Here’s a comprehensive guide to the prices, routes, and travel times from the different ports in Italy where you can hop on a ferry (Ancona, Venice, Bari, and Brindisi) to one of three ports in Greece: Igoumenitsa, Patras, and Corfu. You’ll also learn the fastest and easiest ways to get from Italy to Greece by ferry.
What are the ferry lines between Italy and Greece?
There are year-round ferry lines connecting Italy and Greece – from one daily departure during winter to multiple ferry crossings in the summer. All vessels are equipped for hauling vehicles and some feature overnight cabins.
The connections are always between eastern Italy and western Greece. No direct service connects Italy to Athens’ port of Piraeus (or any Athens port).
From Italy, direct ferries depart from Ancona, Venice, Bari, and Brindisi and reach the Greek ports of Patras, Igoumenitsa, Corfu, and Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea.
Ferry operators between Italy and Greece are Minoan Lines, Grimaldi Lines, Anek Superfast, Ventouris Ferries, and Hellenic Seaways.
Some lines operate all year long, and some only for the summer season.
How long is the ferry between Italy and Greece?
Depending on the ports, the ferry duration is anything between 6-32 hours.
What are the ticket prices for a ferry between Italy and Greece?
The cheapest one-way ferry ticket between Italy and Greece is from Bari to Igoumenitsa in the summer of 2024 is (€55), while the priciest option is from Venice to Patras (€148).
Are there special discounts for Italy to Greece ferries?
Various discounts and promotional periods apply to ferry tickets between Italy and Greece.
Early booking discounts (usually between December and April):
⛴️ 30% discount with Ventouris Ferries
⛴️ 20% discount with Anek Superfast
⛴️ 20% discount with Minoan Lines
Student and children/family discounts:
🎫 Holders of ISIC and students of Greek universities benefit from 20% discount on ferry tickets for economy seats.
🎫 Children between 5-10 receive a 50% discount, while babies and toddlers up to 5 years travel for free.
🎫 A family buying more than 3 tickets receives a discount that varies from company to company (not cumulative with student or children discounts).
Special discounts:
Ferry companies or ferry ticket sellers frequently run seasonal discounts. Always shop around for the best deal that can include 15-20% off on certain lines.
The Port of Ancona
Ancona is among the main Italian ports and the best choice when visiting Rome, the whole of Tuscany, or catching a connection from/to coastal Croatia.
From Ancona, you can reach the Greek ports of Patras, Igoumenitsa, and Corfu operated by Grimaldi Lines (code share with Minoan Lines), Anek Superfast, and Hellenic Seaways.
The ferries to Greece take anywhere from 15 to 25 hours, so booking a cabin is a good idea.
Ancona – Patras: 24 hours, 6 times a week.
Ancona – Igoumenitsa: 18-21 hours, 16 times a week.
Ancona – Corfu: 19-20 hours, 4 times a week.
TIP: To minimize the time spent on a ferry, drive south along the Adriatic Sea coast to Brindisi and catch an 8-hour ferry to Greece.
The Port of Venice
Venice is the gateway to the Italian north and the best port of call if driving down from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and mainland Croatia.
You can reach the Greek ports of Igoumenitsa and Patras, operated by Anek Superfast and Hellenic Seaways from the port of Venice.
The ferry to Greece ranges anything between 25-32 hours, so booking a cabin is a good idea.
Venice – Igoumenitsa: 25 hours, 2 times a week.
Venice – Patras: 32 hours, 2 times a week.
The Port of Bari
Bari port offers the second-shortest crossing to Greece and the only Italian port with lines to all 4 destinations in Greece.
Bari is also a port from which to take a ferry to Kefalonia Island in Greece.
From Bari, you can reach the Greek ports of Igoumenitsa, Patras, Corfu and the Greek island of Kefalonia.
The ferries to Greece take anything between 9-18 hours.
Bari – Igoumenitsa: 9-12 hours, 11 times a week.
Bari – Corfu: 8-10 hours, 7 times a week.
Bari – Patras: 17 hours, 7 times a week.
Bari – Kefalonia: 18 hours, once a week (ferry route not available every week).
The Port of Brindisi
The fastest way to reach Greece from Italy is via the town of Brindisi, as Brindisi is the Italian port closest to Greece. Best choice when visiting southern Italy and especially Sicily.
From Brindisi, you can reach Igoumenitsa and Corfu in Greece in around 8-10 hours. All crossings are operated by Grimaldi Lines.
Brindisi – Igoumenitsa: 8-10 hours, 14 times a week.
Brindisi – Corfu: 6 hours, 3 times a week.
Tip: There are 2 daily crossings between Brindisi and Igoumenitsa – the daytime (departing at 13:00, duration 8 hr) and overnight (departing at 22:30, duration 7.30 hr), enabling you greatest flexibility with your holiday time.
Traveling by car
Every ferry operating between Italy and Greece has car decks that can accommodate a car or an RV.
Prices depend on the length of the vehicle and the route. For example, price for a medium car (< 4.25m) on an overnight ferry from Brindisi to Igoumenitsa is around €96.5, while from Venice to Patras it is around €175.
Crossing from Italy to Greece with a car during the summer months is very popular and the car tickets sell up early, so book ferry tickets for the high season well in advance.
Traveling with a pet
Pets travel for free, but you still have to register them when booking your tickets.
This means not only will your pet have its own (free) ticket, but the company will know its existence on board. Don’t forget all the documents for your pet’s safe border crossing!
Once you reach Greece, what next?
If the Greek islands of Corfu and Kefalonia or Greek mainland cities of Igoumenitsa or Patras are not your end Greek destinations, you will travel further by water, air or land around Greece.
There are many ways to do that, but these are the essentials:
From Igoumenitsa
Driving to Athens/Piraeus port is an easy highway drive of 5-6 hours (270 mi), where multiple daily ferries continue to the islands all around Greece.
From Patras
Driving to Athens/Piraeus port is an easy highway drive of 2-3 hours (135 mi).
