Venice has always been one of the top places I have wanted to visit, so when we finally got the chance to go, I was ecstatic.
As we have the worst luck when it comes to travelling, our flight to Italy was cancelled - three hours before our flight and as we were on our way to the airport. Luckily, EasyJet gave us the option to switch routes, so we just flew to Barcelona and arrived in Venice a day late instead.
As you can imagine, there are a lot of things to do in Venice - ghost/history tours to walk, restaurants to eat at, gondolas to ride and beautiful buildings to marvel at. However, a year later and the one thing we did that has stuck with me the most was the Island Tour. Also, I love boat trips and exploring, so the expedition really encompassed everything I want from an adventure! There are more than three islands around Venice, but these are supposedly the best and all included with the tour. They are all so different and each offer a new and exciting experience for their visitors.
Murano
The first drop off is Murano, and what a starting point it is! After you get off the boat, you are greeted by colourful buildings all selling unique glass gifts and souvenirs. Naturally, I went straight to the coffee shop and indulged in a delicious Italian cappuccino. You have around forty-five to sixty minutes on each island, and it may sound like a lot of time, but it swiftly goes. The group on the tour were all directed to a glassblowing factory and we got to watch how they made all the glass figurines we saw for sale. Each was intrinsically designed with colours and glassy limbs; we watched a horse transform from a glass slab to a majestic stallion. It is very, very hot in the building understandably, so make sure not to layer up too much before entering.
Next, you've got time to explore. A bridge paves the gap between the two sides of the island and makes for a good viewing point to see what's happening elsewhere. There's also a clock tower and other wondrous architecture to have a look around at. But, be careful, before you know it, your time is up and you've got to get back to the boat before it departs (making you feel very action hero-ey).
Burano
Coming in second, but definitely first place in my view, is the island of Burano. This place is absolutely stunning, with vibrantly painted houses, the odd cat, never-ending lanes filled with mystery and flowers, ice-cream and houses decorated for the occasion. I'm unsure whether this island had less time than the others, but our time spent on it definitely went the quickest. We managed to get some gelato and see the famous colourful houses dotted along the canals.
I have a habit of Googling 'Things to do in....' wherever we go to ensure we see everything that's worth seeing - yes, I really should just start living in the moment. However, second on the list was Bepi's House, so we meandered through the lanes to find the infamously painted house, which looked like it had come straight out of a certain Scottish children's TV show. It was quite far into the island and we met a lot of dead-ends and people's front gardens, but if you are looking to explore it's a good place to head to.
You've also got a much better view of the canals here and it contrasts drastically with the busy, tourist-filled streets of Venice itself. Enjoy the tranquility of having an island almost to yourself, especially when compared with the Venetian mainland.
Torcello
The final island on the tour is Torcello, perhaps the most peaceful of the three islands. It's very different from its predecessors and is taken up mostly by trees and water, instead of colourful houses and restaurants. On your entrance, you are greeted by a large stone bridge, which takes you across to a beautiful, overgrown path. I felt like I'd conquered a similar walk on my way to Reading Festival.
There is a place to dine on the left as you enter if you're feeling peckish, but I think we opted for a drink and enjoyed the sunshine instead. For children, there was a play area with swings, and for lovers of nature, there's a rose bush and garden nearby.
Further in on the island sits the Church of Santa Fosca, a byzantine church built for a martyr and highly significant to the culture of the place. Adjacent to the church was the Museo Provinciale di Torcello, which housed archaeological artefacts and displayed the local history of the island. Both had an entrance free, which was only a couple euros, but you have to allow time to visit them both.
You did get the longest amount of time on Torcello overall, so we strolled on a leafy pathway and relaxed in the deck chairs by the rose garden.
Some Tips for the Tour
There isn't really enough time to eat on the first two islands; you can grab a few snacks, but we were starving by the third island (especially when you're doing a lot of walking). So, maybe eat a big breakfast or pack a few things to eat along your journey. As I described before, there is a restaurant on the last island, but we decided to see as much as we could of Torcello instead of eating.
Also, take a lot of photos as you will soon forget what you've seen. If you're like me and emit everything from your memory, get your camera out and take some snaps. It's a long day and sometimes all the aspects of the different islands blend into one. However, be mindful of others taking photographs - we watched two families argue over one of them taking too long to take a photo - it was a very long and a very awkward journey back to mainland Venice on the boat, that's all I'm saying.
Finally, don't take a hat - it can be quite windy, especially on the boat, so avoid anything that might...um...fly away.