Ferries run to Sicily from mainland Italy, Sardinia, Malta and Tunisia. Most long-distance routes head for Palermo, whilst the fastest crossing is via the Strait of Messina and takes only about 20 minutes.

The ferry is particularly worthwhile if you’re travelling with your own car, motorbike or campervan.

What’s more, from Naples, Salerno, Civitavecchia, Livorno and Genoa, you can take an overnight crossing and save on a night’s stay in a hotel.

• Compare ferry prices to Sicily
• choose the best accommodation in Sicily
• Find out everything about car hire in Sicily

When is it worth travelling to Sicily by ferry?

We recommend taking the ferry in the following situations:

• you’re travelling in your own car, on a motorbike or in a campervan
• Sicily is part of a longer trip around Italy
• you’re carrying a lot of luggage or sports equipment
• you want to combine a trip to Sicily with a visit to Sardinia, Malta or Tunisia
• you are travelling from Calabria to Messina
• you are continuing on to the Aeolian, Egadi or other smaller Sicilian islands

If you’re travelling without a car from a more distant part of Europe, it’s usually quicker to fly in and then get around the island by public transport or a hire car.

Where to find and buy tickets

For long-distance routes, we recommend starting by comparing offers via Direct Ferries. In one place, you’ll see different ports, sailing times, cabin types and offers from multiple operators.

The comparison tool is most useful on routes where different companies actually compete with one another, particularly:

• Naples–Palermo
• Palermo–Cagliari
• Trapani–Favignana

Always check the final price before paying. Direct Ferries adds a service charge to most bookings, which is only displayed during the booking process. Furthermore, operators sometimes offer discounts on their own websites that the comparison site does not show.

We recommend booking directly with the operator, particularly for:

• short ferry crossings across the Strait of Messina
• the Salerno–Messina route
• ferries between Malta and Sicily
• routes operated by a single ferry operator

For long-distance routes, however, do compare both options. The difference may be small, but when travelling with a car, a cabin and several passengers, a service charge or a special offer from the ferry operator could make a significant difference to the final price.

Which port in Sicily to sail into

Choosing the right port can save you several hours’ driving.

• Palermo is best for northern and western Sicily, for example for Cefalù, Trapani, San Vito Lo Capo or Agrigento.
• Termini Imerese lies about 40 km east of Palermo. It is particularly convenient when travelling by car to Cefalù or further east on the island.
• Messina is the most convenient for Taormina, Catania and Mount Etna.
• Pozzallo and Marina di Ragusa are useful when sailing from Malta and travelling to Ragusa, Modica or the south-east coast.

Termini Imerese is not part of Palermo. Without a car, it is usually more practical to sail directly into the centre of Palermo, whilst for drivers, Termini Imerese can save them a drive through the busy city centre.

How much does a ferry to Sicily cost?

The price depends on the route, the date, the number of passengers, the size of the vehicle and the accommodation chosen on board.

As a rough guide, expect the following prices:

• on foot across the Strait of Messina: 2,50 eur
• standard car across the Strait of Messina: approximately 40–45 eur ne way
• long-distance ferry without a car or cabin: approximately 30–70 eur per person
• two people with a car on a long-distance route: usually 100–250 eur one way
• Two people with a car and a cabin in peak season: often 200–400 eur or more
• shorter routes to smaller islands: generally 10–40 eur per person one way

The lowest price advertised usually applies to a single passenger travelling on foot without a cabin. Once you’ve added a car, a seat, a cabin, a flexible fare and service charges, the final amount may be several times higher.

When comparing prices, therefore, always proceed to the final step before payment.

Ferries from mainland Italy

Below is a list of all the main passenger routes. Journey times are approximate and do not include the time needed for check-in and disembarkation.

From northern and central Italy

• Genoa–Palermo – 20 to 21 hours, operated by GNV
• Livorno–Palermo – 19 to 20 hours, operated by Grimaldi Lines
• Civitavecchia–Palermo – 14 hours, operated by GNV
• Civitavecchia–Termini Imerese – 14 to 15 hours, operated by GNV
• Compare and book ferries from northern Italy

Civitavecchia is situated about 70 km from Rome. It is easily accessible by motorway if travelling by car, but if travelling by public transport, you’ll need to factor in the journey from Rome to the port.

From Naples and Salerno

• Naples–Palermo – 8.5 to 11 hours, operators: GNV and Grimaldi Lines
• Naples–Termini Imerese – 9.5 to 10 hours, operated by GNV, limited number of sailings
• Salerno–Palermo – 9 to 11 hours, operated by Grimaldi Lines
• Salerno–Messina – 9 hours, operated by Caronte & Tourist
• Naples–Aeolian Islands–Milazzo – a long seasonal route operated by Siremar; the journey to Milazzo takes 16 hours
• Compare and book ferries from Naples

The widest choice is usually on the Naples–Palermo route. We therefore recommend comparing both operators, different departure times and all available cabin types.

Older guides sometimes still mention the Salerno–Catania passenger ferry, but this route is no longer available to the general public. On the Naples–Palermo route, you should primarily expect to find GNV and Grimaldi Lines.

From Calabria

This is usually the busiest route of all and a popular choice if you want to combine a road trip through mainland Italy and Sicily.

• Villa San Giovanni–Messina – from 20 minutes, ferries for pedestrians, cars and trains
• Villa San Giovanni–Tremestieri – 45 to 60 minutes, mainly for vehicles
• Reggio Calabria–Messina – 30 to 35 minutes, Liberty Lines high-speed ferries for pedestrians
• Vibo Valentia–Milazzo – 4.5 hours, seasonal high-speed ferries for pedestrians operated by Liberty Lines
• Compare and book ferries from Calabria

Crossing the Strait of Messina by car

When travelling from mainland Italy by car, you don’t need to book a ferry weeks in advance. Ferries between Villa San Giovanni and Sicily run day and night, and the crossing itself is very short.

There are two main options for vehicles.

Villa San Giovanni–Messina

Caronte & Tourist sails to the Rada San Francesco terminal in the northern part of Messina.

• The crossing takes about 20 minutes
• Services run approximately every 40 minutes
• The service operates 24 hours a day
• Passengers, cars, motorbikes and campervans are carried

A one-way ticket for pedestrians costs 2,50 eur. For a standard car carrying up to 5 passengers, you’ll pay approximately 40–45 eur ne way.

Return tickets with a limited validity period are usually significantly better value than two separate journeys.

Choose this route when travelling to the centre of Messina or to the north coast.

Villa San Giovanni–Tremestieri

Bluferries ferries sail to the port of Tremestieri on the southern outskirts of Messina.

• Services usually run once an hour
• The service operates day and night
• Cars, motorbikes, campervans and passengers are carried
• The operator offers a 10 per cent discount when booking online

Tremestieri is a more practical option if you’re continuing on to Taormina, Catania or Syracuse. You’ll avoid some of the city traffic in Messina.

For short crossings of the Strait, buy tickets directly from Caronte & Tourist or Bluferries. Comparison websites do not always show all options, and their service fee offers no real benefit in this case.

In July and August, expect queues, particularly at weekends. Allow plenty of time during public holidays as well.

Ferries from Sardinia, Malta and Tunisia

From Sardinia

• Cagliari–Palermo – approximately 12 hours, operated by Grimaldi Lines
• Compare and book ferries from Sardinia

The service does not usually run every day. When planning a round trip via Sardinia and Sicily, you should therefore tailor your itinerary to your specific departure date.

From Malta

• Valletta–Pozzallo – approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, operated by Virtu Ferries
• Valletta–Marina di Ragusa – approximately 2 hours, operated by Ragusa XPress
• Compare and book ferries from Malta

Both routes also carry cars. The number of sailings varies depending on the season and day of the week.

Only Virtu Ferries operates on the Valletta–Pozzallo route. Direct Ferries does not compare multiple operators on this route and may add its own service charge, so please check the price directly on the Virtu Ferries website before booking.

Some ferry search engines do not display connections to Marina di Ragusa at all. Therefore, please search for tickets directly with Ragusa XPress.

From Tunisia

• Tunis–Palermo – approximately 10 to 14 hours, operated by GNV and Grimaldi Lines
• Compare and book ferries from Tunisia

On this route, we recommend comparing the prices of both operators first. As well as the basic fare, check the price of a cabin, vehicle transport and the terms for changing your booking.

Before travelling, check the required travel documents and entry rules for Tunisia. Check-in for international crossings takes significantly longer than for domestic ferries.

There are no regular direct passenger ferries from France or Spain to Sicily. You must first sail to a port on the Italian mainland and continue from there to Sicily.

Ferries to the smaller Sicilian islands

Two main types of vessel operate to the smaller islands:

• high-speed boats and hydrofoils operated by Liberty Lines or Torre Lines, intended for foot passengers only
• slower, conventional Siremar ferries, which also carry cars and motorbikes

The Aeolian Islands

The main port of departure is Milazzo.

Ferries connect Milazzo with the following islands:

• Vulcano
• Lipari
• Salina, the ports of Santa Marina Salina and Rinella
• Panarea
• Stromboli and Ginostra
• Filicudi
• Alicudi

There are also direct connections between the individual islands. Selected high-speed ferries depart from Messina and Reggio Calabria, whilst a seasonal night ferry links the archipelago with Naples.

Lipari has the widest range of services. When travelling to the smaller islands, bear in mind that not every boat stops at all ports.

The Egadi Islands

The main departure point is the port of Trapani.

• Trapani–Favignana
• Trapani–Levanzo
• Trapani–Marettimo
• Connections between the individual Aegadian Islands
• Selected seasonal services from Marsala to Favignana

The Trapani–Favignana route is served by Liberty Lines, Siremar and Torre Lines. It’s well worth comparing departure times across these different operators.

Ustica

• Palermo–Ustica

The island is served by high-speed passenger ferries as well as slower car ferries.

Pantelleria

• Trapani–Pantelleria

A conventional ferry carries both passengers and vehicles. The crossing is considerably longer than journeys to the Egadi Islands, and the number of sailings is more limited.

Lampedusa and Linosa

• Porto Empedocle–Linosa–Lampedusa

Porto Empedocle is situated near Agrigento. Both standard ferries and high-speed boats operate on this route, though their service is heavily influenced by the weather and the season.

On the smaller islands, there may be seasonal bans on visitors’ cars. You should therefore always check vehicle transport options before booking your ferry.

How to buy a ferry ticket as cheaply as possible

For long-distance ferries, prices fluctuate in a similar way to airline tickets. The cheapest fares may sell out long before departure, especially if you’re travelling by car and need a cabin.

The following steps may help:

1. Compare ferries on Direct Ferries.
2. Check departures a day earlier and a day later.
3. Compare Palermo with Termini Imerese and, if applicable, Messina.
4. Also visit the website of your chosen operator and compare the final price, including fees.
5. Add in the cost of fuel, motorway tolls and travel to the specific port.
6. For overnight crossings, consider booking a cabin, as this also serves as accommodation.

If travelling by car in the summer, we recommend booking a long-distance ferry as soon as you know your itinerary. For the Strait of Messina, however, it is not necessary to buy a ticket several months in advance.

Cars, motorbikes and campervans on ferries

Most long-distance ferries carry passenger cars, motorbikes, campervans and trailers. The high-speed boats operated by Liberty Lines and Torre Lines are for pedestrians only.

When booking, please provide the actual dimensions of your vehicle. Also take into account:

• roof box
• bicycles on a rear rack
• tow bar
• trailer
• a raised roof on a motorhome

Incorrectly stated length or height may result in an additional charge at the port, or refusal of carriage if the ship is fully booked.

Once the ferry has set sail, the vehicle deck is usually closed off. You should therefore take your documents, medication, electronic devices, warm clothing and everything else you’ll need during the crossing with you.

If you are travelling in a hire car, check the hire company’s terms and conditions. Some companies do not permit the car to be transported by ferry, driven to another country, or returned on the opposite side of the Strait of Messina. For a standard holiday, it is therefore often simpler to hire a car once you arrive in Sicily.

Check-in and boarding the ferry

The exact check-in time is always stated on your ticket. We generally recommend arriving:

• at least 1 hour before a domestic crossing without a car
• at least 2 hours before a long-distance crossing with a vehicle
• at least 3 to 4 hours before a crossing to or from Tunisia

For the short crossing of the Strait of Messina, you need only arrive a little earlier; however, during the peak season, allow extra time for queuing.

Every passenger must have a valid form of identification. The driver also needs the vehicle documents.

Check whether your booking confirmation serves as your boarding pass, or whether you need to check in online or at the port. At large ports, follow the terminal and carrier name stated on your ticket, rather than just the general ‘port’ location on your sat-nav.

Upon arrival, do not plan a connecting journey that is too tight. It can take tens of minutes for the ferry to dock and for all vehicles to disembark.

Cabin, seat or space on deck

On long-distance ferries, you usually have a choice of three options:

• a free space on deck without a reserved seat
• a reclining seat in the lounge
• a private cabin with berths and a bathroom

For a day trip, a seat or a spot on deck is usually sufficient. For overnight journeys longer than 8 hours, we recommend a cabin. The difference in comfort is significant, and the cost of a cabin partly offsets the cost of a night in a hotel.

On larger ships, you’ll find a restaurant, bar and communal areas. Meals are not usually included in the fare and tend to be more expensive on board than on land.

Some ferries have designated kennels or special cabins for pets. As capacity is limited, please book these at the same time as your ticket.

Trains that board the ferry

Selected direct InterCity and InterCity Notte trains between mainland Italy, Palermo and Syracuse cross the Strait of Messina on a rail ferry.

At Villa San Giovanni, the train splits up; the individual carriages board the ferry and continue on the Sicilian railway network from Messina. Passengers may alight from their carriage and go on deck during the crossing.

The ferry crossing is included in the train ticket and no further booking is required. This journey is slow but convenient for passengers without a car who do not wish to change between train and ferry.

Search for tickets on the Trenitalia website. Further information on travelling around the island can be found in the section on transport in Sicily.