These Are The Top Islands in Venice You Have To Explore [2024]

By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 11th November 2018 | Updated: 29th November 2024

So you’ve seen all the sights and eaten all the food that the main islands of Venice have to offer and you’re after a day trip to explore the local area. I give you the islands in Venice Lagoon you have to explore; Murano, Burano, San Giorgio Maggiore, Torcello and Lido.

These islands are all easily accessible by the local water bus services and all have something unique to offer. As well as that, they can all easily be visited in a day, even with stop-offs for eating copious amounts of gelato and pasta!

It is super simple to buy a 24-hour water bus ticket which allows you to hop on and off the water buses as many times as you like. Just remember to swipe the ticket onto the boat otherwise you may have to pay a fine…

📍 Islands in Venice to visit: Murano

📍 Islands in Venice to visit: Burano

📍 Islands in Venice to visit: San Giorgio Maggiore

📍 Islands in Venice to visit: Lido

📍 Islands in Venice to visit: Torcello

Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:

Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com

Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com

Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com

Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide

Islands in Venice You Have To Explore

1. Murano

Made up of 7 islands linked by bridges over 8 channels, Murano is well known for its world-renowned glass. Roughly 10 mins away from Venice, these islands are quite possibly the most touristy of the outlying islands and in all honesty, we didn’t spend much time here. You can visit a glass-blowing factory, wander the canals and gaze at the architecture, but Murano was just a bit too touristy and shopping filled for us.

How to get from Venice to Murano

Take the number 12 Vaporetto from the north side of main Venice. It takes roughly 10 minutes to get between the main islands of Venice and Murano.

What to do in Murano

If you are visiting Murano you have to explore some of the glass-blowing workshops as well as the Museo del Vetro, which explains how glass-blowing has changed throughout the years. Another thing to do in Murano is visit the Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato famous for its mosaics and said to house the bones of a dragon.

2. Burano

A little further afield from Murano lies colourful Burano. Made up of 4 islands, Burano is famed for its houses painted every colour under the sun and exquisite lace. It is roughly an hour from the main islands of Venice and 40 mins from the islands of Murano, so travelling there takes a chunk out of your day, but with the magnificent views of Venice Lagoon to keep you company, no one’s complaining!

If you like seafood this is also the island to visit for you. Every restaurant and cafe had numerous seafood dishes to choose from, you just have to decide which colour building to sit outside of. Burano is also fairly touristy, but you can easily wander away from the main tourist routes and find yourself surrounded by multi-coloured buildings and not a soul in sight.

How to get from Venice to Burano

Take the number 12 Vaporetto from the north side of main Venice. It takes about 45 minutes so it is not a short trip, but the boat ride itself is lovely.

What to do in Burano

Get lost in the colourful streets, visit the Museo del merletto, (lace museum) to learn about the history of this fine art, and find the Campanile Storto di Burano, the less well-known leaning tower of Burano.

Looking for more Italian getaways? Check out: A week in Emilia-Romagna

Lesser known islands in Venice you can visit

3. San Giorgio Maggiore

Of all the islands we visited, San Giorgio Maggiore was the smallest and quietest, quite possibly because it is one of the least well-known. Away from the hubbub of tourists, yet overlooking the wonderful main islands of Venice, it was like our own Venetian oasis! It is only a 5-minute boat ride away from St Marks Square, yet the peacefulness of the island is amazing.

For the best views of Venice, you can climb the campanile (roughly €3 per adult) and experience the city from above. You can also wander in the gardens surrounding the church and monastery, which often house art exhibitions you can visit for free.

How to get from Venice to San Giorgio Maggiore

Take the number 2 Vaporetto from San Marco, (near the main square of Piazza San Marco in Venice). It takes roughly 5 minutes to cross the main canal.

What to do in San Giorgio Maggiore

Explore the grounds of the basilica and climb the campanile.

4. Lido

Venice’s seaside island, and the location of the famous Venice Film Festival, Lido is an island that is worth visiting from the main islands of Venice. It is often less touristy than other islands in Venice Lagoon, (apart from over Venice Film Festival), but the locals flock there in the summer months to take in the beaches.

How to get from Venice to Lido

Take the number 1 Vaporetto from San Marco to Lido SME. It takes roughly 15 minutes via this Vaporetto which will drop you at the opposite side of Lido to the main beach promenade.

What to do in Lido

Visit one of the only beaches in Venice, explore the Malamocco neighbourhood and stop by the Chiesa Parrocchiale de San Nicolo di Lido.

5. Torcello

Torcello may be one of the further out islands in Venice, and often overlooked due to the time it takes to get there, but it is a small island that is well worth seeing. Writer Ernest Hemingway often stayed on Torcello and with the history and local architecture on the island it is clear to see why. Venice’s first cathedral was also founded here, (Santa Maria Assunta) as well as the being the location of the famous Attila’s Throne.

How to get from Venice to Torcello

Similarly, as to how to get to Burano, take the Vaporetto 12 to Torcello. It takes roughly 1 hour each way but you could break up the journey by stopping in Burano or Murano.

What to do in Torcello

Visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, with beautiful Byzantine mosaics as well as a bell tower you can climb and be treated to views of Burano. You should also visit Ponte del Diavolo, a famous bridge with no parapets. Torcello is also home to a few art museums that are well worth a visit if you have the time.

Where to stay in Venice

We would highly recommend staying on the main islands of Venice rather than on one of the islands in the lagoon, as you will have much more choice and better options for day trips. Check out Booking.com for the best rates and accommodation options for your stay.

Islands in Venice FAQs

How many islands does Venice have?

Venice has 120 islands with 177 canals breaking them all up, so yes you will get lost at least once on any trip to Venice!

How do you get between the islands in Venice? Is it easy is it to get between the islands in Venice?

To get from the main islands of Venice to the islands in the lagoon is really simple. There are numerous water buses known as Vaporetto that take you in and out of the area, and they are relatively cheap to use as well. For getting out to Murano and Burano you want to take a Vaporetto from the northern side of Venice, for San Giorgio Maggiore, from the southern side.

Don’t take a water taxi, they are silly expensive.

Which is better Murano or Burano?

Neither Murano nor Burano is better than the other, in our opinion you should try and visit both as they are so different. Murano is the place to go if you are interested in glass blowing, sculptures and wandering along some slightly less busy canals than the main islands of Venice. Burano is full of colourful houses, lace shops and some lovely restaurants.

What are the 3 islands off Venice?

The three most well-known islands off of Venice are Murano, Burano and San Giorgio Maggiore.

Are the islands in Venice worth visiting?

100% yes the islands in Venice are worth visiting, (to be fair all of Venice is made up of islands so if you come to Venice you come to visit islands!). There are numerous islands off of the main Venice islands that you can visit, and you don’t have to stick to the well-known tourist locations of Murano and Burano.

What is the most beautiful island in Venice Italy?

This is highly contested in Venice, and the locals will give you different answers, but we loved Burano, not only for the unique colourful houses throughout the island but also for the history and cuisine that the island offers.

Do people live on Venice’s islands?

Yes, people live and work on Venice’s islands although the number of tourists visiting in the summer months is slowly beginning to decrease the year-round population in Mestre, (the main islands of Venice).

Can you sleep on any of Venice’s islands?

Yes, you can sleep on a number of the islands that are off the mainland, (main island!), Venice including Burano and Murano, just be sure to book in advance. Staying on one of the islands that is often a day trip for visitors to Venice can be a great way to get away from the crowds in the early mornings and evenings as well.

Are Venice’s islands wheelchair accessible?

Venice itself isn’t the most wheelchair-friendly destination, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit, the trip will just need to be planned well to avoid any sets of stairs or particularly narrow alleyways. (This goes for those visiting with young kids who require a buggy / pram too!). Most Vaporettos are wheelchair friendly and both Burano and Murano are easy to navigate with a wheelchair in comparison to the main Venice islands.

Can you walk between the islands in Venice?

Yes, you can walk between the islands in the main heart of Venice, but if you are looking to go out to one of the outlying islands in Venice Lagoon then you will have to take a boat.

What islands off Venice are famous for glass blowing?

Murano is the island in Venice that is famous for glass blowing. It is also an easy and quick boat ride away from the main Venice islands, making it a great day trip whilst in Venice.

Is there enough time to visit one of the islands in Venice on a day trip from Venice?

Yes, but it will depend on which island you want to visit. Burano is one of the furthest islands in Venice that most tourists want to visit for a day trip, and this is totally doable, but you have to be aware that it will take 45 minutes each way via boat.

Is there enough time to visit one of Venice’s islands on a day trip to Venice?

Honestly, no. If you want to visit Venice and see all the sights on a day trip even that will be tough let alone trying to add in a visit out to one of the outlying islands.

Venice Tours

If you would rather take a tour to explore Venice and the neighbouring islands then check out these from Get Your Guide:

Conclusion: Islands in Venice You Have To Explore

Of course, there are many many more islands in Venice that you can and should visit, especially out in the Venice Lagoon, but hopefully, this guide will help you decide between Murano, Burano, San Giorgio Maggiore, Lido and Torcello if you are short on time.

Planning your own trip to Venice? Make sure you check out our Travelling Tedaldi Amazon Store Travel Guides for all your guidebooks and maps. (We’ve done the hard work for you and linked all the things we used to plan our trip!)

Gemma Tedaldi

Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.