Billy & Britny What to do with 1 day in Murano and Burano
The nearby islands of Murano and Burano are quick to get to from Venice and can be reached by water taxi. Getting to Murano is pretty straightforward. From St. Mark’s Square, you can catch vaporetto line 42. If you ever find yourself in the area this is a perfect day trip. Our first stop was the colorful and absolutely beautiful Murano.
Murano is made up of many tiny islands linked by bridges just like Venice but not as busy. It’s only about a mile north of Venice and is the most famous and most visited of the small islands in the Venetian Lagoon. Murano is famous for its glassblowing and colorful houses. Glass makers were forced to move to Murano in 1291 due to the fire risk in crowded Venice. This created a central hub of glassblowing masters, Murano actually became the largest provider of glass in Europe. There are countless shops selling Murano glass beads and souvenirs of all shapes and sizes. We recommend getting off the main drag and explore some of the smaller shops that have less of a touristy feel and more of a family owned vibe. Stop by the Murano Glass Museum in the Palazzo Guistinian to learn about the history of glass making and see the gorgeous glassware they have displayed.
Burano
A few hours on Murano can be combined with a short visit to Burano, only a few minutes away from Burano. Burano is known for its handmade lace so the Museum and School of Lace Making is worth a visit. The houses here are famously painted in beautiful pastel colors, making the island perfect for photography. Spend an hour or two just wandering around trying gelato, taking photos, and checking out the small shops.
