Burano is a small island near Venice and is so worthy of a place on your itinerary! It’s easy to get to, the perfect size to explore on foot, and is so beautiful! What makes Burano famous is the bright colored houses. Each one is a unique color and makes for the absolute best photo ops! Burano is not huge and I was able to cover the island in a little over 2 hours. However, if you were hoping to sit down for a meal, then definitely allow for more time. No matter when you’re visiting, I’d recommend day tripping to Burano from Venice in the morning. It’s the best time for peaceful wandering and photo-taking while the world is still waking up. Here’s everything you need to know about day tripping to Burano from Venice!
Getting to Burano
Day tripping to Burano from Venice is really very easy. You will take the #12 ferry that arrives at the F.te Nove docks, on the far east side of Venice, located here. To view a timetable of the ferries, click here. When I visited in mid-March, the ferries ran about every 30 minutes.
There are four docks that make up F.te Nove: A, B, C, and D. On my trip, I left from dock A, located just over the Ponte Donà bridge from docks B, C, and D here. The ticket booth is located between docks B and C, and you can both purchase your tickets there, as well as confirm which dock your ferry will be leaving from. At the time of writing, a round-trip ferry ticket cost €19. I’d recommend arriving about 20 minutes or so before your ferry departs, as there may be a line at the ticket counter!
The Ferry Ride
Once onboard, just kick back and relax! If you can, try to get a seat looking out the right side, so you can get views of the islands you’ll pass along the way. The ride to Burano is about an hour and makes a few stops along the way. The first will be at the island of Murano – which is very similar sounding to Burano, don’t be confused! The next stop will be at Mazzorbo, and there may or may not be a stop at Torcello in there too (depending on the time, not all ferries stop here). Once you see the brightly colored houses, you know you’ve arrived in Burano! The ferry will dock here and you’ll simply walk off and get right to exploring.
Tip: when you get off the ferry in Burano, take a photo of the timetables for the return ferry. That way you can plan your day accordingly and never be waiting too long for your trip back!
Stroll along the Embarcadero
The Embarcadero is the area that lines the main canal. It’s impossible to not run into it, as just about all roads lead here! The street is lined with tons of shops, restaurants, and galleries. Once you get off the ferry, just continue straight and you’ll arrive after just a short walk. When I got to Burano around 9:30 am, the world was just waking up for the day. Shops were just opening their doors, restaurants were setting up chairs and tables, and you could smell fresh baked goods being prepared. It was such an easy, slow welcome to the island and I’m so glad I arrived here early in the morning!
Snack on Essi
When in Burano, you must get their famous butter cookies! Essi can be found in Venice and other neighboring islands, but they are native to Burano. They are shaped like an S after the shape of the canal that runs through Burano. They are so tasty and are a perfect morning or afternoon treat. I got mine from Dolcezze Palmisano di Fabio e Federica, right on the main canal, however I did see them offered at a few other bakeries throughout the island. Most places will offer them in a variety of flavors, but I couldn’t help myself to snack on the chocolate chip. They melt in your mouth!
Shop for Lace
As if you didn’t have enough reasons to go day tripping to Burano from Venice, it’s also the lace capital of Italy! There are several shops on the island that sell custom made lace garments of all different varieties. Most are even handmade and the stores have been in families for generations! A few famous shops include Martina Vidal (located near the ferry stop), La Perla (on the main canal), and Laces by Olga (on the east side of the island). If you want to learn more, there is also a Lace Museum located here, in an old schoolhouse from the 1870’s!
Wander off the Beating Path
My absolute favorite part of visiting Burano was wandering off of the main drag and into the narrow streets. This will give you a real insight into the way locals live on the island. It’s fascinating! The homes are all so beautiful and you’ll find residents just going about their normal day. Since the island isn’t that large, you’ll never truly get “lost” and just about all the side streets will bring you back to a main area. Put down your Google Maps and just wander!
Favorite Photo Spots
There is absolutely no shortage of spectacular photo ops on Burano! Honestly, if you just keep wandering, you’ll find one at almost every turn. However, one of my absolute favorites was at the Ponte Pontinello. The homes that lined the canal here were all painted colors that perfectly complemented each other, and the bridge made for a perfect vantage point or place to set up a tripod. It was also just far enough off the beating path where I could have some time to myself to snap photos.
Another favorite, albeit more popular location, is Tre Ponti. This is where three canals come together and there is a bridge that will take you right over the point. Do a 360 degree spin on the bridge for spectacular views from every angle! Make your way just a short ways south of the bridge for views along the canal of a row of identical homes all the same size (different colors though of course!). A good point of reference for this view is to be outside the In Riva bistrò and look across the canal.
Getting Back to Venice
Once you’ve covered the island, it’s time to make your way back to Venice. The return ferry will be at the same dock you arrived at, here. Scan the return ticket that you bought back in Venice to get through the electronic gates and you can wait in the holding area right on the dock. The trip back to Venice is the same, about an hour long. If you can snag a seat on the left side of the ferry this time, you’ll get the views of the island so you can get one last glimpse. Sit back and reflect on your success day tripping to Burano to Venice!
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