In our short visit to Venice soon we can fit in a 4 hr. morning trip to the islands . We've heard it's worthwhile, so what would be a good route to see some of the sights and be sure to get back to the station in roughly four hours?

What islands? Venice is only islands.

You know, Murano,Burano,San Michele,Torcello etc etc.
The islands of the lagoon as they are known.

Supposing you mean Murano and Burano, if you are staying in Venice for 4 nights as you say on another thread, personally I would do the island hopping on a day when you have a full day ( while your vaporetto pass is available). This way no stress for your departure out of Venice. Also the weather is a factor to consider. Much nicer to do on a sunny day for the boat rides + the colorfully painted Burano houses look better. I have always done it on a sunny day + tend to do it on Sunday, trying to be away from even worse day crowd on Sunday ( not sure if thisn is true though).

For info, that you may already know, Boat No.12 leaves from Fondamenta Nove, Venice and it's 44 minutes ride till Burano ( via San Michele and Murano ). Moving from St.Stefano ( where you are staying?) to F.Nove and all, that would leave very little actual time on the island ( Burano ), wouldn't it? Murano only is much easier to do. I think Murano is fine ( true, Burano is prettier ) as long as weatehr is ok + if you don't meet too much crowd. But all in all, better to do when you have a full day. If you by chance return to Venice earlier, you can enjoy the rest of the day visting a bit more of Venice.

> You know, Murano,Burano,San Michele,Torcello etc etc..

You can do all those isalnds, only when you have a full day.

I think that Burano and Torcello are worth visiting. I would. Skip Murano. I wrote a bit about visiting in various trip reports, which you would find if you click on my name.

Forecast Tuesday next. 21 deg C, showers.

It's mainly a question of if you want to do it when you have only 4 hours with train departure waiting.

Murano can be done in half a day. It has a glass museum and areas that are not just shops for blown glass.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57622914405643

Maybe it's not worth the hassle then and the worry about time, to see glass tourist traps of Murano.

My impression is that the glass in the Murano shops had some nice things that I did not see with a casual glance in Venice proper. But my point is that there is more to Murano than the glass shops, and the vaporetto seems to go there more frequently than to the other islands, if I recollect correctly.

Agree with the advice to do it when you have a full day, not on departure day: too many variables like weather could delay the boats and then you are stuck.

Doing Murano, Burano and Torcello are a lot to in a full day - and definitely cannot be seen within 4 hours (you would have trouble with even one island in that time).

If you have 4 days in Venice - then these are worth either a full day or parts of several days.

If this is your first trip to Venice, I would skip the islands, especially if you have less than 3-4 days total.

I finally visited Murano and Burano on my third visit to Venice, when I'd seen a lot (but not near all) that I wanted to see (at least once) in Venice. I really liked Burano but found Murano rather charmless.

I agree with those above who tell you that 4 hours is not enough to see all of the islands. Go to the one that calls out to you the most first and see what's left of your day for the others.

If you stay on the Vap at its first stop, you will be able to skip a touristy glass blowing spot on Murano (unless you want to see it!). Get off at "Murano Museo" stop to see the museum with its interesting history. There are many glass shops in Venice itself.

Burano is very colorful and charming. If you are interested in lace making, there is a school there but you must check the hours.

I can't help with the others.