What if Venice wasn’t just the well-trodden path of St. Mark’s Square and gondola rides? What if a brief vaporetto ride could whisk you away to a hidden realm, brimming with vibrant colors and captivating charm? This is Burano Island, a vibrant gem in the Venetian Lagoon, a place where every house seems to explode with its own unique hue.
On a past trip, eager to explore beyond the typical tourist trail, Dan and I learned that most visitors seem to feel that Murano, Burano, and Torcello are the best of the islands to visit. So we hopped on the Venetian water bus and ventured out to explore.
We dedicated an entire day to Murano, the home of Venetian glass, but it was Burano, with its brightly colored houses and its completely unique atmosphere, that left the most lasting impression.
Sure, Burano Island is famous for its exquisite Venetian lace, but the visual feast of its vibrant colors is what truly makes it unforgettable. With quirky murals here and there and laundry hanging across the brightly painted facades, the striking contrast from the main island of Venice is immediately apparent.
Is a day trip to Burano worth it? Absolutely! I fell in love with Burano on my recent trip to Venice, and I’m convinced it’s a must for anyone visiting the area. It’s a completely different vibe than the city, and I’m sharing my highlights to show you exactly what makes it so special. You’ll get a real sense of the unique atmosphere and the colorful experience it offers.
👉 Looking for the best Burano tour? I’ll save you some time. This Murano and Burano boat tour gets a 4.7/5 rating based on 3500+ reviews. Book it ahead of time to secure your spot—it sells out fast.
Lace making on Burano Island
Burano was settled in the 500s, but it only became important in the 16th century. That’s when women on the island began making lace with needles and it became popular among the European elite.
Lacemaking is a fine art form and takes an incredible amount of patience and time to create. So, as you can imagine, it’s a luxury few can afford.
Most of the lace that’s for sale in souvenir shops is affordable, so you can be pretty sure that it’s machine-made. But even that lace is beautiful, and the shops are worth visiting.
ⓘ TIP: If you’re in the market for lace, check the label carefully, because a lot of it is made in China. Be prepared to pay a lot for real Venetian (Burano) lace.
Only a handful of women do it in the traditional way these days, and I was lucky enough to meet one of them while we were there. She was sitting on a folding chair in the warm sunshine, talking to a friend while creating a pair of Christmas bells in lace on her lap.
Using the few Italian words I knew, I asked her how much time her piece would take to complete, and she told me it would take three months.
I was shocked. “Three months, for just one small piece?” She nodded. No wonder Venetian lace is so expensive!
Isola di Burano at twilight
As it got later and twilight approached, the buildings’ colors began to change. We found a tempting restaurant, and I settled in with a carafe of the house red wine while Dan went off to capture Burano at twilight.
Yes, that is me in the photo above, happily entertaining myself with a glass of Italian wine while waiting for Dan to get back from his foray. Ambushed by a camera again. 🙂
Twilight is that time of morning and evening when there’s neither full daylight nor complete darkness. Photographers call it the “blue hour” due to the quality of light. The blue-tinged light muted the hues of the usually colorful buildings. To compensate for the fading light, Dan had to use a longer exposure, which made the rippling water look as still as glass.
Dan returned with a camera full of beautiful images, enough to create a video for our YouTube channel. Watch it here:
Plan your trip
Here are some resources to plan your own Burano visit:
- Burano’s tourism website can be found here.
- For more inspiration, check out our Burano photo gallery.
We strongly recommend that you take a tour if you have limited time or want to see it all, Get Your Guide offers a variety of excursions at affordable prices. Two of the best ones are:
- Venice: Burano, Torcello & Murano Boat Tour w/Glassblowing
- Murano and Burano Half-Day Glass and Lace Tour
| VENICE TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS |
|---|
| ✔ Travel Guide: This book is a bestseller on Amazon. ✔ City Card: The Venice City Pass offers free entry to attractions and waterbus access. ✔ Flights: The code for Venice Marco Polo airport is VCE. Check flight prices. ✔ Accommodation: We stayed at Hotel Paganelli, near St. Mark’s Square. ✔ Visas/ETIAS for the EU: Check if you need one and apply here. ✔ Travel Insurance: Compare World Nomads and SafetyWing ✔ Getting around: In Venice, use a gondola or vaporetto. Outside of Venice, take Flixbus, or rent a car. ✔ Tickets & tours: Find dozens of fun ideas on GetYourGuide and Take Walks ✔ Organized trips: G Adventures has insanely affordable small-group tours + guaranteed departures. |
Hi, lovely pics!
Just wanted to ask, are there ferries available even at night from Burano to Venice (Mestre / Santa Lucia)?
We have no firsthand knowledge, but as far as we understand, the vaporettos run all during the night albeit not as frequently as during the day. TripSavvy has a good article about Venice’s Vaporetto Transportation System and here’s the link to the official ACTV water bus page. Unfortunately, their English site still contains a lot of Italian and we don’t speak the language well enough to understand the site. We’re sorry we can’t be of more help.
i think i must visit this place for sure after your suggestions the images tells about the beauty of the place.Thanks for your suggestions.
I think one day is not enough wandering in Burano. Your blue hour photo is spectacular.
Thanks, Faye. Have you been?
Oh, wow, that first photo is absolutely lovely! I love seaside towns and Burano seems to have a lot of personality. I’d love to check out the lace products, but I don’t think I would be able to buy one. It’d be nice checking it out though. 🙂
Agree with you Liz, it’s fun to look. We travel with only a carry-on bag each, so we are very selective with our purchases. Though I did see a dress I would have loved to try on….
I ran out of time in Venice, so I never made it to Burano. You’ve inspired me to go back!
Let us know if you do manage to see Burano, Stephen. We’d like to hear your impression.
I can’t believe after being to Venice 3 times, I never got to see these fabulous places. I guess time, the person you are travelling with and the parts you have yet to see play a part in where you go.
You’re right, it does. Dan chooses a lot of our destinations based on what he thinks will be good to photograph. I choose to visit places with museums and UNESCO sites. After three visits to Venice, what have you seen?
So pretty! Burano island looks vibrant and inviting.
Venice is so picturesque, and your photos are lovely, reminding us fondly of our visits to Venice. Those little islands are worth visiting: Burano for lace and Murano for glass.
Glad you agree that they’re worth a visit.
Stunning photos and video. Love it 🙂
Thanks, we’re new at videos and having fun with it.