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Venice Islands Tour

ABOVE: Your excursion begins at the Fondamenta Nove waterbus station, which faces the Venetian Lagoon on the northern edge of the historic center.

Plan your own day trip to San Michele, Murano, Burano, Mazzorbo, Torcello, and the Lido di Venezia.

Also see:

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If you're spending more than a few days in Venice, take time to visit the islands of the Venetian Lagoon. The itinerary in this article will take you to:

San Michele, the walled cemetery island of Venice.

Murano, known for its glassmaking, Glass Museum, and several historic churches.

Burano, an island of fishermen, lacemakers, and colorfully painted houses.

Mazzorbo, a small rural island connected to Burano by a footbridge.

Torcello, once a city larger than Venice; today, a bucolic island with a 1,000-year-old cathedral and a handful of outdoor restaurants.

The Lido di Venezia, a beach resort on the strip of land that separates the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea.

You'll reach the islands on motoscafi (water buses) of Actv, the Venice public-transportation company. Allow a full day for the entire excursion, or half a day if you skip San Michele and the Lido.

Actv's lagoon water buses can be crowded during peak season, on weekends, or if local groups of senior citizens or schoolchildren are traveling between the islands. If crowds bother you, or if you're unwilling to stand on a moving boat when seats aren't available, consider one of these alternatives:

Private Tour of Murano, Burano, and Torcello
[Euros] [British pounds] [U.S. dollars] [AUS dollars]
This half-day tour is considerably more expensive than a tour by public transportation, but it may be of interest if your schedule is tighter than your budget. The tour is offered by Viator, our advertising partner.

Hire a water taxi by the half-day or day, which could easily cost several hundred euros. If you want the services of a private guide, try a customized lagoon itinerary from WalksInsideVenice or the Venice Tourist Guides Association and let the guide arrange transportation.

Tips:

Organized tours don't give you much time on the islands, so I'd recommend traveling independently unless you're in a hurry or have limited mobility.

Instead of buying individual tickets for the boat trips between the islands, buy a one- to three-day travel card at any Actv ticket booth. Or order the Venice Card before you leave home. With the Venice Card, you'll get unlimited transportation of up to 7 days plus admission to municipal museums on the islands and in Venice.

I strongly recommend obtaining a copy of the Actv Orario (Timetable) at any vaporetto ticket booth. It's free, and it will make it easier to plan your trip.

Next page: San Michele Cemetery

In this article:
Venice Islands Tour - introduction	Torcello
San Michele Cemetery	Return-trip options
Murano	Lido
Burano	Back to Venice
Mazzorbo	Related articles

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