Murano, Burano, Torcello and The Venetian Lagoon

As the famed modern art collector, Peggy Guggenheim once said: “it is always assumed that Venice is the ideal place for a honeymoon. This is a grave error. To live in Venice or even to visit it means that you fall in love with the city itself. There is nothing left over in your heart for anyone else.“I do not disagree. Venice is a destination of undeniable beauty. However, one thing I loved about visiting the city was leaving it to explore the nearby islands. Murano Island, Burano Island and Torcello are just three of many alluring places that make for a perfect day trip across the stunning Venetian Lagoon. 

This enclosed bay of the Adriatic Sea, in northern Italy, is the perfect way to discover the ever-expanding beauty and culture of the region.

Set yourself off on a not-so-off-beaten path and discover gems that are only a boat ride away from St Mark’s Square. Each one made district by its own cultural wonders – from a dazzling rainbow of architecture to the striking artistry of glassblowing. 

Now it’s not to say that these islands, Murano and Burano in particular, are not crowded in the summer because of their size. However, every minute you spend here is worth the heat and the people and it is pretty fun being able to walk from one end of an island to another in 15 minutes.

Uncovering art, food and culture in a Netflix-romcom-like setting is also a lovely way to live out your enthralling Italian reverie.

(Discover more European holiday inspiration by following this link!)

Remember, you need to buy a ticket in Venice to make travel across the lagoon easy! Simply go up the the central station and buy a day pass from the ticket machines at 20 euros for unlimited boat trips.

Murano Island 

Your first stop on your cruise of the Venetian Lagoon would mostly likely be Murano because it is the easiest to get to from Venice.

For centuries Venetian glassmakers were required to live on the island to protect the delicate glass-making secrets. Today, this beautiful skill is one to admire and makes Murano the most popular island to tourists. You can spend a few hours wandering the incredible collection of glass shops where you can pick yourself up a unique souvenir, partake in a fascinating glassblowing class, or marvel in amazement at a demonstration as several factories open their welcoming doors to visitors. 

(If you are captivated by this and want to learn more, make to spend time at The Murano Glass Museum where you can dig deeper into the island’s glass history and 1500 years of secrets.)

The island’s commercial nature makes it an ideal location for a magical lunch that allows you to revel in all your movie fantasies and where pizza, pasta, and wine are at your disposal under large umbrellas.

Burano Island

Continue your way across the Venetian Lagoon to brighten up your day with vivid hues.

Characterised by brightly coloured fishermen homes lining narrow canals, Burano is, without a doubt, a haven of rainbow dreams and is probably also the place you’ve seen all over your Instagram. It is the perfect setting to immerse in tranquillity as you sit by the water, indulging in all the gelato you can fathom. For all the shopaholics out there, Burano is also a paradise of intricate handmade lace, which is an art form native to the island.

There also happens to be an engaging lace museum to visit, but I couldn’t find it😂

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Torcello Island 

Finally, end your time exploring the wonderful Venetian Lagoon here.

Smaller, quieter, greener and less visited than the first two, Torcello is Murano and Burano’s mesmerising (often forgotten) little sister. Being mostly a nature reserve, it is a peaceful escape from the livelier places around and also happens to be the oldest part of Venice, with a historic 7th-century cathedral and spectacular 11th-century Byzantine mosaics to explore. 

Torcello also happens to be the site where Ernest Hemingway wrote Across the River and Into the Trees at the Locanda Hotel.