Boat rental in Ravenna — Marina di Ravenna, the Paguro wreck, Cervia, the Po Delta and tips for 2027

Ravenna is famous for its Byzantine mosaics and as the city where Dante is buried, but it also has a long coastline on the Adriatic. The city lies about 10 km inland and is linked to the sea by the Candiano canal, at the end of which lie Marina di Ravenna and Porto Corsini. From there the coast of wide sandy beaches and pine forests stretches north towards the Po Delta and south towards Cervia and Cesenatico. This guide covers where boats leave from, where to go, the rules and when to come.

Where boats leave from

Most boats are based at the Marinara marina in Marina di Ravenna, one of the largest marinas on the Adriatic, and in the smaller harbour of Porto Corsini on the opposite bank of the canal. Along the coast there are further harbours at Casal Borsetti to the north and at Cervia and Cesenatico to the south. The canal also serves a busy commercial port, so keep to the right and watch out for large ships.

Where to go

• The Ravenna beaches (1–8 NM): from Marina Romea and Casal Borsetti in the north to Punta Marina, Lido Adriano, Lido di Dante and Lido di Classe in the south, a long line of beaches backed by pine forests.
• The Paguro wreck (about 12 NM): a sunken gas platform that has become an artificial reef and a protected site. Diving is allowed only with authorised centres, and anchoring and fishing are restricted.
• Cervia and Milano Marittima (about 10–12 NM): a seaside town with old salt pans and a lively harbour canal lined with fishing boats. See the boats in Cervia page.
• Cesenatico (about 16 NM): a harbour canal designed by Leonardo da Vinci, with a floating museum of traditional sailing boats.
• The Po Delta (about 15–25 NM north): lagoons, reed beds and the town of Comacchio; the shallow waters are best explored with a local guide or on an organised trip.

For more of the northern Adriatic, see our guides to boat rental in Venice and boat rental in Trieste. If you are touring the region by campervan, read our Bologna campervan guide.

Rules and tips

• Licence. Without a licence you can drive a boat up to 10 m with an engine of up to about 40 hp, within 6 nautical miles of the coast. Larger boats need a licence or a skipper.
• Swimming areas. In summer a strip along the beaches is reserved for swimmers; boats may only cross it slowly through marked corridors, so check the local ordinance.
• Gas platforms. There are many gas platforms off the coast of Ravenna; keep out of the safety zones around them.
• Port traffic. The Candiano canal leads to a large commercial port; give way to ships and keep your speed down.
• Shallow water. The coast is low and sandy, with sandbars near the shore; watch the depth when approaching the beach.

Wind and weather

In summer the morning is often calm, and a sea breeze from the east or south-east builds in the afternoon. The bora from the north-east can blow hard and raise short, steep waves, especially outside summer, and the scirocco from the south-east brings a longer swell. Summer thunderstorms can arrive quickly in the afternoon, so check the forecast every morning.

When to go

The season runs from June to September. In August the sea reaches about 25–26 °C, but the beaches and marinas are at their busiest. June and September are quieter and still warm. From June to July the Ravenna Festival brings concerts to the city's basilicas and squares, a good reason to combine a day on the sea with an evening in town.

A boat in Ravenna with Crystalium Booker

We are still building up our boat offer in Ravenna. Send us your date and number of people through the contact page and we will look for a suitable boat, and keep an eye on the boats in Ravenna page for new listings. Do you rent out a boat in or around Ravenna? List it with us.