When is the best time to visit How to get to Ravenna?

The recommended time is April, May, June, September and October, when it is less crowded.

Is How to get to Ravenna crowded?

How to get to Ravenna is a very quiet destination compared with the more touristy ones.

Where is How to get to Ravenna?

How to get to Ravenna is located in Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

How to get to Ravenna: trains, planes, cars and buses

How to get to Ravenna

Ravenna, city of Byzantine mosaics and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits in the Romagna plain just a few kilometres from the Adriatic Sea. Although it is not on the high-speed rail line, it is well connected thanks to its closeness to Bologna and its strategic position on the Romagna coast. Here is how to reach it.

By train

Ravenna is linked to Bologna Centrale by frequent regional trains, with services every 30-60 minutes. The journey takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. This is the main connection for those arriving by high-speed rail: take the Frecciarossa to Bologna and then the regional to Ravenna.

From Rimini, regional trains take about 1 hour along the Adriatic coastal line. From Ferrara, the connection is direct and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. From Florence, the journey takes about 2 hours 30 minutes with a change at Faenza or Bologna.

Ravenna station is in Piazza Farini, about 800 metres from the historic centre and the Basilica of San Vitale. On foot it takes less than 10 minutes along Viale Farini and Via Diaz, a pleasant, flat walk.

Local tip

If the regional from Bologna to Ravenna is full, try the train to Faenza (30 minutes, more frequent) and then the Faenza-Ravenna regional (20 minutes). The total time is often similar.

By plane

Ravenna has no commercial airport. The nearest airports are:

Bologna Marconi (BLQ), about 80 km away (1 hour by car, 1 hour 30 minutes by train via Bologna Centrale). It is the natural choice for those arriving by air from abroad.

Rimini Federico Fellini (RMI), about 55 km away, has seasonal flights (mainly summer charters and low-cost services to northern Europe). From Rimini, the train to Ravenna takes about 1 hour.

Forli Luigi Ridolfi (FRL), about 30 km away, has some seasonal Ryanair flights. The connection to Ravenna is by bus or car (about 30 minutes).

Local tip

Bologna Marconi is almost always the best choice: it has more flights, competitive prices, and the train connection is direct. If you find a flight to Forli, take advantage: the airport is small and very close.

By car

From Bologna, take the A14 towards Ancona and exit at Ravenna (about 1 hour, 75 km). From Milan, the A1 to Bologna then the A14 (about 3 hours, 290 km). From Florence, the A1 to Bologna and A14 (about 2 hours 30 minutes, 195 km). From Rimini, the E45/SS16 along the coast (about 55 minutes, 55 km) or the A14 (45 minutes, slightly longer but faster).

From Venice, the E55/SS309 Romea is a scenic road crossing the Po Delta and the Comacchio valleys (about 2 hours 30 minutes, 150 km), while the A13+A14 via Bologna is faster (about 2 hours 15 minutes).

Parking

The historic centre has no extensive restricted traffic zone. Parking is fairly easy in the free timed-disc spaces along the walls or in pay car parks at Piazza Baracca, Via Aquileia (near the station), and Largo Giustiniano (near San Vitale). Rates are low: about 1-1.50 euros per hour. The Rocca Brancaleone car park is often the most convenient for visiting the mosaics.

By bus

FlixBus connects Ravenna to Bologna (about 1 hour 30 minutes), Rome (about 5 hours), Milan (about 4 hours 30 minutes), and Florence (about 3 hours). Stops are at or near the railway station.

Start Romagna manages urban buses and connections to the seaside resorts: Marina di Ravenna, Punta Marina, and Lido di Classe are reached in 20-30 minutes on the summer lines.

Local transport

Start Romagna manages the urban bus network. A single ticket costs 1.30 euros and is valid for 75 minutes. Ravenna is a perfectly cyclable city: flat, with widespread cycle paths and short distances. Bicycle hire is available at the station (about 10 euros per day) and is the best way to visit the city: all the UNESCO monuments can be reached by bike in a few minutes.

From the centre, the pine forest and beaches of Marina di Ravenna are about 10 km away: a beautiful ride through the Classe Pine Forest and the canals.