Venice in one day: waterbus tickets and a Torcello, Burano and Murano island route

With one day, tour the lagoon islands by waterbus

Venice is a city on the water where 118 islands are joined by more than 400 bridges, and 'Venice and its Lagoon' has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. The guide suggests 2 to 3 nights; below is a one-day route around the lagoon islands by waterbus.

Italy's tourism board suggests a day on the LN line from Fondamenta Nuove or San Zaccaria covering Torcello, Burano and Murano, and the guide's itinerary follows the same order: Torcello → Burano → Murano. Check routes and changes in the AVM official app.

If you will ride several times in a day, do the maths first. Three 75-minute tickets (EUR 9.50 each) come to EUR 28.50, more than a 1-day ticket (EUR 25 for 24 hours).

• Morning: Fondamenta Nuove → Torcello
• Lunch: Burano (Lace Museum closed Mondays)
• Afternoon: Murano Glass Museum
• Evening: back to the centre and waterbus line 1 along the Grand Canal

• Venice travel guide →
• Choosing your first European city →

Marco Polo Airport to the city

According to the airport, ACTV Aerobus line 5 links the airport with Piazzale Roma (the bus terminal), and line 15 goes to Venezia Mestre station. The stop is on the second lane outside arrivals; buy tickets from machines in baggage claim (near carousels 3 and 5) or at the public transport ticket office in the arrivals hall. A 75-minute ticket is EUR 10 and a return EUR 18, and the 'Aerobus + 90-minute Rete Unica' ticket (EUR 18) lets you change straight onto a waterbus.

If you buy a 1-, 2-, 3- or 7-day ticket, airport buses cost an extra EUR 7 one way or EUR 13 return, bought together with the pass. From Piazzale Roma you can walk to Santa Lucia station over the Ponte della Costituzione.

ATVO express buses run without intermediate stops to Piazzale Roma and Venezia Mestre station; tickets are sold at the airport machines and ticket office, and also on board. Alilaguna water buses connect to Venice and the islands of Murano, Burano, Lido and Certosa; according to AVM, ACTV tickets are not valid on them. Check fares and travel times for both officially.

According to the airport, taxis run 24 hours a day and fixed rates apply to and from the airport: Piazzale Roma EUR 40, Mestre centre EUR 35, cruise terminal EUR 45. For a private water taxi (motorboat), check the price before boarding.

• ACTV line 5: 75-minute ticket EUR 10, return EUR 18, Aerobus + 90-minute waterbus ticket EUR 18
• With a day pass, airport buses EUR 7 one way or EUR 13 return extra
• ATVO express and Alilaguna: check fares officially (ACTV tickets not valid on Alilaguna)
• Fixed taxi fares: Piazzale Roma EUR 40, Mestre centre EUR 35, cruise terminal EUR 45

• Airport to city: train, bus or taxi? →

Waterbus tickets: the 75-minute ticket and 1-, 2-, 3- and 7-day passes

According to the official AVM/Actv fares, the 75-minute Rete Unica ticket costs EUR 9.50 and covers waterbuses plus Lido and Mestre buses, trams and the People Mover for 75 minutes from first validation. It excludes routes 16 and 19, the Casinò route, Alilaguna and buses to or from the airport.

Passes are valid for 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours from first validation: 1-day EUR 25, 2-day EUR 35, 3-day EUR 45 and 7-day EUR 65. The 1-day Venezia Daily Pass also covers Trenitalia regional trains (R and RV) within the municipality, such as Santa Lucia-Mestre. Ages 6-29 with a Rolling Venice card (EUR 6) can buy a 3-day ticket for EUR 27.

Buy tickets at Venezia Unica points of sale, authorised retailers, stop machines or in the AVM Venezia Official App; the validators also accept contactless bank cards and phones. If you buy on board, ask when you board; payment is by card terminal. Validate every time you board and every time you change; an unvalidated ticket counts as travelling without one and is fined. Children under 6 ride free.

• 75-minute ticket EUR 9.50 (excludes routes 16 and 19, the Casinò route, Alilaguna and airport buses)
• 1-day EUR 25 / 2-day EUR 35 / 3-day EUR 45 / 7-day EUR 65
• Rolling Venice card (EUR 6, ages 6-29): 3-day ticket EUR 27
• Validate on every boarding and change; under 6 free

Morning: Torcello, where time stands still

Take the LN line from Fondamenta Nuove or San Zaccaria to Torcello, a lagoon island with very few inhabitants, where time seems to stand still.

It has the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and its bell tower, with views as far as Burano, and the parapet-less Devil's Bridge. Check opening hours and prices for the basilica and tower officially.

• LN line: from Fondamenta Nuove or San Zaccaria (check routes in the AVM official app)
• Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and its bell tower (views to Burano)
• The parapet-less Devil's Bridge

Lunch: Burano's colourful houses and lace

Burano is known for its colourful houses and handmade lace. The Lace Museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., closed on Mondays, and costs EUR 7.

For lunch, try risotto di gò, made with a lagoon fish; Italy's tourism board recommends it on Burano.

To visit Burano on its own from the historic centre, take line 12 from Fondamenta Nuove.

• Lace Museum: 10-16, closed Mondays, EUR 7
• Lunch: risotto di gò
• Direct from the centre: line 12 from Fondamenta Nuove

Afternoon: the Murano Glass Museum, then the Grand Canal

Murano is famous for glass because the Republic moved the city's glassworks here in 1291 to limit fires. The Glass Museum is open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. from April to October and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. from November to March, for EUR 15.

For the Glass Museum, lines 4.1, 4.2 and 3 (Museo Murano stop) link with Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia, and line 7 (Murano Navagero stop) links with San Zaccaria.

Back in the centre, ride waterbus line 1. It runs the length of the Grand Canal, and Italy's tourism board recommends it for seeing the canal. Get off at Rialto for the Rialto Bridge, built in 1588-1591 and the oldest of the four bridges over the Grand Canal.

• Glass Museum: Apr-Oct 10-18, Nov-Mar 10-17, EUR 15
• Lines 4.1, 4.2 and 3: Museo Murano ↔ Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia
• Line 7: Murano Navagero ↔ San Zaccaria
• Line 1: along the Grand Canal to Rialto

Access fee, fog and high water: checklist before you go

The city of Venice charges an access fee (Contributo di Accesso) for visiting the city. Check the dates it applies, the amount and exemptions on the city's official site (cda.ve.it) before you go.

According to AVM, in fog or when the tide exceeds +95 cm above sea level, waterbus services are changed under a plan agreed with the city. St Mark's Square, the lowest part of the city, may flood. Check the panels at the stops, the call centre (+39 041 041) or AVM's official social channels (@muoversivenezia).

Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rates all of Italy at level 1 (travel caution). In an emergency call 112 (ambulance 118, fire 115). Check official information before travel for entry requirements (visas, ETIAS and so on).

• Access fee: check dates, amount and exemptions at cda.ve.it
• Fog or tide above +95 cm: waterbus changes; check AVM notices
• Emergency 112, ambulance 118, fire 115
• Entry requirements (ETIAS and so on): check official info

• Full Venice travel guide →
• Paris in 5 days for first-timers →

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