Ravenna Shore Excursions
Excursions in Ravenna
Ravenna was the capital of the Western Roman Empire, then of Theodoric's Ostrogothic kingdom, then of Byzantine Italy — and it kept the mosaics from all three. Eight UNESCO-listed early Christian and Byzantine monuments sit inside a compact, flat, walkable centre, and Dante is buried there. The catch is Porto Corsini: your ship docks 15 km out, so book the shuttle and the timed monument slots before you sail.
Ravenna: UNESCO Monuments and Mosaics Guided Tour
The core product for a Ravenna call, and it starts where the cruise shuttle drops you. Two hours covers the Neonian Baptistery, San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia with a licensed guide, three hours covers all five monuments on the combined ticket including the Chapel of St Andrew. Entry tickets are included, which is the point — it also solves the timed-entry booking for Galla Placidia. Runs in English, German, French and Italian.
💡 Insider tip
Meets at Piazza San Francesco, the same square the Visit Ravenna shuttle uses, so a 09:45 shuttle and this tour dovetail neatly and still leave you back for the 15:00 or 16:00 return. Take the 3-hour Complete option if your ship is in until late afternoon; the 2-hour Essential leaves Sant'Apollinare Nuovo for you to do alone.
Ravenna: Private Mosaic Tour with a Working Studio Visit
A private two-and-a-half-hour walk with a Ravenna-born guide trained at the city's Academy of Fine Arts, covering four UNESCO buildings including San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, then a working mosaic studio where someone shows you how the tesserae are actually cut and set. That last part is what separates it from every other mosaic tour: you stop looking at mosaics as pictures and start seeing them as a craft.
💡 Insider tip
Priced per private group rather than per person, so it is expensive for two and reasonable for four. Only two reviews so far, so treat the 5.0 rating as no information at all and judge it on the itinerary instead. English, Italian and French only — no German. Wheelchair accessible.
Ravenna: Mosaics and Food Walking Tour with Tastings
Three hours that put the mosaics and the food of Romagna in the same afternoon: San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia with a guide, interleaved with tastings in traditional kitchens and counters around the centre. Romagna's food is the part of Emilia-Romagna most visitors miss because they stop at Bologna — piadina, squacquerone, passatelli, Sangiovese — and this is the efficient way to eat it without gambling on a restaurant closing day.
💡 Insider tip
EUR 89 is a discounted price against a list figure of EUR 114, so check what is showing on the day. English-language departures only. Three hours plus the 30-minute shuttle each way needs a call of at least eight hours — take the 08:45 or 09:45 shuttle out, not the 10:45.
From Ravenna: Brisighella Private Tour with Lunch and Olive Oil
Five hours inland into the Apennine foothills to Brisighella, one of the officially designated Borghi più belli d'Italia — a village of three rocky pinnacles carrying a fortress, a clock tower and a sanctuary, with a covered medieval donkey lane arcaded above the street. The tour adds a producer of Brisighella DOP extra virgin olive oil, which is one of Italy's most respected, and a sit-down lunch with Sangiovese in a local osteria. Private vehicle, pickup in Ravenna included.
💡 Insider tip
Priced per private group, so it is a EUR 335 booking whether you are two or four. It is brand new on the platform with no reviews yet — book it on the itinerary, not on a rating that does not exist. Five hours plus the drive means you need a call of nine hours or more; confirm with the operator that pickup can be at the Porto Corsini terminal rather than in the city, because the 16:00 shuttle will not wait.
From Ravenna: Ferrara and Comacchio Private Day Tour
The best day trip on offer here, and the only one that solves the shuttle problem outright: the operator collects you at your cruise ship. Eight hours covers UNESCO-listed Ferrara — the Este dukes' brick capital, its moated Castello Estense and one of Europe's first planned Renaissance city extensions — and then Comacchio, a lagoon town of canals, arched triple bridges and eel fisheries that gets called 'little Venice' and is genuinely nothing like Venice. Private vehicle, guide in Ferrara, tickets included.
💡 Insider tip
Pickup can be at the ship, which is what makes an eight-hour inland trip viable from a port 15 km out — confirm it when you book, because the operator contacts you the day before with the exact spot. EUR 349 is the whole private group, so it is the cheapest per head of anything on this list once there are four of you. New listing with no reviews. English and Italian only. This eats your entire call: you will see no mosaics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best shore excursions in Ravenna?
We have hand-picked 5 top-rated excursions in Ravenna, covering everything from nature tours and cultural walks to adventure activities. Each one has been selected for quality and suitability for cruise passengers with limited time in port.
How do I book excursions in Ravenna?
You can book any excursion in Ravenna directly through the links on this page. Booking in advance is recommended, especially during peak cruise season (June–August), as popular tours fill up quickly. Free cancellation is available on most activities.
Can I explore Ravenna on my own from the cruise ship?
Yes, Ravenna is easy to explore independently from the cruise port. However, some excursions — particularly those involving transport to remote viewpoints or guided nature experiences — are best enjoyed with a local operator who knows the terrain and timing.