My husband and I are traveling to Venice for the first time next week. We'll be there over a Sunday, and I read in my guide book that everything closes on Sunday except bars, restaurants and churches.
We were thinking of making Sunday the day we hop over to Murano, Burano, Torcello and San Michele - can we expect the museums and such will be open on the islands on a Sunday? Anyone know from experience?

There are only two museums on the islands: the Glass Museum on Murano and the Lace Museum on Burano. This Web site will tell you whether they (and other civic museums in Venice) are open on Sunday:

http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/main.asp?lin=EN

The most important thing to see, in my view, is the cathedral and the church of Santa Fosca on Torcello. The cathedral is open November to March every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

If you want to make a day of it, you can eat very well at Da Romolo on Burano.

P.S. Correction: There is a small museum on Torcello as well; it's also open on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sorry; that's 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"I read in my guide book that everything closes on Sunday except bars, restaurants and churches."

Your guidebook is wrong. Museums including the Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the Doge's Place, and the Glass Museum are open. So are most shops. Don't worry, you'll find plenty to do.

Hi Ski Queen,

I think Eloise has given you good advice (as usual )!

The trip to the islands, especially Torcello, is something quite special. If you do go, and I hope you will, be sure to climb the bell tower at the basilica in Torcello. You will have a great view over the islands, very serene and peaceful. It gives you a completely different feel for the lagoon than what you get from the campaniles in Venice.

Have fun!

Many thanks everyone for the advice! Very excited - only 5 days to go!

We were in Venice on a Sunday. Almost all the shops around St Marks were open. Actuually, Sunday in Venice was quite pleasent.

Stu Dudley