difficult as there will be a long line up to get on the boat. Torcello is interesting if you have the time, but there is really only the church to see so you may want to skip it if you don’t want to wait to get back on the vaporetto again. I did Murano on a separate day as I love glass and spent half a day just wandering in and out of the shops and the museum.

Torcello is a bit farther out in the lagoon than Burano.

You can climb the Torcello campanile!

@Anita @acraven @Aussie

Thank you so much for your quick replies and solid information. I knew there would be knowledge here for a quick check-in and was not disappointed - I appreciate all of your help!! I'm also delighted to see that a piggyback works - it seems a better solution than starting a new thread on mostly the same ground covered in an existing post.

Left to my own devices I could probably amble Murano longer than the tolerances of my crew - am happy to compromise with my husband and teen/college sons because that just means I have standing to lobby for a return visit down the road!

Thank you again!!