"Burano is the most popular Venetian island, with its rainbow of houses and photogenic fishing boats. To avoid the crowds, do your island-hopping at the end of the day, and take a late-afternoon vaporetto ride and a sunset stroll before heading to Trattoria Da Romano for your dinner reservation. While you can find a ton of excellent seafood like clams, mussels, and shrimp here, the signature dish is the risotto, made with tiny fish from the lagoon called gò, and served tableside. The last vaporetto back to Venice is just before midnight, so even though it might be tempting, don’t linger too long in the enormous dining room looking at the impressive art collection and books filled with sketches by Joan Miró, Matisse, and Giorgio de Chirico." - gillian mcguire