A Quick Guide to the Most Colorful Town in Europe: Burano, Italy
If you’ve ever been on the internet, chances are you’ve seen a photo or two of the island of Burano. For a color and photo-lover like me it is a dream destination and I’m not saying I went to Venice just to go to Burano, but... I went to Venice just to go to Burano. ;)
Burano is an Italian island in the Venetian Lagoon, just northeast of Venice island. It is known for it's lace and for having some of the most photogenic canals I have ever laid eyes on. If you have plans to be in Venice, Burano is the perfect day trip and not to be missed.
HOW TO GET TO BURANO FROM VENICE
Since there are no roads in Venice, their public transit is by vaporetto (public water-bus) which I found to be surprisingly efficient. This is what you will also take to get to Burano. Which line you’ll want to take will depend on where you are staying, there are many different ones. I found Google Maps’ transit information to be extremely accurate there so you can even hop on wifi at your hotel, search for Burano, and get your directions from there (that’s what I did). It can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes and is a very enjoyable ride.
One thing you should absolutely do before arriving in Venice is download the AVM Venezia Official App (iPhone + Android) which is the app for their public transit system. You can buy your water-bus tickets directly from it which will save you a LOT of time and confusion trying to figure out where else you can purchase them. If you are caught on the boat without a ticket you will get a large fine, so don’t chance it. Also be sure to validate your tickets before getting on the boat. More info can be found on their site if needed.
Each individual ticket is good for 75 minutes in one direction and currently costs €7.50. If you’re going to be in the area for a few days it might make sense to purchase day tickets instead depending on what you plan to do while there.
If public transit is not your thing, you can instead hire a private taxi or boat service to take you directly to Burano, or do it via an organized tour. Click here to see the latest prices.
WHAT TO DO IN BURANO
Explore and take photos, of course! Burano is quite small, which is why I only recommend visiting for the day. I did not do much if any research into what to do in Burano before going because my goal was simply to roam around and photograph as much as possible. There are so many different colors to capture and every street seems to be more beautiful than the next.
WHERE TO EAT IN BURANO
Al Gatto Nero Da Ruggero is a very popular spot with excellent seafood and rated #1 on Burano for good reason! Prices range from €12 to €35 so it can be on the pricier side. You can view their menu here
Riva Rosa Ristorante is another popular option, located in a beautiful pink building. In addition to normal service, they offer what they call the “Altana Experience” which is "on a private terrace, one table only, over the clouds on the roof of Burano” and by reservation only. More info and booking info on their site
Ristorante Pizzeria Principe is a decent third option if you are in more of a rush or looking for something last minute without reservation
Once you are done, head back to Venice the same way you got there! For more info on what to do in Venice, visit my post on how to spend 3 days in Venice.
Other unique and highly rated Venice experiences:
To learn to row as a Venetian (this has TONS of unanimously positive reviews), click here!
For a tapas and wine tour through secret parts of Venice, click here
For a market tour and hands-on cooking class, click here
For a tour of Burano from a local (born and raised!), click here
For a Murano glass workshop, click here
For a half day tour of the best islands in the area, click here
To experience Venice like a local, via a tour of Cannaregio (my favorite area!), click here
To create your own famous Venice carnival mask, click here
To make your own pizza, click here
To explore Venice by kayak (soo cool!), click here
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