Ferries to Albania from Italy and Greece
Ferries to and from Albania
Albania is the Adriatic’s late starter. Ten years ago hardly anyone from Britain thought of it as a ferry destination; now it is the cheap back door to the Balkans and to Corfu, with overnight ships from three Italian ports and a 30-minute hop across to Greece. Prices are a fraction of what you pay for Greece or Croatia, the coast between Vlorë and Sarandë is as good as anything on the other side of the water, and the ferries are the reason you can take your own car there without a 2,000 km drive through the Balkans.
Three honest notes before the routes. The Italian ships are older than what you may be used to on the Channel, and a cabin on the overnight sailings is worth the money. Durrës port is busy and not well signposted, so arrive early. And we have not sailed these crossings ourselves yet, so the times and operators below are what the operators publish for 2026, checked on 28 October 2026.
Map: ferry crossings to Albania from Italy and Corfu
Albania to Italy ferries
Three routes link Albania with Italy, all of them carrying cars, motorhomes and foot passengers:
| Route | Operators | Crossing time | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bari to Durrës | Adria Ferries, GNV, Ventouris Ferries | 8.5 to 10 hours, mostly overnight | 1 to 2 a day in winter, up to 4 in summer |
| Ancona to Durrës | Adria Ferries | 16 to 19 hours, overnight | up to 7 a week in summer |
| Brindisi to Vlorë | Star Lines, A-Ships | 4.5 to 7 hours | up to 7 a week |
Bari to Durrës is the workhorse: the shortest crossing to the capital’s port, the most sailings and the most competition, so also the cheapest. Ancona suits anyone driving down from the north of Italy or from the Channel ports; you save a day on Italian motorways and sleep on board instead. Brindisi to Vlorë is the one for the Albanian Riviera, since Vlorë is where the good coast starts. Bari to Sarandë and Bari to Vlorë are listed on some booking sites but had no sailings in 2026.
Coming from the UK with a car? The practical way is a Channel crossing to France and the drive down through Italy to Ancona, about 1,300 km from Calais, or Bari, another 450 km further south. Many people make Puglia part of the holiday and take the Bari night boat from there. Our Italy page has the routes from Spain if you prefer to sail round.
Ferries between Italy and Albania:
Ferries between Albania and Greece
The only ferry between Albania and Greece is the short one between Sarandë and Corfu: about 30 minutes on the fast boats, an hour and a quarter on the conventional ferry, with Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways running up to six sailings a day in summer and one or two in winter. It is a proper international crossing with passport control on both sides, so bring your passport even for a day trip, and allow 45 minutes at the port.
It works both ways. Corfu holidaymakers use it for a day in Sarandë and the Roman and Byzantine ruins at Butrint, twenty minutes south. Drivers coming through Albania use it to reach Corfu and the Italy to Corfu and mainland Greek ferries from there. Cars are carried on the conventional sailings only; most people cross on foot and hire a car or take a taxi on the other side.
Good to know
- Albania uses the lek. Euros are accepted at ports and in tourist spots, but cards less so once you leave the coast; carry some cash.
- Border formalities at Durrës and Vlorë can take a while when several ships arrive together. Arrive at least 90 minutes before departure with a vehicle.
- UK passport holders can stay in Albania for up to a year without a visa, and Albania is outside Schengen, so the days do not count towards your 90 in 180.
- Green card: check that your car insurance covers Albania; many UK policies need an extension.
Prices and availability
Bari to Durrës starts around €35 per person one way outside the season, Brindisi to Vlorë around €45 and Ancona to Durrës around €78, before the car and the cabin. Use the booking module below to compare the sailings for your date; summer weekends sell out in July and August, when half of the Albanian diaspora in Italy travels home.
On board and maps for the ferries to Albania
Tips for ferry travellers
Tips for ferry travellers
