Day Trip to Murano Italy: An Amazing Visit to Murano From Venice

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On our dream trip to Italy, Justin and I spent three days in Venice. While Venice has so many wonderful attractions like St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and the ultimate romantic journey by gondola, I highly recommend setting one day aside to explore the outlying islands. We took a day trip to Murano Italy and its neighbour, Burano, dividing our time between both places. It’s possible to see Murano and Burano in one day with time left over to spare.

While Burano is known for its lace and its brightly colored buildings, Murano is a completely unique and charming location. Though this island is famous for its glass, there are lots of things to do there that don’t involve glass making. Of course, you must check out some glass blowing demonstrations, if you have the opportunity. When in Murano!

How to Get to Murano From Venice

We bid farewell to Venice proper and boarded a vaporetto (the transportation boats around Venice) to Murano Italy. To reach the island, take a vaporetto to the Fondamente Nove stop and transfer to line 12. The boarding area is just beyond the Donà Bridge. The first stop on line 12 is the island of Murano. If you stay on the boat, you’ll eventually reach Burano. You can easily see Murano and Burano in one day. 

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To learn all that you need to know about getting around Venice, check out our Venice transportation guide.[/kt_box]

Day Trip to Murano Italy

If you’re looking for what to do in Murano Italy, one of my favorite things to do was simply walk around and explore. Be sure to have your camera ready as there are plenty of photogenic scenes everywhere you look. We walked up and down the canals and peered into shop windows. While Burano might be famous for its rainbow of houses, Murano is a gorgeous place in its own right. We spent most of our time here wandering around and we stumbled upon some of the prettiest views.

Attend a Glass Blowing Demonstration

Along our walk, we saw a sign for “Fornace” (furnace) on Calle S. Cipriano street. It was a glass making factory offering free glass blowing demonstrations. Though we stood for a little while in a line up, it was worth the wait. If you’re thinking about what to do in Murano, seeing a glass blowing session or tour should top your list. We saw a master glass making artist construct a couple of different pieces, including a vase and a glass horse. It was fascinating to watch him sculpt the glass into various shapes with ease and precision.

After the demonstration, we were escorted into an adjoining shop where glass works were sold. There wasn’t any pressure to purchase anything. While we didn’t buy anything, this was a great spot to purchase gifts for loved ones back home. However, if you don’t decide to buy anything in this particular shop, you can find Murano glass all over the island. Actually, you can find this authentic glass all over Venice very easily. Be sure to check out this Murano glass tour to watch the masters at work.

Stop for Lunch

Justin and I worked up an appetite as we were walking around, and it was time for lunch. We managed to find a restaurant that had vegetarian and vegan food that didn’t break the budget. Justin and I dined at Trattoria al Corallo because they had a separate vegetarian menu there. The restaurant itself was pretty rustic with wood paneling covering the walls.

The food was very yummy and satisfying. We ordered two different kinds of pasta: one was spaghetti al pomodoro and the other was pasta with garlic, olive oil, and hot peppers. For more vegan food ideas, check out our vegan guide to Venice.

Check Out a Mask Shop

We didn’t find only glass and souvenir stores in Murano Italy. If you’re looking for more things to do in Murano, visit one of the mask shops in town. There were so many beautiful masks for sale in all varieties and colors. You will find lots of stores selling masks in Venice, too. They were artfully decorated in many different styles.

Campo Santo Stefano

Campo Santo Stefano is a central square in Murano; going there is one of the best things to do in Murano. You really can’t miss it as its one of the largest squares on the island. There was a gigantic blue glass sculpture flanked by a tall clock tower. The glass work was called “Comet Glass Star” and it was created by the master glass artist, Simone Cenedese. He has his own glass studio and gallery as well. There was a quote beside the work by Cenedese, “There is a part of me in each piece of mine, there are fragments of stars scattered throughout the universe.“

Photos of Murano

Murano Italy is one of the most picturesque places in the country, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that we captured a ton of photos. If you’re making the trip to Murano from Venice, don’t forget to pack your camera! Here are a few more of our favorite pictures from the day.

Murano and Burano in One Day

If you’re looking for day trips from Venice, set a day aside to travel to Murano and Burano. I hope you’ve enjoyed this Murano island tour. It’s so easy to get from Venice to Murano, as well as Burano. We spent a couple of hours at each island, which was plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere at our own pace. Justin and I even had time left over at the end of the day to explore more of Venice. Enjoy our trip to Murano from Venice, as it was certainly one of our favorite places to visit in Italy.

If you’re looking to spend the night in Murano for a unique holiday with scenic views, check out the best hotels and accommodations in Murano. Justin and I spent the night in the Dorsoduro area of Venice, so feel free to browse Venice hotels for the best deal.

More Venice Travel Articles

Looking to plan your trip to Venice, Italy? Check out all of our blog posts about Venice aside from the best Venice vegan food.

• 3 Days in Venice Itinerary
• Guide to Visiting St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice
• Guide to Visiting Doge’s Palace in Venice
• Vegan Guide to Venice
• Getting Around Venice: A Transportation Guide
• Libreria Acqua Alta: The Best Bookstore in Venice
• Day Trip to Burano: Beautiful Colorful Houses
• How to Take a Romantic Gondola Ride in Venice
• Things to do in Pellestrina, Venice

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