🌊 Venetian Islands – Discover the Lagoon Beyond Venice
Escape the crowds of St. Mark’s Square and discover the most authentic side of Venice: the lagoon and its islands.
More than 30 islands lie across the Venetian Lagoon — some famous, some forgotten, each with its own story, landscape, and traditions.
From colorful Burano to the green countryside of Sant’Erasmo, from medieval Torcello to mysterious abandoned islands, this is the Venice that most tourists never see.
🌊 Want to explore the lagoon more freely?
Some of Venice’s quietest and most authentic islands — like Vignole, Certosa or the Lazzaretti — are easiest to reach by small boat.
If you want to experience the lagoon like a true local, here’s my guide:
👉 🚤 Boat Rental in Venice — The Freedom of the Lagoon– Safe, Simple & Local
🌐 Why Visit the Venetian Islands?
Fewer tourists than central Venice.
Scenic boat rides with lagoon views.
Real local life and traditional crafts.
Unique experiences: glassmaking, lace, vineyards, monasteries, quarantine history.
Peaceful landscapes, beaches, gardens, ancient churches.
Visiting the islands is the best way to understand the true spirit of the Venetian Lagoon.
🏝 Full List of Venetian Islands
(Every island includes: short intro + link to full guide on TripVenice)
✨ Murano Island Venice — What to See + How to Visit
World-famous for glassmaking. Furnaces, ateliers, bridges, and canals.
Read the full guide → ✨Murano
🌈 Burano — The Island of Colors and Tradition
Colorful houses, lace tradition, photography paradise.
Read the full guide → 🌈 Burano
🌊 Book Murano & Burano Private-Boat Tour on GetYourGuide
🍇 Mazzorbo — The Silent Island of Vineyards and Slow Living
Connected to Burano by a wooden bridge. Home to Venice’s vineyard and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Read the full guide → 🍇 Mazzorbo
🍀 Torcello — The Island of Origins
Rural, ancient, quiet. birthplace of Venice with a 1,500-year-old basilica.
Read the full guide → 🍀 Torcello
🌿 Sant’Erasmo Venice — The Garden of Venice
Fields, vineyards, orchards, beaches, and lagoon views. Loved by Venetians.
Read the full guide → 🌿 Sant Erasmo
🏰 Lazzaretto Nuovo — The Island of Quarantine and Forgotten Stories
Ancient quarantine station with graffiti, warehouses, and archaeology.
Read the full guide → 🧭 Lazzaretto Nuovo
🌿 Vignole Venice — The Green Escape
Just gardens and silence. Perfect for relaxation.
Read the full guide → 🌿 Vignole
⛵ Certosa Island — The Island of Sailing and Serenity
Marina, nature trails, and peaceful views of Venice.
Read the full guide → ⛵ Certosa
🕊️ San Michele — The Island of Peace and Memory
Venice’s cemetery island. Cypress trees, architecture, and silence.
Read the full guide → 🕊️ San Michele
🏖️ Lido di Venezia – The Elegant Escape
Art Nouveau villas, beaches, and the Venice Film Festival.
Read the full guide → 🏖️ Lido di Venezia
🌊 Pellestrina – The Quiet Fishing Island Between Sea and Lagoon
Colorful houses, sea breeze, relaxed village life.
Read the full guide → 🌊 Pellestrina
🏛️ San Giorgio Maggiore – The Island of Art and Views
Campanile, Palladio’s church, breathtaking panorama.
Read the full guide → 🏛 San Giorgio Maggiore
🏝️ Giudecca – The Island of Quiet Charm and Local Life
Wide waterfront, local life, beautiful sunset views.
Read the full guide → 🏝️ Giudecca
📚 San Servolo – The Island of Mystery and Memory
Former monastery and hospital. Now a museum and conference center.
Read the full guide → 📚 San Servolo
📜 San Lazzaro degli Armeni – The Island of Books & Culture
Armenian monastery, museum, ancient library, and an Egyptian mummy.
Read the full guide → 📜 San Lazzaro degli Armeni
👻 Poveglia Venice – The Forbidden Island of the Venetian Lagoon
Plague history, legends, abandoned hospital ruins — not accessible to visitors.
Read the full guide → 👻 Poveglia Venice
🕊️ San Francesco del Deserto – The Island of Silence and Spiritual Retreat
Peaceful Franciscan monastery surrounded by gardens and cypresses.
Read the full guide → 🕊️ San Francesco del Deserto
🛕San Giorgio in Alga – The Forgotten Monastic Island of Venice
Small, quiet, mysterious. Former monastery and WWII base, now abandoned.
Read the full guide → 🛕San Giorgio in Alga
🏥 Lazzaretto Vecchio – Venice’s Ancient Plague Island
Historic quarantine island with pavilions, archaeology, and rare guided visits.
Read the full guide → 🏥 Lazzaretto Vecchio
🌴 Luxury Resort Islands in the Venice Lagoon
Exclusive private islands transformed into high-end resorts, wellness retreats, and peaceful escapes — ideal for travellers seeking privacy, comfort, and a different side of Venice.
⛪ San Clemente — The Island of Silence and Peace
A quiet, exclusive island just 10 minutes from St. Mark’s Square. Monastic gardens, cloisters, and lagoon views — the perfect escape from crowds.
Read the full guide → ⛪ San Clemente
🌹 Sacca Sessola (Isola delle Rose) — Venice’s Private Island Retreat
A secluded private island transformed into an elegant lagoon retreat.
Gardens, silence, refined architecture, and open-water views — a rare glimpse of Venice away from the crowds.
Read the full guide → 🌹 Sacca Sessola (Isola delle Rose)
⛴ How to Explore the Islands
The easiest way to explore the lagoon is by vaporetto (public waterbus).
Frequent lines
Easy connections from Venice
Scenic boat rides with panoramic views
For routes, see the guide:
👉 🚤 How to Get Around Venice
👉 🚤 Vaporetto Venice — Complete Guide to Tickets, Lines & How to Use It
📌 Suggested Island Routes
Half-day trip
Murano → Burano → Mazzorbo
Full day trip
Murano → Burano → Torcello → Sant’Erasmo
Hidden gems route
San Lazzaro → San Servolo
Official Vaporetto site https://avm.avmspa.it/en
🗺️ Best Islands by Interest
If you’re not sure which island to visit, this quick comparison table helps you choose the perfect one — whether you’re into photos, nature, food, history, or quiet places.
| Interest | Best Island | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Colors & Photos | Burano | Most colorful houses, perfect for photos |
| Food & Wine | Mazzorbo | Vineyards, quiet vibes, restaurants |
| Nature | Sant’Erasmo | Beaches, gardens, countryside feeling |
| History | Torcello | Oldest settlement in the lagoon |
| Quiet Places | Vignole | Gardens, silence, no crowds |
| Walking | Certosa | Marina, park, beautiful paths |
| Mysterious Places | Poveglia | Forbidden island, legends |
| Monastery & Silence | San Francesco del Deserto | Accessible only with permission (limited access) |
🧭 Insider Tips
Go early morning or late afternoon → best light for photos
Bring water → some islands have few shops or none.
Vaporetto rides are part of the experience → enjoy the route, not just the destination.
In winter, the lagoon air is crystal clear and you can see the mountains
The lagoon is Venice’s secret masterpiece.
🔗 Official ACTV vaporetto schedules (public transport): https://avm.avmspa.it
🌟 Looking for the quietest and least-visited islands?
Explore my guide to the Hidden Venice Islands — peaceful, green, and perfect if you want to escape the crowds.
👉 Hidden Venice Islands
❓ FAQ – Venetian Islands (Everything You Need to Know)
There are more than 30 islands in the Venetian Lagoon.
Only a small portion is accessible to visitors — the most famous ones are Murano, Burano, Torcello, Sant’Erasmo, Giudecca, Lido di Venezia, and San Giorgio Maggiore.
If you have just one day, the most popular itinerary is:
Murano → glassmaking and furnaces
Burano → colorful houses and lace tradition
Torcello → Venice’s origins and ancient silence
These three venetian islands are connected by vaporetto and can be visited in one day.
You can reach the islands with the ACTV vaporetto (public transport).
The most common departure stops are Fondamente Nove and San Zaccaria.
Vaporetto lines include 4.1, 4.2, 12, 13, 14 depending on the destination.
No.
You can use a time-based ticket (24h, 48h, 72h, weekly) and make unlimited trips on vaporettos.
Tickets are valid for all islands.
For a relaxed visit:
Murano → 1.5 to 2 hours
Burano → 2 to 3 hours
Torcello (optional) → 1 hour
Most travelers combine them in one half-day or full-day trip.
Yes.
You do not need a tour to visit the islands — you can go independently with public vaporetto boats.
A private tour can save time, but public boats are easy and cheaper.
Avoid free tours, you will be taken to expensive places.
Murano and Burano can be crowded around midday.
If you want silence, local life, and nature, visit:
Sant’Erasmo → Venice’s green countryside
Mazzorbo → vineyards and gardens
Lazzaretto Nuovo → forgotten quarantine history
Yes — the houses are painted according to a centuries-old color system.
The colors are assigned by the local administration and reflect a traditional rule unique to Burano.
Buy an ACTV day pass (24h).
It costs less than 3 single tickets and allows unlimited vaporettos, perfect for island hopping.
Mazzorbo → vineyards + a Michelin-starred restaurant
Sant’Erasmo → local vegetables & lagoon wine
Burano → seafood & traditional “bussolà” cookies
Murano = glass. Burano = colors. Completely different experiences.
No. To swim, go to Lido di Venezia or Pellestrina.
🔗 Recommended for You
🚤 Vaporetto Venice — Complete Guide to Tickets, Lines & How to Use It
🌟 Hidden Venice: Fascinating Facts You Won’t Find in Guidebooks
🏘️ The Sestieri of Venice – A Local Guide to the Soul of the City