Burano Island in Venice: The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Day Trip from Venice

Could it be one of the most colorful places in the world? It’s certainly one of the best places to find colorful houses in Italy. Burano is postcard perfect and you can easily travel from the main island of Venice to Burano during your Italian adventures.

Of all the Venice islands, Burano is the perfect place to wander and take in the views. The canal is the best place for a stroll. Take in the rainbow of colors before you, both in the homes themselves and their reflections in the water. I can’t imagine not feeling happy here!

History of the Colorful Homes on Burano Island in Venice

When you’re traveling from Venice to Burano, and even from Murano to Burano, you’ll notice a stark difference in the buildings. Everything is so bright and colorful in Burano, more than any other islands around Venice. So, why are the homes so bright and beautiful?

The traditional industry in Burano was fishing, and boats were constantly sailing in and out of its harbors. Legend has it that the houses in Burano were painted such bright colors so the fishermen could see the island more vividly. As fog tends to build up around Burano, this meant that they could avoid crashing their boats into it.

The tradition of colorful houses continues through the present day, and it’s highly regulated by the Italian government. There’s a consistent color coding system. Many families have had the same colored houses for centuries. If a home owner or business wants to repaint their house a different color, they must send a formal request to the authorities. Then, the government will let them know which colors are permitted in which areas. It’s quite a lengthy process, but it definitely ensures that no two nearby houses will be painted the same pigment.

How to Get to Burano From Venice

To reach Burano island in Venice, you’ll need to take a vaporetto to the Fondamente Nove stop. Transfer to line 12. You’ll find the boarding area just beyond the Donà Bridge. From there, it’s about a 40 minutes ride. If you’re seeking how to get to Burano from Venice, this is the best option. We highly recommend that you spend part of your day in Murano, too. It’s right along the way and it’s another beautiful island in Venice.

Directions from Murano to Burano

Essentially, you’ll follow the same directions above to get from Murano to Burano. The line 12 vaporetto travels from Venice making stops at Murano, Mazzorbo, Torcello, Burano and Treporti. If you hop back on the line 12 vaporetto in Murano, you’ll head straight to Burano. When you want to head back to Venice, just get back on the line 12 vaporetto and continue your journey back to the main island.

Burano Island Tour

Looking for a Murano and Burano tour? Most tours combine the two Venice islands or add a third stop in Torcello. We didn’t visit Torcello on our trip as we went to Murano and Burano on our own without a tour. So, I can’t provide you any personal advice on Torcello. If you don’t want to worry about transportation and would like to have a more guided experience, I recommend that you check out either this Burano Island Tour (half day to Murano and Burano) or this Murano, Torcello, and Burano Island Tour (half day to all three islands).

Things to Do in Burano

Want to visit Burano? Looking for what to do in Burano? Well, this isn’t the kind of place with a million attractions or excursions. It’s all about soaking up the atmosphere. Wander along the canals and snap tons of pictures along the way. It’s really a paradise for photographers. Once you’re finished walking by the canal, walk down all of the little side streets, too. The houses are equally as colorful and you’ll escape the crowds a bit, too.

Speaking of crowds, I’d imagine that Burano gets quite busy during the summer months. We visited Venice in May (early May) and didn’t find that there were hardly any crowds at all. To combat over-tourism and reduce the stress on the city, I recommend that you travel during the off season or shoulder seasons whenever possible. It’s also a great way to have a more peaceful trip with less people around, too.

If you’re seeking more things to do in Burano, the island is also known for its lace. Pay a visit to the small businesses on the island and buy some handmade lace products. If things made from lace aren’t your jam, we also found handcrafted ceramics by local artisans. I bought a little purple ceramic house, which incidentally began my collection of little artsy houses from around the world. There are also paintings and prints from Burano for sale in some of the shops. We bought a small canvas print that has some added color, painted by hand.

And naturally, on an island with the population of 2200, there are bound to be some cats roaming around, right? We met a friendly neighborhood cat on our day trip to Burano. No guarantees on cat sightings, but you might be lucky like us!

Venice Travel Tips and Plans

As you can see, a Burano day trip is always a good idea. If you’re looking for more ideas about how to spend your days in Venice, check out our 3 day Venice itinerary. We’ve got all kinds of suggestions for the best attractions and activities throughout your stay.

Looking for where to stay? We didn’t spend the night in Burano; however, we did spend three wonderful evenings at an apartment in Dorsoduro on the main island of Venice. Dorsoduro is a quiet neighborhood that’s within walking distance of many attractions. Book your stay at Warm Hospitality Apartments or check out more reviews of this accommodation by fellow travelers.

We highly recommend that you check out Burano island in Venice. In fact, you should definitely make a half day trip out to see both Murano and Burano. It’s one of the most memorable parts from our trip to Venice. Burano Italy is one of the most colorful and charming places in the world that you need to see with your own eyes.

More Venice Travel Articles

Looking to plan your trip to Venice, Italy? Check out all of our blog posts about Venice aside from the best Venice vegan food.

• 3 Days in Venice Itinerary
• Guide to Visiting St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice
• Guide to Visiting Doge’s Palace in Venice
• Vegan Guide to Venice
• Getting Around Venice: A Transportation Guide
• Libreria Acqua Alta: The Best Bookstore in Venice
• Day Trip to Murano, the Venetian Island of Glass
• How to Take a Romantic Gondola Ride in Venice
• Things to do in Pellestrina, Venice

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