Murano and Burano Half-Day Trip from Piazzale Roma

This Murano and Burano half-day trip starts at the train station by Piazzale Roma and takes you across the lagoon by boat. A multilingual live guide gives commentary on board, and the trip runs every day of the week.

On Murano, long famed for glass, you see a live demonstration of glassblowing. The craft goes back to the Middle Ages, and the explanation shows how to tell one artisan or brand from another and what makes a piece unique. You have an hour to an hour and a quarter of free time on the island.

Burano follows, with about an hour and a half. Walk its lanes and canals and look for the leaning bell tower and Piazza Baldassarre Galuppi, named after the 18th-century Venetian composer. The traditional lace shops let you see the delicate work that the local artisans still do.

• Boat transport between the islands
• The glassblowing demonstration
• Multilingual live commentary on the boat

The excursion ends back at the start. Food, drinks, tips and a visit to Torcello Cathedral are not included. The tour goes ahead in the rain, so bring a waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes, and do not book a train or flight too close to the end, as water traffic can shift the finish.