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Burano Island has been on my list of to-visit for a while. I, like probably everyone else was attracted to the colourful contrasting houses on the island. I got my chance when my friend Ai Lin came by for a visit. Our plan was to visit Venice and Burano on our day trip. A tall order I know but we managed it.
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Table of Contents
Getting There..
We got our ACTV day ticket on Venice Island upon arrival and could use it to hop on and off the vaporetti water-buses for the whole day. The ticket is valid for 24 hours upon validation.
The most straight forward way is to take the number 12 line departing from Fondamente Nove “A” on Venice Island to Burano. Frequency is every 30 minutes and the journey takes 45 minutes to Burano. Link Here for timetables and schedule.
If you plan an overnight stay, there is one hotel on the island , the Casa Burano Hotel. There are other stay options like AirBnB as well as holiday homes for rent too.
Experiencing Burano
Burano has an air of simplicity about it – made unique by the colourful houses by the canals joined by bridges. If you have been around Italy – you will say that there is nothing new about this concept. In fact lots of Italian places have colourful houses probably for the same reason. Fishermen painted their houses a distinct different colour to that of their neighbour in order to recognize their homes in the fog as they return. The Burano homes are striking and make photo perfect opportunities.
The first scenes that greets visitors at the main busy area of the first canal you arrive at is a lovely spot for photos.
Burano has its own leaning tower in the form of the San Martino church with its inclined bell tower.
Traditional Lace Making in Burano
Famous here is the Burano lace making, a centuries old tradition that put the island on the European map for its highly demanded lace. Presently there are only a handful of traditional lacemakers left. The highly work intensive lace sells for a high price somewhere in the range of 50 Euros for just a small piece.
Shops here sell Made in China Lace as well. So watch out for the labels if you are looking to buy the authentic product. The genuine lace shops are Martina Vidal and Emilia Burano.
Interested in knowing more about the craft itself ? Head on to the Museo del Merletto – the resident Lace museum. Check opening times and ticket prices here.
Eating in Burano
Visiting a colourful fisherman village cannot be complete without trying its food. Its a place renowed for fresh seafood from the Lagoon. There are plenty of restaurants around here. One of the more famous is Al Gatto Nero endorsed by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. With great fame , comes great prices. I had initially wanted to make lunch reservations here but the website gave no indication of prices and the reviews mentioned expensive. So, if you have tried it , let me know in the comments – I would be interested if it is worth it.
We lunched instead in Su e Zo , not so great ratings in Trip Advisor (3.9 stars) but I learned not to completely rely on that. I was very satisfied with my Spaghetti al nero di seppia (Pasta with Squid Ink). As it had the right amount of fresh calamari , good in texture not rubbery at all with a healthy dose of seafood base. The price was a reasonable 16 Euros.
Where are the Restrooms ?
In a Tourist Area it is sometimes not easy to find a restroom. Of course there are restrooms in the restaurants but they are mainly for guests. There is a public restroom at the central main square piazza Galuppi in Burano – open from 9am – 19pm. You need coins to go through the turnstile. The other option is the WC on the water bus transport itself.
Summary
We were on a time schedule and if I had another opportunity, I would like to re-visit with a more leisurely pace. I liked the vibe of Burano. Although there were still plenty of other tourists around , it still had quiet spots. I actually felt a little bit of an intruder disturbing the peace and simple life of the island.
What do you think ? Would you like to visit Burano ? If so would it be a day trip like we did or an overnight stay to feel more the authenticity of the island ?
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If I visit Burano, I think I would do an overnight stay based on what you said! I’d try to be less intruder like and try to blend in a little more. I’d also shoot for the quieter areas as well just because we tend to try and stay away from crowds too!
I had no idea that’s why the houses are painted different colors! I have seen photos of Burano and been to other places where the houses are painted differently with bright colors, but I thought it as just for the sake of being colorful. It is nice to know the story behind it. I would have loved to purchase some of the traditional lace as a souvenir!
I love that the fishermen wanted to recognize their homes from afar. Burano looks like a charming place. I would love to go. And the squid ink pasta sounds divine.
I enjoyed reading your blog on Burano and could relate to it since I have been to Venice, and it is rather funny that I tried the same squid ink pasta however I did not like it, may be did not appeal to my taste. Seems like a hot favourite in Italian restaurants. I would like to visit Burano on my next visit to Italy, the reason behind the colorful buildings is a revelation!
Burano Island looks amazing! So many IG worthy spots. Nice tip about the ticket being valid for 24 hours. Loved the explanation why the houses are so colorful and it totally makes sense. I love a good calamari, I’ll have to remember to eat at Su e Zo.
I love that the sentimental fishermen wanted to see their houses from afar! Looks like Burano is well worth a weekend visit. And the squid ink pasta sounds delicious!
We visited Burano Island many years ago, when we’ve been in Venice, so your post brought back so many sweet memories. I still remember those cute boutiques with embroideries and laces. As for the restrooms issue, finding one it’s an issue all over Europe, not only on this island. And it’s not that you have to pay, but you have to have the exact change.
I really like that you focused on the fact that it’s laid back. That’s just the type of place I need to go! The canals are gorgeous, and the fact that they are lined with colorful homes just makes it even better. I hope to get to Italy once the borders open up someday!
I loved that the vaporettos took you out to the islands off of Venice. Those colourful houses would certainly be a big draw. We would have gone looking for glass works. So great to know that Burano is known for its lace making. Good to know that even with tourists there were quiet places to find when you wandered on the island.
For photography lovers, Burano is truly a visual wonderland! It’s one of those places that I ever get tired of visiting, although it gets totally packed, that’s why I usually take the first vaporetto in the morning to have the place all to myself for a moment 🙂 By the way, good choice with the spaghetti al nero di seppia, they are sooo good!
I love Burano! Such a beautiful little island that makes a perfect day trip with Murano. And since so many people miss it, it’s typically not very crowded!
That’s true , I do like it more than Murano and a chance to get away from the big crowd of Venice