Sicily ferry timetable
GNV and Grandi Navi Veloci sail from Genoa to Palermo in about 20 hours. Shorter connections run from Naples and Salerno. Villa San Giovanni - Messina takes only 20 minutes.
The crossing to the island
Villa San Giovanni - Messina across the Strait of Messina is the shortest ferry crossing in Italy and the one almost every road journey to Sicily uses. The boats run through the day and the night, so the timetable rarely decides when you set off.
The overnight ferries to Palermo
The longer routes go to Palermo and replace a day on the road with a night on board. Genoa is the northernmost and the natural choice from central Europe; Naples and Salerno are much closer and turn the crossing into a single short night. On Naples - Palermo, Tirrenia discontinued its service in November 2025; GNV and Grimaldi Lines have run the route since.
What to watch out for in the timetable
The strait and the long routes behave in opposite ways. Villa San Giovanni - Messina is a shuttle: miss one and the next is not far off. The Palermo sailings normally run once a day in each direction, so there the timetable sets the travel day rather than the other way round.
Season shifts the longer routes more than the strait. In summer extra sailings are added, and in winter the pattern thins out on the routes from the north. Pick your exact date above rather than carrying over the rhythm of another month.
On the overnight boats the cabin is part of the journey. During the summer holidays cabins and vehicle spaces go before the crossing itself sells out, and a free departure in the timetable does not yet mean there is a berth on it.
Sicily timetable FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about the timetable for the Sicily ferries.
How current is this timetable? +
The departures above follow the timetables published by the ferry operators. Short-notice changes are announced by the operator first, so check your booking confirmation once more on the day you travel.
Why is there no departure to Palermo on some days? +
Because not every route sails daily. From Civitavecchia there is only one departure a week to Palermo, on Fridays; from Livorno ships sail three times a week. Only the connection from Naples runs every day. If you are tied to a fixed travel date, it is worth checking several departure ports.
Does Tirrenia still sail from Naples to Palermo? +
No. Tirrenia ended the Naples - Palermo line in November 2025, after almost a hundred years. The route has been served since then by GNV and Grimaldi Lines, and GNV has added sailings. Offers that still advertise Tirrenia are out of date.
When should I book? +
As soon as your travel date is fixed, above all with a vehicle and above all on the routes with few departures. On a connection that sails once a week, a full vehicle deck means a seven-day wait.