Burano Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Burano. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat

• Murano Glass Experience With a Visit to a Burano Lace Island

• St. Mark's, Doge's Palace, With Murano and Burano & Gondola Ride

• Venice Lagoon Islands: Murano & Burano Guided Tour

• Half-Day Murano and Burano Island Tour by Private Boat

Visiting Burano is free, however, getting there will cost you (unless you own your own boat). The cheapest way to reach Burano is via vaporetto, the city’s public water bus. One-way tickets start from €9.50 per person. However, many travelers visit Burano as part of a guided tour that also visits the island of Murano. These half-day, small-group tours start around US$30 per person and include transportation by private boat.

Yes, Burano is worth visiting if you find yourself in Venice. It offers a much slower pace than the main island, and its vibrantly colored houses and buildings look like they belong in a painting. The island is also famous for lace and is perhaps the best place to shop for lace souvenirs in Italy from a quality standpoint. You can even learn how the delicate fabric is made at the Burano Lace Museum.

Per one customer who booked the Half-Day Murano and Burano Island Tour by Private Boat, "Our guide, Cecelia, did a great job of informing us and entertaining us. It was nice to get out of the busy city and spend a few hours going back in time as we visited these two islands. The colorful houses on Burano are amazing."

Burano is one of the most popular and distinctive islands in the Venetian lagoon. Long a center for traditional lacemaking, the UNESCO-listed island is especially noteworthy for its colorful houses. Small in scale and accessible on foot (once you’ve arrived by boat), Burano is worth going out of your way to explore.

The easiest and most direct way to travel from Venice to Burano is by water bus (vaporetto). Line 12 is the fastest and most direct route, departing from Fondamenta Nove in Venice. You can also take the water bus line 14, although it’s a slower route.

Burano is famous for its ultra-colorful houses. According to legend, the houses were painted in vivid colors to make them more visible in the mist-shrouded lagoon, helping fishermen to find their way home. Today, residents are assigned a specific color for their homes and are required to repaint regularly.

Burano, like much of the wider Venice region, gets especially crowded during the summer high season. Visit during the autumn or spring shoulder seasons for a quieter experience and decent weather. It’s also advised to arrive early in the day, and to aim for weekdays if possible.

Yes, you can buy lace from artisans and specialty shops in Burano. Be aware that some shops may sell inauthentic or machine-made lace, so look for places where lacemaking is taking place. The Lace Museum (Museo del Merletto) has a gift shop where you can buy authentic lace.

Yes, there are a number of tours that explore Burano. A walking tour with a local guide will typically cover the history of Burano, including stories behind the landmarks and a chance to visit areas that tourists might otherwise overlook.

There are tons of things to do when you're done experiencing Burano. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Venice:

• St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco)

• Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)

• St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco)

• Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto)

• Grand Canal

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Venice.