The islands of Venice hold an extraordinary treasure made of landscapes, small seaside villages, and traditions that seem frozen in time. Far from the crowds of mass tourism, these islands are surrounded by the green and blue shades of the lagoon’s salt marshes and leave every visitor amazed. A tip? Take your time to explore them.
The Venetian Lagoon is home to 62 islands, each with its own charm and history. From the most famous ones, such as Burano and Murano, with their colorful houses, to those considered minor or even abandoned islands of Venice. In this guide, you’ll discover the 10 most beautiful islands in Venice that you absolutely shouldn’t miss.
The 10 Most Beautiful Islands of Venice
Below you’ll find a list of the main islands in the Venetian Lagoon, all easily reachable by public transport.
- Giudecca Island
- San Michele
- Murano
- Mazzorbo
- Burano
- Torcello
- San Francesco del Deserto
- Sant'Erasmo
- Lazzaretto Nuovo
- San Lazzaro degli Armeni Island
1 – Giudecca Island
The closest island to Venice’s historic center, located in the southern lagoon area, is certainly Giudecca Island, easily reachable by ACTV public water buses. Particularly scenic at its far end, where you’ll find the island of San Giorgio and the stunning Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, from which you can enjoy an extraordinary panoramic view over the entire lagoon and St. Mark’s Square.
Recommended activities: it’s definitely worth visiting the famous Casa dei Tre Oci, a uniquely shaped building that often hosts photography exhibitions.
How to get there: ACTV Line 2 from Piazzale Roma – frequency: approximately every 12 minutes
2 – San Michele Island
One of the closest islands to Venice, located in the northern lagoon, it began to be frequented starting from the year 1000. One of the most beautiful buildings to visit is the Church of San Michele, built in the 12th century and later turned into an abbey. Its white Istrian stone architecture is truly stunning.
In the 19th century, the island was chosen as the site of the Venice cemetery, a peaceful and silent place where notable figures such as composer Stravinsky and poet Brodsky are buried today.
How to get there: from the Crea stop (5-minute walk from Santa Lucia Train Station) with ACTV Line 4.2 – frequency: every 20 minutes
3 – Isola di Murano
Murano became world-famous as the island of master glassmakers. The blown glass produced on this small island north of Venice represents true works of art and craftsmanship refined over centuries, also showcased in the wonderful Glass Museum.
We created a complete guide to help you explore this small yet fascinating Venetian island. Read our article on what to see in Murano.
Must-do activity: we attended a live glassblowing demonstration inside an ancient glass workshop. We were literally amazed by the beauty and colors of this traditional process. It’s an affordable experience that we absolutely recommend trying!
Come arrivare: da Piazzle Roma “D” si prende la linea 3 della ACTV. Frequenza: ogni 20 minuti.
4 – Mazzorbo Island
Connected to Murano by the Long Bridge, Mazzorbo Island is far from mass tourism and feels like a peaceful oasis where ancient traces of lagoon life still survive. While several religious buildings once stood here, today the highlight is the splendid Santa Caterina complex.
Want to learn more? Take inspiration from our walk and discover our Mazzorbo guide.
How to get there: from Murano Faro, take ACTV Line 12. Travel time: 38 minutes. Frequency: about every 30 minutes.
5 – Burano Island
Its colorful houses bring joy to visitors from all over the world. A bright and cheerful place that deserves a visit, born from the ingenuity of local fishermen.
Especially in the early morning hours, fog often formed in the lagoon. For this reason, fishermen decided to paint their homes in vivid colors so they would be easier to recognize even in thick fog when returning from fishing.
Learn more: read our article on what to see in Burano.
Even today, the island is famous for its centuries-old lace-making tradition, an expression of craftsmanship and once a very profitable activity. A visit to the Lace Museum is highly recommended.
How to get there: from the Fondamente Nove stop (see where it is on the map) take ACTV line 12. Travel time: about 1 hour. Vaporetto frequency: every 40 minutes.
6 – Torcello
Among the smaller islands, Torcello is now inhabited by only a few dozen people. Yet this tiny island, about 10 km from Venice, hides an incredibly rich history, the oldest in the Venetian lagoon. During Roman times, due to barbarian invasions, much of the lagoon population moved here over a thousand years ago.
One of the first things you’ll notice on this Venetian island is the silence: we recommend visiting it slowly and peacefully, immersing yourself in its wild yet mystical atmosphere.
Trivia: right in Torcello stands one of Venice’s lesser-known yet most fascinating landmarks: the Devil’s Bridge. Legend says the devil built this small bridge in a single night at the request of a witch, and that every December 24th, in the evening, he appears in the form of a black cat.
How to get there: from Burano stop, take ACTV line 9 and reach the island in about 15 minutes. Vaporetto frequency: every 15 minutes.
7 – San Francesco del Deserto
Far from the crowds of central Venice, this small island is an oasis of peace and prayer. It is remembered as the place of St. Francis’ miracle of the birds. According to tradition, the saint asked the birds to be silent so he could pray in peace, and they obeyed until he allowed them to sing again.
Whether you are religious or not, this lagoon island is certainly worth visiting for its atmosphere and the beautiful 13th-century church with its bell tower and monastery.
Want to know more? Read our guide on San Francesco del Deserto Island and its stunning charterhouse.
How to get there: the best option is to reach Burano by ACTV vaporetto, then take a taxi or private boat. The island is not directly connected by public transport. You can also book a private monastery visit including transfer (discover the tour ticket).
8 – Sant’Erasmo Island
Right next to San Francesco Island lies Sant’Erasmo, a stretch of land immersed in the lagoon that stands out for its agricultural landscape. Historically, fruit and vegetables were cultivated here and transported by boat to Venice’s city center.
In this peaceful corner of the Venetian countryside, two very characteristic events take place every year. In May, the Violet Artichoke Festival celebrates a Slow Food-protected local product with truly unique features. At the beginning of autumn, we instead recommend attending the famous Grape Must Festival (check the official Facebook page for yearly details).
How to get there: from Fondamente Nove stop (see where it is on the map) take ACTV line 13. Travel time: about 28 minutes. Vaporetto frequency: every 30 minutes.
9 – Lazzaretto Nuovo
A small island of about 9 hectares located in the northern part of the Venetian Lagoon, right next to Sant’Erasmo. Historically it played a strategic role, allowing access from the north to the city and preserving archaeological remains dating back to the Bronze Age.
A partire dalla fine del ‘400, l’isola divenne luogo di quarantena per tutti i casi di peste sospetti che provenivano dalle imbarcazioni del Mediterraneo. Oggi l’isola è un ecomuseo dedicato al territorio e alla comunità. E’ visitabile da aprile ad ottobre con visite solo su prenotazione (visita il sito ufficiale per info e prenotazioni).
Come arrivare: da Murano Faro si prende la linea 13 che fa tappa prima a Vignole e poi a Lazzaretto Nuovo. Tempi di percorrenza: 18 minuti. Frequenza delle corse: 1 ora.
10 – San Lazzaro degli Armeni
One of the smallest islands in Venice. It is home to only 17 residents, all belonging to the Mekhitarist Monastery, the only structure on the island. San Lazzaro degli Armeni is considered an important international reference point for Armenian culture and, despite being very close to the Lido of Venice, it remains a peaceful oasis in the lagoon.
The small island can be visited every day through guided tours that usually start at 3:25 PM.
Want to learn more? Here is our complete guide to San Lazzaro degli Armeni Island.
How to get there: from the S. Zaccaria stop (Riva degli Schiavoni, near St. Mark’s Square) you can take ACTV water bus line 20 and reach the island in less than 20 minutes. Frequency: approximately every 40 minutes.
Ferries to the Venice Islands
To reach the islands near Venice, you can use ACTV public transportation. Our advice is to book ferry tickets online whenever possible, because buying them on the spot might mean standing in line for up to an hour (it happened to us the first time!).
At this link you can find all the updated ACTV timetables.
You can also book your water bus ticket online by clicking the button. It’s very easy to use: go to the yellow ticket machines at the water bus stop, enter the PNR code you received by email, and collect your printed ticket from the machine.
Venice Islands: Your Questions
Below you’ll find the most common questions we received in the comments or via email. If you still have doubts, feel free to write to us or leave a comment under the article — we’ll be happy to add your question for all readers.
How many islands are there in Venice?
There are 62 islands. However, not all of them can be visited or are easy to reach.
How can you reach the lagoon islands?
They are reachable only by boat. You can use the ACTV public transportation system of the lagoon. For more details, check the <strong>section dedicated to transportation</strong>.
The abandoned islands
Many Venetian islands are now deserted and carefully preserve the memories of a glorious past. Among the most well-known are Sant’Angelo della Polvere, Poveglia, and San Giorgio in Alga.
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