Hello there...we're a group of 8 (4 adults, 4 teens/preteens) doing a cruise from Ravenna in mid October. We're considering flying into either Florence or Venice the night before. What city offers the smoother experience to get to Ravenna the next morning. I think we have to make a connection either way. From Florence, I think we make it in Bologna and Venice we make it in Ferrera. If there are any other factors that I'm missing, please let me know.
Thanks in advance.
JS
Either works
It is easier and less expensive to get to center from Florence airport than it is to get into Venice from VCE
You will then need transport from Ravenna station to the port
Can you add a night and at least spend more time in whichever city you choose?
Gives you some wiggle room in case of delays or transportation issues, less risk of missing your cruise
Ravenna itself is worth a visit for the mosaics
Bologna also has an airport, have you checked that option?
Does your cruise company offer transfers from Venice? That is often the best choice
Thank you Christine! We are flying in the night before but were torn between the two cities and trying to see if one made more sense than the other. Unfortunately no transfers as these cities are 2-2.5 hours away. Train is the best option. Thanks
JS
Venice will have a larger selection of flights then Florence, and you might find more direct flights. If you are looking for airports to fly in to, also look at Milano.
Hello jatin.shah01, and welcome to the forum,
All in all Florence being land based makes the airport > city transfer easier versus Venice. If you could fly into Bologna that's closest but Bologna is only 35 minutes from Florence by fast train.
From Florence airport it would be easiest to take two cabs - I suggest one or two adults in either cab and the kids mixed in between - or you could take the tram but cost and convenience-wise I think cabs make more sense. Staying close to the train station makes sense if you're heading out early the next day. Florence is small so even near the train station is still "in town" unlike Venice.
Venice is a little further but if you are just using Venice as stop over and don't care or have time to explore the city you could also choose to stay on the mainland part of Italy - maybe even pushing onto Padua/Padova which would get you that much closer to Ravenna. You don't say where you're flying from so I don't know how tired/jet lagged you will be but if both places are just quick overnights then you could bypass the logistical issues of Venice proper.
From Venice airport you'll need to take the bus or cabs towards Venice proper. Again staying near the train station it is an easier transfer the next day. But if you are going get on a bus anyway there is a bus from the airport to Padua which is on the fast train line towards Ferrara/Bologna and you could overnight there that much closer to Ravenna.
I love Venice and Florence is world class destination but if they are just overnight stops to you on the way in and you won't be exploring either city staying someplace practical overnight seems reasonable.
You can buy fast train tickets ahead of time you can save some money by committing to a specific train.
One note - unlike most Italian train stations in Bologna the fast trains come on level -4 and you need to transfer to the Level -1 or the surface to change to the local trains so allow time and pay attention to where you need to go.
Have a great trip,
=Tod
Even if you didn't see a single mosaic, Ravenna is a nice easy walkable little town with good food. So, I would be inclined to fly into Bologna as early as you can and then go straight to Ravenna. From the Bologna airport, it takes only an hour and a half, a very doable post-flight Marconi Express and then direct train trip. Just picture how much more simple and quick this is. And I'm saying this even though Florence and Venice are my first and second favorite cities on earth --- I just don't think you're going to get much out of them as a quick stop (and jet-lagged?). My husband and I use as a general travel principle that we first go straight to where we want to go, then we are there and fewer problems can happen.
OP, I wholeheartedly second nancys8's advice and reasoning!
