Our Italian Adventure: A visit to Burano

During our stay with Eurocamp at Marina Di Venezia, Venice aside, there was one place I was just desperate to visit – Burano. Having spent months before our trip pouring over brightly coloured photos of rainbow houses and picturesque canals, I couldn’t wait to see it for myself and of course, take as many photos as possible!

Luckily the nearest port, Punto Sabbioni, was just a short walk from Marina Di Venezia and the water buses ran regularly throughout the day. With us having plans for the rest of the week we bought a one day ticket which allowed us to hop on and off the water bus to each island costing us around 40 euros for the six of us.

The water buses are literally as the name suggests, buses on water. The locals use them in the same way we use public transport to commute, travel and sight see. The crossing to Burano took around 45 minutes which included stops at the other islands.

On arrival in Burano I was expecting to be met by a flurry of rainbows and yet it isn’t until you actually leave the port that you see the coloured buildings and the hustle and bustle of the island.

Lining the streets you will find rows of little shops selling paintings, jewellery, hand made lace and of Murano glass. It was lovely looking in each of the shop windows and chatting with the shop keepers, all of whom were so friendly, welcoming and kind to the children.

The main Street of the island runs alongside the canal and it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. With every building painted a different rainbow colour, the canal lined with little boats and music playing in the distance, it was the epitome of how I had imagined Italy to be and if I’m honest, although I did love Venice, I think Burano wins hands down!

Unlike Venice there are no crowds, no pushing, no flurry of selfie sticks on every corner or over priced souvenir stands. Of course it lacks the historical architecture that Venice boasts, but for me it was just so much more family friendly (and photographer friendly!) and I felt so safe and relaxed there with the children.

There are so many places to eat in Burano, from sit down restaurants over looking the canal to smaller cafes and food stalls, all of which smell amazing. It was one of the first things we noticed as we stepped off the water bus actually – the smell of fresh garlic bread is amazing!

For those who haven’t heard of Burano before, the island was originally a fishing village which is where the coloured houses came into play with the bright colours making it easier for returning fishermen to find their homes in the thick fog of the lagoon. In the 1500’s Burano rose to fame for it’s intricate handmade lace which was in high demand across Europe and is still displayed in many of the shops here today.

Today, Burano has just 2,000 full-time residents with the majority of its industry coming from tourism. Burano is often overlooked in favour of Venice which is why it is far quieter and yet, for me, far more atmospheric.

I’ll be honest, we didn’t really do a lot during our day in Burano, simply walked around and admired the views, ate ice creams by the canal and pizza in one of the cafes, and of course took a lot of photographs! I don’t think I have ever visited a more Instagram friendly place than Burano!

There is something very special about Burano and it’s ability to make you feel so happy. Perhaps it’s all the beautiful colours, perhaps it’s the gelato (so good!), or perhaps it’s just that when you set foot on the island it feels as though you’ve escaped all of your worries and cares, even for just one blissful day, and I was so sad to leave as we boarded the water bus home.

There aren’t many places which capture my heart in the way that Burano did and I know at the next opportunity we will go back there, even if just for a flying visit, to see those beautiful rainbow houses and eat gelato in the sunshine with my own little rainbows.