A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rouen vs. Ravenna for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Rouen or Ravenna?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Rouen or Ravenna? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Rouen

Rouen is a historical, charming, and compact city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Ravenna

Ravenna is a historic, off-the-beaten-path, and charming town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Rouen and Ravenna: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rouen or Ravenna?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Rouen than Ravenna, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Rouen is better known for its historical sights and impressive beauty, while Ravenna is more popular for its museums and small town charm. Rouen is well known for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture. Also, Rouen is famous for The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen. Ravenna is well known for its many stunning mosaics which date back to the early Christian and Byzantine empires.

How is Rouen different from Ravenna?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Ravenna and Rouen. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Rouen or Ravenna?

Ravenna is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Ravenna offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Most sights in town are centered around the the beautiful mosaics. Neonian Baptistery is a good place to begin your visit. Other highlights include San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, and Sant'Apollinare Nuovo.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Rouen. You'll find the highest concentration of sights in the city's pedestrian zone. Highlights that you should check out include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Abbatiale Saint-Ouen, and Aître Saint-Maclou.

Is the Food Better in Rouen or Ravenna? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Rouen and Ravenna both to be superb destinations.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Rouen. There are many local specialties found in town. Make sure you try the Passe Crassane, which is a French pear. The town is also known for its cheese, chocolate, and pastries.

Ravenna has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The region is most known for its first course dishes, so pasta lovers will enjoy dining on homemade egg pasta dishes that are served with meat or cheese sauces. You'll also find lots of grilled meats and many great desserts.

Is Rouen or Ravenna Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are notable in both Rouen and Ravenna.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Rouen. You'll find wine bars, trendy cocktail bars, and local pubs where you can grab a drink.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Ravenna. You'll find most of the pubs and clubs in town around Marina di Ravenna. There are a couple of places that attract a crowd, but many are open only during the summer months.

Is Rouen or Ravenna Better for its Old Town?

Rouen is a good destination for its old town. However, Ravenna does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Rouen. The old town is where you'll find spectacular Gothic churches and the most charming streets.

Ravenna does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Rouen or Ravenna?

Both Rouen and Ravenna are notable shopping destinations.

Rouen offers some nice shopping areas. Some of the city's best shopping is found along the Rue du Gros-Horloge in the old city center. You'll find independent boutiques and well as upscale vendors.

Ravenna has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are some nice shopping streets in town where you can buy locally made mosaics. You'll also find art studios and artisan shops, as well as your typical souvenir shops and clothing stores. Via Cavour, via Diaz, and via Cairoli are some of the most popular shopping streets.

Is Rouen or Ravenna Better for Families?

Ravenna is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Ravenna is a very kid-friendly town. In town you'll find mosaics, museums, and a charming town, and ten kilometers outside of town you'll find Italy's largest amusement park - Mirabilandia. The city is also filled with parks where kids can explore and learn, and the food, like any Italian city, is very kid-friendly.

Rouen is a family-friendly city. This beautiful city is filled with nice parks, free museums, and towers that offer views over the city. Kids will enjoy climbing the clocktower, eating pastries, or riding a bike around town.

Is Rouen or Ravenna Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Rouen and Ravenna make for a superb place to visit.

Rouen is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful city makes a great retreat for couples who enjoy good food and nice architecture. There are many hidden gems around town that make this a favorite French city for many couples.

Ravenna makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Many visitors to Italy don't add this charming town to their itinerary, but for couples who want to experience a small town setting with beautiful art and architecture, then Ravenna is a great option. There are parks to explore and great restaurants to experience as well.

Is Rouen or Ravenna Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ravenna is a popular place for backpackers. However, Rouen is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Ravenna. It's a bit off-the-beaten path, so you won't find a large number of hostels or a lot of backpackers to hang out with. That doesn't mean it won't make a great addition to your itinerary though.

Rouen is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Backpackers may struggle to find a hostel with a social setting, but for those who make it here there are many beautiful things to see.

Is Rouen or Ravenna Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Rouen is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Ravenna is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Public transit in Rouen can get you to some places easily. The city has two agencies that offer public transportation. Métro du Rouen is a tramway that runs north to south from Boulingrin in the north to Saint-Sever, where it branches off into two lines (one to Technopôle and one to Georges Braque). There are also buses and rail connections to town.

You'll find some public transit in Ravenna, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Buses in and around town are managed by START ROMAGNA and offer access to many nearby towns.

Is Rouen or Ravenna a more walkable city?

Rouen and Ravenna both are superb when exploring on foot.

Rouen is a very walkable city. There are many parts of town that can easily be explored on foot.

Ravenna is a very walkable destination. There are care-free areas to the town that can only be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Rouen Worth Visiting? and Is Ravenna Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Ravenna or Rouen?

How long in Rouen or Ravenna?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Rouen or Ravenna to fill your time. In our opinion, Ravenna has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Ravenna than Rouen. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Ravenna than Rouen. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Ravenna, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Rouen than Ravenna. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Rouen that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ravenna than Rouen if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Ravenna.

One day in Rouen or Ravenna?

In Rouen, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Even though Ravenna is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Rouen or Ravenna?

In Rouen, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Rouen has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ravenna. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Rouen or Ravenna?

Rouen is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Ravenna is a fun place to experience. Ravenna is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Rouen or Ravenna?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rouen. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Rouen. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Ravenna is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rouen and Ravenna, we can see that Rouen is more expensive. And not only is Ravenna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ravenna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ravenna and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Rouen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rouen than you might in Ravenna.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rouen Expensive? and Is Ravenna Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Rouen or Ravenna?

Ravenna has a larger population, and is about 19% larger than the population of Rouen. When comparing the sizes of Rouen and Ravenna, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Rouen or Ravenna?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Rouen or Ravenna in the Summer?

Both Ravenna and Rouen during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Rouen for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Ravenna because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Rouen is cooler than Ravenna in the summer. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Ravenna fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

Rouen usually gets less rain in July than Ravenna. Rouen gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Ravenna receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Ravenna in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rouen and Ravenna. The autumn months attract visitors to Rouen because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Ravenna this time of year.

In the autumn, Rouen is cooler than Ravenna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rouen in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Ravenna averages at about 14°C (58°F).

In October, Rouen usually receives more rain than Ravenna. Rouen gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Ravenna receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Rouen or Ravenna in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Rouen as well as Ravenna. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rouen this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Ravenna for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Ravenna. It's quite cold in Rouen in the winter. In January, Rouen is generally a little warmer than Ravenna. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 4°C (39°F), and Ravenna fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Rouen usually gets more rain in January than Ravenna. Rouen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Ravenna receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Ravenna in the Spring?

Both Ravenna and Rouen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Rouen for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Ravenna in the spring for the small town charm.

Rouen is cooler than Ravenna in the spring. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Ravenna fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

In April, Rouen usually receives less rain than Ravenna. Rouen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ravenna receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ravenna and Rouen