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Murano

The Island of Glassmaking

Island famous for centuries of Venetian glass craftsmanship.

Classic Venice Lagoon Islands With Kids

Murano island

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Murano Colonna or Museo

Waterbus Guide

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What makes it special

Murano's fascinating history

In 1291, the Venetian Republic mandated that all glassmakers relocate their furnaces to Murano. This crucial decision both mitigated the risk of catastrophic fires in wooden Venice and effectively confined the highly exclusive glassmaking industry to the island. So vital was this craft that glassmakers faced the death penalty for leaving Murano without official permission.

Glass shopping

Today, charming canals like Rio dei Vetrai are vibrant with artisan glass workshops. Not only can you browse and buy exquisite creations directly from the makers, but you can also craft your very own glass artifact by taking a class!

History of glass

Beyond the shops, delve into the rich heritage of Murano glass. At the Glass Museum, you can appreciate the artistry and decorative applications of this captivating material in the world's largest historical collection of Murano glass.

Live glassblowing demos

Witness the magic firsthand as master artisans craft beautiful glass creations during live demonstrations held in workshops across the island..

Murano : Murano's glassblowing artisans continue to use centuries-old techniques, which you can often observe firsthand

Discover more about Murano through 8 photos with explanations.

Open gallery

What to expect here

Discover centuries of glassmaking tradition in a living artisan hub.
Watch master glassblowers at work.
Shop for authentic Murano glass right at the source.
Unravel the history of glass from Roman times to today at Glass Museum.
Walk across the ancient mosaic floor of Santi Maria e Donato.

Getting to Murano

Opt for a public water bus for a DIY approach, join a speedboat tour that connects to other iconic islands in the lagoon such as Burano, or even splurge on a private water taxi - let's break down each option next.

Take the vaporetto

Want to explore at your own pace? Then hop on a water bus to the Murano Colonna, Faro or Museo stops.

Several vaporetto lines serve the island, with lines 4.1 and 4.2 from Venice's Fondamente Nove being both the fastest and most frequent options, taking about 10 minutes and running roughly every 10 minutes.

Other options include line 3 from Venice Train Station or the seasonal line 7 from Piazza San Marco.

Just a heads-up: waterbuses can get crowded at peak times, especially on the return from Murano to Venice.

Vaporetto Guide

Join an express boat tour

Short on time but still want to see the other islands too - not just Murano?

Then opt for a half-day express boat tour, which often includes a complimentary glassblowing demonstration in Murano along with visits to Burano and even Torcello.

To cover so many destinations in such a short time, these tours allow just enough time at each stop to give you a quick sense of the place, which is typically around one hour per island.

If this is what you're looking for (fast travel between the islands without worrying about logistics or crowded vaporettos, plus plenty of extra time to explore Venice itself) then a guided tour is a great option.

Join an exclusive water taxi tour

Wish to travel in style? Then take a fast water taxi to Murano for an exclusive 3-hour experience, exploring the island with a knowledgeable guide and enjoying a captivating glassblowing demonstration.

It's the best way to give Murano the attention it deserves while traveling quickly and comfortably, avoiding the hurried, tourist-focused express boat trips and crowded vaporettos.

Glass experiences

After taking in the initial sights and glass shops, what unique glass activities can you delve into on Murano?

Watch a glassblowing demo

This is one of the best, unhurried glass-blowing demonstrations you can experience, held inside a former church - fittingly named the Glass Cathedral.