Official Information
Official website: https://museovetro.visitmuve.it/en/home/
Official tickets: https://muve.vivaticket.it/en/tour/museo-del-vetro/571?qubsq=63ed5e84-bf54-45ac-96a1-a6179316f288&qubsp=89699539-9c9c-469c-a980-22967d92157d&qubsts=1764754686&qubsc=bestunion&qubse=vivaticketserver&qubsrt=Safetynet&qubsh=7861b5bd476d7ea2ac2c30f24c814afd#
Address: Fondamenta Marco Giustinian 8, 30141 Venezia VE, Italy
Map: View on Google Maps
Opening Hours
The Murano Glass Museum is generally open daily, with hours from 10:00 to 17:00 during low season and 10:00 to 18:00 in high season. Last admission is one hour before closing. The museum is closed on 25 December, 1 January and 1 May. Occasional special closures may occur, so always check the official website close to your visit for up-to-date information.
Visit Experience
The Murano Glass Museum is a must-visit if you want to understand the cultural and economic significance of glass in Venice, beyond the live demos offered by island workshops. Located in the historic Palazzo Giustinian on Murano, the museum tells the story of glassmaking from antiquity to the present, connected deeply to the island’s unique history. You start the tour with Roman-era finds from the Venetian lagoon and progress through the medieval and Renaissance innovations that made Murano glass world famous. Key sections explain the development of techniques such as cristallo (extremely clear glass), lattimo (milky, porcelain-like glass), colored overlays, filigree, and millefiori, with superb examples of goblets, mirrors, chandeliers, and small objects. The museum explores how guilds and government control protected glassmaking secrets by moving all furnaces to Murano in the 13th century, keeping Venetian glass a closely guarded asset.
The 19th- and 20th-century galleries highlight revival styles, major designers, and the evolution of Murano glass as a medium for contemporary art and sculpture. Lighting is sensitively arranged so you can appreciate both the colors and transparency of these rare objects without glare or risk of damage. The palace setting, with its canal-side views, gives a special atmosphere, connecting the historical and physical context to the items on display.
Tickets can be booked individually or combined with other Venice Civic Museums, such as the Lace Museum on nearby Burano. Most visitors enjoy spending 60 to 90 minutes at the museum; afterward, consider visiting a reputable glass furnace to see how the techniques you have learned about are practiced today. For a quieter visit, come early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid tour group rushes. Note that many glass shops in Murano sell a range of products, not always made on the island, so the museum offers the most reliable survey of authentic, historic Murano glasswork.