venice and the lagoon

The water bus system in Venice connects all of the major islands in the lagoon and has frequent service. Here is a map of the water bus system. It doesn't take long to get to either island - if you consult the timetable you can get an idea of how much time to reserve.

The timetable for all lines:
http://www.actv.it/sites/default/files/ORARI%20NAVIGAZIONE%20VIGORE%20DAL%2031%20MAGGIO%202014.pdf

There are a few different vaporetto routes between Venice and Murano and Burano. It generally takes about 15 minutes from Venice to Murano, although it will also take some time to get to the appropriate vaporetto stops, and maybe some time to then wait for the right vaporetto. It takes some more time, about 30 minutes or so, between Murano and Burano. Depending on the nature and depth of your interests in these islands, you can spend anywhere from about an hour up to three or four hours on each of the islands, even more if you have a real meal. Murano has a few showrooms of really excellent (and expensive) glass work, some with glass making demonstrations, in addition to dozens of small glass product shops with items of various price levels. Some of the least expensive items are actually made in China, not Murano, so you have to be careful. There is also a Glass Museum on Murano, although while the museum is open, various sections are currently closed for renovation. There are also two or more major churches, including the very impressive San Donato. You can easily spend an hour just walking around Murano, without even entering glass shops or showrooms or having a meal. Also, vaporettos from a Venice go into the Colonna stop, and those to Burano leave from the Faro stop, and these are 10 to 15 minutes walk from one to the other. In Burano, there are various streets of pastel colored small homes, great for photography, especially on a nice day, a healthy number of shops featuring lace, other textile items, masks, and other crafts and souvenirs. There is also a Lace Museum, at least one major church, and several really good restaurants on Burano. In addition, three other islands some people include on the same day include Torcello, where Venice began, and Massorbo, mostly agricultural, both very close to Burano, and San Michele, which is Venice's cemetery island, between Venice and Murano. So, if you choose to, you can easily spend a whole day visiting these various islands.

Vaporetto number 12, actually a much larger boat than normal vaporetti, starts at Fondamente Nove on the north side of the main islands and stops at Murano, Burano, Torcello and some runs continue all the way to Punta Sabbioni.

Depending on where you are staying or starting out your trip to the islands, there is also a Vaporetto #3 (formerly DM for Directo Murano, I was told) which goes from Piazzale Roma (bus station) and Ferrovia (train station), then takes a canal by the ghetto and goes directly to Murano. This can save the somewhat long walk or separate ride to Fund. Nove.

Rick Steves' Venice guidebook has a self-guided tour of the three outer islands - Murano, Burano, Torcello - that we have used three times now. Everything you need to know is there. Plan most of a day. We are usually gone 9:00AM-4:00PM on our island day.

Thanks, all.