Taking over the hire car

Many hire car customers reach Ravenna via the airport in Rimini. There, you will find numerous hire car agencies right at the terminal. Before you book your hire car, however, you should make sure that your hire car company is there. Often, hire car companies are only located in the vicinity of the airport. If you have booked with such a provider, you sometimes have to wait a long time for a shuttle to take you to your hire car.

Hire car prices

The cost of hire cars in Rimini and Ravenna is usually in the middle range. Only during peak season, when car rentals are scarce, can prices climb upwards. You can usually get the cheapest rates if you book well in advance of your trip and use our handy price comparison tool.

hire car price comparison Ravenna

age limit

You must be 19 or 21 to hire car at almost all hire car agencies in Ravenna and Rimini. And drivers younger than 25 often pay an additional fee. You can check the terms and conditions of your rental company in the rental terms and conditions.

Language barrier

In Ravenna and Rimini, it’s by no means certain that all hire car station staff speak good English. Make sure you know the phone number of the Italian head office of your rental company before your trip. There you can ask for translation help if necessary.

Tank control

With most hire car companies in Ravenna and Rimini, you will be given a full tank of fuel and you will also return the car with a full tank. As this is a clear and transparent rule, you should make sure that your rental company does the same.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Although most hire car customers are quite satisfied with hire car in Ravenna and Rimini, some do complain about the external condition of the vehicles. Defects such as scratches or dents, should always be confirmed in writing in a fault report. This document will help you to prove that you are not responsible for the damage when you return the car. If you arrive at night, it can be helpful to have a flashlight in your hand luggage to be able to see damage to the hire car even in the dark.

Sights in Ravenna

Basilica San Vitale and Mausoleum of Galla Placidia: magnificent mosaics
At the Basilica San Vitale the city stroll could begin. Here you stand before a masterpiece of Byzantine architectural style. Already in the year 525 with the construction work was begun.in the year 548 the Basilica was completed. The difference to the architectural style of later eras can be seen in the fact that the church does not have a nave. The Basilica is rather a round building crowned by a dome.

The interior is richly decorated with marble and mosaics. Especially the magnificent mosaics of the imperial couple Justinian and Theodora are remarkable. They are located in the presbytery. The mausoleum of Galla Placidia, directly behind the Basilica, is also worth a visit. In the inconspicuous building you will find magnificent mosaics, which were created about a hundred years before the Basilica. The mausoleum was built between 425 and 430. The oldest mosaics in Ravenna are to be found here. Many motifs are dedicated to the martyr Laurentius, who died a fiery death.

Baptistery Neoniano: Mighty Baptistery
The Baptistery Neoniano could be another point of the city tour. It was built in the fifth century. The mosaic in the dome of the interior depicts the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. The mighty baptismal font also impresses visitors.

Basilica Sant’Apollinare Nuovo: Ancient place of worship
Next highlight of the city walk is the Basilica Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. “Nuovo” is a relative term in Ravenna, though. This place of worship was also built in the 6th century. No other decorations distract from the magnificent mosaics inside. Many depict episodes from the life of Christ.

Mausoleum of Theoderic: Ostrogothic architectural style
You could end the city tour at the mausoleum of the Ostrogothic king Theoderic. It was built in the 6th century and is considered an outstanding achievement of Ostrogothic master builders. While the building lacks the grandeur of Byzantine buildings, it captivates visitors with its classical form and lack of frills.

Find a good hotel

There is no shortage of nice hotels in Ravenna. Make a reservation at the Sant’ Andrea. You’ll stay in a 17th-century palazzo, just 150 metres from the Basilica San Vitale. All rooms are stylishly decorated and offer good comfort.

Suggestion for a trip by hire car

Santarcangelo di Romagna: Ancient Cloth Press and Tufa Caves
Santarcangelo di Romagna is a worthwhile destination for a first trip by hire car. From Ravenna, the drive will take you just under an hour. In the enchanting old town with its winding streets there is an absolute specialty to discover, the Stamperia Marchi. This is a huge fabric press from the 17th century that was used to press coarse linen by means of a treadle wheel. Even today, there are often demonstrations of how the press works. Also of interest are the tuff caves that lie beneath the old town. Once used as dwellings, they are now used for storage and wine cellars.

San Marino: Diverse Dwarf State
Continue your journey in half an hour to San Marino. You’re now leaving Italy and cruising Europe’s third-smallest state and the world’s oldest surviving republic. In the Museo di Stato you can learn about the history of the country. Afterwards, a visit to the Palazzo Pubblico is worthwhile. The neo-Gothic building is guarded by colourfully robed guards. Don’t miss the chance to buy a stamp at the Azienda Autonoma di Stato Filatelica e Numismatica. For the stamps of the dwarf state are rare and sought after.

San Leo: Picturesque Village
Back to Italy, head for San Leo at the end of your trip. The drive takes about half an hour. The small village is picturesquely situated on a hillside. In San Leo, the 12th-century cathedral is worth a visit, considered a prime example of Romanesque architectural style. The castle of the village is also worth seeing. Prisoners condemned by the Vatican were once imprisoned behind its defiant walls. Today, the partly medieval cells and the castle can be visited. At the end of the stroll, you will have the opportunity to stroll through the winding streets of the village and buy local handicrafts in small shops. A drive of about an hour and a half now separates you from Ravenna. There you can review the events of your hire car trip and plan your next excursions.