Hey there!
While visiting Venice, the Burano island is an excellent day trip. The Venetian island of Burano is a picturesque place perfect for those drawn to color and design. Whether you have a short or long stay in or near Venice, I would say visiting Burano should be on your list!
At the end of this article is a quick story of my day trip to Burano and how it all went down.
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How to get to Burano
When in Venice, take the Vaporetto #12 line to get to Burano, as well as the islands of Murano and Torcello. A Vaporetto is a public water taxi that costs around 7 euros for a single ride or 20 euros for a 24hour pass (as of 2018).
What is there to see in Burano
There are a ton of things to see while on this quaint little island of Burano. I, unfortunate, did not get to see all of these points when I visited but I will mention them here so that you can check them out.
If you see nothing else, at least take in the amazing views of the colorful homes and building lining the romantic style canals laced with bridges. I’ve read that the colors are not chosen at random, but deliberately painted these unique shades to collectively give each neighborhood a specific aesthetic. If a home or business owner wants to change the color, they would have to submit a request with the local government and wait for a permit to do so. There is a method to the colorful madness.
The island of Burano is known for their intricate lace-making and their lace museum. I popped into a few of the shops that sold the amazingly detailed lace pieces and was in awe of those beautiful designs. The popular Venetian lace is created painstakingly by hand with needles and are a luxury item for those who can afford it. The items in the shops are more on the affordable side so each one is not made by hand, but some of the displays are and the details are astonishing. As requested by the shop owners, I did not photograph their designs but they truly were a sight to see. My friend did snag a shot that they did not mind, which is shown above.
If you walk down Piazza Galuppi, the main street on the island, you will have a variety of vendors, restaurants and shops to shop in. You can pick up amazing souvenirs to return home with while enjoying some delicious pastries.
While in town, visit the leaning tower of Burano. You can go underneath it as you get a feel of how steep the slope of the lean actually is. Or you can catch a glimpse of it from a distance, as I did (see above).
If you are looking for the perfect area to take pictures, head on over to the Tre Ponte (three bridges) area. This romantic-looking wooden bridge connects 3 canals leading to 3 of the most colorful streets in Burano.
There are even more sights to see while on this beautiful island, but these were the top destinations on my list.
What to eat in Burano
Burano is known for their fish markets and seafood restaurants. Risotto is also a very popular food item to get while here, as they specialize in these dishes.
While researching places to eat, Trattoria da Romano came up a number of times. This restaurant is visited by celebrities and many tourists know about it, so it is not ideal for those looking for a quiet meal. It can also be on the pricier side, so keep that in mind when choosing a spot for lunch. The ambiance and history of the restaurant is definitely a high-light for many who have dined there.
If you head deeper into Burano, to a quieter area, you will run into Al Gatto Nero, a highly recommended seafood restaurant. Some have described them to having the freshest seafood on Burano, and neighboring islands.
My day trip to Burano
On the day I arrived in Burano, in early March, the skies were dark and it was pouring out. It rained so hard that my umbrella was starting to spring a leak! After about 45mins, the rain did let up a bit, but still persisted. It was also extremely cold! Even in that climate, the island looked absolutely radiant.
We exited the Vaporetto after enjoying a scenic 45min ride. Some of my friends used that time to take a much needed nap (because our internal clocks were still 6hours behind) but I used this time to gaze out the window at the views. Because of the weather, there were not many tourists on the boat with us, so we did not feel like we were in a tourist hotspot. We picked a direction, and started venturing off hoping to run into something amazing. As soon as we got away from the pier, we were hit with beautiful color and winding canals. It was amazing to see everyone’s small boats parked along the canals and people on the beautiful bridges connecting the two sides of the street. I don’t know if I could actually say “across the street” because it is really across the water, but you know what I mean.
To get a break from the downpour, we popped into some shops and admired the lacework they had to offer. Some shops were selling the popular Venetian stained glass that is made on the neighboring island Murano.
We wandered around and took plenty of pictures. Even against the gray skies and rain, every direction was beautiful. I can’t imagine it looking even better on a sunny day, but I am sure it does.
Since visiting Burano was a 1/2 day trip, we did not have time to eat while there. But we did peak through the windows at people eating and they seemed to be enjoying it.
As the evening came to an end, it was almost as if there was a silent bell that went off and we missed the memo. The shops all shut down and people quickly left the island. There was one souvenir shop that opened later than the rest so we spent some time in their grabbing some goodies for our loved ones. Once we came out, it literally was like a ghost town.
I know people live on Burano, but where we were walking, we did not see a soul. My friend needed to use the restroom and we were on a mad hunt to find one, since she could not hold it for the long Vaporetto ride back followed by a 10minute walk to the hotel. After searching high and low, we ran into a gentleman’s club that let us use the facilities. The men in there looked at us as if we were aliens, or that night’s act. When we entered, it looked like a very masculine bar equipped with pool tables and seating areas. Behind the curtain next to the bar was the entrance to where the real party happens. I can imagine these men seeing 5 young black women dressed in loud colors, walking in and straight to the bathroom. They probably thought it was chocolate night and we were the main act! We made sure to smile and get out of there as soon as we could. Then off the the Vaporetto we went.
As the boat engine revved up and the pier disappearing behind us, we waved goodbye to the beautiful island that would bless our Instagrams with colorful pictures for days! I do hope to visit again and make it a priority to have some of their highly recommended seafood and risotto.
Would you visit this colorful island of Burano? What on the island would you like to see the most? I am curious to know! Leave me a comment below with your answers or questions.
Until next time!
With love,
CoCo
Crystalee says
definitely one of my favorite places we visited…so vibrant and beautiful. Can’t wait to go back!!
cocowithlove says
Same! The colors are so loud but the ambiance is so serene!