← Venice Marathon·Day trip

Murano and Burano: Glass and Painted Houses by Water Bus

One water-bus line from Fondamente Nove reaches Murano's glass workshops in 10 to 15 minutes and Burano's painted houses in about 45, with Torcello a further stop.

DurationDay trip
TransitACTV vaporetto line 12 from Fondamente Nove, 10 to 45 min
DepartsVenice Fondamente Nove

After the Venice Marathon: Murano and Burano

The Route: Venice Fondamente Nove → Murano → Burano → Venice Logistics: ACTV line 12 runs the whole way on one ticket. No walking over bridges is needed to reach the quays. Marathon Month: October Duration: Day trip

Venice Fondamente Nove ──(line 12, 10-15 mins)──> Murano ──(line 12)──> Burano (about 45 mins from Venice)
                        <───────────(same line back)───────────────────┘

You crossed a lagoon on Sunday on a road bridge, at pace, with the water a blur on both sides. On Monday you can cross it sitting down. Line 12 of the ACTV water-bus network runs from Fondamente Nove, on Venice's northern edge, to Murano, Mazzorbo, Burano and Torcello, and it is the only line that links all of them on a single journey. A seat on the deck is the best recovery available.

October in the lagoon. Autumn brings mist, low light and occasional high water, so the lagoon can look flat grey one hour and pale gold the next. The breeze on deck is cool, so bring a layer. In most years the boats keep running through the season, though a rough day can disrupt services, so check the day's notices. The Venice access fee has so far been charged on selected days between April and July and did not apply in October in the most recent year. Dates change, so check the city's portal. Overnight guests in the municipality do not pay it.

Boats leave Fondamente Nove roughly every 20 to 30 minutes in the high season and less often out of season. Murano takes 10 to 15 minutes and Burano about 45 minutes. A single ticket costs about EUR 9.50 (approximately GBP 8.15) and lasts 75 minutes, so a day pass or a multi-day card is better value if you plan several stops. Check fares and the timetable at actv.avmspa.it before travelling.

Murano

Murano is the glass island. The workshops line the canals, and some run demonstrations, though hours vary and many close in the afternoon. The glass museum in the old Palazzo Giustinian is the quiet, sitting-down option for tired legs. Check the opening days before going. Shops range from serious studios to souvenir rooms, so ask where the piece was made and look at the base for a signature.

Burano

Burano is a fishing village of narrow canals and houses painted in solid colours, with leaning bell tower and a lace-making tradition. The streets are flat and short, with small bridges that have a few steps. A slow walk round takes about an hour. Fishermen traditionally painted their houses in distinct colours, a story that is widely repeated, though its origins are not certain.

Lunch here is simple and fish-based. Order the fried small fish or a risotto made with local lagoon fish, and check opening days, because small places close one weekday. Burano's biscuits, called bussolà, are the local sweet.

Torcello

Torcello is the next stop on line 12, about 70 minutes from Venice, and it is nearly empty. The cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta has Byzantine mosaics, and the walk from the boat stop is a flat path beside a canal. It adds time, so leave it out if the day is short or the legs are heavy.

Getting Back

Take line 12 back to Fondamente Nove, then walk or take another line to your hotel. Check the last departure from Burano and Torcello before you settle into lunch.