Ferry Ports: Italy & Greece

All Ports at a Glance

The ferry network between Italy and Greece stretches across the Adriatic, connecting ports on both coasts. On the Italian side, sailings depart from Ancona, Bari, Venice and Brindisi. On the Greek side, ferries arrive at Patras, Igoumenitsa and Corfu. Your choice of port determines how far you drive in Italy, which part of Greece you reach first and how long the crossing takes.

All routes on the map

Port	Country	Main routes	Best for
Ancona	Italy 🇮🇹	→ Patras, Igoumenitsa, Corfu	Travellers from northern/central Europe
Bari	Italy 🇮🇹	→ Igoumenitsa, Patras, Corfu	Value night crossings from southern Italy
Venice	Italy 🇮🇹	→ Igoumenitsa, Patras (summer: Corfu)	Scenic two-day crossing, mini-cruise feel
Brindisi	Italy 🇮🇹	→ Igoumenitsa, Corfu (summer)	Short hop, already touring Puglia
Patras	Greece 🇬🇷	← Ancona, Venice, Bari	Athens, Peloponnese, ancient sites
Igoumenitsa	Greece 🇬🇷	← Ancona, Bari, Brindisi	Northwest Greece, Meteora, Epirus
Corfu	Greece 🇬🇷	← Brindisi, Bari, Ancona (summer direct)	Island holiday without a separate ticket

Italian Departure Ports

Ancona – the main gateway

Ancona is the busiest and most important Italian departure port for ferries to Greece. Sitting roughly halfway down the Adriatic coast, it is the natural choice for anyone travelling from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands or central Europe: you avoid driving all the way down to Puglia, and you gain a wide choice of operators (Superfast, ANEK, Minoan, Grimaldi) with near-daily departures in summer. The crossing to Patras takes around 20–21 hours – long enough to justify a cabin and make the voyage part of the holiday. See the full Ancona port guide.

Bari – best value from the south

Bari is the leading port in southern Italy for Greek crossings and is popular with travellers who are already touring Puglia or who have driven down the Adriatic motorway. Night ferries to Igoumenitsa take just 8–10 hours, making it an efficient overnight hop with Superfast, Ventouris or Grimaldi. Fares tend to be lower than on the Ancona routes. See the full Bari port guide.

Venice – the scenic route

Venice offers the longest but arguably most scenic Adriatic crossing: around 24–25 hours to Igoumenitsa and 31–32 to Patras, sometimes calling at Corfu in summer. The pace is leisurely, the ships are large cruise-ferry vessels and you get a genuine sense of a sea voyage. Ferries depart from the Fusina terminal on the mainland edge of the lagoon. Best for travellers who want the journey to feel like part of the trip – or who are starting from central Europe, northeast Italy, Slovenia or Croatia. See the full Venice port guide.

Brindisi – the short hop

Brindisi, at the heel of Italy's boot, offers the shortest Italy–Greece crossing: about 8 hours to Igoumenitsa with Grimaldi Lines, plus a seasonal overnight direct ferry to Corfu in summer. If you are already in Puglia or the Salento region, it saves you doubling back to Bari. Facilities are more basic than on the longer-route vessels. See the full Brindisi port guide.

Greek Arrival Ports

Patras – closest to Athens

Patras is the largest and most important arrival port in Greece for travellers coming from Italy. It sits at the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth, roughly 3 hours west of Athens by motorway. If you are heading to the capital, the Peloponnese peninsula, Olympia, Delphi or the Greek islands via Athens, Patras is your port. The modern ferry terminal handles hundreds of thousands of vehicles every summer. See the full Patras port guide.

Igoumenitsa – gateway to northwest Greece

Igoumenitsa is the main port on Greece's northwestern coast. Most Italy–Greece ferries call here as either a final stop or an intermediate one before Patras, so you can disembark without continuing on. From Igoumenitsa you can head northeast along the Egnatia Odos motorway towards Ioannina, Meteora and Thessaloniki, or drive south to Preveza and the Ionian coast. It is also the departure point for short ferries to Corfu. See the full Igoumenitsa port guide.

Corfu – island arrival

Corfu is served by seasonal direct ferries from Brindisi, Bari and Ancona in summer, and as an intermediate stop on several mainland sailings. You can use it as your Greek entry point if Corfu is your main destination – the island is one of Greece's most popular, with lush green landscapes and a UNESCO-listed old town. See all Italy–Corfu ferry options and our Corfu island guide.

Which Port Combination Is Right for You?

The most popular pairing is Ancona → Patras: it suits the widest range of European travellers, offers the most operator choice and delivers you within easy reach of Athens and the Peloponnese. If you want a shorter crossing, Bari → Igoumenitsa is the go-to for value and speed. For northwest Greece, any route terminating at Igoumenitsa – whether from Ancona, Bari or Brindisi – will serve you best.

All Port Guides