Beach Lunch, From Bologna

Beach Lunch, From Bologna, 24 hours, rated 4.7 across 2 traveller reviews.

Overview

A driver meets you at a fixed point in central Bologna, Via Ciro Menotti 3, at 9 am and takes you by private air conditioned car to Ravenna, about an hour away. Once there, a certified historical guide walks you through three of the city's UNESCO listed Byzantine monuments: San Vitale, Galla Placidia and Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, with all entry tickets already covered by the tour price.

After the monuments, the route continues on foot to Dante's Tomb and Piazza del Popolo, the main square with its Venetian character. Then the car heads to the Adriatic coast for the part that gives this tour its name: a seafood lunch right on the beach. The meal itself is paid separately, and the tour leader, a local, is happy to point you toward the regional specialities worth ordering.

The afternoon leaves time to relax by the sea before the drive back to Bologna, with drop off at the same address around 4.30 pm. The whole day is private, so it suits families, groups of friends, couples and solo travellers who want mosaics in the morning and sand in the afternoon without organising transport themselves. One thing to plan for: pickup and drop off happen at the meeting point only, not at your hotel.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in BolognaThe day starts at 9 am at Via Ciro Menotti 3 in central Bologna. The operator contacts you the day before to confirm details.
2. Drive to RavennaA roughly 1 hour transfer by private air conditioned car to the Byzantine city.
3. Guided tour of RavennaA 3 hour guided visit with a certified historical guide, covering San Vitale, Galla Placidia and Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, plus a walk to Dante's Tomb and Piazza del Popolo. All sight tickets are included.
4. Lunch on the AdriaticA 2 hour seafood lunch on the beach. Optional and at an extra fee, since food is not part of the tour price.
5. Beach time and returnFree time to relax by the sea in Italian style, then the drive back to Via Ciro Menotti 3 in Bologna, arriving around 4.30 pm.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what to sort out before you go, from the meeting point rules to the lunch bill.

• Getting to pickup. There is no hotel pickup. The meeting point is Via Ciro Menotti 3 in Bologna, and the operator confirms the exact arrangement the day before. One reviewer was caught out by this and disliked the walk back at the end, so plan your route from your accommodation in advance.
• Pace in Ravenna. The guided portion runs about 3 hours on foot between churches and squares, moving at a schedule set partly by monument opening times. One reviewer wished for more free time in Ravenna to enter an extra museum.
• Lunch is extra. The seafood lunch on the beach is not included in the tour price. You choose your own courses and pay the restaurant directly, with the tour leader on hand to suggest local specialities.
• Beach weather. One reviewer found the shoreline very cold in November. Bring layers outside summer if you plan to sit by the sea after lunch.
• What to carry. The listing gives no specific packing requirements. Bring whatever you need for a day split between walking in Ravenna and time on the beach.
• Small group feel. The tour is private, so it is just your party with the tour leader and the historical guide in Ravenna. One reviewer described the trip to Ravenna as relaxing and comfortable and praised the guide.

Common issues. The most frequent gripe in reviews concerns the fixed meeting point: pickup and drop off happen at Via Ciro Menotti, not at your hotel, because of traffic restrictions in Bologna's centre, and one reviewer ended the day walking back on their own. The Ravenna schedule is also fairly tight, since churches close over lunch, which left one traveller unable to visit a museum they wanted to see. Lunch is an extra cost on top of the tour price. Cancellation is possible up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Common Questions