What to do in Burano

Last Updated on 10/23/23 by Rose Palmer

I love the little island of Burano, Italy in the Venetian Lagoon. Visiting Burano for a day or half day is a common side trip from Venice, but spending the night was even better. Once the day trippers were gone, I had the island practically to myself – well, along with all the locals of course.

In this guide I share my favorite photos along with many tips on what to do in Burano from all my trips to inspire a day visit or an extended stay on this easy excursion from Venice.

Everyone should visit Venice at least once in their lives. But while Venice maintains a facade of controlled decay, nearby Burano island is fresh, bright and as colorful as a brand new box of 96 crayons.

As in Venice, the narrow canals in Burano are used primarily for transportation, but they also add to the aesthetic, creating a mirror like reflection of the colorful houses on either side.

The ambiance of the island is the big draw here. The island is perfect for strolling, browsing shops, and having a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants.

There are no major palazzos or churches or a big list of things to do, just locals living in rainbow hued homes who hang out their laundry to dry in the sun and use small motor boats to get around.

Here it is all about the details: the window boxes overflowing with colorful annuals; window shutters painted in shades that complement the building color; striped door curtains that provide privacy while allowing in the lagoon breezes.

What to do in Burano? Don't miss seeing the details — On Burano, don’t miss seeing the details

The island is known for its traditional hand made lace, and many shops sell a variety of selections, though you’ll want to make sure you are buying locally made Burano lace, and not a cheap import. You can learn all about this island craft at the Burano Lace Museum.

Shops also sell Murano glass items along with other locally made trinkets. Besides shopping, eating and drinking locally are the other major things to do here. Canalside restaurants and cafes set up outdoor seating where you can enjoy traditional pasta, seafood and gelato while looking out over the cheerful scenery.

For those interested in art and art history, the Church of San Martino with its leaning tower used to hold a painting by Giambattista Tiepolo, one of Venice’s very prolific artistic sons. Now, it is in the Oratorio di Santa Barbara, just next door to the church.

Is Burano worth visiting? You bet!

I’ve been fortunate to visit Burano three times, and each time was better than the last. My first visit was the typical day trip from Venice, which is when I fell in love with Burano and decided that the next opportunity I had, I would stay longer.

On my second trip to Venice, I spent the night in Burano in one of the small, brightly painted houses which provided the quiet, idyllic experience I was looking for. Once the day trippers left, the island was blissfully peaceful and strolling the colorful lanes during blue hour was magical. I also got up early and saw the impact of the changing light as the sun rose.

My most recent experience in Burano was the best. My luxury Italian cruise with European Waterways on the La Bella Vita barge docked at Burano for the night. This was certainly the easiest and most pleasant way to experience the magic of Burano without any crowds. Instead of getting here in a full vaporetto, I arrived in comfort and luxury with my 11 fellow passengers.

The La Bella Vita docked in burano at sunrise

Once again, I was up to see the sun rise over the lagoon and strolled the empty lanes with only a swan for a companion. I watched the island slowly wake up as a few locals started up their boats to go off to their daily tasks while a fisherman tried his luck at one of the bridges.

Over the years I have taken hundreds of photos in Burano, so narrowing it down to just twenty five was a challenge. This is such a photogenic location that all you really have to do is point and shoot, especially when the lighting is perfect.

My favorite 25 photo inspirations for visiting Burano

My favorite early morning view in Burano, Italy

view from the Tre Ponti in Burano, Italy — One of the views from the Tre Ponti bridge in Burano, Italy

swan in one of the canals in Burano, Italy — Swan in one of the canals in Burano, Italy

after the day trippers leave it's very quiet in Burano, Italy — After the day trippers leave it’s very quiet in Burano, Italy

canal reflections in Burano, Italy — Canal reflections in Burano, Italy

coordinating shutters and planters in Burano, Italy — Coordinating shutters and planters in Burano, Italy

In Burano the laundry also coordinates with the house color

Colorful house shaped trinkets for sale in Burano

One of the many colorful lanes in Burano, Italy

In Burano, table umbrellas and house colors coordinate

The view coming out one of the side lanes

Bushes and plants add even more color in Burano in summer

Loved the color combination of the pink flowering bush and the blue house in Burano Italy — Loved the color combination of the pink flowering bush and the blue house

More morning canal reflections in Burano — I can’t get enough of the canal reflections

Before the tourists arrive, a sweeper cleans the plaza — Before the tourists arrive, a sweeper cleans the street and the plaza

Afternoon light in one of the plazas in Burano, Italy — Afternoon light in one of the plazas

And more canal reflections in Burano, Italy — And more canal reflections

The houses along the back lanes are just as colorful in Burano, Italy — The houses along the back lanes are just as colorful

A reflection that looks like a Dali painting in Burano — A reflection that looks like a Dali painting

Every window had coordinating flower pots and plants in Burano — Every window had coordinating flower pots and plants

First views when visiting Burano — First views from the ferry when visiting Burano

Travel Tips for visiting Burano and what to do in Burano once you get there

I think the best time of year to visit Burano is in the spring and fall when it’s not as crowded or as hot. If you must visit in the summer, expect a lot of people. Spend the night on the island to see it in the morning and evening without the crowds and also when it’s somewhat cooler.
Burano is a small island in the Venetian lagoon and is easy to visit and explore on your own. You won’t need a local guide to take you there or a walking tour to see it all.
The really colorful Bepi’s House is easy to find on your own in Burano
To get to Burano, take vaporetto line 12 from the Fundamente Nove stop in Venice. Vaporetto line 12 will go to Murano first so if you are doing a day trip, you can combine the two islands. After Murano, line 12 stops at Mazzorbo. You can get off here and then cross the bridge that connects it to Burano. This will save you some time as line 12 goes to Torcello next before stopping at Burano.
Or, you can take one of the other vaporetto lines from the San Marco area or the Piazzale Roma stop that also go to Murano and then switch over to the number 12. The island of Burano is about 5.5 miles from Venice, and it takes about 40-60 minutes to get there from Venice.
Make sure you know the vaporetto schedule so you don’t miss the last one heading back to Venice. It will be a lot more expensive if you have to take a private water taxi back across the Venice lagoon.
Spend a night on Burano to experience it without the daily influx of crowds. The accommodation options are somewhat limited so book early. Use a standard booking site like Booking.com, Expedia.com or Airbnb.com. I stayed in a blue house off the main canal that I booked through Airbnb and it truly let me feel like a local.
If you can’t spend the night, get to Burano as early as possible. Consider spending the early morning on Burano, then taking the number 9 water bus to the island of Torcello to see the Torcello Cathedral and its mosaics. Then head back to Burano in the afternoon after most of the crowds are gone, before going back to Venice. Stay as late as you can to experience the island without a lot of tourists (but don’t miss the last vaporetto back to Venice).
The main walking street in Burano is Via Baldassarre Galuppi which leads to the main square, Plaza Baldassarre Galuppi. On this street and in the plaza you’ll find lots of shopping and eateries.
Lace ornaments for sale in Burano
Plaza Baldassarri is where you will find the 16th century San Martino Church with its leaning tower.
Plaza Baldassarri is also where you will find the Lace Museum, or Museo del Merletto, located in the old lace school where you can see many beautiful, old pieces of lace made on the island.
You can learn to make traditional Burano lace at the Martina Vidal store. The store also has beautiful linens for sale.
Most visitors seem to stay on this main pathway and plaza, and the nearby canal. Wander into the side alleys and explore the other canals, and you will be able to also escape a lot of the tourist crush.
For a truly uniquely decorated home, find Bepi’s House. It’s at the intersection of Celle del Pistor and Corte del Pistor.
The most popular spot for photos on the island is the Tre Ponti Bridge which crosses two intersecting canals. The feature image for this post was taken here. This spot gets very busy so get here early for photos. Another popular spot for photos is the Love Viewing Bridge.
The Love Bridge in Burano
If you have time, explore the nearby island of Mazzorbo, which is connected to Burano by a bridge.
Also look into accommodation options on the island of Mazzorbo. I’ve also stayed at the Venissa Wine Resort, which was lovely, as was lunch at their Michelin starred restaurant.
Most of the restaurants on Burano seem to have operating hours that cater to the day trippers and close early. There are not as many options open for dinner so plan accordingly. Make a reservation ahead of time if you want to eat at a specific location.
I had a wonderful meal at Trattoria Al Gatto Nero, a family run restaurant since 1965. Note that the restaurant has limited opening hours, mostly during lunch.
The traditional dish on the island is Risotto de Gò which is made with goby fish found in the nearby lagoons.
Another island treat is Bussola, also called Buranelli, a typical round cookie.
I had some of the best gelato on Burano at Gelateria Crema and Gelateria Artigianale Da Geremia.
It doesn’t take long for the island to get crowded with day trippers. For photos without people, I stayed on the island overnight and got up just before sunrise. That early in the morning, even the locals weren’t out and about yet.
Here in particular, the early morning and late afternoon light was much better for photographing the saturated colors of the houses and boats. This was one of the wonderful advantages of visiting Burano with European Waterways on the La Bella Vita cruise.
Sharp reflection photos in the canal are best taken in the early morning
To get the sharpest reflection photos, it is best to photograph in the early morning or the late afternoon when the winds die down and also when the traffic on the canals is infrequent.
If you want to watch the sunset over the Venice lagoon from Burano, the old fish market is a good spot. The cafe next door offers drinks and snacks.

Some places just make a connection. For me, Burano is such a place, which is why the header photo of my travel blog is from Burano. I would happily go back again and again and wander its lanes and canals because all the bright colors just make me happy!