Ferries in the Mediterranean
This page aims to provide an overview of all the ferry services in the Mediterranean Sea between southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
The Mediterranean Sea is sub-divided into a number of smaller seas, each with their own designation (from west to east). The ferries are - as far as possible - ordered by sea which they traverse.
Please add website links, sailing frequencies, sailing durations, discounts. As the purpose of this page is to provide travellers who want to cross the Med with info, while adding, focus on international lines, instead of meticulously adding small ferries connecting island to the mainland.
Discounts
Travellers owning a RailPlus pass are in some ferry lines eligible for a 10-20% discount on the fare price. See for example [1] and [2]
Alboran Sea
The Alboran Sea is between Spain and Morocco. Ferries leave from Algeciras on the Spanish side and arrive at Tangier and Melina in Morocco. There is also a connection from Barcelona to Tangier.
Balearic Sea
The Balearic Sea is between mainland Spain and its Balearic Islands.
- You can arrive to Barcelona by boat from the Balearic Islands, from Genoa and from Rome. For further information, check http://www.gnv.it and http://www.grimaldi-ferries.com.
- The cheapest cabine-less ticket is cheaper then the bus Rome - Barcelona.
Ligurian Sea
The Ligurian Sea is between Corsica and Liguria (Italy).
Italy
- From Genoa: Grandi Navi Veloci http://www.gnv.it/ crosses to Barcelona weekly, and takes about eighteen hours. It also offers a weekly crossing to Tangiers, which takes around forty-six.
- Other direct ferry routes from Genoa are; Bastia (Corsica), Olbia, Palermo (Italy) and Porto Torres. It is best to book early to avoid over-booking on the ferries.
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is enclosed by Sardinia, Italian peninsula and Sicily.
Italy
- From Civitavecchia (near Rome)
- To Barcelona (Spain). You get 20% discount with the RailPlus card. Takes approx. 22h.
- The cheapest cabine-less ticket is cheaper then the bus Rome - Barcelona. http://www.grimaldi-ferries.com
- To Golfo Aranci (Sardinia), Corsica & Sardinia Ferries
- To Olbia (Sardinia), Moby Lines, Tirrenia or Snav
- To Palermo (Sicily), Grandi Navi Veloci or Snav
- To Porto Torres (Sardinia), Grimaldi Lines
- To Toulon (France), GLD Lines
- To Tunis, Grandi Navi Veloci / Grimaldi Ferries
- To Barcelona (Spain). You get 20% discount with the RailPlus card. Takes approx. 22h.
For detailed info of all these lines, see Guide to Mediterranean Ferries
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is between the Italian peninsula and the coasts of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Albania.
Albania
- From Durrës
- A bi-weekly connection to Bar (Montengro). See http://www.montenegrolines.net
- To Kotor (Montengro)
- To Bari (Italy) Agemar / Azzurra Line
- To Ancona (Italy), Adria ferries
- To Otranto (Italy), Veronica Line
- To Trieste (Italy), Agemar
Bosnia
- The coastal town of Neum does not seem to be served by any ferry line. Nearest larger ports are Split and Dubrovnik, both in Croatia.
Croatia
- From Pula
- From Rijeka
- From Split
- From Dubrovnik
- To Bari (Italy)
- Numerous local lines
- From Zadar
- To Ancona (Italy)
- From Ploče
- local lines.
For detailed info of all these lines, see Croatia Ferry Guide or All international and local ferries in Croatia
Montenegro
- From Bar it is possible to take a ferry to
- From Kotor it is possible to take a ferry to
- Bari (Italy) - weekly, only in the summer
Italy
- From Ancona to:
- Bar (Montenegro) - Twice a week, only in the summer. Takes approx 16h. [6]
- Split (Croatia) Snav or Snav ferries or Jadrolinija or Jadrolinija ferries or Blue Line or Blu Line Ferries
- Zadar (Croatia) [7]
- From Pescara to
- From Venice to
Slovenia
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea is between Italy, Greece, and Albania.
Greece
- From Patras
- to Bari (Italy) Superfast Ferries
- to Ancona (Italy) Anek Lines or Minoan Lines or Minoan ferrie or Superfast Ferries
- to Venice (Italy) Anek Lines or Minoan Lines or Anek ferries
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea is between Greece and Turkey. Within it, there are some smaller seas, including the Thracian and the Myrtoan Sea and the Sea of Crete.
Sea of Marmara
The Sea of Marmara is between the Aegean and Black Sea. Lots of ferry and fast ferry lines connect northern and southern coasts of Marmara, some examples are:
- From Istanbul to Princes' Islands, Yalova, Guzelyali (near Bursa), Mudanya (also near Bursa), Marmara Islands, and Bandirma
- From Tekirdağ to Marmara Islands, Erdek, Bandirma, and Gemlik
- From Silivri to Marmara Islands
- From Şarköy to Marmara Islands
Also ferries run between Gelibolu/Eceabat on the northern bank of Dardanelles Strait (which links Aegean Sea and Marmara) and Lapseki/Çanakkale on the southern bank, respectively.
Cilician Sea
The Cilician Sea is between Turkey and Cyprus.
- From Cyprus
Black Sea
The Black Sea is between Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia and Russia.
- UKR Ferry (this shipping company provides passenger transportation on its routes), ☏ +380 (482) 34-40-59, ukf@ukrferry.com.
Odessa Ilyichevsk to Poti/Batumi [15]
Odessa Ilyichevsk to Varna [16]
Odessa Ilyichevsk to Derince (Turkey, port on Marmara Sea)) [17]
Kerch to Poti [18]
Varna to Poti/Batumi [19]
- Navibulgar (Navigation Maritime Bulgare) German-Bulgarian owned company has two vessels and according to their website they provide passenger transportation between Varna - Odessa Ilichevsk - Poti/Batumi - Ilichevsk - Varna [20].
- From Russian port of Sochi ferries go to Trabzon (Turkey) and Batumi (but you have to be a citizen of Georgia, Russia or CIS to board this one). Website of the port in Sochi [21]