Day Trips from Venice 2026: Murano, Burano, Dolomites
Updated October 27, 2026
Quick answer
The easiest day trips from Venice are the lagoon islands of Murano and Burano, reached by ACTV water bus line 12 from Fondamente Nove. Verona is a direct train ride from Venezia Santa Lucia station. The Dolomites are the longest day: trains stop at the foot of the mountains, so the last stretch is by coach, or you join an organised tour.
Murano and Burano: the easiest day trip from Venice
Murano lies about 1.5 km north of Venice and is made up of seven islands linked by bridges. The Venetian Republic moved its glassmakers there in 1291, partly to keep furnace fires away from the wooden city. The Murano Glass Museum, in Palazzo Giustinian, tells that story with pieces from ancient Egypt to today. There is no bridge from Venice, so you go by boat. Burano sits about 7 km out in the lagoon. It is known for lace and for its brightly painted houses, and about 2,800 people live there. A footbridge joins it to the island of Mazzorbo. Wikipedia puts the trip from St Mark's Square at about 45 minutes by water bus. The two islands fit in one day, with Murano in the morning and Burano for lunch and the afternoon. Our Burano and Murano guide covers both in detail.
How do I get to Burano from Venice?
Take ACTV water bus line 12 from Fondamente Nove, on the north shore of Venice. It calls at Murano and Mazzorbo before Burano, and then runs on to Treporti and Punta Sabbioni. Torcello is served on request; ACTV asks you to phone ahead, or you can change at Burano for the short hop across. Timetables change by season, so check the line 12 timetable on the ACTV site on the day. A standard 75-minute ACTV ticket costs €9.50 and covers one leg. A return to Burano needs two, so €19. The 24-hour pass at €25 pays off as soon as you add a stop at Murano or a ride on the Grand Canal. Both are sold by ACTV, the city transport company. If you would rather not change boats yourself, organised lagoon tours handle it. On 27 October 2026 the booking partner listed group boat tours to Murano and Burano from about $20 per person, and a guided boat tour with a glassmaking demonstration at about $39 per person. One of the rides on our tours page, the Doge's Palace and gondola tour, has an option that adds the boat to Murano and Burano with glass and lace demonstrations.
Murano glass factory tour: what to expect
Glass is the reason Murano exists as it does: the furnaces were moved there in 1291 and never left. Most visitors see it in one of two ways. The first is a glassmaking demonstration at a furnace, which several lagoon tours on the booking partner list among their inclusions, so check the tour's inclusions before you book. The second is the Murano Glass Museum in Palazzo Giustinian, a separate visit that covers the history, with pieces from ancient Egypt to the present. If you only want to watch glass being made, a tour with a demonstration does it in one stop; if you want the story behind it, add the museum. A demonstration is a short stop, so it pairs well with an afternoon on Burano.
Venice to Dolomites day trip: is there a train?
Not all the way. The railway into the mountains, the Calalzo–Padua line, is still in use and ends at Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina station, at the edge of the Dolomites. From Venice you reach it on regional trains; plan the route and any change on the Trenitalia journey planner. The old line on to Cortina d'Ampezzo closed in 1964 and is now a cycle path. For Cortina itself, take a coach. Cortina Express sells seats between Cortina d'Ampezzo and Venice, with Piazzale Roma, Mestre station and Venice airport among its stops. ATVO also runs buses from Mestre. Be honest with yourself about the distance. The Dolomites are a long road or rail trip from the lagoon, and a big share of a one-day visit is spent travelling. It works best if you want a single mountain view or a short walk. For hiking, a night in the mountains is the better plan.
Venice to Verona day trip by train
Verona is on the main Milan–Venice railway, so direct trains run from Venezia Santa Lucia, at the top of the Grand Canal, to Verona Porta Nuova. Both Trenitalia and Italo sell the route. Fast trains make it the simplest city day trip from Venice: no boats, no changes, and you are back for dinner. Check times and prices on the operators' sites, as they vary by train. Verona's Roman amphitheatre, the Arena, is still used for open-air opera, and UNESCO listed the city as a World Heritage Site in 2000 for its urban structure and architecture. Porta Nuova, the main station, sits to the south of the historic centre.
Which day trip from Venice should you pick?
Pick the lagoon if you have one spare day and want it easy: Murano and Burano are close, cheap to reach and need no planning beyond a water bus ticket. Pick Verona for a second Italian city with a short, direct train. Pick the Dolomites only if mountains are the point of your trip. Two things to know before you go. If you are staying overnight in Venice, the city's access fee does not apply to you; if you visit Venice itself as a day-tripper on a fee day, it does. See who pays the Venice access fee. And if you are back in Venice before dark, a gondola ride at dusk is a good end to the day; how much a gondola ride costs has the fares, and the evening gondola ride is a booked option. For more ideas inside the city, see things to do in Venice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Burano from Venice?
Take ACTV water bus line 12 from Fondamente Nove. It stops at Murano and Mazzorbo before Burano. A single 75-minute ticket is €9.50; a 24-hour pass is €25.
Can I walk from Venice to Murano?
No. Murano is a group of islands about 1.5 km north of Venice with no bridge to the city. Water buses, including line 12, make the crossing.
Is there a train from Venice to the Dolomites?
Only to the edge. Trains run to Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina station; the line to Cortina d'Ampezzo closed in 1964. Coaches, such as Cortina Express, cover the rest.
Is Venice to Verona a good day trip?
Yes. Direct Trenitalia and Italo trains run from Venezia Santa Lucia to Verona Porta Nuova, so it needs no boats and no changes.
Can you do Murano and Burano in one day?
Yes. Line 12 calls at both, so most visitors see Murano in the morning and Burano in the afternoon.
Do day-trippers pay the Venice access fee?
On set fee days, day-trippers aged 14 and over visiting Venice pay it. Overnight guests who pay the hotel tourist tax are exempt.
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