Looking to explore the beautiful landscapes and vibrant cultures of Italy and Greece in one unforgettable trip? Well, you’re in luck! Forget the hassles of airports and security lines because you can hop on a ferry ride and sail across the Ionian Sea between these two incredible destinations.
In this guide, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty details of ferry travel from Italy to Greece. We’ve got the lowdown on the best ferry companies like ANEK Lines, the most scenic routes, and the top options for both the Greek mainland and the enchanting Greek islands.
Whether you’re planning a day trip or an overnight adventure, I have the details you need. So, if you’re wondering about the best way to embark on this exciting ferry trip, look no further. Let’s set sail and discover the wonders of Italy and Greece by ferry!
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Ferries Between The Ports Of Ancona & Igoumenitsa
Ancona is situated on the Adriatic Sea and is a large port. There are several daily crossings over to Igoumenitsa on the west coast of Greece.
Anek Superfast and Minoan Lines operate crossings daily, with around 1-3 services depending upon the time of year. The first ferry leaves in the early afternoon and another late in the evening, with a ferry duration of around 16-21 hours.
There is also a return ferry from the ports of Igoumenitsa to Ancona daily.
Ferries Between Ancona & The Port Of Patras
The port of Ancona also offers ferries over to Greece to Patras Port via Anek Superfast, with two departures daily, leaving in the afternoon. The journey takes 21 to 24 hours, and it’s a good idea to book a cabin with a bed so you can get some sleep on this very long journey.
Previously, Minoan Lines offered this service, too, but this is no longer the case for 2023.
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Ferries Between Venice & Greece (Patras & Igoumenitsa)
There are three weekly ferry crossings from Venice to Greece, to Patras and Igoumenitsa. Anek Superfast ferries serve this route, which takes around 26 hours to Igoumenitsa and 33 hours to Patras on the overnight ferry. However, the service to Patras does stop at Igoumenitsa.
Again, it’s best to book a sleeper cabin to get some rest en route.
Ferries Between Bari & Igoumenitsa
Bari is located in the south of Italy, and there are regular Italy-to-Greece ferries (port of Igoumenitsa). Both Anek Superfast and Ventouris Ferries run this route with 1-3 crossings daily, depending upon the time of year. Ferries leave late in the evening or around midnight, so booking a sleeper cabin is recommended.
The journey takes anywhere between eight hours to eleven and a half hours, yet many amenities are on board to make your trip more enjoyable.
Ferries Between Bari & Patras
In 2023, there will be a once-daily crossing between Bari and Patras, which takes 16.5 hours. Anek Superfast will serve this.
Ferries Between Brindisi & Greece (Igoumenitsa & Patras)
Choosing to take the ferry from Brindisi has one major plus point – it is the closest port to Greece, so journey times are shorter, at around 8 hours. Grimaldi Lines offers services to both Igoumenitsa and Patras. There is one daily crossing to Igoumenitsa and up to three weekly to Patras, depending upon the time of year.
Due to the decreased distance, this is also the cheapest of the ferries from Italy to Greece.
Ferries Between Italy & The Ionian Islands
It is possible to take the ferry from Italy to Corfu and Kefalonia in around 8 hours during the peak summer months only.
Minoan Lines offers four weekly crossings from Ancona to Corfu, taking anything between 15 and 20 hours. You can also travel from Bari to Corfu with both Anek Superfast and Ventouris Ferries in around 10 hours, with seven crossings per week.
There are services from Brindisi to Corfu three times per week with Grimaldi Lines, with a journey time of around 8 hours. Alternatively, you can travel from Venice to Corfu once weekly with a 25-hour crossing time.
Ferry crossings between Bari and Kefalonia are available between July and August only with Ventouris Ferries and takes around 18 hours.
What are the most popular ferry routes between Italy and Greece?
- Ancona to Corfu, Igoumenitsa, or Patras
- Brindisi to Corfu, Igoumenitsa, or Patras
- Venice to Corfu, Igoumenitsa, or Patras
- Bari to Corfu, Igoumenitsa, Patros, or Kefalonia
How long is a ferry crossing between Italy and Greece?
This varies widely depending on which port you leave from and which port you arrive at. Travel times are anywhere from 8 hours to 33 hours.
What is the shortest ferry route from Italy to Greece?
Brindisi is the closest port in Italy to Greece, so routes heading out from here are the shortest at about 8 hours per trip.
What is the ferry price from Italy to Greece?
Prices range from €55 to €126.
What is the cheapest ferry route from Italy to Greece?
Because Brindisi is the closest ferry port in Italy to Greece, the trips are shorter, leading to cheaper costs for tickets.
Are there discounts offered for ferries from Italy to Greece?
Yes – check the ferry sites, but often, you will find student discounts, family discounts, return ticket discounts, child discounts, ADAC discounts, and more, along with early booking discounts.
What ferry operators have direct ferry connections between Italy and Greece?
Anek Superfast, Hellenic Seaways, Minoan Lines, Ventouris Ferries, Superfast Ferries, and Grimaldi Lines have ferry lines between Italy and Greece.
Can I bring a car or camper van on the ferry from Italy to Greece?
Yes! Book these well in advance as availability can get low, especially during high season.
Now that you know how to travel from Italy to Greece by ferry, which ferry service and route suits you best?
When we get to Greece do we need to show a visa?
If you are coming from Italy, then. you will be traveling in the Schengen zone. Remember that the countries that this apply to are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
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Is it possible to enter Italy without a passport if we come from Greece?
Greece and Italy are both members of the Schengen Area, which is a group of European countries that have abolished internal border controls. This means that, in general, travel between Greece and Italy does not require passing through immigration checks or showing a passport.
The ferry crossing duration from Italy to Greece ranges from 8 to 33 hours depending on the port of departure, the final destination and any intermediate stops. The fastest ferry from Italy to Greece is from Brindisi to Corfu with a duration of 8 hours.
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