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Are you planning a trip to Venice? If so, you have to check out the colorful island of Burano for the best day trip from Venice!
The beautiful island of Burano has started gaining traction from tourists visiting Venice. However, it is still unknown to most making it a quiet getaway from the busy Venetian streets. Lined with colorful houses and small canals, Burano certainly reminds you of its big sister. Although this, you can enjoy the peaceful mornings here away from the crowds, relishing the atmosphere with its local villagers.
While you can visit this island year round, I suggest coming in the warmer months from April to October. This is because tourism in Burano corresponds to that in Venice, so they do not expect many visitors in winter. If you’d like to come in the quieter winter months, keep in mind that some businesses may be closed due to low tourism.
To get the most out of your time in Venice, I have outlined below everything you need to know about Burano, and why it is the best day trip from Venice.
this post is all about Burano, the best day trip from Venice
Everything You Should Know About The Best Day Trip From Venice
What is Burano
Burano is part of the municipality of Venice and has a population of about 2,500 – 3,000 people. It is famous for a few things including its colorful houses and the production of lace dating back to the 16th century.
The bright houses visible even before arriving on the island, have a very practical history. In the winter times a thick layer of fog blankets the lagoon making visibility on the island tough. Therefore, it is said that fishermen painted their houses different colors to help navigate back home on foggy days. In addition, legend has it that the sails on their boats had the same color as their house so that their wives could identify their return.
As for the history of lace production, many legends are circling. I will tell you the two main ones I have heard, and you can decide which one you would like to believe. It is said that a fisherman was on his way back to his girlfriend living in Burano when he encountered the calls of sirens. He managed to bravely ignore their calls as he reminded himself of his loved one at home. As a prize for doing so, he was given a crown made of foam water to give his girlfriend. Back home, many girls were envious of the crown and therefore tried to recreate it using lace.
The other version of this tale is very similar but states that the fisherman was a groom on his way to his bride. Therefore, when he ignored the calls of the sirens he was given a wedding veil. The friends of the bride then tried to recreate the beautiful veil using lace. I think if any of these legends are true, then the second sounds more probable.
How To Get To Burano For A Day Trip From Venice
Most people visiting Venice come for around 2 nights, as it is not a cheap travel destination. I also stayed for 2 nights, and you can definitely make enough time to visit Burano as a day trip from Venice. I recommend spending your first day exploring Venice, and coming to Burano on the second day, to get away from the crowds.
Getting to Burano is rather easy as there is a direct water bus from Venice. It takes around 45 minutes with line 12 to Treporti departing from Fontamente Nove A station. I highly recommend buying a day ticket, it costs around 21 euros, whereas a one-way ticket anywhere costs 7.5 euros. This means that just getting to Burano and back will be 15 euros and for 6 more, you can take as many water buses (Vaporetto) as you’d like for 24 hours.
The water bus to Burano runs from as early as 6:40 am until the evening at around 20:00 pm. The ferries run as often as every half hour and even every 20 minutes during peak hours (early afternoon). I recommend checking google maps for the exact times of departure the day before you want to visit Burano. To get back to Venice, simply make sure you take the same ferry number 12 to Fondamente Nove A from the Burano C station. Usually, the ferries going back run until 21 or 22 pm, however, make sure to check this beforehand so you don’t get stranded for the night.
Although Burano is not as well known as other places in the area, it is starting to become quite popular. Therefore, you should aim to take the ferry at 10 am at the latest (even earlier if possible) to enjoy the quiet before lunchtime.
Things To Do In Burano
1. Visit the Lace Museum
After explaining how important lace is to this island’s history, you should check out the lace museum for yourself. Maybe you will even hear a different legend from the one I have heard. Here you can explore more of the kinds of lace they made, its history, as well as a precious collection. Here is a link with more information regarding the museum as well as prices.
2. Visit Bepi’s House
Bepi (whose real name is Giuseppe Toselli) is known for having colored geometrical shapes on his house. He was a movie enthusiast and oftentimes organized an outdoor cinema for the children of Burano on warm summer nights. Nowadays, his house is famous because it is the only one not colored in a single color, but full of colorful geometrical shapes.
3. Visit the Church of San Martino
The church of San Martino is the only church in Burano. In addition, it is also very interesting due to the fact that it isn’t straight. The church bell tower is actually leaning almost 2 meters off the vertical position. This is because of the pliable ground being that Burano is an island. Don’t try to make the church look straight in your photos, it’s what makes this church so unique.
4. Get Lost in the Pretty Streets
Burano is not actually big enough that you can get lost. You will always come back to the central area or to the edge of the island. What I mean is simply to wander as you wish, walking around the small streets and maybe even meeting some locals. While not all streets might have canals running in the middle, they are all colorful and charming. Make sure to walk around and get away from the people so you can take in the beauty of this island. Who knows, you might even discover a new gem no one knows about.
5. Eat the Best Pizza in Italy
While this is clearly subjective, my boyfriend and I spent over a month traveling Italy and this is still the best pizza we have had to date! If you want to check it out for yourself, have lunch at Ristorante Pizzeria Principe (with the green and red umbrellas) and eat one of their pizzas. Not only is the food amazing, but the atmosphere is great when sitting by the canal.
Is Burano The Only Good Day trip From Venice?
I think that Burano is the best day trip from Venice, however, if you have enough time I recommend stopping in Murano as well. Typically Murano is better known for a few reasons. First of all, it is the closest island to Venice making it very accessible. Second of all, it is famously known for its glass production. Walking around in Venice, you will see many shops selling colored glass items from vases to small statues. They will all claim that it is real Murano glass (probably not) BUT you can easily get to Murano yourself and visit where they actually make glass to this day.
If you have time I think it will be worth visiting Murano for this experience, as well as for getting out of crowded Venice. However, if you only have time for one island, make sure it is Burano! This is because Murano actually looks very similar to Venice, so you may as well see something a bit different.
How to visit Murano
Getting to Murano is very easy as the Vaporetto to Burano actually stops there too! There are also many tour guides offering guided tours to Burano, Murano, and a smaller island called Torcello. This is a great option for those who want to make the most of their day trips. Not only can you simply join without worrying about anything, but the guides will offer insight into the history of these places.
You could also consider joining a guided tour that will take you to both Burano and Murano! This way you can enjoy both islands without having to worry about the logistics. Below are some of the best rated tour to Burano and Murano from Venice.
All in all, Burano is a beautiful little island brimming with history and intriguing legends. Due to its small size, you don’t need more than 3-4 hours at most to explore this charming village. Make sure to arrive before the crowds to ensure a pleasant stroll and a calm atmosphere. This place was one of the highlights of our Venice trip and I am sure it will be the same for you! If you are looking for a day trip or are simply wanting to explore a quieter area in the region, make sure to add Burano to your itinerary. Burano is in my opinion the best day trip from Venice.
