Vetreria Artistica Colleoni Tour: Private Murano & Burano Boat Trip with Hotel Pickup
Quick answer
The Vetreria Artistica Colleoni tour is a 4-hour private motorboat trip to Murano and Burano from $471, with hotel pickup on Venice island and a glassblowing demonstration.
It is rated 4.8/5 from 189 reviews on GetYourGuide, but meals and tips cost extra and the Murano glass showroom leans toward selling.
Vetreria Artistica Colleoni
Murano & Burano Private Boat Tour with Hotel Pickup
4.8 (189) · from $471
The Vetreria Artistica Colleoni tour is a private half-day boat trip from Venice island to the glass island of Murano and the lace-and-colour island of Burano. It is the most expensive of the 12 Venice products I compare. Start from the Harbour Advisor home page or the Venice boat tours hub if you want the cheaper shared options first.
The detail that changes the decision most is the price unit. The listing writes "from $471" with a per-person label, yet the product is a private group booking. I read it as a boat-and-guide price, but I would confirm the total for your party size in the booking calendar before comparing it with anything else, including the Venice Wave private lagoon trip.
| Operator | Vetreria Artistica Colleoni (a Murano glass firm, listed as the activity provider) |
|---|---|
| Boat | Private Venetian motorboat with sun cover, soft seating and wide windows; capacity not stated on the listing |
| Price | From $471 (about €419, Frankfurter rate 0.88865 on 2026-10-16); labelled per person, private group |
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Departure times | Not stated on the listing; shown per date in the booking calendar |
| Pickup | Your hotel on Venice island only; return to San Marco. San Marco on Google Maps |
| Route | Murano then Burano |
| Food and drinks | Not included; a bussola biscuit is mentioned as a Burano treat |
| Languages | Spanish, English, French, Italian |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before; reserve now, pay later |
| Rating | 4.8/5 from 189 reviews on GetYourGuide (guide 4.8, transport 4.8, value 4.7) |
What is the Vetreria Artistica Colleoni tour of Murano and Burano?
The Vetreria Artistica Colleoni tour is a guided private boat trip across the Venetian lagoon with two island stops and a live glass-blowing demonstration at a Murano furnace. The operator is a glass-making firm, so the Murano stop is its own business, not a neutral factory visit.
- Private motorboat: only your party is aboard, with a captain and a separate guide in the reviews.
- Murano: a look at the cathedral of St. Donato, which the listing dates to the 9th century, then a short walk to the glassworks.
- Burano: free time among the painted houses, with the guide steering you to lunch and lace shops.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off: picked up at a Venice-island hotel, returned to the San Marco area.
The lagoon itself is the backdrop. UNESCO inscribed Venice and its lagoon in 1987, and the property covers 70,176 hectares.
70,176 ha is the area of the Venice lagoon World Heritage property, spread over 118 small islands.
Where does the Vetreria Artistica Colleoni tour start?
The tour starts at your own hotel, but only if the hotel is on Venice island. The listing repeats the restriction twice in capitals, so it is the first thing to check.
- Covered: hotels in the historic centre such as Cannaregio, San Marco, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Polo and Santa Croce.
- Not covered: mainland hotels in Mestre and Marghera, and the Lido; the listing says Venice island only.
- Exact time: not published, so the operator confirms the pickup slot after booking.
The listing does not give a pier name or a pickup point for each hotel, and I have not found one on a source I could open today. Venice has few places where a motorboat can stop at a door, so ask whether the boat meets you at the nearest canal-side landing and how far that is on foot with luggage.
If your hotel is outside the pickup area, the public alternative is a vaporetto. The standard 75-minute Rete Unica ticket costs €9.50 on the AVM/ACTV fares page, which is cheap against $471 but means no private boat, and you would join a different trip such as the Serenissima panoramic boat tour.
What is the route, stop by stop?
The route is Venice island to Murano, then across the northern lagoon to Burano, then back to San Marco; the two island stops are about 6 km apart by the coordinates in the listing.
| Stop | What the listing says | Map |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hotel pickup | Venice-island hotels only | Venice |
| 2. Murano | Cathedral of San Donato, then a glass factory with blowers at work | Murano |
| 3. Burano | Painted houses, quiet streets, a bussola biscuit, time on foot or from the boat | Burano |
| 4. Return | Transfer back to San Marco | San Marco |
The listing has one inconsistency. A highlight says the day includes Torcello, but neither the itinerary stops nor the day description mention it. I trust the structured stop list and the written description, so I treat this as a Murano and Burano tour, not a three-island one. If Torcello matters, the Bucintoro Murano, Burano and Torcello boat excursion and the Venice Wave trip both list it.
UNESCO places Torcello among the first refuges of the lagoon: it says people fleeing raids in the 5th century settled on Torcello, Jesolo and Malamocco, and it names Murano as the lagoon's artisan village.
How long is the tour and when does it sail?
The tour lasts 4 hours, and the listing gives no fixed departure time, so the slot is whatever the calendar shows for your date. Four hours is shorter than the 5-hour City Wonders trip and the 4.5 to 5.5 hours of the Bucintoro excursion.
- Morning slots: pick one if the calendar offers it, and ask the operator when the furnace demonstration runs, since the listing gives no time.
- Afternoon slots in winter: sunset is at 16:29 on 15 December, so a 14:00 start ends in the dark.
- Seasonal schedule: the listing states none, and I did not find an operator timetable I could open today.
What is on board and what is included?
You get a private motorboat, a guide, a captain, the transfer and a glass-blowing demonstration, while meals and tips are on you. The listing mentions sun cover, soft seating and a wide view, but gives no toilet, bar or capacity details.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Private motorboat | Included |
| Guide | Included (language chosen at booking) |
| Hotel pickup | Included, Venice island hotels only |
| Glass-blowing demonstration | Included |
| Meals and drinks | Not included |
| Tips | Not included; the listing gives no suggested amount |
| Glass purchases | Extra, optional |
The listing lists "hotel pickup" among the inclusions, and the description supports it, so I count it as included. Toilet access on board is not stated. The listing also asks for comfortable clothes, which is all the packing advice it gives.
How does the Vetreria Artistica Colleoni tour compare with other Murano and Burano boats?
It is the priciest of the Murano and Burano boat options and, with the Venice Wave trip, one of only two built around a private party. The shared boats cost a fraction as much but run 4 to 7 hours with a crowd.
| Tour | Price (USD) | Length | Rating | Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colleoni private tour (this page) | $471 | 4 h | 4.8 (189) | Private, hotel pickup |
| Venice Wave private lagoon tour | $111 | 4 h | 5.0 (11) | Private, skipper, up to 6 |
| City Wonders guided private-boat tour | $55 | 5 h | 4.7 (7,700+) | Guided, private option |
| Serenissima panoramic tour | $28 | 4 to 4.5 h | 4.4 (6,500+) | Shared boat |
| Bucintoro Murano, Burano, Torcello | $28 | 4.5 to 5.5 h | 4.2 (18,000+) | Shared boat |
If privacy is the goal, the Venice Wave tour is the direct rival at roughly a quarter of the headline price. It has no hotel pickup, a meeting point in Cannaregio and only 11 reviews, so the Colleoni trip is the lower-risk, higher-cost choice. See all private options on the private boat tour Venice page.
Is the Vetreria Artistica Colleoni tour worth it versus the other boats?
For a family of four or more who value door-to-door service, it is, because the per-person share of $471 falls to about $118 and the logistics are handled. For a couple on a budget, I'd book a shared boat or the Venice Wave trip instead.
- Book it if you want hotel pickup, a guide in Spanish or French, or a slow pace for older relatives.
- Skip it if you need a fixed price per person under $60, or you want Torcello on the plan.
- Treat the showroom as optional: the operator is a glassmaker, and GetYourGuide's own review summary says some travellers find the Murano stop sales-focused.
Price per hour is the number to remember: $117.8 per hour for this tour against a $6.1 median across Venice's 12 boat products. The gap pays for exclusivity, not for extra sights, because the stop list is the same as on the cheaper Murano and Burano boats.
When is the best time to take the Murano and Burano boat tour?
April, May and September to October give the best mix of daylight and mild temperatures, while January, February and November are the coldest. Note that 2025 rainfall was heavy in spring and autumn, with 15 rain days in March alone.
| Month | Avg daily high (2025) | Rain days (≥1 mm) | Sunset on the 15th (2026) | On the open deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 °C | 11 | 16:55 | Wear a coat; the cabin is the warm spot |
| Feb | 10 °C | 6 | 17:38 | Coat and gloves for the open stern |
| Mar | 15 °C | 15 | 18:17 | Many rain days; pack a rain jacket |
| Apr | 18 °C | 10 | 19:57 | Light jacket; showers are common |
| May | 21 °C | 14 | 20:35 | T-shirt plus a layer; many rain days |
| Jun | 29 °C | 4 | 21:02 | Hot on deck; hat and water |
| Jul | 28 °C | 14 | 20:58 | Hot with afternoon storms; use the shade |
| Aug | 28 °C | 9 | 20:20 | Hot; ask for the shaded seats |
| Sep | 24 °C | 12 | 19:24 | Warm; one of the wetter months |
| Oct | 18 °C | 7 | 18:27 | Jacket; dusk comes early |
| Nov | 13 °C | 8 | 16:42 | Coat; cabin heating matters |
| Dec | 10 °C | 7 | 16:29 | Coat and hat; sunset before 4:30 pm |
Temperatures and rain days: Open-Meteo historical weather API, calendar year 2025, 45.43 N 12.34 E. Sunset: api.sunrise-sunset.org, Europe/Rome local time including daylight saving. The archive does not return UV values, so none are shown.
In summer the lagoon is bright and hot: the 2025 average daily high reached 29 °C in June. The boat has a sun cover, which matters more than the breeze. In winter the cabin is the warm spot, and the 4-hour trip should start by about 11:00 if you want to be back before the 16:29 December sunset.
The next public holiday is All Saints Day on Sunday 1 November 2026, per the Nager.Date holidays API, followed by 8 December. Expect busier islands and fuller restaurants on those days. Venice also runs a day-visitor access fee on selected dates; check the calendar at cda.ve.it, because I could not open the fee table today and state no amounts or exemptions.
What do passengers say?
Reviewers praise the guide first and the glassblowing second, and the sample I can see is all five-star. GetYourGuide shows 20 of 189 reviews on the page, so treat the pattern as positive-only.
- Guides (most mentions): described as knowledgeable, punctual and flexible about the route.
- Glassblowing: called a highlight by several travellers.
- Burano free time: repeated praise for the pace and for restaurant tips.
- Accessibility: one reviewer's guide helped older parents on and off the boat.
- Sales pressure: a few reviewers found the Murano showroom pushy.
The 4.8 overall splits into 4.8 for the guide, 4.8 for transport and 4.7 for value, so value is where the criticism sits.
Who should skip the Vetreria Artistica Colleoni tour?
Skip it if your hotel is off Venice island, if you want a low per-person price, or if you want to visit the Murano glass museum or Torcello. For cheaper boats, return to the Venice boat tours hub.
- Mainland or Lido guests: no pickup.
- Solo travellers: the cost does not split.
- Buyers who dislike showrooms: the Murano stop is a company showroom.
- Anyone needing a stated toilet on board: the listing is silent.
How do you book the Vetreria Artistica Colleoni tour?
Book through GetYourGuide and pick your date, language and party size to see the confirmed total.
Private 4-hour Murano and Burano boat trip with hotel pickup and glassblowing, from $471, free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
FAQ about the Murano and Burano private boat tour
How much is the Vetreria Artistica Colleoni tour?
The listing shows a price from $471 (about €419 at the 16 October 2026 rate of 0.88865 EUR per USD) for the 4-hour private trip. The listing labels the figure per person, so I check the total for my party size in the booking calendar before I commit.
Is the Murano and Burano private boat tour worth it?
It is worth it for a group that wants one guide, one boat and a fixed 4-hour plan, because the price per hour is about 19 times the city median of $6.1 per hour. For a budget trip, the shared boats linked below cost $22 to $28.
How long does the Murano and Burano tour take?
The listing gives 4 hours in total, including the pickup, the boat legs, the glass demonstration and free time in Burano. Starting times are not shown on the listing page; the booking calendar lists them per date.
Does the tour include hotel pickup?
Yes, but only from hotels on Venice island itself. Hotels on the Lido, in Mestre or elsewhere on the mainland are outside the pickup area, so message the operator before booking if yours is one of them.
Does this tour go to Torcello?
The listing contradicts itself. One highlight mentions Torcello, but the itinerary and the description name only Murano and Burano. I would plan for two islands and ask the operator in writing if Torcello matters to you.
Is food included on the Murano and Burano boat tour?
No. Meals and tips are listed as not included. Reviewers describe the guide suggesting a restaurant in Burano, so budget for lunch there.
Is the Colleoni boat tour wheelchair accessible?
The listing marks it wheelchair accessible, but one reviewer needed a guide's help for elderly parents stepping on and off the boat. Tell the operator about mobility needs when you book.
What languages does the guide speak?
The listing offers Spanish, English, French and Italian. Pick the language when you reserve, since the guide changes by day in the reviews.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and the listing offers reserve-now-pay-later.
Do I have to buy glass at the Murano factory?
No purchase is required on the listing. Reviewers do say the showroom visit is geared toward sales, so decide your budget beforehand and expect to be shown finished pieces.
What is the best time of year for a boat tour to Murano and Burano?
May to September gives the longest daylight, with sunset between 19:24 and 21:02 on the 15th of each month, but July and May have 14 rain days each. April and October are cooler at 18 °C with fewer crowds.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing 55830 (checked 17 October 2026); UNESCO World Heritage Centre; AVM/ACTV Venice fares; Open-Meteo; Frankfurter; Nager.Date; City of Venice access fee.
