Boat rental in Venice — Murano, Burano, Torcello, the Lido, Chioggia and tips for 2027

Venice lies in the middle of a lagoon of around 550 km², separated from the Adriatic by the long, narrow islands of the Lido and Pellestrina. By boat you can reach the glassmakers of Murano, the colourful houses of Burano, the quiet island of Torcello with its Byzantine mosaics, the market gardens of Sant'Erasmo and, at the southern end of the lagoon, the fishing town of Chioggia. This guide explains where to go by boat, which rules apply in the lagoon and when it is best to head out.

What we currently offer

To be clear: no boats or trips are currently published for Venice on the location page, which is why this guide does not give prices. If you would like a boat in Venice, send us a request via the contact page and we will see what can be arranged.

Where the boats leave from

Self-drive boats and boats with a skipper usually leave from marinas on the edge of the city, such as on the island of Certosa, at Sant'Elena at the eastern end of Castello, or from Cannaregio and the Fondamente Nove, which face the northern lagoon. There are also marinas on the Lido and in Chioggia, and on the mainland coast at Jesolo. See also the pages boats in Chioggia and boats in Jesolo.

Where to go

• Murano (about 1 nautical mile north): the island of glassmakers, with furnaces, glass shops and the Glass Museum.
• Burano and Mazzorbo (about 5 nautical miles): brightly painted houses, lace-making and a walled vineyard on Mazzorbo, linked to Burano by a footbridge.
• Torcello (next to Burano): once a lagoon city, now almost deserted, with the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and its golden mosaics.
• Sant'Erasmo and Le Vignole: the lagoon's vegetable gardens, famous for their violet artichokes, with quiet waterside paths.
• The Lido and Pellestrina (about 2–8 nautical miles): long beaches on the Adriatic side, the Venice Film Festival at the Lido and fishing villages on Pellestrina.
• Chioggia (about 13 nautical miles south through the lagoon): a lively fishing town with canals, a fish market and beaches at Sottomarina.

For other Italian coasts, read our guides to boat rental in Genoa, Naples and Bari.

Rules and tips

• Licence. Without a licence you may drive a boat with an engine of up to about 40 hp; most self-drive lagoon boats are of this kind. Larger boats need a licence or a skipper.
• Channels. Stay within the channels marked by wooden posts (bricole). The lagoon is very shallow, and running aground is the most common problem.
• Speed limits. They range from about 5 km/h in the city's canals to around 20 km/h on the main lagoon channels and are strictly enforced, because wash damages the foundations of buildings and the banks.
• Mooring. In Venice you may moor only at designated public moorings; do not tie up to private posts or landing stages, and never anchor in a navigation channel.
• Traffic. Give way to vaporetti, ferries and commercial boats, and slow down near rowing boats and gondolas.
• Tides. The tidal range is up to about a metre; check the tide tables, as some channels and bridges are tighter at high water.

Season and weather

• April to October is the season. May, June and September are the most pleasant; July and August are hot and very busy.
• Festivals. On the night of the Festa del Redentore (third weekend of July), hundreds of boats gather in front of St Mark's for the fireworks. The Regata Storica is held on the first Sunday of September, and during the Vogalonga rowing event in spring, motorboats are kept off the course.
• Autumn and winter bring high water (acqua alta), fog and the cold bora wind from the north-east, which can raise steep waves in the lagoon.

A boat in Venice with Crystalium Booker

We currently have no boats in Venice, but we are happy to help you look into the options. Send us a request via the contact page with the date, number of guests and preferred route. Do you rent out a boat in Venice or elsewhere in the lagoon? List it with us and we will present it to guests in 29 languages.