burano boat tour

• SAN FRANCESCO DEL DESERTO
• SANT'ERASMO
• LIDO OF VENICE
• CERTOSA ISLAND
• THINGS TO DO IN BURANO
• BURANO LACE
• SAN MARTINO CHURCH
• LEANING BELL TOWER
• VENICE MUSEUMS
• HOW TO GET TO BURANO
• BURANO TOURS
• ACCOMMODATION
• DRIVING AROUND VENICE
• A CRUISE TO VENICE
• MARRIAGES IN VENICE
• REAL ESTATE ADS
• WEATHER IN VENICE
• BEPI'S HOUSE
• BALDASSARE GALUPPI
• PINO DONAGGIO
• BURANO'S PICTURES
• VENETO'S WINES
• BURANO'S REGATTA
• REDENTORE IN VENICE
• CURRENT EVENTS
• BURANO SOCIAL

Burano Italy, a Venice's Island

Welcome to isoladiburano.it the Official Website of Burano in Italy , the colorful island of lace . Home of big artists like Baldassare Galuppi , Remigio Barbaro and Pino Donaggio , as well as inspirer of the Arte Buranella .

Many international magazines include Burano among the top 10 most colorful cities in the world , although it would be more appropriate to bring it within the first 10 most colorful places in the world or between the 10 most colorful locations in the world .

If you're planning to travel to Burano, read our guide on how to visit the island of Burano . Otherwise, keep reading.

The Colours of Burano

All visitors of Burano remain intrigued by the many colours and the colorful houses that are reflected into the green waters of channels, by the leaning bell tower , by the tranquility and the calmness with which the elderly ladies embroider original Burano lace by their tombolo (or lace pillow), while they are laughing and chatting in squares among them. It seems to be in paradise. Children who dart freely with their bicycles, balconies with multicolored flowers, fishermen who put up fresh fish from their traditional boats.

Just gone ashore from actv ferry ( purchasing Burano's water bus tickets ), you will be in a green lawn where a Remigio Barbaro 's solemn sculpture is placed.

Pursuing the shores you will arrive to center of the Island: Galuppi Square ; here neighbourly ladies invite the most curious visitors to come into their shops to admire the lace working .

Although in lacemaking in Burano is the main craftsmanship attraction, enchanting is also the " lume glass working ": a technique born in the nearby island of Murano , but also widespread in the other islands of the Venetian Lagoon . Burano is not an exception to this and it is quite easy to come across some little shops where you can admire this type of Murano glass processing . Real glass factories in miniature, such as the shop located in Fondamenta Giudecca 132, inside a typical and small green house.

If you search for a place to eat like a local , Burano is very famous for its fish dishes , the most famous of which is the " risotto de gò ": the broth in which the rice is cooked and creamed is extracted from the "gò" a fish typical of the Venice lagoon, known in English under the name of " goby ". The dishes of the Burano's cuisine are served in restaurants , who despite being known from the point of view of the quality of the service, in the kitchen maintain the genuineness of a typical old " trattoria buranella " (a Burano's tavern) and where you can still eat delicious fresh fish.

If your time is short, there are anyway several pizzerias or you can opt for a delicious icecream in a bar or a typical Burano's cookie (the most famous are the " Bussolà " and the " Esse ") in a pastry store , enjoying it until the end of Piazza Galuppi where San Martino Bishop's Church is located: inside, in addition to a lot of important works, there is a famous opera of Gian Battista Tiepolo . Sideways is located the Santa Barbara's Chapel.

Always in the same square there is the " Museo del Merletto " (Lace Museum), the Town Hall , a well made of Istria's stone and the Baldassare Galuppi's sculpture made by Remigio Barbaro , the well-known sculptor from Burano.

Sideways the church, some stands offer local souvernirs for a cheap price. Moreover every Wednesday morning not far from the church the street market takes place and two minutes far from the center you can take a look at the fish market, where to see the typical venetian lagoon sea-food.

Among Burano's tiny streets there are a lot of "capitelli" (capitals) placed in the calli entrances and, searching for them, surely you will bump into the most famous and coloured house in the island: " la Casa di Bepi Suà " (the house of Joseph Sweaty), painted with the use of many colors, divided into geometric shapes.

The typical Burano's houses are mainly squared-shaped and are divided into two or three floors. At the low ground there is the kitchen, the breakfast nook and the toilet. At the next floors there are the bedrooms.

The different colours of the houses, which today rappresent the our island main feature, at a previous time was useful to delimit the properties. Notwithstanding an ancient legend narrates that fishermen painted their houses to see them from long distance when they were far away for fishing.

Where is Burano in Italy?

Burano is an island in the Northern Venetian Lagoon , 11 Km northeastern far from Murano and Venice , to which it is connected by the Canale Bisatto - Canale Carbonera - Scomenzera San Giacomo's trail: this route from Venice to Burano takes 45 minutes by boat. This island is easily reachable also from Treporti (10 minutes) and Punta Sabbioni (30 minutes), two Cavallino-Treporti 's resorts which overlook on the lagoon. Today in Burano there are around 3000 inhabitants, while the total number of people living in Venice and its islands is about 60000.

If you're going to visit Burano , you can find all the necessary information and suggestions on the page " getting to Burano ".

What to see in Burano

isoladiburano.it has created an useful guide with a map depicting the major attractions in Burano . So if you're planning to visit Burano, but you're not sure where to start, do not miss our guide entitled " Things to do in Burano ."

History of Burano

The inhabitants of Altino , escaping from barbarian invasion, find refuge in the islands of lagoon, giving them the names of the six doors of their thrown over city: Murano , Mazzorbo , Burano , Torcello , Ammiana e Costanziaca.

The name "Burano" arise from "Porta Boreana" , the northern door of the city.

In these islands the first houses were build on palafittes, with walls made of woven canes and afterwards plastered with mud. They were very light buildings constituted by an unique room, because the ground was too tender. Beds were made of dry leaves.

Later these raw houses were changed with buildings made of bricks and the older ones were used like warehouses.

Some scholar believe that Burano was not risen where it is situated today. In some ancient text is written that the island was situated nearest the sea and that its inhabitants must escape from it because of the strong tidal wave.

Instead in other texts is written which the position of Burano was never changed and which it has saved the island from malaria.

Since the time of Venetian Republic , Burano had only 8000 poor inhabitants (now 3000) predominantly fishermans and farmers. Thanks to the craft of lace workers, the island grew economically, exporting its fantastic laces all over the world.

Today Burano is lotted into five joined by bridge quarters: "San Martino Destro" , "San Martino Sinistro" , "San Mauro" , "Giucecca" and "Terranova" , traversed by their mill runs "Rio Ponticello", "Rio Zuecca" and "Rio Terranova".

The last big change was the principal mill run's closing off to build the square, which takes its name from the famous musician Baldassare Galuppi .

What are the major activities in Burano?

Once time ago fishing was the main job in Burano , while today is tourism besides retail trade and restaurants. That's why this site is intended as a small tourist guide to Venice and its islands which can help you to find answers to simple questions about Venice Italy as "where in Italy is Venice" .

Does handcraft exists in Burano?

Burano is very famous for its needle lace . However on the island there is a production of venetian masks and many people work in the nearest Murano , creating precoius glass objects. A detailed section about shops will be very useful for you to plan your shopping.

Where can I eat in Burano, Venice and its islands?

Isoladiburano.it set a section in which you can find information about both restaurants and pubs where to snack.

How can I find accommodation in Burano, Venice and its islands?

We offer a section about accommodation in Venice islands and around them, which will follow you to choose the fitter resort for your holidays. A lot of inns , bed and breakfasts , apartments and hotels in Venice are available, such as resorts in Burano and in the nearest places like Mazzorbo , Torcello , Murano, Mestre , Cavallino Treporti, Jesolo and Abano Terme .

Recently you can also book apartments in Burano or your stay in a typical house of Burano , once inhabited by fishermen and lace makers, through the page holiday homes and apartments in Burano .

IsoladiBurano.it and all the inhabitants of Burano wish you a good navigation ....and they hope that it will become a real holiday in our places.

Burano Tours and Venice Tours

Boat Excursions to Murano, Burano and Torcello

Duration: starting from 4 hours

Period: available all year!

Enjoy a little taste of the timeless atmosphere that you breathe in these places through a convenient and economic boat trip to the islands of the Venice Lagoon.

Departing from Venice, can be complicated for a tourist reaching Murano, Burano and Torcello by public transport, so we thought about comfortable tours of the islands which depart from the Santa Lucia train station in Venice, from Piazza San Marco and, in summer, also from Punta Sabbioni, the end of the Cavallino-Treporti coastline.

In our catalog there are various boat tours options: starting from the classic excursion to Burano, Murano and Torcello , up to the excursion to Murano and Burano with a fish-based lunch in a typical restaurant in Burano.

A novelty are also the tour of Burano, Murano and Venice starting from Punta Sabbioni and the daily excursion to Venice and its islands starting from Jesolo Lido.

In short, if you want to visit Murano and Burano , as well as Torcello and Venice, without sacrificing comfort, seating, explanation on board .... book online the boat trip that's right for you.

Choose the visit to the islands that you prefer, by pressing the button below to have access to our online catalog.

Venice Travel Cards

If you are a "DIY tourist", who prefer to move freely without the comfort of our tours, you can get to Burano with the public vaporetto (Line 12). You can skip the line at the ticket offices buying the water bus tickets online.

Week end in Venice

Plan your weekend in Venice : take a ride in our section dedicated to museums, events, tours, attractions and hotels in Venice and lagoon islands. Compose online your holiday package in Venice , adding to cart individual services and booking them all at once!

All these services are offered by a Venetian tour operators.

Local Handicrafts

New Arte Fuga - Lume Glass Factory

Via Giudecca, 132 - 30142 Burano (Venice Italy)

The New Arte Fuga shop in Burano, which is also a small glass factory, offers exclusively original Murano glass objects of its own manufacture.

Inside this shop it's possible to enjoy for free the " glass lume processing ", typical of the area around Murano.

Download the coupon for "New Arte Fuga" by clicking on the button below: showing it in the shop you will be entitled to a discount or a freebie.

Burano Accommodation

Burano Bed and Breakfast

Calle Daffan, 379 - 30142 Burano

Book your room in Burano, in the heart of the Venice Lagoon. Stay directly in the quiet Piazza Baldassare Galuppi of Burano.

Venice Hotels

Holiday lettings, homes and apartments in Burano

Would you like to stay in a typical colorful house of Burano, once inhabited by fishermen and lace-makers?

Burano and Murano Tour with Private Boat

about 4 hours

Private Boat Ride

Pick up at your hotel*, flexible starting time, professional guides, activity level, sights included.

Special thanks to Anna Maria, Cristina and Desiree for the pictures

Tour Description

Book our Burano and Murano Tour and discover the two most picturesque islands in Venice’s Lagoon! Private boat, pick up, and drop off included.

Most of the visitors explore only the main islands of Venice’s Lagoon and see highlights like St. Mark’s Basilica or the Doge’s Palace.

Just a small percentage go beyond and visit the gorgeous islands of Murano and Burano. Be the minority and take advantage of our customized service.

1. Murano: the “Island of Glass”

Murano has a very interesting past. Despite its proximity to Venice, during some periods of its long history, it was independent from Venice, having its own rulers and laws.

The city of Murano actually counts seven islands, separated by canals and connected by bridges, and it boasts of some important sights like the Duomo and the famous lighthouse.

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and, together, you’ll get on a lovely private boat.

Your skipper will allow you to reach Murano in about 30-45 minutes, and you’ll see a large part of the Lagoon from a privileged point of view: the sea.

Your Burano and Murano tour will continue with a walk through the center of Murano so that you can get a feeling of daily life and the main attraction of the island.

Your guide will tell you about the history of Murano, and you will learn about its most important product: glass.

Since 1291, the production of Venice’s glass was moved to Murano, mostly to protect the main and overcrowded city from the devastating fires which were often an unexpected consequence of glass-making.

This is how Murano became the “island of glass” ; your guide will lead you through the “Rio dei Vetrai” and, if you want, take you to one of the best shops in town.

You will not only be able to take a look at their products but even see part of the glass-making process.

2. Burano: the “Island of Colors”

During the second part of your Murano and Burano Tour, your skipper and your guide will take you to Burano, the “Island of Colors”.

Burano is smaller than Murano, and further away from Venice. But, it’s a very recognizable town, worldwide famous for its colorful houses.

The reason why Burano has such colorful buildings is still mysterious.

In the past, most of the inhabitants of Burano were fishermen. Venice’s Lagoon is famous for its foggy weather during the winter, and that could explain the vivid colors of the buildings.

It was probably the fishermen who decided to paint their homes with unique colors that helped them find their households more easily.

But, Burano is not only famous for its buildings; since the 1500s, the town has developed a great tradition of lace . A legend – of course! – explains the beginning of this elegant tradition.

A fisherman who was sailing outside of the Lagoon met a siren, who tried to seduce him with her beautiful singing. But, he resisted, and the queen of sirens gave him a magic gift: a veil made with the foam of the sea.

The fisherman went back home and donated it to her fiancée. The other girls in Burano, jealous of her veil, tried to imitate it and invented the lace.

Your guide will show you the most picturesque corners of the islands, and its most romantic canals, and tell you more stories about this enchanted island.

Then, you’ll get back on your private boat and return to Venice.

If you’re spending a few days in Venice, take advantage of our customized Burano and Murano Tour, and explore these two lovely islands with a professional guide and a private skipper.

*Pick up is included only if you’re staying within the pick up area . If your hotel is not in the pick up area, let us know and we will find the best solution. 

This is the price for groups from one to six people. If you have more people in your group, please let us know and we’ll create a customized price.​​

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