BURANO, ITALY: TRAVEL GUIDE TO VENICE’S COLORFUL NEIGHBOR
One of the most colorful destinations in Italy is a mere Vaparetto ride away from Venice. Burano is a cluster of five tiny islands in the Venetian Lagoon, and one of the best day trip options from Venezia. Bright houses line the canals, corridors and banks of Burano – blockish structures of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple, usually with equally colorful window shutters and entry curtains. The island is incredibly picturesque with a color palette that’s a stark contrast to the more muted tones of Venice. Below is my complete travel guide to Burano including the best places to visit, bridge viewpoints, photo locations, hotels, restaurants, Google Maps pins and travel tips.
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Colorful views from the Ponte Degli Assassini.
BURANO TRAVEL TIPS
- CURRENCY – The official currency of Italy is the Euro. While most places take credit card, it’s useful to have cash handy for smaller purchases.
- TIPPING – There is no tipping culture in Italy – no tips expected, unlike the U.S.
- EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM – Catch the early ferry over to Burano to avoid the overwhelming crowds of tourists that arrive by mid-morning.
There are homes for every color of the rainbow on Burano.
WHEN TO VISIT BURANO
- MAY, JUNE & SEPTEMBER – Weather in and around Venice can be unpredictable, but June and September are generally pleasant. Climate is usually warm. And while there are definitely crowds this time of the year, it won’t be as busy as the peak summer months.
- JULY & AUGUST – The crowds in Italy during July and August can be overwhelming, and heat waves are typical this time of the year.
- APRIL & OCTOBER – The weather can be hit or miss, but crowds are more manageable this time of the year.
- NOVEMBER TO MARCH – Avoid visiting in winter when the weather is cold and rainy.
Only bright colors exist on Burano.
HOW MANY DAYS ON BURANO
Burano measures less than one square mile, so it’s easy to see everything in a half-day visit. For a more intimate experience with the island, an overnight stay offers the chance to see Burano first thing in the morning, as well as in the evening when most tourists have retreated back to Venice.
Burano is actually made up of five individual islands connected by bridges that bisect the canals.
PLACES TO VISIT ON BURANO
CALLE DAFFAN
A bold statement, but Calle Daffan might be the most colorful alleyway on Burano. The tiny corridor sits tucked away off the busy Via Baldassarre Galuppi. It’s completely bursting with color – red archways, orange facades, yellow walls, green shutters, blue drain pipes and purple signs. Literally every color of the rainbow shines in this darling passageway.
FONDAMENTA DI CAVANELLA
Fondamenta di Cavanella runs parallel to Fondamenta di Cao Moleca, along a narrow canal from the Tre Ponti Bridge. The houses and shops along this busy stretch of canal are very scenic, and a must-visit.
FONDAMENTA PONTINELLO SINISTRA
This is one of my favorite photo locations on Burano. At the far end of the Fondamenta Pontinello Sinistra, just beyond the Ponte Pontinello, is a set of colorful blockish houses – orange, yellow, blue, magenta and pink. The cutest is the pink house with rosy shutters, a purple door and pink potted flowers.
PIAZZA BALDASSARRE GALUPPI
Piazza Baldassarre Galuppi is the main vibrant square of Burano. The small piazza is a popular gathering place on the island, surrounded by a cafe, gelateria, museum, little shops and colorful houses.
PONTE DEGLI ASSASSINI
Bridges are popular photo spots on Burano, and Ponte Degli Assassini is a tourist favorite. The little bridge overlooks a colorful canal in the heart of Burano.
SAN MARTINO CAMPANILE
The 18th century bell tower is part of the Chiesa di San Martino, the only church on the island. It’s an iconic landmark for Burano, mostly because the tower is leaning (similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa).
TRE PONTE
Tre Ponte is probably the famous bridge for photos on Burano. It overlooks a narrow canal perfectly lined with colorful shops and houses. It’s best to visit this location first when you arrive on the island. Get it out of the way before it gets busy.
It’s best to arrive on Burano first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds of tourists.
BEST BURANO LODGING
Casa Burano is one of the only decent lodging options on the island. The little property spans five traditional Burano homes, recently renovated that overlook the canal. There are rooms and suites to choose from, and the spaces are bright, clean, modern and new.
Something for everyone’s color palette on Burano.
WHERE TO EAT ON BURANO
GELATERIA CREMA
This is one of the only gelato options on Burano, but it’s pretty good. The little gelato shop offers more than a dozen flavots including chocolate, coffee, yogurt, strawberry, lemon, cherry, Strracciatella, pistachio, Nutella and more.
RISTORANTE AL MUSEO
Solid little spot on the main square for fresh seafood and homemade pasta dishes.
TRATTORIA AL GATTO NERO
Trattoria Al Gatto Nero is a Michelin guide restaurant. The specialty is seafood, and the menu changes seasonally. Offerings usually include risotto, spaghetti with clams, tagliolini with crab and pappardelle scampi, as well as a variety of fresh grilled fish including sole, turbot, sea bass, sole scampi, eel, monkfish and sea bream. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended.
Who knew a purple house could be so charming?
GET AROUND BURANO
Burano is a pedestrian island. The distances are short, and everything is accessible on foot. There are no cars on the island, and it’s such a small destination that traveling around by boat isn’t necessary.
Calle Daffan is the most colorful alleyway on Burano.
GET TO BURANO
The easiest and more affordable way to get to Burano from Venice is by Vaparetto. It’s a 40-minute journey, and boats run every 30 minutes morning to night. Board the #12 Vaparetto at the Fondamenta Nova Ferry Terminal in Venice. It makes stops in Murano, Mazzorbo, Torcello, Burano, Treporti and Punta Sabbioni.
Fresh fruit at the island market.
