Burano is Touristy But You Should Go Anyway

Known as the colored island of lace, Burano was made for instagrammers.

My luck was holding strong when I randomly saw that Canadian housesitter experts Hecktic Travels were also heading to Venice as well and invited me to stay with them in their apartment.

As I left Jaime he had one piece of advice, above all I must see Burano.

Near Venice, Burano is a series of four small islands connected by bridges, much like Venice.  

It draws tourists because it is painted as brightly as El Caminito in Buenos Aires; while it is also originally a fishing village it doesn’t have the reputation for crime like Boca.

It’s less than 7 miles from Venice and takes about 40 minutes to get there by motorboat, called a vaporetti, and makes for a great day trip.

Although many locals have left for easier living on the mainland the population is a healthy 3000 people including many fishermen.

You won’t find the same colour on two homes.

The colours follow a system and if someone wants to paint their house they need to get permission and will be assigned a colour appropriate for their home.

While tourists come for the colourful houses, it is also known for its lacework.

The city became famous for lacework after Leonardo da Vinci bought a cloth for the Duomo di Milano altar. 

Yet today few women continue traditional lace making as the final product takes so long that the product becomes much more expensive than the market will pay.

Burano is definitely something you need to see when you go to Venice. Here’s what you need to know about this city:

How to Get to Burano From Venice

There are two places to catch the express ferry from Venice to Burano. Every 30 minutes you can catch the Laguna Nord from San Zaccaria stop near St. Mark’s square or at the Fondamente Nova stop.

It costs €6.50 one way which is a bargain compared to a water taxi which costs €125 or more.

This ferry also stops at Murano and Mazzorbo if you’d like to explore more than one island. Mazzorbo is small but connected to Burano by a bridge.

It’s only a five minute walk and you can catch the 14th century Santa Caterina church.

When to Visit Burano

Like Venice, the island is plagued with flooding during the winter, which is known as acqua alta. 

While Venice is well prepared with platforms to walk and pumps to push the water back out, Burano isn’t as pleasant during the floods and you’ll need rubber boots.

What to See in Burano

You’ll spend most of your time wandering the streets but you can also visit the lace museum Museo del Merletto, the Church of San Martino and the leaning tower of Burano.

Where to Eat in Burano

As a working island for fishermen you must eat fish. Restaurants in Burano are pricey and there are a number of tourist traps.

I’d bring snacks and then save time for Trattoria al Gatto Nero, which focuses on traditional classics with lagoon fish.

If you’re looking for the local dish order the risotto de gò which is risotto with the local goby fish.