Budget Private Mosaics Walk

Budget Private Mosaics Walk, 24 hours, rated 3.8 across 20 traveller reviews.

Overview

This is a private walking tour of Ravenna centered on its early Christian and Byzantine mosaics, run with a dedicated guide and entry tickets folded into the booking. You meet your guide in the city, then set off on a gentle stroll through the old streets, following Ravenna's story from the Western Roman Empire through the Ostrogothic Kingdom to the Byzantine Exarchate, the city having served as imperial capital between the 5th and 8th centuries.

The walk concentrates on the UNESCO-listed early Christian monuments that hold the famous mosaics, and the Basilica of San Apollinare is a named stop. Reviews from past travellers describe a route that can cover a good share of the city's mosaic sites in a single outing, with one reporting visits to five of the eight over roughly two and a half hours, though the exact route and pacing rest with the guide on the day.

Because it is private, the tour suits travellers who want a guide's full attention and the freedom to ask questions, including the guides named in reviews as engaging and deeply informed. It is not a good pick for anyone carrying luggage or large bags, since those are not allowed, and it works best for people comfortable on their feet in comfortable shoes.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet your guideThe tour has two possible meeting points in Ravenna, and which one applies depends on the option selected when booking. Check the live booking page for the exact address before you go.
2. Stroll the historic centerThe guide leads a gentle walk through the ancient streets, laying out Ravenna's history from the Roman Empire to the Ostrogoths and the Byzantine Exarchate.
3. Early Christian monumentsYou visit the UNESCO-listed early Christian buildings of the city, with entry tickets for the mosaics included in the tour price.
4. The mosaicsThe core of the walk is time in front of Ravenna's world-famous mosaics, with the guide explaining their designs and context.
5. Basilica of San ApollinareThe tour includes a look at the basilica, one of the city's most imposing monuments.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this walk before you book.

• What to bring. The listing asks for comfortable shoes, and the tour is on foot through the historic center. Leave luggage or large bags behind, as these are not allowed on the activity.
• Pace and fitness. The walk is described as a gentle stroll, but it covers real ground. One traveller reported several mosaic sites over roughly two and a half hours, so be ready for a sustained walk rather than a short wander.
• Group feel. This is a private tour, so the guide's attention is on your party.
• Tickets included. Entry to the mosaics of Ravenna is included in the booking. A reviewer confirmed all tickets were covered.
• Weather. One reviewer experienced the tour in pouring rain, which made the enclosed monument spaces feel crowded.
• Tips not covered. Tips for the guide are the one cost the listing flags as excluded. Budget a little extra if the guide does well by you.

Common issues. The listing itself flags no extra fees beyond tips, since tickets are included. One reviewer reported a poor experience in pouring rain, with a large number of people packed into small enclosed spaces at the mosaic sites. Meeting point details only appear after you select an option, so read the booking page carefully before departure.

Common Questions