Ferry from Italy to Greece
Select departure from “Italy” to compare ferry routes to Greece and vice versa
Ferries from Italy to Greece (and back)
Our quick choice
- Shortest crossing: Brindisi – Igoumenitsa, about 8 hours.
- Best overnight ferry: Bari – Igoumenitsa – Patras, every evening.
- Driving from the UK or northern Europe: Ancona or Venice, so the ferry does the long bit.
- Heading for Athens or the Peloponnese: arrive in Patras, not Igoumenitsa.
Most people choose a port by looking at the crossing time. We would look at the whole journey instead. Brindisi has the shortest ferry, but from northern Italy it is a long drive to get there. Venice has the longest crossing, but you spend a day and two nights on board instead of on the motorway. Below we compare every route that runs in 2026.
Map: ferries between Italy and Greece
The ferries leave from four Italian ports and arrive in two Greek mainland ports: Igoumenitsa in the north-west, close to Corfu and the Epirus mountains, and Patras in the north of the Peloponnese, about 2.5 hours from Athens. Some sailings call at Corfu or Kefalonia on the way.
All 10 ferry routes from Italy to Greece
Most popular first. Click a route for live times and prices for your dates.
All ferries from Italy to Greece in 2026
| Route | Crossing | Operator | Sailings | From (one way) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brindisi – Igoumenitsa | about 8 hours (day or night) | Grimaldi Lines | up to 2 a day, all year | about €37 per person, car about €60 |
| Brindisi – Corfu | about 7 hours (overnight) | Grimaldi Lines | summer only, Thu–Sat | about €60 |
| Bari – Igoumenitsa | about 9.5 hours (overnight) | Superfast Ferries; Ventouris in summer | daily, all year | about €38, car about €75 |
| Bari – Sami (Kefalonia) | about 14 hours | Superfast Ferries; Ventouris on summer Mondays | daily from October to December | about €52 |
| Bari – Patras | about 17 hours | Superfast Ferries | daily, all year | about €56, car about €80 |
| Bari – Corfu | overnight | Superfast (Thursdays in summer), Ventouris | summer only | about €39 |
| Ancona – Igoumenitsa | 16 to 22 hours | Superfast Ferries, Grimaldi Lines | up to 3 a day, all year | about €66, car about €120 |
| Ancona – Patras | 21 to 24 hours | Superfast Ferries | about 6 a week, up to 2 a day in summer | about €114, car about €160 |
| Ancona – Corfu | about 20 hours | Grimaldi Lines; some Superfast sailings | summer only | about €70 |
| Venice – Igoumenitsa | 26 to 27 hours | Superfast Ferries | 2 to 3 a week, all year | about €117 |
| Venice – Patras | 32 to 34 hours | Superfast Ferries | 2 to 3 a week, all year | about €103, car about €145 |
Lowest one-way fares per adult as listed in October 2026, before port and fuel charges. Superfast and Grimaldi only show their prices in the booking system, so these come from booking sites. There are no longer ferries to Greece from Trieste, Ravenna or Otranto, and Brindisi – Patras no longer runs.
Which Italian port should you choose?
It depends mostly on where you start driving and where you are going in Greece. If you are driving down from the UK, these are the rough distances from Calais (our own estimates, without stops):
| From Calais to | Distance | Driving time | Then the ferry to Greece |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venice | about 1,250 km | 12 to 13 hours | 26 to 34 hours |
| Ancona | about 1,500 km | 14 to 15 hours | 16 to 24 hours |
| Bari | about 2,050 km | 19 to 20 hours | 9.5 to 17 hours |
| Brindisi | about 2,150 km | 20 to 21 hours | about 8 hours |
That is the trade-off in one table: every port further south saves you time at sea, but costs you a long day in the car. From the UK we would usually pick Ancona: the drive is long but manageable in two days, there are sailings almost every day, and you sleep on board. Already in southern Italy? Then Bari or Brindisi is the obvious choice. Need to cross France first? See our guide to ferries to France from the UK.
The four departure ports
From Venice: let the ferry do the driving
Superfast Ferries sails from Fusina, the ferry terminal on the mainland side of the lagoon (not the cruise port in Venice itself), two to three times a week. It takes 26 to 27 hours to Igoumenitsa and 32 to 34 hours to Patras, so you spend one or two nights on board. It is the slowest route, but the most relaxed if you are coming from Austria, Germany or northern Italy: no drive along the whole Adriatic coast. In June and September some sailings call at Corfu.
Worth knowing: Superfast has cancelled several Venice sailings in late October and November 2026, so check the exact date before you plan the rest of your trip around it.
From Ancona: the best balance
Ancona has the most choice. Superfast Ferries sails all year to Igoumenitsa (about 16 hours) and Patras (21 to 24 hours), almost daily in winter and up to twice a day in July and August. Grimaldi Lines adds a daily sailing to Igoumenitsa, and in summer twice a week to Corfu. Most ferries leave in the afternoon or early evening, so you can drive in the morning, board, have dinner and wake up on the Ionian Sea.
From Bari: a ferry every evening
Bari is the workhorse of the Italy – Greece routes. Superfast Ferries sails every evening at around 19:00, arrives in Igoumenitsa at about 05:30 local time and in Patras at around lunchtime the next day. New in 2026: the ferry also calls at Sami on Kefalonia, daily from October to December, which makes Bari the easiest way to reach Kefalonia from Italy. In summer Ventouris Ferries adds sailings to Corfu and Igoumenitsa (1 July – 7 September), and on Mondays to Sami.
From Brindisi: the shortest crossing
Brindisi – Igoumenitsa with Grimaldi Lines takes about 8 hours, and it is the only route you can comfortably do by day: leave at 13:00, arrive at 22:00. There is also a night sailing on most days. In summer Grimaldi sails three nights a week to Corfu. Brindisi no longer has a ferry to Patras, so for the Peloponnese you either drive on from Igoumenitsa or choose Bari or Ancona.
Igoumenitsa or Patras?
- Igoumenitsa is the right port for Corfu (local ferries take about 1.5 hours), Parga, the Zagori villages, Meteora and northern Greece. To Athens it is about 470 km, roughly five hours via the Rio – Antirrio bridge.
- Patras is the right port for Athens (about 215 km, 2.5 hours on the motorway), the Peloponnese, Olympia and the ferries from Kyllini to Zakynthos.
- Kefalonia: the Bari ferry calls at Sami. Zakynthos has no direct ferry from Italy: sail to Patras and take the ferry from Kyllini.
Which ferry companies sail from Italy to Greece?
- Superfast Ferries (Attica Group, sold together with ANEK): the biggest operator, from Venice, Ancona and Bari, all year.
- Grimaldi Lines: from Brindisi and Ancona, all year. Minoan Lines, part of the same group, now only sells these tickets.
- Ventouris Ferries: from Bari, summer only.
More about the destination: ferries to and around Greece and our guide to the ferry from Italy to Corfu.
Round trip Greece, Italy and Croatia?
Croatia is close by – perfect to add to your itinerary! Plan a round trip through Italy, Croatia, and Greece, and discover more about the ferry routes between Italy and Croatia here.
On board
These are proper cruise ferries, with restaurants, bars, shops and on Superfast even a pool on some ships. On an overnight crossing you choose between a deck ticket (the cheapest, no fixed seat), a reclining seat or a cabin. With children, or on a crossing of more than a day, we would always book a cabin.
- Dogs: Superfast and Grimaldi have kennels and pet cabins; book them in advance, as there are only a few. See our guide to travelling with your dog.
- Camping on board: sleeping in your own campervan on the open deck used to be a well-known option on these routes. It is no longer offered in 2026: you cannot stay in your vehicle during the crossing.
- Your car: the car decks are closed during the crossing, so take what you need for the night with you.
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- A picture I made from actually boarding our ferry in Greece
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- Bari is of course a good place to match your Greece trip with as Bari is a nice place to stay and leave from.
What does the ferry from Italy to Greece cost?
The cheapest routes are the short ones from the south: from about €37 per person on Brindisi – Igoumenitsa and €38 on Bari – Igoumenitsa, with a car from about €60 to €75. From Ancona and Venice you pay more, from about €100 per person and €145 to €160 for a car. Add a cabin and summer prices, and a family with a car easily pays several hundred euros each way.
- Book a return: Superfast already includes a 30% return discount, Grimaldi 20%.
- Book early: early-booking offers usually open between December and March, with around 20% off.
- Member of a motoring or camping club? Superfast gives 15% off the vehicle fare to members of clubs such as ANWB, ADAC and TCS.
- Avoid late July and August if you can: high-season fares are around 60% higher, and cabins sell out first.
Greece - Italy ferry routes
| Crossing/route | Sailing time | Distance | Sailings | From? | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venice ↔ Patras | 32 to 34 hours | 720 miles | Up to 3 times per week | from about €103 | Superfast Ferries |
| Venice ↔ Igoumenitsa | 26 to 27 hours | 660 miles | Up to 3 times per week | from about €117 | Superfast Ferries |
| Ancona ↔ Patras | 21 to 24 hours | 590 miles | Up to 2 times per day in summer | from about €114 | Superfast Ferries |
| Ancona ↔ Igoumenitsa | 16 to 22 hours | 540 miles | Up to 3 times per day | from about €66 | Superfast Ferries, Grimaldi Lines |
| Bari ↔ Patras | about 17 hours | 365 miles | Daily | from about €56 | Superfast Ferries |
| Bari ↔ Igoumenitsa | about 9.5 hours | 218 miles | Daily, more in summer | from about €38 | Superfast Ferries, Ventouris Ferries (summer) |
| Bari ↔ Sami | about 14 hours | 290 miles | Daily from October to December | from about €52 | Superfast Ferries, Ventouris Ferries (summer) |
| Brindisi ↔ Igoumenitsa | about 8 hours | 260 miles | Up to 2 times per day | from about €37 | Grimaldi Lines |
Before you go
- Passport: Italy and Greece are both in the Schengen area, so there are no border checks on arrival. But the ferry companies do check ID at check-in, and as a UK traveller that means your passport. See our UK – Europe border checklist.
- Check-in: Superfast asks you to arrive three hours before departure, Grimaldi two. In Venice, make sure you drive to Fusina, not the cruise terminal.
- Time zone: Greece is one hour ahead of Italy. Arrival times on your ticket are local times.
- Arriving early: the night ferries from Bari and Brindisi reach Igoumenitsa between 05:30 and 09:00. Plan where you will have breakfast.
Our verdict
For most travellers we would keep it simple: Bari – Igoumenitsa or Patras if you are already in southern Italy, because there is a ferry every evening and you wake up in Greece. Driving down from the UK or northern Europe? Then Ancona is the sweet spot, and Venice if you would rather spend an extra night at sea than on the road. And if you just want the quickest crossing, it is Brindisi, by day.
Ferry from Italy to Greece: FAQs
What is the shortest ferry from Italy to Greece?
Brindisi to Igoumenitsa with Grimaldi Lines, which takes about 8 hours. It is also the only route you can do comfortably by day, leaving at 13:00 and arriving at 22:00.
Which ports in Italy have ferries to Greece?
Venice, Ancona, Bari and Brindisi. There are no longer ferries to Greece from Trieste, Ravenna or Otranto.
How long is the ferry from Italy to Greece?
From about 8 hours (Brindisi – Igoumenitsa) to 32 to 34 hours (Venice – Patras). Bari – Igoumenitsa takes about 9.5 hours, Ancona – Igoumenitsa 16 to 22 hours.
How much is the ferry from Italy to Greece?
From about €37 to €40 per person one way on the short crossings from Brindisi and Bari, and from about €100 from Ancona and Venice. A car costs from about €60 on the short routes to €145 – €160 from Ancona and Venice. Return tickets are 20 to 30% cheaper per crossing.
Can I take the ferry from Greece to Italy?
Yes, all routes run in both directions, from Igoumenitsa and Patras (and in summer Corfu) to Brindisi, Bari, Ancona and Venice.
Is there a ferry from Italy to Corfu?
Yes, in summer: Grimaldi sails from Brindisi and Ancona, Ventouris and some Superfast sailings from Bari. Outside the summer, take a ferry to Igoumenitsa and the short local ferry to Corfu.
Is camping on board still possible on the ferry to Greece?
No. Camping on board, sleeping in your own campervan on deck, is no longer offered on the Adriatic routes in 2026. You need a seat or a cabin.
Useful for travellers to Greece
Tips for ferry travellers
As you said, You might need to recheck how you make a map here; it doesn’t give a good overview.
The most important thing I want to know is what port from Italy is closest to Greece. And in this case that is Brindisi. That’s the port I’ll use for my trip. Need to drive far then in Italy. (I’ll arrive from the UK, need to travel with Camper to Crete)
Hi Nexus,
From Brindisi to Patras is a great connection if you want to eventually travel to Crete (from the UK) , What a trip that is going to be.. If you have made the trip be sure to drop us a few pictures of the ferries, we love to have more media on Greek ferries!