The Museo del Vetro on the island of Murano in the Venetian lagoon is the world’s most comprehensive museum of Murano glass history. It’s housed in the former Bishop’s Palace of Torcello — a building constructed in the 7th century.
This guide was updated in June 2026. The full admission is €15 — many older guides and aggregators still show €10 or €12. The museum is open every day of the year (including Mondays), which distinguishes it from most MUVE civic museums. And from 1 May to 26 September 2026, the museum opens until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays — extended hours confirmed on the official page and absent from all third-party guides. You can book through GetYourGuide in advance.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Fondamenta Giustinian 8, 30141 Murano, Venice |
| Summer hours (1 Apr – 31 Oct) | Every day, 10:00–18:00 (last admission 17:00) |
| Winter hours (1 Nov – 31 Mar) | Every day, 10:00–17:00 (last admission 16:00) |
| Fri/Sat extended (1 May – 26 Sep 2026) | Open until 20:00 (last admission 19:00) |
| Full price | €15 |
| Reduced (children 6–14; students 15–25; seniors 65+) | €7.50 |
| Children 0–5 | Free |
| Venetian residents and citizens | Free |
| Disabled visitors + helper | Free |
| MUVE App Audioguide | Included in the ticket price |
| Island Museums ticket (Glass + Lace + Torcello, 3 months) | €20 full / €10 reduced |
| Museum Pass (all MUVE civic museums, 6 months) | €50 full / €25 reduced |
| Nearest vaporetto | Museo (Lines 3, 4.1, 12, DM) |
| Typical visit | 1–1.5 hours |
Murano Glass Museum opening hours
The Glass Museum is open every day of the year — one of the very few MUVE civic museums without a weekly closure day. Summer hours (1 April–31 October): 10:00–18:00, last admission 17:00. Winter hours (1 November–31 March): 10:00–17:00, last admission 16:00. Closing operations begin 20 minutes before closing time.
Extended summer hours (1 May–26 September 2026): On Fridays and Saturdays the museum stays open until 20:00, last admission 19:00. This MUVE network extension for summer 2026 is confirmed on the official hours page and has not yet appeared in any third-party guide.
Murano Glass Museum admission prices
The full price is €15, confirmed on the official tickets page. Many older guides still show €10 or €12. The MUVE App Audioguide is included in the ticket price at no extra charge.
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Full price | €15 |
| Reduced (children 6–14; students 15–25; seniors 65+; Rolling Venice Card; ISIC holders) | €7.50 |
| Children 0–5 | Free |
| Venetian citizens and residents | Free |
| Disabled visitors + helper | Free |
| ICOM members | Free |
| MUVE App Audioguide | Included |
| Island Museums combined ticket (Glass + Lace + Torcello, 3 months) | €20 full / €10 reduced |
| Museum Pass (all MUVE civic museums, 6 months) | €50 full / €25 reduced |
| School groups (Sept 1–Mar 15) | €4 per student |
The Island Museums ticket (€20 full / €10 reduced, valid for 3 months) covers the Glass Museum on Murano, the Lace Museum on Burano, and the Torcello Museum — the most practical combined option for visitors touring the northern lagoon islands in a single trip. Book through GetYourGuide to confirm your entry.
Why visit the Murano Glass Museum?
- 🏛️ The Barovier Nuptial Cup (c.1470): The finest surviving example of 15th-century Venetian enamelled glass — a painted deep-blue goblet commissioned for the wedding of Angelo Barovier, created by the master glassmaker himself. It is the museum’s most celebrated object and one of the most important pieces of decorative art in any Italian museum.
- 🎟️ Open every day, including Mondays: Unlike most MUVE civic museums, the Glass Museum has no weekly closure day. It is one of the most reliably accessible cultural institutions in the Venetian lagoon system.
- 🌿 Friday and Saturday evening openings until 20:00 (May–September 2026): Extended summer hours on two nights per week — confirmed on the official hours page and not yet in any third-party guide.
- 📜 Murano glass production moved here by decree in 1291: The forced relocation of all Venetian glassmakers to Murano — to reduce the risk of fire in the city and to contain trade secrets — created the concentrated industry whose history this museum documents from Roman times to the present day.
- 💰 MUVE App Audioguide included in the ticket: A full audio guide in multiple languages is available via the official MUVE app at no extra charge, downloadable to your smartphone before the ferry crossing.
How to get to the Murano Glass Museum
By vaporetto from Venice, take Lines 3, 4.1, 12, or DM from Fondamente Nove or Piazzale Roma to Murano. From Fondamente Nove (north Venice), Lines 4.1 and 12 run frequently to Murano; journey time is approximately 10 minutes. From Piazzale Roma or Venezia Santa Lucia station, Line 3 or 4.1 takes approximately 25–30 minutes with stops.
The Museo vaporetto stop on Murano is directly in front of the museum entrance on the fondamenta. Do not confuse it with the Colonna or Faro stops, which are elsewhere on the island.
From the Lido or Marco Polo Airport, take a water bus or airport taxi to Fondamente Nove, then connect to Murano. From the airport, a direct water taxi to Murano takes approximately 25–30 minutes.
Top Venice experiences to book today
- 🍷 Experience Venice like a local on a food, wine, spritz and traghetto tour.
- ⛵ Visit the glass-makers of Murano and lace-makers of Burano on a two island tour by private boat.
- 🏛️ Skip the line at the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica – with expert insights on a guided tour.
- 🗺️ Let a guide show you beyond the highlights on a tour of Venice’s secret spots.
- 🚣 Combine a gondola ride along the Grand Canal with the Gondola Gallery.
Parking at the Murano Glass Museum
Venice and Murano have no car access for visitors. Arrive by vaporetto from any point in Venice or from the mainland. If travelling by car from the mainland, park at Piazzale Roma (multi-storey, paid) or Tronchetto, then take a vaporetto to Murano.
How long to spend at the Murano Glass Museum
Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for a thorough visit. The museum covers glass production history from ancient Rome through Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods to the 19th-century revival and 20th-century modernist design. Many visitors combine the museum with a free visit to a working glass furnace (glassblowing demonstration) — several furnaces on Murano offer these at no charge and the combination of the historical collection and live production is the most complete experience of the island.
Accessibility at the Murano Glass Museum
The museum is partially accessible. The historic Bishop’s Palace involves some internal level changes; contact the museum (+39 041 7395986) or the MUVE call centre (+39 041 42730892) in advance for specific accessibility requirements. Disabled visitors and one accompanying helper enter free. The MUVE App Audioguide is compatible with headphones and accessible for visitors with hearing impairments as a visual supplement.
What to see at the Murano Glass Museum
The Barovier Nuptial Cup (Coppa Barovier, c.1470) is the collection’s masterpiece. Made by Angelo Barovier — the most celebrated glassmaker of the 15th century — for a wedding commission, the deep-blue blown glass is painted in enamel with figures of young men and women and a scene of the Fountain of Youth. It is the finest surviving example of Gothic painted Venetian glass and one of the most technically accomplished pieces of decorative art in any Italian museum. It is displayed in a dedicated case in the museum’s primary rooms.
The archaeological section opens the visit with Roman and early Byzantine glass from the necropolis sites of northern Dalmatia — cinerary urns, perfume bottles, and trade goods that establish the 2,000-year depth of the glass-making tradition in the Adriatic world before the Murano industry emerged.
The Renaissance and Baroque rooms cover the period of Murano’s greatest creative and commercial power — the 15th to 17th centuries. Millefiori glass, murrine (mosaic canes), filigrana (filigree work), ghiaccio (crackled ice glass), and the extraordinary range of forms produced for European courts are all represented. The section includes objects exported to Elizabethan England, the Ottoman Empire, and the Habsburg courts.
The 19th-century revival documents the rediscovery of Renaissance techniques following a long period of Murano’s decline. The reproduction of murrina glass by Antonio Salviati and the Fratelli Toso in the 1860s and 1870s launched the modern Murano industry and created the commercial production whose tourist legacy continues today.
20th-century design documents the collaboration between Murano’s master glassmakers and designers — Carlo Scarpa, Fulvio Bianconi, and Archimede Seguso — who created the most celebrated Italian modernist glass objects.
Practical tips for visiting the Murano Glass Museum
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| The full price is €15, not €10 or €12 | Many older guides and aggregators still show lower prices. The current full ticket is €15; the MUVE App Audioguide is included at no charge. |
| Open every day — no Monday closure | Unlike most MUVE museums, the Glass Museum has no weekly closure day. This makes it one of the most reliably available cultural sites in the Venice lagoon. |
| Friday and Saturday until 20:00 in summer | From 1 May to 26 September 2026, last admission on Fri/Sat is 19:00. Not yet in any third-party guide. |
| Download the MUVE App before crossing | The audioguide requires the MUVE app. Download it and the Glass Museum content before taking the ferry, as internet on Murano can be unreliable. |
| Book in advance | Walk-up tickets are available at the museum, but booking ahead secures your entry and allows you to plan the ferry and island schedule with confidence. |
Murano Glass Museum FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the ticket price? | €15 full price; €7.50 reduced (children 6–14, students 15–25, seniors 65+). Many older guides show €10 or €12 — those prices are out of date. The MUVE App Audioguide is included. |
| Is it open on Mondays? | Yes — every day of the year. Unlike most MUVE museums, there is no weekly closure day. |
| Does the museum open late in summer? | On Fridays and Saturdays from 1 May to 26 September 2026, the museum opens until 20:00 (last admission 19:00). Standard days close at 18:00 (Apr–Oct) or 17:00 (Nov–Mar). |
| Is there an audioguide? | Yes — the MUVE App Audioguide is included in the ticket price. Download the app before your visit for the most reliable experience. |
| Which vaporetto stop is closest? | The Museo stop on Murano, served by Lines 3, 4.1, 12, and DM. The museum entrance is directly on the fondamenta in front of the stop. |
Things to do near the Murano Glass Museum
The Working glass furnaces (fornaci) on Murano offer free glassblowing demonstrations several times a day. Several furnaces close to the museum — including Berengo, Fornace Rossi, and Studio Effetre — welcome visitors without charge and without a reservation. The live demonstration of glassblowing provides immediate practical context for the museum’s historical collection.
Murano island itself is worth more than the museum — the island’s canals, the church of San Pietro Martire (with Bellini’s Assumption altarpiece and a Veronese), and the church of Santi Maria e Donato (with a remarkable 12th-century mosaic floor and a stunning apse) together make a 2–3 hour exploration.
Burano island is approximately 15 minutes from Murano by vaporetto (Line 12) and is famous for its brightly painted houses and lace-making tradition. The Lace Museum (Museo del Merletto) is included in the Island Museums combined ticket (€20 full), making Burano a natural same-day pairing.
Torcello island is 10 minutes beyond Burano by vaporetto and holds the oldest cathedral in the Venetian lagoon (7th century) with remarkable Byzantine mosaics. The Torcello Museum is also covered by the Island Museums ticket.
Fondamente Nove (Venice) is the departure point for the Murano ferry and is in Cannaregio — one of Venice’s most authentically residential sestieri, with the Jewish Ghetto (established 1516) nearby.
Similar glass and decorative arts museums to visit near Venice
The Lace Museum (Museo del Merletto), Burano is part of the same MUVE network and covered by the Island Museums combined ticket. It displays Venetian lace from the 16th to the 20th century and contextualises the island craft tradition most associated with Burano.
The Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art is in Venice itself (25 minutes from Murano by vaporetto) and holds important examples of 20th-century Murano glass designed by Carlo Scarpa and others — a complement to the museum’s historical section.
The Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Venice is on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore and occasionally hosts exhibitions related to Venetian decorative arts and glass. Accessible by vaporetto (Line 2 from San Zaccaria).
The Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche in Faenza (MIC) is around 2.5 hours south-west of Venice by train and holds one of the world’s most important collections of decorative ceramics — a complementary discipline to glass for visitors interested in Italian craft heritage.
More Veneto travel
Other Veneto travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to the Doge’s Palace in Venice.
- What to expect at the Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum in Venice.
- Key information for visiting the Natural History Museum in Venice.
- Venice to Verona train times and prices.
- A guide to Padua for first time visitors – including the Palazzo Bo, Cappella degli Scrovegni and Orto Botanico.
