Burano – the most colorful island of the Venetian Lagoon and one of the most instagrammable places of Italy can easily be explored on a leisurely day trip from Venice. Wandering around Burano gives visitors the chance to admire its intricate handmade lace and gaze at its famous colorful homes that line the narrow water canals of this charming island.
Burano had initially developed as a fishing community. Much of the island’s revenue today comes from tourism, lacemaking, and fishing. Tourists from all over the world travel to this corner of the Venetian lagoon to experience that feeling of la dolce far niente while wandering around Burano. Burano truly has a quaint coziness and laid-back feel to it. Being a small island, it can easily be explored on foot without feeling rushed.
I am guessing that if you came across this post, you are considering heading out from Venice to visit the islands of the Venetian lagoon, including Burano. So, here’s our travel guide on Burano that highlights the must-sees of this postcard-pretty Italian island along with travel tips that we hope will help make your visit memorable.
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Planning a trip to Burano: How to get there by Vaporetto
There are several islands that are part of the Venetian lagoon including Venice, Sant’Erasmo, San Michele, Murano, Burano, Torcello, and Giudecca to name a few. While the small island of Burano is sometimes overlooked by those visiting Venice or its closest island of Murano, Burano is absolutely worth the trip to experience the quieter slice of the Veneto region.
ACTV Vaporetto lines and private water taxis
ACTV Vaporetto lines run frequently along well-marked channels of the Venetian lagoon and shuttle passengers back and forth between these islands. We decided to travel by Vaporetto around the lagoon as we found the service to be frequent, reliable and budget-friendly. Moreover, the ride on the Vaporetto was covered by the ACTV travel card that accompanied our Venezia City Pass.
While Vaporettos are the budget-friendly way of getting around the lagoon, they tend to get quite crowded. If you prefer a quieter and more flexible experience, private taxis can also be booked, though these end up being quite expensive. Before boarding the private taxis, be sure to check for the license number and yellow stripe that all licensed taxis are required to have.
ACTV Vaporetto lines from Venice to Burano
Burano is located about 7 km. from Venice and can be easily reached from Venice and Murano by Vaporetto. It takes about 45 minutes to reach Burano from Venice. The frequently running ACTV Line 12 boat brings passengers from Venice’s Fondamenta Nove stop to Burano. During peak tourist season from spring to fall, visitors can also board line 14 from the Zaccaria stop near Piazza San Marco in Venice and arrive in Burano in about an hour.
ACTV Vaporetto lines from Murano to Burano
Alternatively, if you happen to be visiting Murano earlier in the day and are planning on visiting Burano, catch Line 12 from Murano’s Faro stop. Line 12 from Murano’s Faro brings visitors to Burano in just a little over half an hour.
History of Burano and its exquisite lacemaking
There are several theories about how Burano was founded. According to the most popular theory, Burano is thought to have been founded by the inhabitants of Altino who were fleeing from the invading army of Attila sometime during the 5th century. Burano was established initially as a fishing community along with some farms located along the island.
Burano witnessed an economic boom during the 16th century thanks to its exquisite lacework that gained popularity and started getting e
xported to other parts of Europe. The handcrafted Burano lace was painstakingly and patiently embroidered by the skilled women of Burano using thread and needles. Since then, this age-old tradition of intricate lacemaking has thrived in Burano and has been passed down from one generation to the next.
The must-see sights while wandering around Burano :
Burano is located in the northern part of the Venetian lagoon. It is best explored early in the morning or late in the afternoon on a bright, sunny day when the crowds of tourists have thinned down and the island returns to its quieter side. The backdrop of the vibrant homes of Burano nestled along sleepy canals makes wandering around Burano a joy.
1. Marvel at the colorful homes while wandering around Burano:
One of the main reasons so many tourists, artists and photographers travel year-round to Burano is to see the neat rows of brightly painted homes of Burano dotted along its gentle canals. Visitors disembarking from the boats arriving in Burano are greeted with splashes of reds, yellows, pinks, blues, greens, and lilac to name a few as they gaze with intrigue at these characteristic homes. Indeed, to see is to believe and these homes of Burano are a sight to behold.
There is a special color pattern for the homes around Burano. Each home is painted in a designated color with window and door frames painted in contrasting white that makes the color of the homes pop. If the owners want to change the color of their home, they have to send a request to the government and can only change the colors to the ones approved in the reply from the authorities.
Wandering around Burano and seeing its colorful homes reminded us of the vibrant pastel-colored homes of Cinque Terre. It also left us wondering why these homes had been painted with such bright colors in the first place. It was interesting to learn that the Buranese tradition of multicolored houses originated as a way to guide fishermen back to their homes through the dense fog that would envelop the island.
2. Stop by the most colorful house of Burano – Bepi’s House
While you are wandering around Burano and its back alleys, you might happen to stumble across the most colorful house of Burano – Bepi’s House. The house was owned by Giuseppe Toselli, also known as Bepi, who loved painting, movies and sold candies in a shop in Burano’s Galuppi Square.
Tucked away in one of the alleys of Burano, this house stands apart from all other houses of Burano due to its multicolored facade and geometric designs. Its unique patterns and vibrant colors make it one of the most photographed spots on the island of Burano.
3. Indulge in delicious, fresh seafood while wandering around Burano
Given the fact that tourism forms the backbone of Burano’s economy, there are plenty of canalside restaurants and inviting trattorias around this charming Venetian island. Since Burano is a working fisherman’s island, there are a variety of delectable traditional seafood dishes served at its restaurants. Some of the most popular dishes around the island include calamari, freshly grilled fish, traditional pasta with fish sauce and cuttlefish risotto.
We thoroughly enjoyed the meals we ate at Da Romano and Trattoria al Gatto Nero. Their fresh, authentic flavors, friendly service and attention to detail have made these restaurants extremely popular. Be sure to reserve ahead and you won’t be disappointed!
4 Enjoy shopping for lacework while wandering around Burano’s streets
The age-old tradition of lacemaking is showcased with pride at several boutiques and shops of Burano. Catered primarily to tourists, these stores sell both handmade as well as machine-made lacework including table linens, scarves, dresses, lace umbrellas, lace fans, and tapestries. It is said that Leonardo da Vinci had visited Burano to shop for the cloth that he ultimately used on the altar of Milan’s Duomo. Some of the most prestigious lace shops in Burano include Martina Vidal Venezia, Dalla Lidia Merletti d’Arte and Emilia Burano.
The traditional, authentic lace of Burano takes several days to complete and tends to be quite expensive given the time, effort and expertise that goes into designing it. There are a series of steps involved in the time-honored lacemaking process that begins with drawing the design on paper. Following this initial sketch, skilled elderly women start embroidering the design with thread and needle over a period of several days, sometimes even months. As you wander around the storefronts of Burano, you might just get lucky and get the chance to watch the art of lacemaking inside.
5. Visit the Lace Museum – Museo del Merletto
To witness the local tradition of lacemaking, marvel at displays of intricate lace design spanning several decades and learn more about the origins of this exquisite craft, be sure to plan a visit to the Lace Museum. This small two-story museum is located in Piazza Galuppi in a palace that was once the site of the lace school. The school of lacemaking was built on the island to preserve and revive the art of lacemaking in Burano in 1872. Now, this museum honors the local tradition of lacemaking by highlighting its history and showcasing rare historic and contemporary lace design works.
6. Shop for traditional Venetian masks in Burano
We were surprised to see the numerous shops selling beautifully designed, traditional Venetian masks including the paper mâché masks while wandering around Burano. Painted in bright colors with splashes of gold paint and glitter, these masks are further accentuated with feathers, bells, and crystals.
Stop by Riflessi and Il Tombolo if you would like to purchase paper mâché masks as a souvenir. If you happen to be visiting Venice during the carnival, plan on making your way to Burano to witness the Burano Carnival (El Carneval de Buran) that includes a parade in the Piazza.
7. Sample the iconic Burano cookies – Bussolà and Esses
Located along Via Galuppi, a stop at one of the most famous bakeries of the Venetian lagoon – Panificio Pasticceria Palmisano Carmelina, is a must. It is famous for its scrumptious cookies including Bussolà di Burano. The bakery was founded in Burano in 1926 and remains popular to this day. These iconic cookies from Burano are sold at several places around Italy now but there’s probably nothing like trying them for the first time as they are freshly made in the bakery where they originated. These bussolà make for the perfect, authentic souvenir of Burano.
After stopping by this bakery, we continued wandering around Burano and came across shops selling more baked goods, homemade and hand-rolled pasta as well as limoncello. Since we were heading to Capri in a few days after our trip to Venice, we decided to save savoring limoncello until we arrived at the Amalfi Coast. On the other hand, we certainly had our fill of the delicious Bussolà and Esses (S-shaped Buranese cookies) while exploring this colorful island.
8. Stroll along Via Galuppi and Piazza Galuppi while wandering around Burano
Via Galuppi is considered the main drag of Burano with plenty of colorful homes, restaurants and souvenir shops located around it. Whether you are wandering around Burano shopping for lace, masks, homemade pasta or baked goods you are sure to come across shops selling these goods along this street.
Via Galuppi leads up to the nearby quieter Piazza Galuppi. A statue of the Venetian composer Baldassare Galuppi by Remigio Barbaro is located in this square just across the Lace Museum and the San Martin Church. If you’d prefer to head away from the busier side of Burano to explore its quieter alleys, continue walking past this statue of Galuppi towards the lagoon and turn left along the first intersecting canal. You’ll come across a lively Cicchetteria, popular with the locals and will get the chance to sample an even quieter pocket of charming, colorful Burano.
9. Visit the San Martino Vescovo’s Church and its Leaning Bell Tower
San Martino is the main church on the island of Burano dating back to the 16th century. The square-shaped bell tower of Burano is located next to this Roman Catholic Church and has a 1.83m lean due to its soft island foundation. Gazing upon this tower is sure to remind visitors of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and many other bell towers that you might have seen around the Venetian lagoon. As you are wandering around Burano, you can hear the hourly chimes of this 53 meters tall bell tower.
10. Get the quintessential snapshot of charming Burano from Tre Ponti
The archipelago of Burano is made up of five small islands that are laced together by bridges running over its narrow canals. One of the most famous points in Burano is the wooden bridge – Tre Ponti (Three Bridges). This bridge is located across the confluence of three canals and connects three prominent streets of Burano – Via San Mauro, Via Giudecca and Via San Martino Sinistro. It makes for the perfect stop for soaking in the views of colorful Burano and the lagoon that lies beyond.
Murano and Burano are both charming islands of the Venetian lagoon and if you are planning on spending a few days in Venice, I highly recommend a day trip to these islands. Both of them offer a unique perspective into Italian lifestyle, culture, and craftsmanship. As you stroll along the canals, alleys, and gardens of postcard-pretty Burano, it’s easy to see why this tiny Italian gem has become a tourist magnet and the perfect backdrop for photographers and artists from all over the world.
We had heard so much about the islands of the Venetian lagoon and were certainly not disappointed. Wandering around Burano leisurely and exploring the nearby island of Murano ended up being one of the highlights of our visit to the Venetian lagoon. Memories of Burano with its laid-back, convivial Italian charm, colorful homes, and delicate lacework will forever be etched on our minds. We hope to return to this delightful corner of the Veneto soon but until then … Ciao, dear Burano!
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Hello ! I’m Aditi …..
Welcome to Land Of Travels – a travel blog that my husband Manish and I started to share our travel stories and travel tips. We are full-time professionals, dedicated parents, foodies, and it is our shared passion for traveling that lead us to become part-time bloggers.
I was born and brought up in Northern India, lived in Bay Area, California for nearly two decades and currently reside in Ontario, Canada. Since childhood, I’ve always had a passion to travel far & wide and experience different cultures. I am passionate about planning our trips and exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations.
My sincere hope is that the travel tips offered on this blog will help you plan your next memorable adventure.
Happy travels!
~ Aditi Sharma ~
Although I’m in Venice every other year, I’ve never made it to Burano yet. Thanks to your guide, I’ll visit next time – whereby, who knows when the next time will be. Last time, I was in Murano and also on the Giudecca. It’s a nice break since it actually is a teeny bit emptier than the Centro Storico.
I loved the colours and these look like if you are seeing a real painting. I have not been to this place but definitely now in my bucket list.
i love to visit this place one day and wander around these beautiful and colorful structures! <3
I would definitely love to visit this place on day, thanks for sharing info.s
What I beautiful place! At first glance, I thought you were in Willemstad, Curacao with all the colorful buildings on the water. I’d love to visit Venice one day.
I love the pictures and all of the different activities you recommend. I went to Venice awhile ago, but visiting for a day doesn’t allow you to do much!
Thanks for sharing!
Gorgeous!! My Father’s from Italy and I have been there over a dozen times. But never to Burano! I want to take my boyfriend back to Venice, and we will definitely have to put Burano on the list!
Burano is so colorful! I definitely have to visit one day.
I loooved Venice, I did not get the chance to go to Burano though. Guess I will just have to make another trip 🙂 So great to virtually travel there for now. Beautiful Pictures <3
I would love to visit in Summer hopefully! Loved this guide.
So jealous! We didn’t make it here on our last trip to Italy. Hopefully next time we can make it though. It looks gorgeous!
This brings back lovely memories of my trip to Burano nearly 20 years ago!
I love Burano with all its colours and great atmosphere. I used to live close by in Slovenia, so it was always a stop on the way to Venice. Reading this post brought back nice memories, I hope to visit again soon, x
I would love to visit Burano on my next trip to Italy! Such a colorful city!
What a colorful place! I am loving those sweets. We’re going to put this one on our list when we’re able to head out that way for sure!
It’s so colorful! I’ve always heard so many great things about it, but you really made it come to life!
Gorgeous! Venice is a first love city and I’ve never visited Burano yet! this is great guide to explore the island for when I can return to italy
I’m dying to go there!
Wow you are right..Burano looks so colourful and pleasant.i would love to visit someday.thanks for sharing 😊
I loved visiting Burano this past fall but certainly didn’t see all that is listed here. Great list of sites.
Beautiful! Great ideas for Burano! It’s often overlooked and you provided really insightful details, thank you!
I went to Venice, but I never did manage to get to Burano. I’ll have to make it on the next trip, though I can’t say I know when that will be just yet!
I have seen so many lovely photos of Burano and its vibrant colors definitely remind me of Cinque Terre too. It’s so interesting how locals need to make requests with the government in order to repaint their homes though. Never would’ve guessed!
Burano is such a pretty place to be. Unfortunately, we could not make it there the last time we were in Italy. But hope to get there soon sometime. And this is such a wonderful itinerary for a day trip from Venice. I hope to get some really cool pictures infront of those colorful houses. And relish some Burano cookies after a visit to the leaning bell tower. Just so much to do here.
Italy is such a pretty place and I have just fallen in love with Burano after seeing the pictures. The houses are so colorful. It was good to know that the residents have to take permission to change colors of the houses. And then there are the laces, masks and cookies! I am sure to visit these islands whenever I visit Italy!
This place looks so gorgeous! Really hope I’ll finally make it to Italy one day soon 🙂
Ohh Italy, time will come that I will visit her beautiful cities including Burano, and enjoy the local lifestyle, and listening to the Noona’s (grandmothers) stories of their town. I felt jealous that you had a great opportunity to visit Burano… full of gorgeous memories!
I’ve never been to Burano before but after reading your post, I’ll make this beautiful town top of my travel bucket list! The colorful houses look so cute. I’d spend the whole day just walking around and take photos with them! Oh and I’d definitely try the Burano cookies. Yummy!
This is making me miss Italy so badly. I loved wandering around Burano but have to go back, hopefully one day soon. What beautiful pictures you have.
I absolutely love Italy. Have not been to Burano, but ah it looks so colourful and vibrant. I am certainly adding it to my list. Great article!
Italy is on the top of my bucket list and you have just solidified this even more. All of these details of Burano from the beautiful colored houses to the delicious food and amazing photos have me dying to go. I hope to make it soon!
This post is absolutely incredible! I never knew about the back history of Burano I’m going to need to get some lace items when visiting, thank you!
Love the colours of Burano. It reminds me of South- & Central America.
This looks so charming – lovely photos! I was in Italy for a band tour a few years ago, but it was kind of rushed and mostly filled with playing concerts. Would love to go back!
I didn’t know the city of Burano is so colourful. Italy is on top of my bucket list and I hope I can make it there soon.
This looks like one of the most vibrant places I’ve ever seen! Can’t wait to get back out there and support Italy. Adding this place to the list for sure!
What a beautiful spot and so colorful and vibrant! Thank you for sharing.
I greatly enjoyed reading about your trip to Burano. I’d heard of Murano, but not Burano. The inclusion of Burano’s history and culture brilliantly added to the post. The photos portraying exactly how colorful Burano is were perfect. Thank you for sharing!
This looks incredible. I NEVER would have thought this was in Italy. I was only ever in Rome for 3 days but there is SOO much in Italy that I would like to see. Thank you for sharing this information so I can add it to my list of places to look into.
Wow, everything is so beautiful and vibrant! Loved reading!
Wow-what a beautiful place. I can’t believe all the colors! So pretty, thank you for sharing 🙂
Well, now I feel like an idiot for not going to Burano! And maybe I’m 1,000 years old now, but I am now really interested in going to the lace museum!
I LOVE Burano! It’s absolutely one of my favourite places in the world, and this post is reminding me just how much I love it. You’ve really captured the heart of this place in your post and I really love the photos!
How pretty is this place!!! Your article definitely made me want to go there ASAP! I also loved all the tips about things to do there!
This is also one of my favorite places.
I read about Burano in an in-flight magazine and vowed to visit it someday. Your blog post is a reminder of why I need to go there – picturesque streets. I didn’t realise there was a focus on lace in Burano. Thanks for sharing.
Love Burano! It´s so colorful, thanks for sharing this post, it brings back memories 🙂
I love how colourful Burano is. It has been on my bucket list for so long and I was really hoping to go there this summer 💗
Can you believe I’ve been to Venice four times and I’ve never been to Burano?? Definitely need to go next time I’m in the area! Love your photos, it’s so colourful and pretty!
I have always wanted to head to Burano! Looks like such a beautiful place!
I’ve always wanted to go to Burano 😁 looks like an absolutely beautiful place to visit!
The pictures are so pretty. The vibrant buildings are just so picturesque. I think this is the first time I have read about Burano. Really detailed and elaborate guide, thanks a lot.
Loved your blog.. The colorful homes, lacework, masks, cookies. The pictures are beautiful! I will definitely visit Burano when I get to visit Italy..
Oh beautiful Italy! I can’t wait to go back one day and see Burano. it’s one spot I have yet to go there!
These pictures are amazing. I hope to go to Italy one day. Will have to add Burano to the list of places to see!
Awesome article with awesome pictures and views, not only that, it’s very educative.
I have never seen this type of place, every building has different color, also windows, doors and walls with so many different colors. Also the handmade items looks so beautiful. Thanks for sharing this excellent post.
How did I miss Bepi’s House? Now I have to go back there 🙂 Thanks for sharing these great photos and detailed information !
Such a colorful island, I regret not having visited it when I toured Venice. Love how creative the people there are to paint the walls with such varied bright colors. Good to know of the eating and shopping options there.
Wow – beautiful photographs! I love how vibrant everything is! Honestly I have no heard too much about Burano previously but this definitely made me want to visit!
I have heard so much about Burano and it does look breathtaking. Those colourful buildings are amazing. If I ever go to Italy I would love to check out this island town.
Beautiful post. Hope I could go there one day !
We visited Burano and Murano during our time in Venice and loved it. The colorful houses were so pretty and the ladies hand-weaving the lace are a sight to see. they are so talented!
I love Burano, it is such a beautiful island. I actually liked it more than Murano, because it seemed a little bit quieter. Maybe not all tourists take the effort to take a second boat to Burano. My favorite thing was to just stroll around the island, because there was always something pretty and very Instagrammable around every corner 🙂
Certainly a very beautiful and vibrant island. I have been to Venice but unfortunately, time did not allow for exploring Murano or Burano. I’m sad we didn’t get to see this, but glad I could “tour” it on your beautiful post.
What a beautiful place Burano looks to be. It’s nice to hear that there are times where the crowds thin out and you can still explore in a bit of peace (morning and afternoon). Wow, I had no idea that so much went into the lace making. I’ll bet there are some gorgeous pieces there.
I’ve been to Venice twice now and have found it gets so busy in the afternoon. Heading to Burano looks like the perfect escape from the craziness of Venice. Plus it is beautiful.
I didn’t realize that there were additional islands in the lagoon that you could visit near Venice but that makes sense. The colorful houses in Burano kind of remind me of San Juan, Puerto Rico. I love the lace and I’d definitely would try the cookies. Can’t wait to plan a trip to Venice and the islands now.
It’s so colorful! And that lace is gorgeous. I hope to make it to Venice someday. Thanks for this great guide!
I found it very interesting that the residents need permission from the authorities to change the colour of their house. While on one hand it seems unnecessary, on the other hand, that’s what adds to the beauty of the place. Great guide here.
Burano is so gorgeous! I haven’t been since I was a child, so thank you for letting me revisit through your beautiful pictures.
Burano is beautiful and full of colour, definitely a place I would love to visit. You have captured it beautifully in this post.
We love Burano and have visited on each of our three trips to Venice. The contrast in number of visitors between our first visit (in the late 1990s) and our most recent one (in 2018) was huge, but even with the crowds, we still loved Burano. I didn’t really look much at the lace industry, so that’s on the list for next time!
Very colorful indeed. Hopefully there’s lots of little places to sit and people watch, and taking in the scenery. I’d love to find a quiet little spot to sit, watch and draw. Those colours are screaming out to be captured on a page in pencils or water color.
I just love all the colors of Burano! I also love the lace–that would be such a perfect souvenir to bring home from Venice.
Oh my goodness, I love how colourful Burano is! It looks so cheerful! I’d love to visit the lace museum, watching people make lace is crazy…how do they know what they are doing?! Thanks for the great guide!
Oooh this is really gorgeous Aditi! I loved your previous post about Murano; those two posts go well together for introducing the islands and finding out about the glass and lace-makers.
I loooove the bright colours of those houses!
Isn’t Burano lovely? We went there last September. We had planned just to spend the day in Venice but it was so crazy busy, that we headed out to the islands.
This was one thing I missed while being in the area… I did not even know about it until I was back home again. The power of knowledge and research – beautiful post 🙂 I sure would have loved to see it with my own eyes!
Burano seems to be a very colorful city! I love their laces and masks. The pictures of the colorful houses look beautiful! 🙂
Wow Burano looks gorgeous. I love the vibrant buildings and the beautiful masks. I can totally see why you call it the most colorful island in the lagoon.
You took me back to our visit to Burano a couple of years ago. Such a special place.
I’ve never heard of this place before, but it sounds so interesting! The pictures look beautiful and I would love to have some of that fresh seafood right now. I hope I can check this off my bucket list one day!
The islands of the Venetian lagoon are truly well worth a visit if you happen to be in Venice for a few days. The seafood of Burano is scrumptious.
I havent been to italy yet but when I do I have to put Burano on my places to visit. I love the colorful houses, and it’s interesting that they are painting so bright so they could see their way home in the fog. I certainly can see why they would need permission to change the colour. They are so pretty.
I loved Burano! The colors of the buildings are so beautiful in real life and watching the ladies hand-make lace was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. Great tips!
Thank you. Visiting the islands of the Venetian lagoon – namely Murano and Burano, was definitely a highlight of our trip to the Veneto region.
I loved visiting Burano this past fall but certainly didn’t see all that is listed here. Great list of sites.