Venice Lagoon Map

The Venetian Lagoon

The Venetian Lagoon (Laguna Veneta) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest wetland in the Mediterranean. Covering 550 km², it's home to Venice and over 100 islands, many with their own unique history and character.

Major Islands

• Venice: The main city, 118 islands forming the historic center
• Murano: Famous for glass-making since 1291
• Burano: Colorful fishing village known for lace
• Torcello: Ancient settlement with Byzantine cathedral
• Lido: Beach island hosting the Venice Film Festival
• Giudecca: Long island south of Venice with hotels and views
• San Giorgio Maggiore: Island with Palladio's famous church

Getting Around the Lagoon

The ACTV vaporetto network connects the main islands:

• Line 12: Fondamente Nove → Murano → Burano → Torcello
• Lines 4.1/4.2: Circular routes including Murano
• Lines 1, 2, 5.1, 5.2: Service to Lido

Other Islands Worth Visiting

• San Michele: Venice's cemetery island, between the city and Murano, with the graves of Stravinsky and Diaghilev.
• San Lazzaro degli Armeni: an Armenian monastery with a remarkable library, reached by vaporetto and visited on guided tours.
• Mazzorbo: linked to Burano by a footbridge, with vineyards and quiet walks.
• Pellestrina: a long, thin fishing island beyond the Lido, reached by bus and ferry.

Lagoon Ecology

The lagoon is a shallow mix of salt marshes (barene), mudflats and channels, constantly reshaped by the tides. It is an important habitat for wading birds such as herons, egrets and flamingos, which can sometimes be seen from the vaporetto. Boats must follow marked channels, lined with wooden posts called bricole, because most of the lagoon is too shallow to navigate.

Practical Tips

Vaporetto Line 12 from Fondamente Nove is the main route to Murano, Burano and Torcello; Line 9 shuttles between Burano and Torcello. Boats can be crowded in the late morning, so travel early and visit Burano first, returning via Murano. A 24-hour or multi-day ACTV pass usually pays for itself on an island day.

Frequently Asked Questions