Sustainable Tourism in Ravenna, Italy – What is It, Best Tours & More!

Sustainable Tourism has become a hot topic lately. With fears of over tourism looming on the horizon, many destinations are scrambling to grow in a sustainable manner.

Ravenna, in Italy, is actually thinking ahead and doing it right. Thanks to the European project Footprints, Ravenna is actively working on its sustainable tourism initiatives.

If you’re wondering what sustainable tourism is, and what Ravenna is doing to make it happen, this article is for you. Here I outline everything you need to know about sustainable tourism, the Footprints project, and examples of sustainable tours in Ravenna.

I visited Ravenna in October 2025 and was honoured to be one of their early Explorers, helping them develop their sustainable tourism initiatives.

So what are you waiting for? Read on, and discover everything you need to know about sustainable tourism in Ravenna!

What is sustainable tourism?

The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”.

What that actually means on a practical level can differ depending on the destination, but the steps that Ravenna is taking in developing their sustainable tourism initiative are great.

I find that in todays environment, most travellers are very conscious of the issues brought by over tourism, and they try their best to minimise their personal impact. But depending on the destination, that’s not always possible.

That’s why it’s so great to see a destination like Ravenna implementing a sustainable tourism initiative, so that it can create the infrastructure and space for travellers to make more sustainable choices.

What is the Footprints Project?

Funded by the European Urban Initiative – Innovative Actions, the Footprints Project is an initiative that will help develop an integrated tourism system, capable of combining sustainability and authenticity.

It aims to raise awareness, both amongst tourists and local citizens, of the conscious choices they can make to respect the local environment and people. The idea is that travellers get to experience Ravenna as “temporary citizens”, not as tourists.

Some of the physical changes they want to make include things like the creation of three welcome hubs. These will be places where travellers can receive information about Ravenna and rent eco-friendly vehicles like bicycles.

Another fun initiative is the creation of an app, which will reward people for making sustainable choices through vouches and discount codes, which they can them redeem in various businesses and locations in Ravenna.

And obviously they’re also looking at expanding their tour offering to include more sustainable experiences. On my last trip to Ravenna we got to try some of these out.

Sustainable things to do in Ravenna

There are lots of great things to do in Ravenna and surroundings, however I won’t just repeat all the bucket list activities you can do there, for that you can check out my main Ravenna article.

Instead, in this article I will focus specifically on the sustainable activities you can do in Ravenna, which are part of the European project Footprints.

Join a Mosaics By Night tour

Being the City of Mosaics, obviously the mosaics of Ravenna are amongst the most famous sights in the city. This means they’re also the busiest, with big tourist groups admiring them all throughout the day.

One thing you can do to enjoy the mosaics in a more relaxed and authentic way, is to join a “Mosaico di Notte” tour. These Mosaic by Night tours allow you to visit some of the most famous mosaics of Ravenna after hours.

That way your group will be the only ones present inside the Basilica di San Vitale or Mausoleo di Galla Placidia, which makes for a pretty unique and humbling experience. 

You’ll be able to hear the detailed explanation of your guide without the overlapping whispering of countless other guides and groups. 

Do a mosaic workshop

I did this on both trips to Ravenna, and it’s honestly one of my favourite activities. I love doing arts and crafts projects, and mosaics are both fun and humbling.

It’s an opportunity to slow down, do something fun and creative with your hands, while learning about the history and culture of this important Ravenna tradition.

You can join a mosaic workshop at various sites in the city, we did one at MAR, the Art Museum in Ravenna, as well as a smaller boutique mosaic shop in the city centre. 

You’ll usually also be able to choose between a variety of projects to create, be it pendants, other pieces of jewellery or small mosaic paintings. 

The mosaic we created is inspired by Chagall’s Coq Blue, a piece that is now exhibited at MAR as part of the “Chagall in Mosaic” exhibition, which is on display at MAR until the 18th of January 2026.

Go on a cycling tour to Boscoforte

There are lots of unique cycling routes around Ravenna, but a particularly special one is in the peninsula of Boscoforte.

This area is a wetland of international importance, with an incredibly biodiverse ecosystem. Here you can see countless species of birds, amongst which flamingos! If you’re lucky, you might even spot wild horses!

The route itself is very easy, with a pretty flat terrain and incredible views on every side. The peninsula is closed to the public, so you can only visit on a guided cycling tour.

Visit CESTHA 

CESTHA, the “Centro Sperimentale per la Tutela degli Habitat”, is one of the most important marine rescue centres in the Mediterranean. 

Turtles, and other marine life, that end up trapped in fishing nets of stranded on the beach are taken to CESTHA, where their marine biologists and vets nurse them back to health, before then releasing them back into the wild.

They also participate in a variety of research and conservation projects to promote sustainable fishing. They organise a variety of tours to the centre, both for schools and groups, where you can learn about the work they do.

Participate in a Silent Play Tour around the city

We all know what a Silent Disco is, but have you ever heard of a Silent Play? This tour plays on this Silent Disco concept, and will provide you with colourful noise cancelling headphones.

Guided by the voices of Dante Alighieri and Lord Byron, you will tour Ravenna, discovering both some famous sights, and some lesser known hidden gems, accompanied by a fully immersive musical background.

It’s a very immersive experience, which will make you feel transported back in time, straight into the life of these two famous poets. It ends at Palazzo Guiccioli, where the Lord Byron and Risorgimento Museum are located.

If you just can’t get enough of Lord Byron, make sure to continue your visit at these interactive museums, and learn more about Lord Byron and Italy’s fight for independence.

Join a Birdwatching in Basilica Tour

If you can’t get enough of the flamingos you can see in Boscoforte, then make sure to join the unique Birdwatching in Basilica tour. This tour will take you to the Basilica di Sant’Apollinare in Classe, for some pretty special bird watching.

You’ll be given binoculars, which you can use to get a better look at all the incredible details of the mosaics in this basilica. And before you ask, yes a lot of the mosaics do include birds.

You’ll also be accompanied by a local guide who will tell you about the symbolism of the birds depicted, as well as other important facts about the church itself, the other mosaics and decorations, and other religious symbols.

It’s a pretty fun and unique tour, which combines nature and culture in a fun way.

Enjoy the local cuisine

Trying local foods is an integral part of any trip for many travellers, especially when you’re in a country like Italy, which is known worldwide for its amazing cuisine.

However as a traveller you might find yourself ending up in tourist traps, or famous spots you saw on social media which don’t live up to the hype.

During our trip we had the opportunity to eat at some amazing restaurants in Ravenna and its surroundings, which the local guides that accompanied us sweared by.

One of these was the Mercato Coperto, the covered market in the centre of Ravenna, where you can try a variety of local dishes and which both locals and tourists alike eat at.

Or Taverna Byron, located right by the Lord Byron Museum, is a higher end restaurant with beautiful interior design.

I also loved our dinner at Ca’ de Vèn, a Ravenna staple that many locals also eat at. Here you can try traditional dishes like cappelletti, and the decorations of the inside of the restaurant will leave you speechless.

Located in Marina di Ravenna, at Riesling Restaurant I had the best meal of the trip. It has a fairly casual vibe, but according to the locals it’s the type of restaurant you’d go to for a special occasion, and their fish based dishes are simply delicious.

Go on a treasure hunt of the Biennale mosaics

From the 18th of October to the 18th of January, Ravenna is hosting the “Biennale del Mosaico”. 

For this event, contemporary mosaics by international artists are dotted all around the city, from museums to hotels, to local galleries and shops.

To see them all just pick up a Biennale map, and start exploring the city searching for them! Most venues that are hosting contemporary mosaics will have a yellow “Biennale del Mosaico” sign outside, so that you know you’re in the right place.

They’re all free to admire, just let staff at the venue know, and they’ll point you in the right direction. It’s a great way to explore the city, venturing beyond the main streets, to smaller side roads you might not otherwise visit.

And obviously, given Ravenna’s mosaic history, it’s a great way to continue learning more about the history and culture of this important local traditional art form.

Participate in the Footprints project

If you find all of the above interesting, the coolest thing about the Footprints project is that you can be a part of it too! 

Ravenna is looking for 150 Explorers to visit Ravenna over the next two years, actively participate in the new sustainable tour offerings, and give them feedback to help them improve.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to discover Ravenna in a unique and authentic way, while also helping this destination develop its sustainable tour initiative. If you want to find out more about how to participate, click here.

Final thoughts about sustainable tourism in Ravenna

There you have it, the ultimate guide to sustainable travel in Ravenna! Have you been to Ravenna before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

This was my second time visiting Ravenna, and the sustainability spin of this trip made it all the more unique.

I consider myself a relatively environmentally conscious traveller, and it was great to see how a destination is actively planning in developing its sustainable tourism offering. Being an active part of that was even more special.

Ravenna has many incredible sights, from its mosaics to its natural landscapes, and I hope that many travellers in the future will get the opportunity to explore them like I did, in a sustainable manner.

 If you have any questions about sustainable tourism in Ravenna, or being a part of the Footprints project, just let me know in the comments below!

* This article was brought to you in partnership with the Ravenna tourism board, all thoughts and opinions are my own. *

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