Exploring Burano: A Guide to the Colorful Island Near Venice

Burano, an enchanting island in the Venetian Lagoon, is a must-visit destination for anyone exploring Venice. Famous for its brightly colored houses and rich lace-making tradition, Burano offers a unique blend of culture, history, and picturesque scenery. Whether you’re a photographer, a foodie, or simply a lover of beautiful places, Burano has something special for you.

Things to Do in Burano

1. Stroll Around and Enjoy the Colorful Houses

Burano’s vibrant facades are perfect for a leisurely stroll. The colorful houses lining the canals make for fantastic photo opportunities, so be sure to bring your camera!

2. Visit Lace Shops and Museums

• Museo del Merletto: Dive into Burano's lace-making history at the Museo del Merletto, where you can see intricate lacework and learn about this traditional craft.

• Local Shops: Pick up authentic Burano lace from local artisans, a beautiful souvenir of your visit.

3. Enjoy the Local Cuisine

• Seafood: Savor fresh seafood at local restaurants like Trattoria al Gatto Nero.

• Sweets: Don’t miss trying "bussolai," a buttery cookie that’s a local favorite.

4. Visit the Church of San Martino

The Church of San Martino features a leaning bell tower and impressive artworks, including a piece by Giambattista Tiepolo.

5. Relax at the Piazza Galuppi

Enjoy a coffee or gelato while people-watching in the bustling Piazza Galuppi. It’s also a great spot for souvenir shopping.

6. Take a Boat Tour

Explore the Venetian Lagoon with a boat tour, often including stops at nearby islands like Murano and Torcello. Some tours even offer fishing experiences for a taste of local life.

7. Art and Craft Workshops

• Lace-Making Workshops: Learn traditional lace-making techniques in a hands-on workshop.

• Painting Classes: Capture Burano’s beauty with a painting class. Check out my Burano photography and art workshops for more details.

8. Explore Nearby Islands

• Murano: Known for its glass-making, Murano is just a short boat ride away.

• Torcello: Visit Torcello for its historic churches and serene atmosphere.

9. Sunset Views

End your day with a stunning sunset over the lagoon. Find a cozy spot by the water and enjoy the natural beauty of Burano.

Tips for Visiting Burano

• Getting There: Take the Vaporetto (water bus) from Venice, a scenic 45-minute ride.

• Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and capture the best light for photos.

• Comfortable Shoes: Wear comfortable shoes for exploring the island on foot.

Join My Burano Workshops

For a truly immersive experience, join one of my Burano workshops https://www.msecchi.com/islands-around-venice.

Whether you’re interested in photography, painting, or lace-making, my workshops offer a unique opportunity to learn and create in this beautiful setting.

20 Great Things to do in Venice 9/20 – Tour the Lagoon

If you're spending more than a few days in Venice, take time to visit the islands of the Venetian Lagoon. Explore the famous islands of  - Murano, Burano and Torcello - on a half-day or full day excursion. You'll see  glass-blowing display on Murano, shop for lace on Burano, be lost in the wonderful colours of Burano and visit Venice's first church on the tranquil island of Torcello. This tour is a great introduction to the magical islands of the Venetian lagoon

You'll reach the islands on water buses operated by ACTV, the Venice public-transportation company best place will be from Fte Nove. Allow a full day for the entire excursion, or half a day if you skip one of them.

ACTV's lagoon water buses can be crowded during peak season, on weekends, or if local groups of senior citizens or schoolchildren are travelling between the islands. If crowds bother you, or if you're unwilling to stand on a moving boat when seats aren't available, consider one of these alternatives:

• Take an escorted tour of Murano, Burano, and Torcello. This half-day tour is more expensive than a tour by public transportation, but it's worth considering if your schedule is tighter than your budget. The trip is offered by Viator, our sightseeing-tour partner.
• Hire a water taxi by the half-day or day, which could easily cost several hundred euros. If you want the services of a private guide, try a customized lagoon itinerary from WalksInsideVenice or the Venice Tourist Guides Association and let the guide arrange transportation.

Tips:

• Organized tours don't give you much time on the islands, so we'd recommend traveling independently unless you're in a hurry or have limited mobility.
• Instead of buying individual tickets for the boat trips between the islands, buy a 12-hour to 7-day  tourist card at any Hellovenezia or ACTV ticket booth. (See our Vaporetto Fares article.) Or order the tourist office's Venice Connected pass before you leave home, if you can figure out the byzantine pricing scheme.
•  If you have access to the Internet during your trip, you can check boat schedules at the official ACTV Web site.

Colours Coordination in Burano

Burano is a pretty island in the northern part of the lagoon of Venice, Italy  with a current population of about 2,800 inhabitants. It consists of four individual islands, which are separated by narrow, 10 meters wide, canals, rio Pontinello in the west, rio Zuecca in the south and rio Terranova in the east. Burano is famous for lace-making and for its brightly-colored fishermen’s houses; the island is a photographer’s paradise.

Glass blowers of Murano hit by crisis

Glass artisans have been hit by a new crisis and Murano main economy is on the point of collapse The numbers of sales have been plummeting and many furnaces are closing down. Venice has become almost completely dependent on tourism but the glass blowers are quite as central to Venice’s identity as the gondoliers. I am afraid, space for more hotels and tourists accommodations.

A way of life

Acqua Alta or the high tide in Venice is a way of life and people live with it....but few things  still surprise me!

Here a grocer from St Erasmo sells his vegetables in Murano during the high tide.

Photo Galleries  1 and 2

Related articles

• The peaceful pleasures of Venice in winter (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Mamma Mia! Venice Is Under Water! (perezhilton.com)

The Glass Alchemist

Elena a glass artist in Murano blows glass next to a glass furnace on December 18, 2010 in Venice, Italy. There are only few female glass artists is Italy and they face continuous challenges in a traditionally male dominated field.

There are not many people (and things!) that I admire and that I could watch for hours while they work, without losing concentration after few seconds. I have seen them all...and often better.  Elena is an exception, seeing her at work with glass is unreal....

Elena Rosso Website