Planning a day trip to Burano, Murano and Venice? The easiest way to do it is to park in Treporti and take vaporetto line 12, which connects all three in one simple route.
You avoid expensive Venice parking, start on the quieter side of the islands, and still end up in Venice for a short visit.
Here is the exact itinerary we used, how to avoid the crowds, and what to know about tickets and parking.
Where to park for Burano, Murano and Venice
If you are arriving by car, parking directly in Venice is the obvious option, but not the one I would choose.
Piazzale Roma and Tronchetto are convenient, but they are also much more expensive and less relaxed.
We parked in Treporti, which turned out to be the best decision of the day.
Parking was 10 euro for the day, the vaporetto stop was right there, and it completely removed the hassle of driving closer into Venice.
Why Treporti worked so well:
- It was far cheaper than parking in Venice itself
- The vaporetto connection was straightforward
- There was no city traffic or confusion about where to go
- Returning at the end of the day was easy too
This is a good option if you are driving through Italy and want to visit Venice, Burano and Murano without paying for expensive parking in the city.
The vaporetto route we took
For this itinerary, the key connection is vaporetto line 12.
If you are not familiar with Venice, the vaporetto is simply the public water bus. Line 12 connects Treporti with Burano, Murano and Venice, which makes it ideal for a one-day island-hopping route.
This was our route:
Outbound: Treporti → Burano → Murano → Venice (Fondamente Nove)
Return: Venice → Burano → Treporti
We started with Burano, continued to Murano on the same line, and then went on to Venice.
On the way back, we changed in Burano and continued to Treporti. It sounds more complicated than it is. In practice, it was easy.
If you are making multiple trips, the 24-hour vaporetto ticket is the best option:
| Single ticket | 9.50 euro | 1–2 trips only |
| 24-hour ticket | 25 euro | One day with multiple stops |
| 48-hour ticket | 35 euro | Two days |
| 72-hour ticket | 45 euro | Longer stays |
For this route, the 24-hour ticket is the best value.
Should I go from Venice to Burano and Murano, or use Treporti?
Most guides explain how to get from Venice to Burano and Murano, starting from stops like St Mark’s Square or Rialto. That works well if you are already staying in Venice.
If you are driving into Italy, however, parking in Treporti and heading to the islands first is often easier and cheaper.
You avoid the stressful drive into Venice, you park very cheaply, and you start your day on the quieter side of the islands.
Both options use line 12. The difference is simply where you start:
- from Venice if you are already in the city
- from Treporti if you are coming by car and want to avoid Venice parking
Why we visited Burano first
A lot of people head to Murano first because it is closer. We deliberately did the opposite and started with Burano. I would absolutely do that again.
The biggest advantage is timing. Burano in the morning feels calmer, softer and far less crowded.
Later in the day, once more visitors arrive from Venice, it changes completely.
If you enjoy photography or simply want a less hectic experience, starting with Burano makes a real difference.
In the late afternoon, the main street in Burano gets very crowded with photographers and tour groups. The side streets stay calmer.
Burano is known for its brightly coloured houses, but that is not the whole story.
The island also has a slower, village-like feel that you notice most in the smaller side streets. Early in the day, that atmosphere is still there.
Things worth doing on Burano:
- Walk beyond the busiest streets
- Photograph the houses before the island gets crowded (morning light on the west side is best)
- Try bussolà, the local butter biscuits
- Visit the Lace Museum if you want a bit of local history
Murano is worth more than a quick stop
From Burano, we stayed on the same line and continued to Murano. Murano is obviously famous for glass, and yes, that is the reason most people go.
But it is worth slowing down a little instead of treating it as just a demonstration stop.
Watching a glassblowing demonstration is interesting, especially if it is your first time. Just keep in mind that many workshops are also retail spaces.
That is normal. If you want to buy something, look for the Vetro Artistico Murano mark.
We booked this glassblowing demonstration on Murano here.
What I liked on Murano:
- Seeing traditional glassmaking up close
- Walking a bit away from the busiest souvenir areas
- Visiting the Glass Museum
- Stopping by the Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato
Murano feels less whimsical than Burano, but more grounded and more local in parts.
A short stop in Venice
We had both been to Venice before, so this time we did not focus on the major landmarks.
We briefly looked at some of the classic sights, but mostly chose to wander through quieter parts of the city instead.
That approach made sense after Burano and Murano. Rather than rushing from one major attraction to the next, we used our time in Venice to slow the day down.
Places that are worth considering if you want something a little quieter:
- Libreria Acqua Alta, a bookshop where books are stacked in gondolas and bathtubs; the courtyard with the book staircase is a great photo spot
- Campo Santa Margherita, the real living room of Venice, with students, a small market and local bars
- Cannaregio, the northern district with smaller canals and a more local feel
- Scala Contarini del Bovolo, one of Venice’s most beautiful hidden architectural surprises, tucked away in a small courtyard
These places are not secret, obviously. This is Venice. But they are a good reminder that the city still has corners that feel less frantic than the main tourist routes.
Where we stayed – Lido di Jesolo as a base
Lido di Jesolo was not a place I had particularly wanted to visit. But we found a last-minute beachfront hotel with parking, and in early June it was still pleasantly quiet.
For one night before a Venice day trip, it worked far better than expected.
What makes Lido di Jesolo practical is the location. You are close enough to reach Treporti easily in the morning, but far enough away from Venice to avoid the higher hotel prices and crowds. If you are road-tripping through northern Italy, it is a surprisingly convenient base.
Do not forget to validate your ticket
This is one of those small details that can become an expensive mistake.
Vaporetto tickets need to be validated when you board. Not once for the whole day, but each time you begin a new journey.
That catches people out, especially if they are used to day passes working differently at home.
The same kind of rule exists on parts of the Italian rail network too, which is why it is worth paying attention. If the ticket is valid but not validated, you can still be fined.
Venice day visitor fee
Another thing international visitors should check in advance is Venice’s day visitor fee. On certain dates, day-trippers need to register and pay before entering the city, unless they are staying overnight in Venice itself.
Because we stayed in Jesolo rather than in Venice, this was something we needed to be aware of. It is not difficult, but it is one of those things that is much better handled before the trip rather than on the day.
Official Venice visitor fee page
Our one-day itinerary
Here is roughly how our day looked:
9:30 am – Treporti – Park and board line 12
10:00 am – Burano – Walk, take photos, have something to eat
12:00 pm – Murano – Glassblowing, stroll, lunch
3:00 pm – Venice – Short stop, quieter areas, slow walk
7:30 pm – Return journey – Vaporetto back via Burano
8:30 pm – Treporti – Pick up car
Practical tips
- Park in Treporti if you are arriving by car
- Start with Burano, not Murano
- Use a 24-hour vaporetto pass if you are making multiple stops
- Validate your ticket every time you board
- Check whether the Venice day visitor fee applies to your travel date
- If you want a calm overnight base, Lido di Jesolo works well in early June
- If you are already in Venice, you can follow the same route starting from Fondamente Nove instead of Treporti
FAQs
Can you do Burano, Murano and Venice in one day?
Yes, absolutely. With an early start, it is a very manageable day trip.
How do I get from Venice to Burano and Murano?
From Venice, take vaporetto line 12 from Fondamente Nove. It goes to Burano first, then Murano, and back to Venice.
Is Treporti a good place to park for Venice?
Yes, especially if you are coming by car and want to avoid the cost and hassle of parking in Venice itself.
Which vaporetto goes to Burano and Murano?
Line 12 is the key route for this itinerary.
Should I visit Burano or Murano first?
I would visit Burano first. It is calmer in the morning and better for photos.
Do you need to validate vaporetto tickets?
Yes. You need to validate them each time you board.
Is Jesolo a good base for Venice?
For a road trip or short stop, yes. It is convenient, practical and quieter than staying in Venice.
Is Burano too touristy?
Burano is touristy, but in the morning it feels calmer and more relaxed. The smaller side streets are especially pleasant early in the day.
Is Murano worth visiting or is it just souvenir shops?
Murano is worth visiting if you are interested in glassmaking, history, or architecture. The Glass Museum and the Basilica are both worthwhile, and you can easily spend a few hours there beyond the souvenir shops.
From Venice to Burano and Murano, or start from Treporti?
If you are already in Venice, start from Fondamente Nove. If you are driving and want to avoid expensive Venice parking, start from Treporti and visit the islands before heading to Venice.
This day trip was not planned after our sailing trip in Croatia, and it still ended up one of the most relaxed Venice experiences I’ve had.
No parking stress, no crowded islands if you start early, and line 12 just works. If you are in the area and have a car, I’d recommend heading out to the islands. It really does pay off.
Parking in Treporti for €10 and hopping on vaporetto line 12 sounds like a genius way to avoid Venice’s steep parking fees — I’ve used a similar strategy when visiting lake towns, and it saved both money and stress.