Ferries to Sicily

Reggio Calabria

A fast passenger ferry links Reggio Calabria with Messina (crossing time around 30-35 minutes). This route across the strait also runs all year at a close interval; a reservation is usually not needed.

Genoa

From the northern Italian port of Genoa a car ferry sails to Palermo several times a week. This longest domestic route to Sicily is covered overnight and takes about 18-20 hours depending on the ship. Departures from Genoa are usually in the evening, so you arrive in Palermo the following day.

Livorno

There are regular ferry connections from Livorno to Palermo (about 2-3 times a week). The ships need around 19.5 hours for the crossing and usually sail as overnight ferries. Departure from Livorno is normally in the early evening (around 18:30), with arrival in Palermo the following afternoon.

Civitavecchia

From the port of Civitavecchia (near Rome) there are two ferry connections to the north of Sicily, and the difference between them is bigger than the map suggests. GNV sails to Palermo only once a week, on Fridays, in around 13 to 14 hours. To Termini Imerese, a port about 35 km east of Palermo, the same operator sails five days a week, with a similar crossing time of around 14 hours. If you need flexible travel dates, take Termini Imerese and drive the last half hour on the A19. Both connections run overnight: leave in the evening, arrive the next morning.

Naples

Overnight ferries sail from Naples to Palermo every day, taking 8.5 to 11 hours depending on the operator. It is the densest connection to Sicily of all. On Saturdays there is also a departure to Termini Imerese with a crossing of around 9.5 hours.

Salerno

Ferries to Sicily also run from the port of Salerno near Naples: one route goes to Palermo (about 9-10 hours), another links Salerno with Messina in the north east of Sicily in about 9 hours. These are usually offered as overnight car ferries (leaving Salerno late in the evening, for example, and arriving in the morning).

Vibo Valentia

Alongside the short Messina ferries there is a direct summer connection from Calabria to the north east of Sicily. From the port of Vibo Valentia (on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria) a fast ferry sails to Milazzo (Messina area) a few times a week. The crossing takes about 4.5 hours and runs by way of the Aeolian Islands. This seasonal route is operated by hydrofoils (passengers only, no cars).

From Sardinia

The two large Mediterranean islands are linked by a weekly ferry connection.

Cagliari

A ferry line connects Sardinia and Sicily, the two large islands of the Mediterranean. From the port of Cagliari in the south of Sardinia a ferry sails to Palermo about once a week (mostly in high season). The crossing takes roughly 12 hours and is normally operated by conventional car ferries (often Grimaldi Lines). Because of the long crossing, departures are usually in the morning, so Palermo is reached in the evening.

From Malta

Fast catamarans link the island republic with the south coast of Sicily.

Valletta

There is a fast ferry connection between Malta and the south of Sicily. The catamarans of Virtu Ferries sail several times a day from Valletta (the capital of Malta) to the port of Pozzallo on the south east coast of Sicily. The crossing takes only about 1 hour 45 minutes. Direct seasonal connections between Valletta and Catania further north are offered as well. The Malta ferries carry passengers and cars and make for a quick approach to Sicily, almost all year and often twice a day.

From Tunisia

Sicily can be reached by ferry from North Africa as well.

Tunis

Sicily is also reachable by ferry from North Africa. Ferries sail all year from the port of Tunis (La Goulette, Tunisia) to Palermo. This Mediterranean crossing is run by large car ferries (GNV and Grimaldi among others) several times a week and takes between about 11 and 13.5 hours, depending on route and ship. Most departures are at night (leaving Tunis in the evening, for example, and arriving in Palermo the next morning). The ferries have cabins and space for cars, so the Tunis - Palermo route can be covered comfortably while you sleep.