Sight guide · Venice · Italy
Visiting Torcello
Now home to only a handful of residents, Torcello was one of the first places in the lagoon to be settled.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Godromil, Public domain
Quick answer
Torcello is an island in Northern lagoon, Venice. Allow 2 hours; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Island
- Area
- Northern lagoon
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- off the beaten path, history, art and nature
- Best months
- May–June and September
About Torcello
Now home to only a handful of residents, Torcello was one of the first places in the lagoon to be settled. Its Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, founded in 639, has a dazzling Byzantine mosaic of the Last Judgement, and the bell tower looks over marshes and canals.
Tip: Reach it from Burano by a short ferry ride and climb the bell tower for the lagoon view.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2 hours.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Northern lagoon.
Best time to visit Torcello
Torcello is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- September: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, very busy crowds.
- May: 22°C (72°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, very busy crowds.
- June: 26°C (79°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, very busy crowds.
When to visit Venice has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Torcello is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace.
- No. 14 of the 20 sights in our Venice things-to-do list.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Venice.
Near Torcello
Also in Northern lagoon, so you can walk between them:
If you like Torcello
- St Mark's Basilica — San Marco, 1–1.5 hours
- Doge's Palace — San Marco, 2–3 hours
- Gallerie dell'Accademia — Dorsoduro, 2 hours
- Basilica dei Frari — San Polo, 45 minutes–1 hour
Staying near Torcello
Where to stay in Venice compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Torcello?
Plan 2 hours. With Murano nearby, it fits a half-day in Northern lagoon.
+Is Torcello free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Torcello?
May–June and September for the most comfortable weather. Reach it from Burano by a short ferry ride and climb the bell tower for the lagoon view.
+Do I need to book Torcello in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.