Bologna and Ravenna in 1 Day- Doable?

Just to suggest that a lunch in Ravenna would be as good as a lunch in Bologna, the food is very much the same. It would be even a little better in Parma, but it is on the opposite direction.

It could be done. Rushed, as you know. The train is about 75 minutes.

Do you know where you’ll eat in Bologna? Do your homework here because I stopped for lunch in route from Venice to Florence and found a nice-looking restaurant but was disappointed with the food.
Venice needs three nights not two and Rome deserves four nights if you include a day in Vatican City.
According to Google AI, the mosaics in Ravenna are from the fifth and sixth century and the mosaics in Venice are from the twelfth and thirteenth century. This means they differ in artistic style, themes and inscriptions.

These are my notes from my upcoming trip to Italy which includes a day trip from Ferrara to Ravenna. There are four sites to see the mosaics in Ravenna, one of which requires a five minute train ride. Basilica di San Vitale; Basilica di Sant’Appollinare Nuovo; Mausoleo di Galla Placida; Basilica di Santa’Appollinare in Classe: Local train to Clases-five minutes direction of Rimini or bus 4 opposite main train station www.ravennamosaici.it for biglietto cumulative.

I was in Venice in the fall and from what I have been told and read, the mosaics in Ravenna are astonishing and a highlight for anyone who enjoys art. I am also spending one night in Bologna and three nights in Rome. It would depend on what you require for hotel comfort. My hotel cost in Bologna is similar to the cost in Rome. I use booking.com.

How about taking the trains straight to Ravenna and spending the night there? About 2.5 hours, changing trains in Bologna or Ferrara. I actually preferred the food in Ravenna (like piadina) and it's such a nice walkable town. Seeing the mosaics in Ravenna this way sounds less exhausting to me. Maybe cheaper than staying and eating in Bologna?

I think you need to decide if you are doing Bologna or Ravenna and concentrate on one of them. If you arrive late enough in Bologna for lunch - probably past 1 - and eat a culinary lunch and then get back to the train station and take the 75 minute train to Ravenna you will have precious little time to see all the sites. Now there are the two "biggies" but there are smaller sites scattered all over town as well as other things - floor mosaics - site to see. If you only do a quick lunch in Bologna to save time for the mosiacs then that lunch could be anywhere.

So I would choose to see Bologna and plan a tour of the markets and some well chosen meals with reservations or choose to continue on and eat and stay in Ravenna and see as many sites as possible. In general I try not to stay one night somewhere unless it is for travel logistics reasons - like the night before a flight. I think splitting the difference between two places in one flying day is too much. So no, not really doable.

Be aware that Bologna train station is the exception in that transitions between the fast trains (3 levels below) and the local trains at ground level take some time and an airport like transfer to switch between. Do not linger in Bologna station but process directly your track because it may be further than you think.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

There are more than four places to see mosaics in Ravenna. I wouldn't be willing to settle for so few hours there, but I am nuts about mosaics.

Bologna is a large city, and the historic center is quite a walk from the train station. The area around the train station isn't particularly attractive.

Two nights in Venice is really quite inadequate. Folks who make such quick trips to Venice often come away not liking the city, because they felt they had to spend nearly all their time in area between the train station, Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco. Since you'll already be in Venice, I'd opt to add more time there rather than making extremely quick stops in two additional places, which will add quite a bit to your transportation overhead and require an extra hotel check-in/check-out.

I think that one day wouldn't do either two justice. Ravenna has gorgeous mosaics that should take a day to observe.