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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 a self-guided day trip in the Venetian
Lagoon.
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 water buses operated by
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:
-
Take an escorted tour of Murano, Burano, and Torcello.
[Euros]
[British pounds]
[U.S. dollars]
[Australian dollars]
This half-day tour is more expensive than a tour by public
transportation,
but it's worth considering if your schedule is tighter than your budget. The
trip is offered by Viator, our
sightseeing-tour 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:
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Organized tours don't give you
much time on the islands, so we'd recommend traveling independently unless you're
in a hurry or have limited mobility.
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Instead of buying individual tickets for the boat trips between the
islands, buy a 12-hour to 7-day tourist card at any Hellovenezia or
ACTV
ticket booth. (See our Vaporetto Fares
article.) Or order the tourist office's Venice Connected pass before you leave home, if you can figure out the
byzantine pricing scheme.
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If you have access
to the Internet during your trip, you can check boat schedules at the
official
ACTV Web site.
Next page:
San Michele Cemetery
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Hotel Advice:
Location can be important in a
car-free city with 400+ bridges, especially when you're walking with luggage.
Before you book, see:
- Aerial Venice Hotels
Read our tips on choosing the
right sestiere or district. Then view individual hotels and their
surroundings in large satellite photos and aerial close-ups.
Venice for Cruisers:
From our
Venice Travel Blog:
A water taxi ride to Venice Airport
A
warning about water taxis
Venice Railroad Station: a vaporetto view
Long lines at Venice Airport
Free boat trips to Murano
Need to
pee? Prepare to pay
Crime in
Venice
The perils of overpacking
Venetian daily life
From
Maggie in Venice:
A dog's life in Venice
A
Beagle boards a water bus
Maggie in Venice video clips
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