Burano, Italy: A Real Life Fairy Tale
Burano is an island located in the Northern Venetian Lagoon and is easily reachable as a day trip from Venice. If you’ve ever seen photos of rows of brightly painted fisherman’s houses and wanted to go, you’ve finally found the place! Burano is renowned not only for the colorful homes, but also for its lacemaking.
Arriving on the island of Burano, Italy feels like entering in a wonderfully vibrant kaleidoscope of colors (you might think this sounds like an exaggeration, but read on, I promise! Or just cheat and scroll down for pics!) This tiny island is home to only 2,800 people, and feels like a village frozen in time.
This post may contain affiliate links.
I saw women hanging laundry out the windows of their rainbow houses, ancient fishing boats lining the canals, and elderly ladies embroidering lace in the Italian sunshine. Iβm not kidding here, it felt like something ripped from the pages of a fairy tale, complete with rainbows and unicorns. If youβre in Venice and have a half day to explore, I cannot recommend Burano enough!
Why visit Burano?
Have you ever seen the photos of Venice with rainbow colored houses lining quaint canals? These are not actually snapped in Venice, but on the island of Burano! Iβll let you in on a secretβ¦Iβm a huge nerd. I love to know the history behind everything, specifically why these houses were every shade of a Crayola crayon box.
Thereβs a legend that says the fisherman painted their houses bright colors so that they were visible from the sea. That way, they could find their way home at night. The colors of the houses have been in the families for centuries, so nowadays, if you wish to paint your home on Burano, you have to send a letter to the government requesting permission, who will respond with a list of colors permitted for that lot. This is a little βBig Brotherβ for me, but makes for amazing photo ops!
What can I do on Burano?
I was absolutely entranced by the multicolored houses reflected in the sparking green canals, terraces full of blooming flowers, weathered fisherman bringing in their daily catch, and the tilting bell tower rising above the roofs of the village. Burano is the perfect spot for those photo ops…I easily took 300 pictures while I was there! The locals have acknowledged that the island is slowly changing; “aqua alta” (sever flooding) occurs throughout the winter, causing many in the community to consider a move to the mainland.
Burano is also a breath of fresh area (literally, fresh sea air) from the sometimes stifling Venice. The main thoroughfares can definitely get overcrowded with tourists snapping endless photos, *raising my hand, this was totally meβsorry everyone*. Take a turn down a side street, and youβll notice the atmosphere change immediately. While youβre wandering, bask in the quiet and pure Italian-ness of the island.
My advice? Visit now, stroll along the sparkling canals, take way too many photos, and soak in the culture of this charming island.
How do I get to Burano?
Burano is only 40 minutes from Venice by ACTV ferry (Veniceβs public water transportation). In Venice, head to the Fondamenta Nove, where you will get a ticket for the Number 12 Vaporetto. You can buy the tickets by hour, by leg, or for an entire day. Since I was travelling to both Murano and Burano, I bought a 24 hour pass, which made my life wayyyy easier.Β I only needed to try to pretend that I understood Italian once! The easiest option is to take this tour of Burano, Murano, and Torcello.Β Β All transportation is planned for you, and you even get a little tour of all three islands!
If youβre in Venice, make sure to take the time to visit this exquisite island, and Iβd love to hear about your tips & tricks for visiting the area (and of course, all of the beautiful photos!!!) Feel free to share your advice in the comments below!
My God how beautiful these pics are! I was happy to see this post because I’m definitely visiting next summer (I’ll work on my crowd fighting skills!) Thanks for sharing!
Haha thanks! And best of luck, Burano is totally worth the crowds π
I can’t get over these pictures! I’m hoping to make it to Italy this upcoming May, and I’ll definitely try to find my way to Burano!
I hope you can!! Go ready to take lots of pictures π
Stunning photos, Melissa! I totally agree with you that Burano is a must-visit place and so easy to get to from Venice! It really has jumped straight out of a fairytale book.
Thank you! You just can’t help but love a place like that π
Wow, those are the most brightly coloured house I’ve ever seen!
Haha that was my first thought when I stepped off the boat. It seriously does not seem like a real place!
Love all of the colors of the houses. So pretty.
Thanks! I took way too many photos there π