Once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, Ravenna dazzles with eight UNESCO World Heritage mosaic sites — gold-and-cobalt Byzantine masterpieces rivaling anything in Istanbul or Rome. A flat, bikeable city where Dante is buried and the food is superb.
Ships dock pier-side at the Porto Corsini Cruise Terminal — no tendering. The city center is 12 km inland, so you'll need transport.
💡 Pro move: A passenger ferry (traghetto) crosses the canal from Porto Corsini to Marina di Ravenna — a livelier beach town with restaurants and beach clubs.
Ravenna's modern cruise terminal at Porto Corsini handles two large ships simultaneously with dedicated berths and boarding bridges.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, MSC, Costa, others | Porto Corsini Cruise Terminal📍 | Docked |
| Smaller expedition vessels | Porto Corsini inner basin📍 | Docked |
From Byzantine gold mosaics to Bologna's food scene and Ferrari's Motor Valley — Ravenna punches well above its size as a cruise base.
A guided sweep through the greatest hits: Basilica of San Vitale, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Neonian Baptistery, and Dante's Tomb — all within a compact, walkable city center. The 5-site combined pass (≈€14.50) covers San Vitale, Galla Placidia, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, the Neonian Baptistery, and the Archiepiscopal Museum; Dante's Tomb is free.
Find Ravenna mosaic tours →About 5 km south of the city, this isolated 6th-century basilica has a stunning apse mosaic in an almost empty nave — far fewer crowds than the city-center sites. Best visited by taxi or bike.
Find Classe church tours →Emilia-Romagna is Italy's culinary heartland. Tour the city's Mercato Coperto covered market, eat piadina romagnola at Ca' de Vèn, and taste local Sangiovese and Lambrusco wines with a food guide.
Find Ravenna food tours →Ravenna is pancake-flat and bike-mad — locals cycle everywhere. Rent a bike near the train station and cover all the mosaic sites plus Dante's Tomb in under 3 hours. Most enjoyable way to see the city.
Find Ravenna bike tours →Italy's underrated food capital is about 75 km away (roughly 1 hr by train from Ravenna station). Walk the porticoes, climb the Asinelli Tower, and lunch on tagliatelle al ragù — the real thing.
Find Bologna day trips →The birthplace of Italian supercars is within reach. Guided excursions visit the Ferrari Museum in Maranello and/or the Lamborghini Museum in Sant'Agata Bolognese — a thrill for any car enthusiast.
Find Motor Valley tours →Ravenna's historic center is entirely flat and compact — all the major UNESCO sites are within a 20-minute walk of each other.
The classic self-guided loop hitting the main mosaic sites. Buy the 5-site combined pass at the first site you enter.
A short walk from the central square through the medieval streets to Dante's Tomb and the flooded crypt of San Francesco.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F / 9°C | 36°F / 2°C | 7 | 7:44 AM | 4:57 PM |
| Feb | 52°F / 11°C | 39°F / 4°C | 10 | 7:11 AM | 5:40 PM |
| Mar | 57°F / 14°C | 42°F / 6°C | 8 | 6:23 AM | 6:17 PM |
| Apr | 63°F / 17°C | 49°F / 9°C | 8 | 6:27 AM | 7:55 PM |
| May | 70°F / 21°C | 57°F / 14°C | 10 | 5:44 AM | 8:31 PM |
| Jun | 80°F / 27°C | 66°F / 19°C | 7 | 5:26 AM | 8:57 PM |
| Jul | 85°F / 29°C | 70°F / 21°C | 7 | 5:41 AM | 8:52 PM |
| Aug | 84°F / 29°C | 69°F / 21°C | 7 | 6:14 AM | 8:15 PM |
| Sep | 77°F / 25°C | 63°F / 17°C | 8 | 6:50 AM | 7:21 PM |
| Oct | 68°F / 20°C | 55°F / 13°C | 9 | 7:26 AM | 6:26 PM |
| Nov | 58°F / 14°C | 47°F / 8°C | 11 | 7:07 AM | 4:43 PM |
| Dec | 50°F / 10°C | 39°F / 4°C | 8 | 7:40 AM | 4:31 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
City Sightseeing runs hop-on hop-off tours on weekends, public holidays, and cruise ship arrival days. Covers key mosaic sites and the city center.
Some cruise lines (e.g. Royal Caribbean) operate shuttles from the terminal to Ravenna train station/city center. Book onboard in advance as seats fill quickly.
Shared shuttle services run between Porto Corsini Cruise Terminal and Ravenna city center, typically May–October. The official tourism office (visitravenna.it) lists schedules.
Fixed-rate taxis connect the cruise terminal to the city center (~20 min). Ravenna has fewer than 20 taxis total — book ahead through taxidiravenna.it.
Once in the city center, Ravenna's main attractions — including Byzantine mosaics at San Vitale, Galla Placidia, and Dante's Tomb — are all within easy walking distance of each other.
Upcoming cruises that call at Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.