Hey curious traveler: how to get to Murano from Mestre? You’re in the right place.
Getting to Murano from Mestre is a small puzzle that’s easy to solve once you know the options, combinations and steps.
In this post by Venice Insider Guide we’ll guide you step by step to get to Murano from Mestre.
How do I get to Murano from Venice Mestre? Yes
How do I get to Murano from Venice Mestre? Yes! First of all, a clarification: Murano is an island in the Venetian lagoon, not connected to the mainland by train or road bridges. So there’s no direct train from Mestre to Murano.
You need to combine land transportation (train, bus, tram) + water transportation (vaporetto / water taxi).
The routes you’ll see below are combinations that take you from Mestre to the “heart” of Venice (e.g. Santa Lucia train station or Piazzale Roma) and then from there the last “leg” to Murano.
The best route many people prefer is: train from Mestre to Venice S. Lucia, then vaporetto line 3 to Murano, with a total time of 42 minutes.
But let’s see all the options.
How to get to Murano from Mestre
Many ask how to get to Murano from Mestre, so we’ve collected all the information here.
First of all which means to take between vaporetto, water taxi or half-trips with bus or train.
How to get to Murano from Mestre with vaporetto
Going to Murano from Mestre with vaporetto is the most used “public” option: combine land + water.
D follow the steps:
- Mestre → Venice (S. Lucia or Piazzale Roma)
- Take the train from Venice Mestre to S. Lucia (about 10-12 minutes, very cheap).
- Or take the bus / tram to Venice / Piazzale Roma (e.g. urban lines connected), even if less direct.
- Venice → Murano with vaporetto
- From the train station (or Piazzale Roma) take the line 3 vaporetto that goes directly to Murano (stops like Murano Colonna, Murano Navagero, etc.).
- Alternative: line 4.2 can serve Murano, even if it’s more “circular” and slower.
- There are also night lines (line NM – Night Murano) that connect Fondamente Nove to Murano at night.
Some useful info:
- Line 3 is quite fast: from Piazzale Roma to Murano takes about 20 minutes.
- Vaporetto run frequently, every 10-20 minutes, depending on the schedule.
- The single ticket ACTV / vaporetto costs 10 € for 75 minutes (used also for some routes to/from airport) according to AVM (ACTV) for water transportation/integrated transport.
How to get to Murano from Mestre with water taxi
If you want maximum comfort and want to “skip” the waiting, the water taxi is the VIP choice (but expensive) to go to Murano from Mestre.
- Several companies offer motoscafi / water taxi that cover the lagoon, including routes to Murano. For example Venezia Taxi says they have routes to Murano with reduced times (~ 20 minutes) and 24/24 service.
- The Consortium Motoscafi Venezia also operates with bookings for lagoon transfers, including Murano.
- The cost can vary greatly depending on the exact starting point, number of passengers, night hours, etc.
- Advantage: arrivals “directly” at the closest dock to your interest point in Murano, without changing.
How to get to Murano from Mestre (half-train)
When I say “half-train” I mean: use the train from Mestre to Venice S. Lucia before boarding the vaporetto.
- The train from Mestre to Venice S. Lucia takes about 11 minutes.
- The ticket is very cheap (usually ~1-4 €) for the Mestre to Venice city route.
- Once you arrive at S. Lucia, you need to reach the vaporetto dock (near/next to the station) and take the vaporetto to Murano (e.g. line 3).
This is the “classic” formula that most travelers use: land → train → vaporetto.
How to get to Murano from Mestre (half-bus)
You can also do part of the journey by bus (or tram) if you prefer to avoid the train and go to Murano from Mestre:
- From the mainland (Mestre / Marghera areas) you can take the urban bus or tram to Piazzale Roma or areas of Venice connected to vaporetto.
- ACTV integrates land and water: with the same ticket system (in some cases) you can use bus/tram + vaporetto.
- The only “disadvantage” is that the route might be slower, with traffic or extra waiting time, compared to the train + vaporetto combination.
From Mestre to Murano island
You can reach Murano from Mestre as we said.
Summarizing in a sequence:
- From Mestre (hotel, station, urban area).
- Take train / bus / tram to Venice S. Lucia / Piazzale Roma.
- Arrive at vaporetto dock in Venice.
- Take vaporetto (or water taxi) to Murano with possible intermediate stops according to the line.
- Get off at the Murano stop closest to your destination (Colonna, Faro, Navagero, Museo, Venier, etc.).
On average, if everything goes well, the trip can take 40-60 minutes depending on the starting point, hours and combinations chosen.
Mestre to Murano distance
- The distance in air / navigation between Mestre / Venice and Murano is about 8–10 km (or ~5 nautical miles). We often speak of 5 nautical miles (≈ 9 km).
- Of course, the distance traveled by vaporetto can be longer due to the canal / intermediate stops.
To consider when getting to Murano from Mestre
When choosing how to get to Murano from Mestre also consider:
- Cost vs. comfort: vaporetto + train/auto is cheaper, water taxi is more expensive but comfortable and faster.
- Frequency / hours: some lines (e.g. vaporetto 3) only run during the day; at night you may have to use night lines (NM) or taxi.
- Tickets and validity: the vaporetto ticket (ACTV) is valid for 75 minutes in the water network, but does not cover water taxi or private lines that may have their own rates.
- Changes / connections: you need to coordinate train / bus / vaporetto so as not to miss connections.
- Crowding / waiting: during peak tourist season the vaporetto can be busy.
- Arrival point on the island: Murano has several stops: choose the line / stop that gets you closest to your destination (e.g. Museo del Vetro).
Which lines to take to get to Murano from Mestre
The vaporetto / navigation lines that reach Murano from Mestre are:
- Line 3 (ACTV): connects Piazzale Roma / Ferrovia to Murano, with stops like Murano Colonna, Murano Navagero.
- Line 4.2: a more circular service that includes Murano in the route.
- Line NM (Night Murano): operates at night, from Fondamente Nove to Murano (stops Colonna, Faro, Navagero, Museo, Venier).
- Line 12: although more oriented towards Burano, passes through Murano (from Fondamente Nove).
Note: some private / water taxi lines not part of the ACTV network have custom routes.
Which stops to get to Murano from Mestre
Some of the vaporetto stops on the Murano island from Mestre:
- Murano Colonna – often the first stop from Venice, south side of the island
- Murano Navagero – east side of the island
- Murano Faro – near the lighthouse, north side of the island
- Murano Museo – near the Museo del Vetro
- Murano Venier – another stop towards east
You can choose the stop based on the area of Murano you want to visit (e.g. Museo del Vetro) to minimize walking.
Our tip to get to Murano from Mestre
According to Venice Insider Guide, the “best” way to get to Murano from Mestre is: Take the train from Mestre → Venice S. Lucia (fast, punctual).
- Arrive at the station and head to the vaporetto dock (near the station).
- Take line 3 to Murano Colonna (or other convenient stop).
- If you want speed and want to avoid waiting, book a water taxi: it will take you directly from Venice and drop you off at the stop closest to Murano you want.
Additional tip from Venice Insider Guide: check the vaporetto hours or night lines (if you travel in the evening) and consider a buffer for unexpected delays. If you have luggage or mobility issues, the water taxi can save you effort.
We are: Venice Insider Guide
We are Venice Insider Guide: our goal is to give you practical-strategic information about Venice, not just beautiful pictures.
If you want to explore the route to Burano, Torcello, Lido, or the sunset on the lagoon, we are ready to go with you.
Conclusion
Getting to Murano from Mestre is totally doable and even enjoyable if planned. The ideal route combines a land section (train or bus) with a boat (vaporetto or water taxi).
The public options are cheap and frequent, the private options offer comfort and speed at a higher price.
Now that you know how to get to Murano from Mestre and all the ways to get there, choose your favorite.