Ultimate Venice in a Day with Murano and Burano

AM Tour + PM Tour = 4.5 ⭐️

I would recommend this tour and do it again in our circumstances. We had a short time in Venice and wanted to hit as many highlights as we possibly could pack into 2.5 days. The combination of an AM tour of the Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Basilica, and a Gondola ride plus the PM round of Murano Island and Burano Island helped with our goal significantly. Our morning tour guide (Paula) was very kind and knowledgeable, and was especially thoughtful for our 3 kids, one of whom is 7 years old. I thought the time spent in Doge’s Palace was highly informative and a great length. Notable for those seeking more information: there were restrooms available at Doge’s Palace for no extra charge as well as a cafe with coffee and water (for an extra charge). I would have liked to have spend a bit more time in St Mark’s Basilica because it is gorgeous inside, but I did appreciate having the tour guide explain some of the history. Note that this tour only covers the ground floor and does not go upstairs. You would need a separate ticket for that but I’m not sure how you get one and you’d need to come back another time. To conclude the morning we walked into St Mark’s Square and learned a bit about the history of the square and notable landmarks on the way to a Gondola ride. The gondolas can accommodate 5 people maximum (which worked very well for our family of 5, but I’m not sure what they do if your party is larger. I do know they put multiple families or couples together to make 5.) I really wish we had a family photo of us on the gondola ride but our gondolier wasn’t willing and it was hard to ask someone else to. That was a bummer because it’s such an iconic thing to do in Venice. The time allotted for lunch was perfect. We were able to find a place along the Grand Canal, use the restroom, and make it back to the meeting place with no stress. Our guide for the afternoon was also knowledgeable and nice. I’m completely blanking on her name (sorry!) They divided us into two groups, each guide taking a group to explain the history and geography of the Venice lagoon. Then we stopped in Murano. There really is no time to see more of the island, so plan to enjoy the glass making demonstration, which was very cool, and then tour their showroom, but if you want to see more of the island, you’ll need to return another time. Then we got back into the boat and went to Burano. When we arrived, we walked to a lace making shop. This was the only weird thing because they staggered the groups but the demonstration was extremely short and primarily a sales pitch. I would honestly have preferred to opt out and spend the time exploring Burano which is colorful and fabulous. I would LOVE more time on this island. It would be great if the tour company would consider extending the time on Burano island another 30 minutes at least, if not an hour. That would truly make this 5 complete stars for me. The only other thing that was not ideal was the earphones provided are very large, solid, and uncomfortable. If you have another pair of earphones or headphones with a standard jack, I highly recommend you bring them. Other recommendations include bringing water, comfortable shoes, and make sure you wear clothing that is modest and will cover your shoulders, stomach, etc. (for St Mark’s Basilica). You’ll want more time in some of these places but weighed in the balance is the ability to see so much in such a short amount of time, and for that I’m very appreciative.

Outstanding

Great guides and tour. Very informative and friendly. Nichola was awesome!

Awesome Day

Marco and Nicole are some of the best tour guides we have ever had. Marco's quick wit and dry sense of humor and me laughing frequently. Nicole was positive and upbeat and had a vast knowledge throughout the trip.

Must-do Tour Package

Excellent tour guide and list of venues. We went in late April and Venice was very crowded - lots of tour groups/tourists, so accessing venues was slow. Murano/Burano required a long boat ride, but really well worth the visit.

We had a lovely day

Thanks to the superb guides Marco and Alesia. They went out of there way to make the day enjoyable and informative. They were ready to answer all our questions and assist us as best they could. We definitely recommend this trip. Thank you

Murano Burano

Julia our tour guide was awesome! Despite the rainy day it was wonderful.

Charming and educational excursions!

Vania was our guide for Murano and Burano. She was outstanding! She shared unique insights about these islands and their relationship to Venice, and since she is a native of Venice, was able to provide a very rich perspective. She made the trip amazing!

This was a great tour . It was very interesting and informative. The guide was fantastic.

Wonderful day

Informative guide with just the right combination of information, entertainment, and allowing self exploration