Entry Tickets Only

Entry Tickets Only, 24 hours, rated 4.7 across 619 traveller reviews.

Overview

This is a self-guided combo ticket, not a tour with a guide. Travellers book online, receive the ticket by email, and then visit Ravenna's early Christian monuments at their own pace over one day. There is no meeting point and no one to greet visitors, which caught at least one reviewer off guard, so knowing this in advance matters. The ticket covers the Basilica of San Vitale and Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, and depending on the option chosen it extends to the Archiepiscopal Museum with St. Andrew's Chapel, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, and the Neonian Baptistery.

Inside San Vitale, an octagonal sixth-century church, the walls carry Old Testament scenes in tiny tesserae alongside portraits of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora. Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, built under Theodoric the Great, holds floor-to-ceiling Byzantine mosaics that were once painted black under Pope Gregory the Great and repaired after First World War damage. St. Andrew's Chapel, the former private chapel of Ravenna's bishops, sits inside the Archiepiscopal Museum alongside the ivory throne of Bishop Maximian.

The five-site option suits travellers who want a full day among the monuments. Everything sits within walking distance of the centre, as several reviewers confirmed, with markets and lunch spots between stops. The ticket is valid for the day booked, and a 20% discount applies in the sites' bookshops.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Ticket received by emailThe booking ticket is sent in a separate email and is valid for the day booked. There is no meeting point or guide.
2. Basilica of San VitaleAn octagonal sixth-century church mixing Roman and Byzantine elements, with mosaic depictions of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora.
3. Mausoleum of Galla PlacidiaOptional stop, included only with the five-monument option. It dates from the first half of the fifth century and stands near San Vitale.
4. Sant'Apollinare NuovoA sixth-century basilica erected by Theodoric the Great, holding the oldest mosaic cycle related to the life of Christ.
5. Archiepiscopal Museum and St. Andrew's ChapelOptional stop, included only with the five-monument option. The chapel holds epigraphs, the Cathedral treasure, and Maximian's ivory throne.
6. Neonian BaptisteryOptional stop, included only with the five-monument option. Its entire dome is decorated with mosaics from the time of Bishop Neon.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape the day, from dress rules to how the timed entries work.

• Dress code. Knees and shoulders must be covered, and clothing with rips, holes, or transparent material is not allowed.
• No guide. This is entry only. The listing states a guided visit is not included, and one reviewer waited at a meeting point in the rain before realising no guide was coming.
• Walking pace. Several travellers noted the sites sit close together and can all be covered comfortably in one day on foot. Comfortable shoes are the one item the listing suggests bringing.
• Timing and crowds. One visitor found a Monday visit quiet, with quick entry and room to study the mosaics. Another noted the reservation helped during a busy period, and reserved time windows keep numbers inside manageable.
• Photography. Flash photography is prohibited inside the monuments. Ambient-light photos of the mosaics are the practical alternative.
• Bookshop discount. The ticket includes a 20% discount in the sites' bookshops.

Common issues. The main friction points are practical rather than the sites themselves. One traveller was told at a bookshop of a smaller discount than the ticket promised, so treat the bookshop saving as a perk rather than a certainty. Some visitors would like clearer details on which stops require timed entry and how to select or adjust slots. The ticket is valid only for the day booked, so plans need to fit inside that window, and a guided visit is not part of the package.

Common Questions