Grand Canal Boat Private Tour: Murano and Burano
Luxury awaits on this private half-day tour beginning at St. Mark’s Square, the cruise terminal, or your hotel lobby in Venice. After meeting your guide and settling in to your private boat, you’ll set off on the Grand Canal, learning about this significant waterway, which was once the world’s busiest trading port, with noblemen, courtesans, artists, and merchants passing through its Rialto Bridge.
Depending on your starting point, you’ll set off for a 20 to 40 minute ride to Murano, as your guide shares tales of Venetian wealth, power, and grandeur. Arriving on Murano, an island with a rich glassblowing tradition, you’ll visit a studio and see artists at work. There will be time for photos and shopping, and from Murano, you'll glide across the Venetian Lagoon for the 20 minute journey to Burano (this ride may be shared). As you are enchanted by the island's vibrantly-colored homes, your guide will explain their particular painting scheme. You'll also learn about an intricate lace-making tradition that has been passed down through generations, and see artisans crafting. There will be time to linger in a cafe, take photos, or chat with locals. From Burano, you’ll travel through lesser-known canals to get a glimpse of daily life, and leave the lagoon’s smaller islands for a leisurely 45-minute ride back to Venice. You’ll know you have arrived when you see the grandeur of the ornately carved Doge’s Palace, with its port lined with gondolas, punctuated by a magnificent bell tower. Your guide will explain the history of St. Mark’s Square with time to take photos of the the city’s most iconic sight. Your tour ends in St. Mark’s Square four hours after your start time, and you can continue exploring the twists and turns of Venice on your own.