Are you wondering how to get from Venice to Burano?
If you didn’t already know, Burano is one of the most visited islands in the Venetian lagoon. It’s not only famous for lace making and being one of most colourful place in Italy but it is also one of the top 10 most colourful cities in the world!
According to old legends, the fishermen had their homes painted with an identifying colour so that they could return to their homes and not get lost even with the thickest fog (quite common during the cold Venetian winters).
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Venice to Burano
Get ready to stand mesmerized in front of the colourful alleyways of Burano and watching the adorable Nonnas working the lace with unparalleled virtuosity.
Getting from Venice to Burano is straightforward and if you’re spending 3 or more days in Venice, I highly suggest that you add this island to your itinerary.
Where is Burano?
Burano is actually an archipelago of 4 islands located in the northern part of the Venetian lagoon. Mazzorbo and Torcello are the other two famous islands that belong to the Burano archipelago. See the map of Burano below for context:
Just like Torcello and Murano, the inhabitants of Altino, an ancient Roman city in the Veneto region, took refuge in Burano to escape the Huns invasions.
Today thanks to the reliable public and private transport connections, it’s possible to get from Venice to Burano in 40 minutes and spend a day or a couple of hours.
Although there are many unique things to do in Venice and you could spend all your time in the city, you’ll find that Burano is the perfect escape from the larger crowds, and will give you the chance to enjoy the peace and true slowness of Burano.
Is Burano worth visiting?
Burano is one of the many islands in the Ventian lagoon and as noted earlier, I strongly recommend visiting Burano whilst spending time in Venice.
Even though, more recently tourism has increased considerably, Burano retains its unique charm and it’s a must-go destination in Italy for aspiring photographers.
The walk past the pastel coloured houses of Burano’s fishermen houses is already a valid reason why you should go there. But also, to take time to wander around its tranquil streets and small piazzas, watch old ladies creating superb lace works on the street, a tradition handed down from generation to generation.
Taste the exquisite buranelli (or bussolà) biscuits, the traditional sweet of Burano at the bakery shop Carmelina. Try the iconic risotto di gò from the Trattoria al Gatto Nero, appeared on the popular BBC TV series ‘Remarkable Places to Eat’.
💡 Local Tip: Do you know which is the most quirky and colourful house of Burano? Head over ‘Casa di Bepi’ which was painted by Bepi Suà (you can find it on Google Maps!) using many colours and geometric shapes.
Where to stay in Burano?
Experience everyday life in Burano, by spending a night here or even your entire stay. If you prefer to be far away from Venice’s tourists or just want to take your time to visit Burano, the best thing to do is book a stay here.
Here’s a list of accommodation to suit every budget:
- Venissa Wine Resort: this resort counts on 5 rooms that have been restored from an old manor house. Staying at the Venissa Wine Resort will allow you to connect with the slow life typical of a small island like Burano, wake up in the morning surrounded by vineyards and the sound of sea. During your time here, make sure to try the Michelin-starred restaurant Venissa.
- Night Galleria – bed & art: this is a 2 bedroom holiday home located in the heart of Burano. All essential amenities are included such as bed linen, towels and toiletries. This is the perfect place to stay if you want to have access to the kitchen to cook your own food.
- Casa arancione a Burano: it’s a one-bedroom apartment in Burano with canal view. It’s the ideal accommodation for budget travellers that want to experience all the best of the colourful island.
How far is the Burano from Venice?
Burano is 9.3 kilometres away from Venice and it takes 40 minutes by water bus (vaporetto) to get there.
If you want to get from Venice to Burano, the best way is to go to the Fondamente Nove stop where you can board on the ACTV water bus, leaving approximately every 30 minutes.
The water bus will stop first in Murano, then Mazzorbo and in the end Burano. The navigation duration is approximately 45 minutes. You can also decide to get a private boat or join a group tour leaving from St. Mark’s Square.
To prepare for this trip I suggest you carry some sunscreen and some UV sunglasses to protect your skin and eyes, especially during the summer months.
How to get from Venice to Burano
Visiting the island of Burano is an unforgettable experience to add onto your Venice itinerary. Since Burano is quite close to Venice city centre, if you’ve decided to spend more than 2 days in Venice, make sure to go to this colourful island.
Let’s now take a closer and more detailed look at all the options for getting from Venice to Burano, whether it’s for a couple of hours or a full day.
Water bus from Venice to Burano
The most affordable way to get from Venice to Burano is by water bus.
The water bus (a vaporetto in Venice) belongs to the private company ACTV. There are regular water buses leaving from Venice Fondamenta Nove towards Burano.
There’s only the line number 12 going directly to Burano and navigation takes 40 minutes. You can also get the night water bus (NLN line) that departs from Fondamenta Nove, stops first on the island of Sant’Erasmo, Torcello and then Burano.
Leaving from Fondamenta Nove can be quite inconvenient for some travellers that are on the other side of Venice.
In this case, the best thing you can do is get this water bus pass for the day and use it to reach the Fondamenta Nove stop in Venice or Murano, both directly connected to Burano. At the time of booking, you can choose the 75 minutes, 24/48/72 hours pass or 7 days pass).
Here’s how I suggest getting from Venice to Burano from other locations:
- From Piazzale Roma or railway station Santa Lucia: the best way is to get the water bus line 3 to Murano. Change vaporetto at the stop Murano Faro and take the vaporetto line 12 to Burano. You can also get the water bus line 4.2 or 5.2 to Fondamenta Nove and from there get on the vaporetto line 12 or NLN to Burano.
- From St. Mark’s Square: you can get the water bus line 14 that stops first in Venice Lido, Punta Sabbioni and Cavallino Treporti before arriving in Burano. Bear in mind that this vaporetto takes much longer (more than an hour) than the line 12 from Fondamenta Nove.
- From Marco Polo airport: get the Alilaguna water bus blue or red (seasonal) lines to Murano and then get on the first vaporetto line 12 to Burano.
💡 Local Tip: In alternative to Google Maps, you can check your next vaporetto using the website Che Bateo?. It’s useful to check the water bus’ stops and how long the journey will last.
Private Boat from Venice to Burano
There’s no better way to explore Burano by joining a private boat tour of the island. This Murano, Burano, and Torcello Private Boat Tour is a 4 hours tour, perfect to join if you only have half day to visit the islands.
During this tour, you’ll explore even Murano and Torcello the other two most popular islands of the Venetian lagoon. Even though, it’s more expensive, the great thing about joining a private tour is that it will make your life easier by picking you up at your hotel in Venice and board a comfortable motorboat with sofas.
From your private boat, you’ll get chance to admire the Venetian lagoon, with its flora and fauna. The first stop will be Murano, where you’ll visit the San Donato church, go for a walk around the streets and join a glass blowing demonstration.
You’ll then visit the rainbow-coloured houses of Burano. Get lost around the tranquil alleyways and get to watch the old ladies working the lace, all accompanied by an expert guide.
Before leaving for Torcello, the first inhabited island of the lagoon, make sure you get to taste the traditional bussolai biscuits.
Group tours from Venice to Burano
If you’re happy to join a group or want to stay on a budget in Venice, then book this Murano & Burano Islands Boat Tour so you can visit with other travelers.
In this case, the guide won’t take you around Murano and Burano, but only provide information about the islands during the short transfers.
You can decide to leave in the morning or early afternoon, based on your preference, and spend 5 hours visiting Murano and Burano.
You’ll meet your group and board the boat in Riva degli Schiavoni, just a few meters away from St. Mark’s Square.
The first stop will be Murano, where you’ll learn what is the glass blowing technique and join a live demonstration of glassblowers.
After that, you’ll head over Burano, where you can take your time to stroll around its pastel-coloured houses and see ladies creating the finest lace works.
You don’t need to understand Italian for this tour but I recommend visitors try to at least learn the basics, see this travel phrase book that you can carry with you.
You’ll also join a lace making demonstration and learn more about this fascinating art handed down from generation to generation of Burano women.
Venice to Burano FAQs
Here are questions people ask when it comes to getting from Venice to Burano:
How far is Burano from Venice?
Burano is 9.3 kilometres away from Venice historic centre. It takes between 45 and 50 minutes to get there by vaporetto from the Fondamenta Nove stop. There’s the direct water bus line number 12 travelling to Burano from Venice. If you’re far from this stop, you can either get a water bus with direction Fondamenta Nove or Murano and from these stops, the water bus 12. You can also get to Burano by water taxi from any location around the city, but it’s much more expensive than the water bus. From Santa Lucia railway station should cost 115 euros one way.
How many hours do you need in Burano?
You need at least 2/3 hours in Burano. The most famous colourful island in the lagoon is quite small fishing village, but it’s easy to get lost around its streets and piazzas, taking pictures and visiting the lovely lace shops and bakeries. If you’re planning to have a meal over there, then you’ll probably need at least 4 hours.
What is the famous street in Burano called?
Burano is famous for Piazza Galuppi. The piazza is dedicated to Baldassare Galuppi also called the ‘Buranello’, a famous comedy composer of the 18th century. Stroll around the piazza, have lunch at one of the many fish restaurants or take some time to get a souvenir from one of the shops facing the square. From this square you can get to the Duomo of Burano and visit the Lace Museum.
What food is Burano known for?
Burano is famous for the bussolai or bussolà biscuits. Traditionally, the bussolai are Easter treats, although today it is quite easy to find them all year round. There are simple ingredients to prepare them: flour 00, butter, sugar, egg yolks, vanilla extract and lemon zest. They are delicious and while you’re in Burano, make sure to get some from the bakery Carmelina Palmisano.
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Getting from Venice to Burano
Even though getting to Burano from Venice takes longer than other islands in the Venetian lagoon such as Murano, Lido or Giudecca, you won’t regret visiting here.
The options to get from Venice to Burano are not as many as for Murano (there are only 2 direct water buses) but the vaporetto service is reliable and counts on regular runs all over Venice.
Instead of the water bus, you can opt for private tour around Burano, Murano and Torcello or share the boat transfer with other travellers for a cheaper fare.
Whether you choose one or the other, you can stay reassured that Burano is a beautiful little gem worth exploring that you’ll remember for years to come and a perfect half day or day trip to take from Venice.
While you are here, why not see my guide on how many days in Venice to ensure you have enough time to see the other important attraction while in the city?
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