Headout logo. Link to home.
Help
Guided Tours

Murano & Burano Islands Private Boat Tour with Glass Blowing & Lace Making

Murano glassblower shaping glass with tools; Burano lace displayed on table during Venetian island tour.
Murano glassblower crafting glass, Burano lace displayed, Venetian Island tour by private boat.
Tourists observing a glassblowing demonstration in Murano and lacemaking in Burano during a Venetian Island tour by private boat
Murano glassblower shaping glass with tools, Burano lace displayed, Venetian Island tour by private boat.

Take a boat tour to the the charming islands of the Venetian Lagoon and take a peek into the ancient crafts of glass-making and lace-making.

Highlights

  • Enjoy a boat tour through the beautiful Venetian Lagoon and to its islands – Murano & Burano

  • Witness the stunning glass-blowing process in Murano’s traditional glass factory

  • Watch the ancient art of lace-making and the women at work in the lace shops of Burano

  • Capture photographs and memories at the picturesque island of Burano, counted amongst the most colorful places in the world

Inclusions

  • Round-trip transportation by private boat taxi

  • Small group size of 20 or less

  • Discount at the glassblowing and lace-making shop where demonstrations are given (10%+ depending in the item)

  • Demonstrations at glassmaking and lace-making shops in English

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

4.5
1.8K ratings
5/5
1.3K
4/5
264
3/5
36
2/5
55
1/5
89
  • United States
  • Romania
  • New Zealand
  • Ireland
  • Estonia
  • Uruguay
Guests from United States, Romania, New Zealand and over 7 countries have loved this experience
SERENA CRESCI

Serena

4/5

Oct, 2024

Very friendly and helpful guide. Efficient and punctual service. Only perplexity: we didn't realize it was in English
View original review in Italian
Helen Dawley

Helen

5/5

Sep, 2024

our tour guides,Cecilia, and Nichola were amazing. They were both well versed and entertaining. They answered all our questions professionally. We got to Marano visited the glass factory, and had time for a quick stroll. Then Burano we were told the meeting point then brought to the lace demonstration, which is definitely beautiful art. Unfortunately it started to rain and got really windy, but the island looks beautiful even in the rain. I would definitely recommend this tour and if you can get Cecilia and Nicola, you will not be disapointed.
Eliis Ait

Eliis

5/5

Aug, 2024

The whole trip was great. Burano is definetly worth visiting. Our guide Rico was amazing, friendly and shared very interesting stories. 10/10
Jessica Joseph

Jessica

5/5

Jan, 2024

Romi was an excellent guide! It ended up being a private tour for just our family as nobody else has booked for that day, and Romi was excellent in answering our many questions and showing us unique parts of both islands. She was great to deal with and very enthusiastic as well. She has great English which made it easy for us to all speak to each other. Would definitely recommend Romi!
Victoria Malave

Victoria

5/5

Aug, 2024

Great everyone very friendly and helpful
View original review in Spanish

Your half-day tour of the Venetian Lagoon and its two most beautiful islands – Murano and Burano, begins in the afternoon. Off in a small group tour in a private taxi, you will visit the islands which have a rich history and exquisite artisanship. Enroute to the islands you will be able to see Venice’s most spectacular sights along the canals.

Settlement on these Venetian Islands began in the 1st century and since then each of the islands has developed their own speciality. Your first stop is at the Murano Island, famous for its glass-making art. In ancient times it was the only place where the artisans knew how to make mirrors. Their art was so valued that they were forbidden from leaving the island, for fear of their lives!

You will watch an expert glass-maker at his workstation in a traditional glass-blowing factory. Your guide will translate the entire glass making process and answer all your questions about glass-making. You can buy a small glass souvenir from the workshop to remember these memories. If you have time, you can explore the rest of Murano Island which has stunning Gothic architecture. Some of the places of interest in Murano are the Palazzo da Mula, Santa Maria e Donato’s Cathedral and the Murano lighthouse.

From Murano you will proceed to the island of Burano. Nearing the island you will notice the colourful homes, just as the fishermen have been doing for centuries now! The legend goes that they started painting the homes in vibrant colors so the fishermen could see their homes from the sea. While the picturesque homes itself are a visit worth to the island, its lace-making art is what you are there for.

Burano’s lace-making is an ancient tradition and its women have been stitching delicate lace-work for centuries now. In fact, Michelangelo picked up an altar piece when he visited Burano for the then newly constructed Duomo in Milan. You will visit a shop and watch the women in action. You can also take back your own lace item as a souvenir on a discount. After the lace shop visit, you can explore the island and savour the goodies at one of the local bakeries in the Galuppi Square.

You will head back to Venice and back to the humdrum of the city, treasuring the memories of an ancient era gone by!

Accessibility

  • The experience is not accessible for wheelchair users, people with mobility issues.

Additional information

  • The tour is only available in English.

  • The tour will start on time and will not wait for late arrivals due to any reason. Guests are expected to be present at the meeting point 15 mins prior to departure.

  • The tour will end in front of the Hotel Gabrielli Sandwirth in San Marco.

  • Please note that on Mondays, the typical lacemaking demonstration in Burano may not always be available. In such event, the tour still offers a captivating exploration of the island that showcases its unique charm and rich cultural heritage.

  • Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

  • Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point. Students must show a valid student ID.

  • Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Meeting point

  • Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.

Similar experiences you'd love

Doge's Palace interior with ornate ceilings and art, Venice Museum Pass experience.
Museums
Doge's Palace Skip-the-Line Tickets
Instant confirmation
4.3
Rated 4.28 out of 5.0 from 4344 ratings.
from
€30
ACTV Water Bus Pass & Mainland Bus Tickets
Public Transport
Vaporetto ACTV Water Bus & Mainland Bus Pass: 1 to 7 Days
Instant confirmation
4.5
Rated 4.47 out of 5.0 from 10556 ratings.
from
€25
Free cancellation
Alilaguna Water Bus Transfers
Airport Transfers
Water Bus Transfers: Marco Polo Airport to/from Venice City
Instant confirmation
4.0
Rated 4.01 out of 5.0 from 1959 ratings.
from
€15
Free cancellation
Venice Rialto Bridge
Sightseeing Cruises
Venice Classic Gondola Ride
Instant confirmation
4.0
Rated 4.03 out of 5.0 from 2076 ratings.
from
€34
Venice ACTV water bus cruising on the Grand Canal with historic buildings in the background.
Public Transport
1-Way Tickets to Venice ACTV Water Bus
Instant confirmation
3.4
Rated 3.38 out of 5.0 from 1226 ratings.
€9.50

Top things to do in Venice

World at your tap.

Get the Headout app to get tickets on your phone and access app-only deals. Talk about win-win.
Download iPhone appDownload Android app
iphone

We've served 33 million+ guests and we are here for you

33 million+

Happy customers across 10,000+ experiences

4.4/5

28,000+ verified reviews with 90% excellent score

In the media

Featured and recommended by the best brands

24 x 7 help center

Have a question? Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime