Igoumenitsa to Ancona Ferry

Route Overview

Igoumenitsa is the busiest Greek port on this whole network, and the line back to Ancona reflects that: it is the one return crossing with three genuinely separate operators rather than one joint service. Grimaldi Lines runs its own Igoumenitsa–Ancona line independently of the Attica Group companies, departing every evening without exception. Anek Superfast calls at Igoumenitsa as the middle stop on its Ancona–Corfu–Igoumenitsa–Patras line, and Minoan Lines runs its own Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona service with a separate fleet again.

For a shorter or longer leg on the same coast, see Patras to Ancona if you're starting further south, or Igoumenitsa to Bari and Igoumenitsa to Brindisi if a Puglia arrival suits your onward route better than central Italy.

Schedule & Season

Grimaldi's timetable is the most precisely documented of any operator on this network. Its winter schedule – valid 1 November 2025 to 28 June 2026, then again from 14 September to 30 December 2026 – has the ship leaving Igoumenitsa daily at 21:30 and docking in Ancona at 17:00 the next afternoon, a crossing of roughly 19.5 hours. A separate summer timetable, running 29 June to 13 September 2026, keeps the same 21:30 departure but shifts the arrival slightly later, to somewhere between 17:00 and 17:30. Anek Superfast's departures cluster in the early hours – DirectFerries records slots around 00:30, 01:30, 02:15 and 02:30 – and the combined duration range across all operators and sailings on this pairing runs from about 16h15 up to 20h30.

No 2027 timetable has been published by either Grimaldi or the Attica Group companies as of this writing; both companies' current schedules run only through the end of 2026. If you're booking further ahead, treat these dates as provisional and check again closer to travel.

Operators

Grimaldi Lines runs this line with the ships Venezia and Cruise Bonaria, sold in Greece through Minoan Lines as general sales agent – a Grimaldi ticket booked from Greece may well show a Minoan reference number. Anek Superfast, the joint Attica Group service, calls here as the midpoint of its longer Ancona–Patras line; full details are on Superfast & Anek Lines. Minoan Lines also sails its own, separate Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona service on the ships Cruise Olympia and Cruise Europa, so the Minoan name appears here in two different roles – agent for Grimaldi, and independent carrier in its own right.

Grimaldi's onboard categories are Deck passage, Armchair, and cabins from Inside up to Superior and Junior Suite, plus a paid Pet in Cabin service – see taking a pet on the ferry for the details. Anek Superfast and Minoan instead sell cabins by berth count (2/3/4-bed) alongside Airseats.

Prices & Return Discounts

None of the three operators publish a reliable “from”-price for this direction on the sources checked: Grimaldi's own site shows only a booking button with no static fare, and Direct Ferries no longer sells Superfast or ANEK tickets at all. As a guide value, use the same range quoted for the outbound Ancona–Igoumenitsa crossing – foot passengers from around €79, a car adding roughly €95–150 by season – since it is the identical tariff line sailed the other way.

Grimaldi's return discount is 20% off the return ticket when booked together with the outbound leg, applying to the passage itself plus any cabin or armchair supplement, pets and vehicles already reserved outbound. Anek Superfast's equivalent is higher, at 30%, and stacks with youth, senior or children's fares where Grimaldi's does not. Both airlines also run separate senior (20%, Grimaldi; ages 60+) and youth (20%, ages 12–26 on Grimaldi) discounts on this line, valid for bookings and departures through 31 December 2026.

Check-in at Igoumenitsa

The New Port terminal at New Port Egnatia (46100 Igoumenitsa) opens at 08:00, but check-in for the different lines is split by agency: Ancona and Venice sailings are handled by Euroline – S. Bakolias & Co, while Bari-bound lines use a separate Terminal T1 desk. Anek Superfast recommends arriving 3 hours before departure, with the counter closing 30 minutes prior. Grimaldi's own rule is different and firmer: check-in no later than 2 hours before departure, carried out by Grimaldi staff directly at the Maritime Station rather than at a shared desk.

Given Grimaldi's late-evening 21:30 departure, arriving with margin matters more than it might for a daytime sailing – port traffic and a queue at the Maritime Station can eat into that 2-hour window quickly. Neither Ventouris nor Minoan publish a separately documented check-in time for Igoumenitsa; treat the Superfast/Anek 3-hour recommendation as the safer default if you're unsure which desk applies to your booking.

Arrival in Ancona & Onward

Both Grimaldi and Anek Superfast dock at Ancona's Stazione Marittima, next to the train station and a short drive from the A14 motorway junction. Heading north from there puts you on the A1/A22 corridor toward the Brenner Pass and on into Austria or Germany; heading south keeps you on the A14 along the Adriatic coast. It's the same arrival point regardless of which of the three operators you sailed with.

None of the three operators offer camping on board this route: Grimaldi keeps its garage deck closed for the entire crossing and offers Camper & Meals instead – a 30% restaurant discount for bookings that include a camper or minibus, valid on departures up to 17 December 2026 – and Anek Superfast discontinued overnight camper-deck stays back in 2004. Minoan Lines is again the exception, marketing its Camping All Inclusive fare specifically on the Ancona–Igoumenitsa–Patras corridor; confirm details directly with Minoan when booking. For vehicle length categories and fares generally, see camper and vehicle fares.

FAQ

How long is the Igoumenitsa to Ancona ferry?

With Grimaldi Lines, around 19.5 hours on the 21:30 departure, arriving 17:00 the next day. DirectFerries lists a wider range of 16h15 to 20h30 across all operators and sailings on this pairing, depending on ship and schedule.

Which ferry companies run Igoumenitsa to Ancona?

Grimaldi Lines, Anek Superfast, and Minoan Lines on its own Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona service. Grimaldi's Igoumenitsa sailings are also sold in Greece through Minoan Lines as general sales agent, using the ships Venezia and Cruise Bonaria.

Does this ferry run all year?

Yes. Grimaldi's Igoumenitsa–Ancona line runs daily year-round, with a documented winter timetable valid from 1 November 2025 to 28 June 2026 and again from 14 September to 30 December 2026, plus a summer timetable for the weeks in between.

Is there a return discount?

Grimaldi Lines gives 20% off a return ticket booked together with the outbound leg, covering the passage, cabin or armchair supplement, pets and vehicles already booked outbound. Anek Superfast's equivalent return discount is 30%.

Can I stay in my camper overnight on this ferry?

No, not on Grimaldi or Anek Superfast: both keep the garage deck closed for the whole crossing. Grimaldi instead offers Camper & Meals, a 30% restaurant discount for camper bookings. Minoan Lines markets a Camping All Inclusive fare on this route; confirm at booking.