Murano

Island · Cannaregio

Murano

Island · Cannaregio

2

30141 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy

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Murano by Photo by Rafael Ben-Ari/age fotostock
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Highlights

Murano Island, just a quick ferry from Venice, charms with centuries-old glassmaking traditions, live demos, and unique artisan shops.  

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30141 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy Get directions

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30141 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy Get directions

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Last updated

Jul 31, 2025

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@afar

"Murano Island Famous for its long history of handblown glassmaking, Murano sits just a few minutes' ferry ride offshore in the Venetian Lagoon. The main attraction is the Glass Museum (Museo del Vetro), which recounts the history of glass through the centuries, with the largest focus on important pieces of Murano glass produced between the 15th and 20th centuries. You can also join a guided tour and catch a glassmaking demonstration here. When finished, do a bit of shopping for locally produced glass at some of the boutique shops. Also check out the Romanesque-style Church of Santa Maria and San Donato, which may or may not house the bones of a slain dragon under its boldly hued mosaic floor."

Relaxing into a Week in Venice
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@afar

"Murano Island Famous for its long history of handblown glassmaking, Murano sits just a few minutes' ferry ride offshore in the Venetian Lagoon. The main attraction is the Glass Museum (Museo del Vetro), which recounts the history of glass through the centuries, with the largest focus on important pieces of Murano glass produced between the 15th and 20th centuries. You can also join a guided tour and catch a glassmaking demonstration here. When finished, do a bit of shopping for locally produced glass at some of the boutique shops. Also check out the Romanesque-style Church of Santa Maria and San Donato, which may or may not house the bones of a slain dragon under its boldly hued mosaic floor."

The Best Things to Do in Venice
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Olha Krasna

Google
Together with Burano - a must-visit if you’re spending a day in Venice. No need to book much time for it, but couple of hours should be more than enough. There are plenty of nice small cafes and stores, make sure to check them out!

Baris Ozyetis

Google
Visited a glass blowing shop, walked around and toured various shops. Went to a really nice lunch by the pier here. Well worth the half day visit.

VolcanoAB

Google
I want to see the glass fabric but I didn't know that they were closing early around 17:30! Which was my fault, however I think it's not worth it. It's an overrated tourist attraction. Lido is much better by 10x in comparison. Don't Recommend it if you don't have so much time!!

Maryam TA

Google
Overrated island to visit! It took me 1h53 minutes in the line to get into the boat that was going back to Venice! If you are there to buy something, you can find the same glassworks and craftsmanship in Venice! If you are there to get to know the glass craftsmanship better, the workshops with high-end designs don’t offer many visiting options, and the ones that do offer don’t show their high-end production process. Due to mass tourism, the island’s residents have difficulty getting on public transport boats to Venice. However, their livelihood is also dependent on tourism.

Eugene R

Google
It's not worth going there at all. All glass things can be bought in Venice for the same price or cheaper. We went around 5-6 shops, and all the sellers were very rude, one old man in the shop even yelled at us when we didn't buy anything. The saleswoman in the grocerystore just pushed me aside with her hand when she passed me and was very rude at the checkout. All glass things very overpriced. If you see some colored glasses and goblets don’t buy them because they just painting them but not produce glass.

Misis Ni Swiss

Google
A must visit Island when in Venice. A lot of good seafood restaurants and beautiful glass products all over the island. Make sure to watch a live glass blowing demonstration to complete the trip :)

Seokjin Ham

Google
Located about 1.5 km north of Venice’s main island, Murano is world-renowned as the historic center of traditional glassmaking. The island is actually made up of seven small islets connected by eight bridges. Originally settled in the 5th century by refugees, Murano developed into a fishing village. In 1291, the Venetian Republic ordered all glass furnaces to relocate here, both for fire safety and to protect production secrets. From the 14th to 16th centuries, Murano experienced a golden age of glassmaking. Today, artisans on the island continue to craft Murano glass using centuries-old techniques. Note: Easily accessible by Vaporetto lines 3, 4.1, 12, and 13.

Raj Arcot

Google
Lovely island in Italy. Charming colorful houses. The glass works and lace works are very beautiful The price of lace items is very good. Glass works can be expensive The gelato is good
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Vlad V.

Yelp
We took a vaporetto (water bus) to get to Murano from Venice. It's a 30-minute ride or so which is definitely doable for a day trip. Murano is known for stained glass. The artists here are the best in the world. Here's what I would recommend to maximize your time on the small island. Start out with a glass-blowing demonstration. The number one option on TripAdvisor is The Glass Cathedral. Here, you'll see a fascinating demonstration where an artist will show you his craft. You'll see the techniques he uses to create various works of art. It's a sight to behold. There are lots of places that do it but I love that this one takes place in a beautiful cathedral and there is also an option to enjoy an alcoholic beverage during the demonstration like an Aperol spritz. From there, walk along Murano's streets (there's basically one main road) and take some pictures. It will remind you of Venice's water-lined streets. You'll come across tons of shops selling various glass arts and products. You can't lave Murano without a keepsake. From there, enjoy some food at a restaurant and then make your way back to Venice on a vaporetto. They come often so it's a pretty easy trip logistically. Burano is another popular island (not as popular as Murano) which you can get to as well if you have the time. We didn't have the time but I'd like to visit this island in the future. They are known for their lace work. Enjoy!
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Maruko X.

Yelp
The Murano island is boring, you can expect similar and even better experience in the main Venice island. Unless you're really interested in glass arts and products, I don't recommend this place for your trip. Their port is very confusing and easy to get lost, be very mindful to catch your boat on time.
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Elaine D.

Yelp
A lovely diversion from Venice proper. We took the Vaporetto to Burano first, then backtracked to Murano. Famous for it's beautiful glass in every imaginable form, you can wander the streets to find your perfect piece. I purchased a small pendant as a token of my visit. 79
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Chris G.

Yelp
I've been here twice, when visiting Venice this is a quick stop and a must in my book. You can take a water taxi or the water bus, this is a beautiful island with wonderful works of glass. The glass work is unparalleled in craftsmanship. Watching the masters blow, mold, and twist the glass is amazing. I got a nice large piece (whale tale) and my daughter got a glass heart necklace. We stayed and walked around, appreciating the colorful houses, purchased a few glass items and then of course we ate. #MANGIA You can fully appreciate this island in 2-4 hours, including a meal.
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Andrea U.

Yelp
Murano is a series of islands in Venice, with about 5,000 residents. The water taxi stops at about 5 locations on the islands of Murano. Initially it was a fishing community, then monks moved their appreciating the solitude. In 1291, all the glassmakers in Venice were required to move to Murano. In the 1300's, exports began, and the island became famous, initially for glass beads & mirrors. Aventurine glass was invented & Murano was the main producer of glass in Europe. The island later became known for chandeliers. The Church of Santa Maria e San Donato, famous for its 12th century Byzantine mosaic and is said to house bones of the dragon slain in the 4th century. The church of San Pietro Martire contains the chapel of the Ballarin family, built in 1506. Glass-related attractions include the many glassworks, some Medieval with most open to the public. Currently there are 260 glass companies in operation, employing about 1,100. The Murano Glass Museum, housed in the large Palazzo Giustinian. The glass shops weren't usual pieces of glass but very intricate designs; really art. Doors to the shops were open, we could watch the glass being blown.
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Andres A.

Yelp
A beautiful island with wonderful works of glass. The glass work is supposed to be like no other. We had a wonderful opportunity to see a lady do her craft. What talent! We stayed and walked, purchased a few glass items and then of course we ate.
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Sanjay G.

Yelp
Folks coming to Venice must come to Burano and Murano Island. This is altogether different experience which you will never forget in your life. Those with a bit more time in Italy also fit in a visit to Murano, a nearby island. I should be more precise and say islands. Murano is actually a collection of 7 individual islands, all linked together by bridges. This is the place to go if you're interested in the famed Murano glass, where you can watch a glass making demonstration and maybe buy a Venetian glass souvenir or two. Getting to Murano is pretty straightforward. Vaporetto line 42 will take you there in about 40 minutes. You can get off at any stop of course, but Colonna is best for glassblowing demonstrations and Museum is better for the Glass Museum and the Basilica. Beware of the touts offering a "free" excursion to see the glass works at Murano or the lace-making in Burano. It's a common scam, because they get a kickback from the shop. You'll often get a grossly overpriced shop, high pressure, and a higher final price. Murano is best known worldwide for its exquisite, hand-crafted glass. If you're not in the market for glass and just want to look at it, it's still fun to visit a shop. Many glass factories have showrooms where they display their best products. many top brand jewelry shops like tiffany, they outsource here for glass items.
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Katherine F.

Yelp
The first thing we did after checking into our hotel was to buy Water Taxi Passes, and head to Murano. We spent several hours wandering, shopping, and eating Gelato. Such a charming place... we even saw fish and jellyfish in the canal... probably because there was very little boat traffic. Would not have missed it for the world.
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Norm K.

Yelp
I found Murano Island to be a lovely place. This is the glass making center for Venezia and there were several factories that had people hawking their demonstrations (for a fee). After the demonstration of glass making, there was the chance to buy some items in the gift shops of each company. While I've read that much of the glass is now imported, there are authentic pieces to be gotten. I just don't need another dust catcher so I skipped buying any glass. After walking and enjoying the island for awhile, we stopped for a rest and some lunch. Then it was back to a different vaporetto stop where we got a non-stop back to St. Mark's Square. While not as eye catching as Burano with its colorful houses, Murano has a quaintness on some of the side areas that make it appealing.
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Marian M.

Yelp
Amazing masterpiece in the middle of this beautiful island. Each piece is blue glass & you can stare at it for hours! Impresionante pieza de arte en el medio de esta hermosa isla. Cada pieza es de vidrio azul y podes estar horas mirándola.
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Jay Y.

Yelp
Murano is...okay... Murano glass is legendary: for the longest time, only Murano knew how to make glass in the world, so Venetians held total monopoly on glass for a while before the secret was leaked. The Venetian government moved all glass factories to the isolated island of Murano so that no furnace could spark a massive fire, but in return, Murano gained essentially autonomy from the main island so the glass island has its own development. Still today, Murano is still the equivalent of top quality glass! Unfortunately, the island itself is not too scenic...Of course, most people are here to buy the legendary Murano glass but it's either too expensive and/or possibly fake because sadly there is still no true certification of an authentic Murano glass. If window shopping is your thing, then I say go for it! In fact, you can even buy a small glass object or two without breaking bank, but if you are not into shopping at all, I suggest skipping Murano and go straight to the more colorful Burano.
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Kay T.

Yelp
There is a three island tour thru a tour operator. It's roughly $20. Burano, Murano and Torcello. I like the glassblowing demonstration. I also thought it was interesting that you could only get to the islands my ferry from Venice. You can also take a water Metro for roughly $20 US and the Paso last you for 24 hours. I did a half afternoontouring all three islands. There's not a whole lot to say but it's great for Historical value. There's also a factory store for Murano glass or you can buy some pretty unique pieces that you may not be able to find other places. There's no pressure to purchase anything and the glassblowing demonstration is roughly 20 minutes it's a great outing and I think it's great for children and families as well.
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Christian D.

Yelp
nothing to see, without glass :-) July 2015 on sunday, we've arrived on the island via vaparetto, many offers to see the factories, but nowhere an open factory, so, we decided, to run through the channels, look for glass shops, there are perceived thousand stores to find. In one of them, we have seen the specific art to create the special type of colors in the glass or shape figures, great. But in the great shops, close to everything looked exactly the same. and without the glass, there is not so much more :-) After that, a small memento for each of us and then hurry up, to go to Burano ...
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Tania L.

Yelp
#238-2016: Anyone adoring jewelry (especially handcrafted glass rings) will most likely be well informed on the fact that the best specimens are produced on the Island of Murano. Located in the Venice Lagoon, this small series of little islands has specialised in the art of glass making pieces of art (ranging from little jewelry to lamps, vases and much else). Worth visiting are those tiny stores that still carry on the centennial art of handcrafting said art by blowing hot glass and assisting to it coming to life... it may look easy when crafted by experts but, believe you me.. an average Jane like me couldn't even manage to move an inch of the material... I am a sucker for murano glass rings (colorful and resilient) as well as earrings and pendants. But I am sure anyone will find something to their taste. If you ever decide to hop on a ferry and commute to this island, try and avoid tourist traps which (unfortunately) may try and pass made in China replicas as the real deal... just ask around for those stores that still carry on the traditional handcrafted beauties I am sure you will deeply come to love. And, whilst you are at it... why not educate yourself Andre bit more by clicking on the following link? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murano
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Tim F.

Yelp
You'll more than likely tried to get suckered into a trip to this glass island on your visit to Venice. Unless you like expensive shopping and high pressure sales, don't go it's a "sales trap". There is nothing for a tourist to do on the island other then get pressured to purchase overpriced hand blow glass. You'll probably get a little glass blowing demonstration but it's off to the showroom maze from there. BORING. If you hate shopping like me, this will be a painful experience. That was a couple hours of my life I'll never get back.
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Vince L.

Yelp
This island is famous for glass making, from small knick-knacks and jewelry to larger vases and obscure art objects. If you can control your shopping, you'll get better prices as you move away from the vaporetto stop. I learned this the hard way. To get here, take 4.2 located two bridges away from St Mark's Square (on the left when facing the water). It's a shorter route than 4.1 which runs in the other direction. You can also take the express Line 7, which only operates during the tourist season. If you are planning to take a lot of bus and vaporetto rides during the day, consider the unlimited day pass.
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Lorena S.

Yelp
Amazing seeing the masters sculpt glass like it was clay! The guides were very friendly and informative. There are rooms and rooms of different sculpted pieces by different masters for purchase. However, you better come with serious $$$$$. These pieces are not cheap. A necklace begins anywhere from $450 Euros and items such as glassware start at about $3,000 Euros and up. If in Venice, this is a definite stop.
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Kathy L.

Yelp
Lots of shops selling glass products made in Murano, but was expecting to see more actual glassblowing being done. Not much good food in this area either that doesn't seem to be overpriced tourist traps. If you're only looking to buy a trinket or two of glass, those can be easily found on venice without taking the vaporetto (water taxi) out to Murano.
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Lise S.

Yelp
This island is a must see on any visit to Venice. The glass blowing factories provide great tours to see the Master Glass blowers at work and then you can spend time looking thru the shops and seeing the island. We spend 1/2 day on Murano and then took the boat berry over to Burano for the 2nd half of the day - it was a perfect way to spend the day!!
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Audrey T.

Yelp
Touristy but you gotta go at least once. If u get a chance find a a glass making factory and watch them make the murano glass.
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Lana K.

Yelp
The truth about the islands around Venice must be spoken. After giving 2 stars to Burano for being overcrowded and not that overwhelming (there are colourful houses elsewhere too), Murano is really even less of a must-do. I must point out that I am not rating those cute little islands as such - sure they are lovely - but the rating refers merely to the necessity of going there. For some excellent marketing reason, when in Venice you tend to believe that you must see those two. Trust me, you don't have to. I admit that I don't find the glass spectacular, not even pretty, but maybe if you are a fan of that, it will pay off for you after all. I only saw ugly souvenir stores next to each other, and the buildings are hardly interesting to look at, when arriving from Venice. You already have the main highlight where you are, so enjoy it, no need to get greedy. Because you will only end up disappointed, at least I did. After making our way through the crowds in the main souvenir zone, we tried to get some food at a restaurant that our guide book said was local and good. They simply didn't want us. First they said they are full, then we ended up eating crisps on the square in front of it, and when we saw that some people left, we tried again. We got another no. The other restaurants did not speak to us and seemed just touristy, so we joined the flock waiting for Vaporetto to make our next mistake of the day - Burano.