I’ve been to Ravenna in Italy more times than I can count, and every time I go back it still gives me that little spark of excitement. I love wandering the old town without any real plan, poking around the artisan workshops and local bars, and — this never gets old — going back to stare at those mosaics the whole world envies Italy for.
This time, though, I did something different: I brought the kids.
I won’t lie, I had my doubts. Travelling with children always carries that risk of boredom creeping in, and more than one person gave me a skeptical look when I mentioned the plan. “Ravenna? With basilicas, stone tesserae and hushed museum halls? They’ll last ten minutes.”
Turns out it was one of the most memorable trips I’ve had in years. All it takes is a shift in perspective — mixing the wonder of ancient art with real outdoor adventure — and the city turns into something genuinely fun, even for the youngest travellers. Also Ravenna, was the Once Capital of Empires and Kingdoms.
A Treasure Hunt Through the UNESCO Mosaics
The easiest way to get kids invested in Ravenna’s monuments is to turn the visit into a game. That’s exactly what the Mosaic Treasure Hunt does. It starts at the Tourist Office in Piazza San Francesco, right in the heart of the historic centre, with a guide leading the way.
Kids get a treasure map on arrival, which they use to solve riddles and puzzles throughout the tour. The whole thing runs about 3 hours and includes a combined ticket covering four UNESCO World Heritage monuments:
- Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo — the procession of saints and virgins along the walls reads almost like a giant comic strip.
- Mausoleum of Galla Placidia — always a genuine “wow” moment. Looking up at that midnight-blue dome scattered with golden stars makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy tale.
- Basilica of San Vitale — the sheer scale of the central octagon, the mosaics of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora, and a fun little hunt for the labyrinth pattern hidden in the marble floor.
- Neonian Baptistery — vivid colours and an unbelievably detailed dome.
- Basilica of San Francesco, home to a flooded crypt that feels like pure magic to kids. Beneath the main altar, spring water has submerged the crypt entirely, and peering through the little window you can watch goldfish swimming lazily over an ancient sunken mosaic floor.
Our guide struck the right balance perfectly — sharp enough on the history to keep me interested, but great at talking directly to the kids and pulling them into the story. Map in hand, they turned into proper little explorers, hunting for hidden symbols, animals and details buried in the gold tesserae, working through quizzes and riddles along the way.
By the end, the satisfaction was double: finishing the game, and claiming the treasure at the end (complete with a small sweet and a “junior investigator” certificate).
A Mosaic Workshop for Kids (and Adults)
After admiring the mosaics in the basilicas and hunting for details all morning, the natural next step was learning how a mosaic actually gets made. Seeing them on a wall is impressive, but getting your hands on the actual tesserae is what really lights the spark.
We headed to Dimensione Mosaico, a small artisan workshop in the centre of Ravenna, for the “Make Your Own Magnet” session. In about an hour, the kids (and honestly, the adults too) went from spectators to tiny artisans — choosing a shape and design, learning to handle the materials, matching colour shades carefully, and gluing tesserae into place one by one, the same way mosaic masters have done for centuries.
Watching the pride on their faces when they finished was worth it on its own — that magnet still has pride of place on our fridge back home.
Cycling Through the Pine Forest, Paddling Into the Lagoon
Ravenna isn’t just a historic centre — it has some genuinely beautiful nature just minutes from the coast. On day two we did something the kids absolutely loved: the Pedal and Paddle excursion, run by the Atlantide guides out of the Ca’ Vecchia visitor centre, a short drive from town.
We picked up bikes there (kid-sized ones included) and rode into the Pineta di San Vitale, a centuries-old protected pine forest full of towering stone pines, holm oaks and mature oak trees. Riding under that canopy, with the smell of pine resin in the air and birdsong all around, was a genuinely refreshing break from the summer heat. The gravel trails are flat, wide and easy enough for young kids to handle comfortably, giving that sense of wild adventure without any real difficulty — before the trail brings you out to the lagoon for round two.
Kayaking the Pialassa Baiona
We left the bikes behind and got into kayaks to explore the Pialassa Baiona, one of the most striking brackish lagoons in the Po Delta Park, and one of the richest in biodiversity. Paddling with kids on board takes a bit of teamwork and energy, but it’s absolutely worth it — gliding silently across the water, without disturbing anything around you, is genuinely magical.
The highlight for the kids was spotting colonies of pink flamingos up close — watching them filter-feed or take off in flight was one of the best moments of the whole trip. Along the way you’ll also spot grey herons, little egrets and black-winged stilts.
The route works for all fitness levels, and shorter options are available for anyone who isn’t up for the full paddle.
A few practical tips for the kayak trip:
- Mosquito spray — essential around the reed beds and wetlands, especially from late afternoon on.
- Hat and sunscreen — no shade out on the water, and the glare intensifies the sun.
- Waterproof phone pouch — a must if you want photos and video without risking your phone in the lagoon.
- Plenty of water — there’s no drinking water along the route, so bring enough to stay hydrated, especially in summer heat.
- Sport clothing and a dry change of clothes — wear something light that dries fast, and leave a full change at the visitor centre for after.
To wrap up the day properly, we stayed in the area for dinner at Ca’ del Pino, tucked right into the greenery at the edge of the forest — excellent local Romagna cooking, ideal for refuelling after a full day outdoors.
Getting Lost (and Found) in the Dedalo Corn Maze
In the countryside near Cervia you’ll find Labirinto Dedalo — at over 8 hectares, set inside the Po Delta Park, it’s the largest corn maze in Europe.
You wander through a tangle of paths lined with corn walls over two metres tall, and depending on your choices (and a bit of luck) it can take anywhere from a few minutes to well over an hour to find the exit. The kids took charge as self-appointed group leaders, running between dead ends and forks, laughing through every wrong turn.
Tip: go in the late afternoon, once the sun starts dropping and temperatures ease off — and bring mosquito repellent.
The site is genuinely family-friendly, with outdoor games and a small football pitch where kids can keep burning off energy. To end the evening, stay on-site for dinner — the pizza at Agriturismo Il Covato, which hosts the maze, is excellent, served outdoors in a relaxed, no-frills atmosphere.
Where to Stay on the Coast with Kids
If you’re visiting Ravenna in the warmer months, my advice for families is to skip staying right in the historic centre and base yourself along the coast instead. The so-called lidi ravennati are about fifteen minutes by car (or an easy bus ride) from the UNESCO sites, and let you combine the cultural side of the trip with a proper beach holiday.
We stayed in Lido Adriano at Long Beach Village — spacious apartments, family-friendly setup, a pool, and direct beach access with sunbeds and umbrellas included.
Another solid option in the same area is Hotel Residence Le Dune — steps from the beach, family rooms with a small kitchenette, private beach access with sunbeds and umbrellas included, and a genuinely good breakfast.
Lido Adriano, along with nearby Punta Marina Terme and Marina di Ravenna, works well with kids for a few reasons:
- Wide, safe beaches — fine sand, shallow water that slopes gently, ideal for young kids to play and paddle without worry.
- Well-equipped beach clubs — playgrounds right on the sand, sunbed rental, sports courts, entertainment programmes, and good beachfront spots for lunch with your feet in the sand.
- The perfect afternoon reset — after a morning chasing mosaics and history, coming back, changing into swimwear and jumping in the sea or pool is exactly the reward the kids (and honestly, the parents too) need.
Ravenna with kids turned out to be a bet that paid off completely. Shift your perspective a little, and ancient art stops being boring — especially when it’s turned into a game. Between the mosaic treasure hunt, paddling past pink flamingos, a hands-on mosaic workshop and getting lost in a corn maze, this trip proved that culture and family fun can absolutely go hand in hand — leaving everyone, kids and adults alike, with memories that stick.
Lived in England since 1998 and travelled the world since 2005, visiting over 100 countries on 5 continents. Writer, blogger, photographer with a passion for adventure and travel, discovering those off beat places not yet on the tourist trail. Marco contributes the very best in independent travel tips and lifestyle articles.
