Best Activities and Glass Workshops in Murano and Burano

With Venice's impressive monuments, Grand Canal cruises and rich gastronomy, there is plenty to see and do in Venice. However, the world doesn't end on this great island; so if you have a travel itinerary of three days or more in Venice seriously consider extending your travel experience by visiting the other islands in the lagoon.

Known as one of Venice's favourite escapes from the ever fervent Venice, a trip to Murano and Burano is quite an adventure. The small islands to the north of the lagoon offer all sorts of activities to enjoy, here are the most interesting for you to make your own selection.

The work of creating glass pieces with a blowtorch is a modern and widespread technique that allows you to work with small pieces. With this type of experience you will learn how the pieces are made step by step, first with a demonstration by the artisan who explains the technique based on examples and then guides the group through the creation of some simple glass elements.

Useful information

• Location: Murano Island.
• Price: This type of experience is available from €45 per person.
• Duration: Approximately 2 hours.
• Can it be done with children? Due to the equipment and tools used they are not recommended for children.

In Murano you have the opportunity to see inside the artisans' workshops and get a first-hand glimpse of the whole process of creating the pieces. One of the artists themselves will take the small group of tourists through a real glass factory to understand the production process step by step and see how the glass masters make their works. If you are travelling to the island on your own, keep in mind that you should arrive at least 15 minutes early to the factory.

Useful information

• Location: Murano Island.
• Price: This type of experience is available in Murano from €20 per person.
• Duration: Approximately 1 hour.
• Can it be done with children? If you are travelling to Venice with children, they can join this experience.

This type of experience takes you into the heart of a Murano glass factory so that you can learn the basic glassblowing technique and create an authentic piece of Murano glass yourself. The first part of the workshop involves practical exercises without hot glass and then with glass; it is a physically demanding experience so you will need to be prepared although the team of artisans accompany you throughout. You will be able to blow your own cup or small vase which will be ready for collection the next day after the hybridisation process has been completed.

Useful information

• Location: Murano Island, in workshops such as Wave Murano Glass.
• Price: This type of experience is available from €195.
• Duration: The workshop has an average duration of 3 hours.
• Can it be done with children? Children are not allowed to participate in this workshop, the minimum age is 16 years old.

This type of experience takes the traveller through the process of creating a personalised piece of Murano glass in a traditional factory; you can bring a sketch of your own ideas to bring it to life in front of your eyes with the skills of an expert craftsman. The final piece will be ready before the end of the experience, although it will need to cool for two days before it can be taken home; you will have the option to pick it up or have it shipped to you.

Useful information

• Location: Murano Island
• Price: This type of experience is available from €595. It is a fully personalised individual tour where you will take away an authentic piece of Murano glass.
• Duration: Book at least 2 hours at the factory to enjoy this experience.
• Can it be done with children? It is a perfect experience to enjoy with children and family.

If you are interested in the art of glassblowing and want to learn the basics or you have the basics but would like to improve, seriously consider taking a private lesson with a Venetian master glassblower. You will discover before your eyes an ancient technique and see a work come to life and take shape; then it will be your turn to apply what you have learned to bring your own creation to life.

Useful information

• Venue: Murano Island
• Price: From €60
• Duration: You will need to book at least 2 hours for this experience.
• Can it be done with children? Recommended from 16 years of age.

Located on the Grand Canal of Murano, the Glass Museum is a must-see experience to understand the peculiar art of glassblowing so closely associated with the evolution and history of this small island. The façade of this space exhibits the florid Gothic style, characteristic of Venice. Composed of nine rooms, it presents some of the most impressive works of glass art ever made by man. Pay close attention to the impressive crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling of the halls.

Useful information

• Location: Murano Island
• Price: The entrance fee to the museum is approximately €10 per person.
• Duration: Reserve at least one hour of your itinerary to tour the museum in its entirety.
• Can it be done with children? Yes, the children really enjoyed this kind of experience and the beautiful pieces inside.

In addition to the Glass Museum, on the island of Murano you will find small exhibition rooms that Murano's most famous artists have installed in the location of their workshops. On your excursion to see the traditional art of this region of Venice, it's worth spending some time in at least the main ones. My particular favourites are:

Bruno Fusato SignorettiBrunois an internationally renowned figure and a world famous artist; he became internationally famous because his glass figures knew the traditional creative spirit with the new ways of expressing contemporary art. After the artist's death in 2004 the business passed into the hands of his daughters. His showroom and shop is located on the Island of San Pietro, near the Serenella Canal.

Massimiliano SchiavonAnothergreat Murano talent known far beyond the borders of Venice. Massimiliano became famous for the particular anatomy of his creations and for the fantastic way in which he imbues his glass works with colour. Although his pieces are not cheap, it is well worth visiting the exhibition tents to admire his art up close. You'll find two showrooms dedicated to Massimiliano Schiavon's work, one on San Pietro Island and the other on Murano's San Stephano Island.

• Location: Murano Island in San Pietro and San Stefano.
• Price: Free admission.
• Duration: Less than an hour to visit the exhibits.
• Can it be done with children? This is a perfect activity to do with children in Murano.

• Getting to Murano and Burano is part of the daily routine for many Venetians who commute from the small islands to work or sell their wares, and due to the popularity and attractiveness of these destinations a trip to Murano and Burano is one of the most popular excursions from Venice. Consequently, there are many alternatives for getting to the northern islands of the lagoon. Here are the main ones explained very briefly.
• Group excursions An economical and practical option that takes small groups of tourists from greater Venice to the islands of Murano and Burano to see the highlights of each. They depart daily from Venice.
• Private tours Private or group tours are ideal if you want to enjoy a personalised service with an exclusive guide. Many of these excursions also include some of the activities and workshops discussed in this article, while others combine the island tour with cruises along Venice's Grand Canal.
• Public transport The vaporetto is the public transport service used in the Serenissima. It is a high-speed transport service that moves between the main Venetian canals and between the islands of the Grand Lagoon.
• Water Taxi: Private luxury transport service that will take you from your hotel to your destination on the islands, usually expensive.