How to plan your ferry trip in Italy

Whether you want to take the hydrofoil from Naples to Capri or get from Sorrento to Positano by ferry, travelling by boat in Italy can be a sublime pleasure (especially during the summer!) – and an excellent way to avoid the hassles of flying or driving.

When it comes to Mediterranean islands, many immediately think of Greece. However, it is worth noting that Italy also boasts two of the largest islands in the region, namely Sicily and Sardinia, as well as numerous smaller but equally enchanting islands, such as Capri and Elba. Thanks to reliable ferry services, these islands are easily accessible, and plenty of routes connect them with neighbouring countries like Croatia and Greece.

Which ferry should I choose?

Italy has dozens of ferry companies operating more than 100 routes, which can be broken down into three main categories:

1) Short-distance ferry trips: These are quick trips with many daily sailings, such as the Naples to Capri ferry, the hydrofoil from Naples to Sorrento or the ferry from Sorrento to Capri. Many short routes will have a mix of fast passenger-only hydrofoils as well as slower conventional ships that carry cars.

2) Long-distance ferry trips: Longer voyages, such as sailing from the mainland to Sardinia. The boats are usually good-sized and carry cars in addition to passengers. Many sail overnight.

3) Very long-distance ferry trips: These very large car ferries cover large swathes of the Mediterranean, saving passengers the need to traverse long distances on land to reach their destination. The Genoa to Sicily route is a good example. Voyages may last up to a day.

travelling by boat in Italy Capri — The only way to reach smaller Italian islands such as Capri is by ferry (Credit: Pixabay)

Do I need to book ferry tickets in advance in Italy?

If you’re wondering when the ideal moment is to purchase ferry tickets in Italy, it’s recommended to book ahead for the most in-demand routes, especially during holiday weekends and the months of July and August.
Type in your route into Rome2Rio for the latest schedules, operator details and ticket information.

It’s important to keep in mind that certain ferry routes may only run during Spring and Summer due to seasonal changes. Moreover, it’s essential to know that ferry services are subject to the weather conditions. Rough seas can cause last-minute cancellations or schedule adjustments, so it’s always a good idea to check the status of your route before setting out on your travels.

Can I fly to the Italian islands?

You can to some, such as Sardinia and Sicily, but for smaller islands such as Capri, ferries are the only way to reach them. The ferries avoid airport hassles, even if they usually take longer. In addition, travelling by boat in Italy, while balmy breezes blow and the water sparkles, can be a true pleasure.

5 tips for boat travel in Italy:

On short-distance ferries, opt for the cheapest deck class when the weather is sunny.
On overnight ferries, there are usually affordable cabins available in various sizes.
Typically short-distance ferries have fixed prices; no need to book in advance, just buy your ticket at the dock and go.
Long-distance ferries, like those to Sardinia, usually have cheap advance-purchase tickets online.
All routes have the most service in high season from April to October.

Popular ferry routes around Italy:

Gulf of Naples ferries

The fabled Isle of Capri is but one destination on the gulf. From the busy port of Naples (which is convenient to trains) you can also reach the island of Ischia by ferry and even cut across the gulf to Sorrento. The beautiful Amalfi Coast also has boats to the islands, whether you want to get the ferry from Positano to Capri or Sorrento to Procida.

Capri to Procida by ferry: Operates April to September (2-3 hours)
Capri to Sorrento by ferry: Ferries run twice daily (45 minutes)
Naples to Ischia by ferry: Busy route with several ferries running every hour (around 1 hour)
Naples to Sorrento by ferry: Avoid the hour-long train ride along the coast for a refreshing fast and frequent hydrofoil (40 mins)
Naples to Capri by ferry: Various types of ferries run each day and are operated by several companies (50-70 mins)
Sorrento to Capri by ferry: High-speed ferries run frequently (20-30 mins)
Amalfi to Positano by ferry: Skip the drive between these two storied resort towns and take one of the many daily ferries (25 mins)
Positano to Capri by ferry: Travel from luxurious Positano to the beauty of Capri on high-speed ferries (30 mins)
Positano (Via Capri) to Naples by ferry: Get the ferry via Capri instead of driving or taking the train (2 hours, exc transfer)
Naples to Amalfi by ferry: Travel to this gorgeous little town by ferry via Sorrento (2¼ hours, exc transfer)
Capri to Naples by ferry: Various types of ferries run each day and are operated by several companies (45-70 mins)

Sicily ferries

Bustling Sicily is linked by more than two dozen routes to the mainland; the most important are listed here:

Civitavecchia to Palermo by ferry: Sail overnight from the port closest to Rome. A large GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci) car ferry sails about five times per week and has many amenities. (12 hours)
Genoa to Palermo by ferry: No need to drive the length of Italy – sail overnight from the north. Large GNV car ferries sail daily and have many amenities. (21 hours)
Naples to Palermo by ferry: GNV and Tirrenia offer competing overnight large car ferries across the Gulf of Naples. (11 hours)
Reggio Calabria to Messina by ferry: One of the world’s busiest crossings, with scores of daily boats from hydrofoils to car ferries to train ferries. Liberty Lines has the most boats and the most frequent schedules, with fast boats every 30 minutes. (30 minutes)

Lipari, travelling by boat in Italy — Lipari is a hub for ferries throughout the Aeolian Islands (Credit: Wikimedia)

Aeolian Island ferries

These seven beautiful small islands off the northeast coast of Sicily include the alluringly named Vulcano and Stromboli. Lipari is the hub of a web of frequent ferry services within the archipelago and beyond.

Milazzo to Lipari by ferry: Milazzo is near Messina on Sicily. Services are provided by Liberty Lines and Siremar, which make several runs daily. (1 hour)
Naples to Lipari by ferry: SNAV operates a daily ferry from June to September. (7 hours)

Sardinia ferries

The Mediterranean’s second largest island, Sardinia is well-linked to the mainland. Ferry service (mostly on very large car ferries) is good year-round, with peaks in the summer. The main ports are Porto Torres in the northwest, Olbia in the northeast and Cagliari in the south.

Genoa to Porto Torres by ferry: GNV and Tirrenia operate large car ferries many times a week. (13 hours)
Genoa to Olbia by ferry: Moby and Tirrenia operate large car ferries many times a week. (10½–12 hours)
Livorno to Olbia by ferry: Grimaldi Lines and Moby operate large car ferries up to four times daily both overnight and during the day on one of the shortest routes to Sardinia. (8½–12 hours)
Civitavecchia to Olbia by ferry: Grimaldi Lines and Tirrenia operate large car ferries many times a week from this port close to Rome. (5½ hours)
Civitavecchia to Cagliari by ferry: Tirrenia operates large car ferries daily to the south of Sardinia from this port close to Rome. (13 hours)

Elba Italy by boat — Catch the ferry from Piombino on the mainland to get to Elba (Credit: Pixabay)

Elba ferries

If Napoleon had this kind of service, he would have never been in exile. The little island of Elba is well-linked to the mainland port of Piombino. The primary port is Portoferraio although the nearby villages of Rio Marina and Cavo also have frequent service.

Piombino to Portoferraio by ferry: Hydrofoils and regular boats make the short run many times a day. (15–65 mins)

International ferries from Italy

A large network of car ferries link Italy to other countries in the east and west. There are dozens of routes, and operators and frequencies change through the year. The following are the most important routes.

From Italy’s east coast

Lots of ferries cross the Adriatic Sea, meaning you can travel by boat from Italy to Croatia and the Balkans, and by ferry from Italy to Greece and the Greek islands.

Venice to Patras, Greece by ferry (38 hours)
Venice to Porec, Croatia by ferry (3 hours)
Venice to Pula, Croatia by ferry (2½ hours)
Venice to Rovinj, Croatia by ferry (3¾ hours)
Ancona to Igoumenitsa, Greece by ferry (17 hours)
Ancona to Patras, Greece by ferry (21½ hours)
Ancona to Split, Croatia by ferry (11½ hours)
Bari to Corfu, Greece by ferry (12 hours)
Bari to Durres, Albania by ferry (10 hours)
Bari to Dubrovnik, Croatia by ferry (runs August to mid-October with one ferry crossing per week) (8 ½ hours)
Bari to Igoumenitsa, Greece by ferry (9 hours)
Brindisi to Corfu, Greece by ferry (7 hours)
Brindisi to Igoumenitsa, Greece by ferry (8 hours)
Brindisi to Vlora, Albania by ferry (5 hours)