Patras to Ancona Ferry

Route Overview

Sailing from Patras back to Ancona is the same service running in reverse – the joint Anek Superfast operation that Attica Group runs behind the scenes as Blue Star Ferries Maritime S.A. & Co Joint Venture, on a line the company itself brands “Ancona – Corfu – Igoumenitsa – Patras”. Read backwards from Patras, that means Igoumenitsa first, Corfu only in the summer months, then Ancona. Minoan Lines runs a separate, parallel service on the same Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona corridor with its own ships, so two distinct operators cover this exact crossing.

Patras isn’t the only Greek port sailing back to Italy. Igoumenitsa alone has direct lines to Ancona, Bari, Brindisi and Venice. Patras itself also sails direct to Bari and Venice, and in summer Corfu adds three more direct crossings of its own – see the Corfu to Italy overview for the exact windows on all three.

Schedule & Season

Superfast’s 2026 brochure describes “daily departures from Patras and Igoumenitsa for Bari, Ancona and Venice”, and DirectFerries counts around five weekly sailings on the direct Patras–Ancona pairing specifically – close to daily, if not quite there in the quietest winter weeks. Departures from Patras cluster in the early evening, typically somewhere between 17:00 and 20:00, though the exact slot moves with the day and with which vessel is rotating through. The Corfu call only gets added in summer; the rest of the year the ship runs Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona without the island stop.

There is no published 2027 timetable yet – Superfast’s current brochure is explicitly valid only through 31 December 2026, so check back closer to the date rather than plan a next-year trip around an old schedule. If Igoumenitsa suits your route better than the full run to Ancona, that shorter leg is its own booking – see Igoumenitsa to Ancona for the details.

Operators

Anek Superfast covers this crossing under the joint Attica Group service that also trades as Superfast Ferries and ANEK Lines – three brand names, one shared timetable and a fleet drawn from vessels like Superfast III and Ariadne. Minoan Lines runs a separate service on the same corridor with its own cruise-ferries, Cruise Olympia and Cruise Europa, each carrying up to around 2,850 passengers. Full profiles for both operators are on Superfast & Anek Lines and Minoan Lines.

Cabins on the Superfast/Anek ships are sold by berth count rather than comfort tier – 2-bed, 3-bed or 4-bed, not labelled “inside” or “deluxe” – alongside airline-style Airseats for travellers skipping a cabin. Both lines carry dedicated Pet Cabins; read taking a pet on the ferry before booking one.

Prices & Return Discount

There is no separate “from”-price data for this direction: Direct Ferries currently marks Superfast Ferries and ANEK Lines as no longer bookable on its own company pages, so route-page prices for Patras–Ancona on that platform aren’t a reliable fare anchor. Treat the outbound Ancona–Patras price guide as the working figure for the return leg too – it is the same tariff line sailed the other way: foot passengers from around €55, a car adding roughly €100–200 depending on season, and a basic cabin berth from about €20–60 per person. July and August push all of these well above the low-season numbers.

The one discount clearly documented for this route is Anek Superfast’s 30% return fare: book the outbound and return legs together under one reservation, with matching passenger names and vehicle category, and the return ticket drops by 30% – and unlike most Superfast offers, which apply only one discount at a time, this one is explicitly combinable with youth, senior and children’s fares. Camper and motorhome club members get a separate 15% discount on the official fare, valid on the Ancona/Venice/Bari routes through the end of 2026.

Check-in at Patras

Sailings leave from the New Terminal Station at the South Patras Port (26333 Patras), where the check-in office opens at 10:00 and the terminal itself at 10:30. Superfast recommends arriving 3 hours before departure with a vehicle – 2 hours is workable in the quieter shoulder season – and the counter closes hard 30 minutes before the ship sails. That is tighter than it sounds on an evening departure with port traffic; don’t plan to arrive with only the bare minimum.

Bring your boarding card, passport or ID, and the vehicle registration document if you are driving on. A local agent, Patras Ferries, handles walk-in questions at the terminal on +30 261 2616000. Minoan Lines uses the same port for its own sailings, though its check-in window isn’t separately documented on the primary sources checked for this route – allow the same 3-hour margin to be safe.

Arrival in Ancona & Onward

Ferries dock at Ancona’s Stazione Marittima, right next to the city’s main train station, with the A14 motorway junction a short drive away. From there it’s north toward Bologna and on to the A1/A22 corridor for the Brenner Pass into Austria and Germany, or south along the A14 itself if Bari, Pescara or the rest of the Adriatic coast is next. Ancona’s airport and city centre are both close enough to combine the ferry with a short stopover before driving on.

If a camper or motorhome made the outbound trip, the return leg follows the same rules – see camper and vehicle fares for length-based pricing on this line. Camping on board – staying in your own vehicle overnight on the car deck – is not an option with Anek Superfast: the company discontinued the practice in 2004 for ISPS security-code compliance and now books those passengers into cabins instead. Minoan Lines is the one operator on this corridor still marketing a comparable product, its “Camping All Inclusive” fare bundled with a 30% restaurant discount – confirm availability directly with Minoan when booking.

FAQ

How long is the Patras to Ancona ferry?

Around 22 hours and 30 minutes for the direct sailing, based on DirectFerries’ schedule data. Sailings that call at Igoumenitsa first add extra time depending on how long the ship stays in port there.

Which ferry companies run Patras to Ancona?

Anek Superfast, the joint Attica Group service also branded Superfast Ferries and ANEK Lines, and Minoan Lines on its own Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona line with the ships Cruise Olympia and Cruise Europa.

How much does the Patras to Ancona ferry cost?

There is no separate live price feed for this direction, since Direct Ferries no longer books Superfast or ANEK tickets. As a guide value, use the outbound Ancona–Patras fares, the same tariff line in reverse: foot passengers from around €55, with a car adding roughly €100–200 depending on season.

Is there a return discount on this route?

Yes. Anek Superfast gives 30% off when the outbound and return tickets are booked together under one reservation with matching passenger names and vehicle category, and this discount can be combined with youth, senior or children’s fares.

Can I take a camper on this ferry?

Yes, as a vehicle, but not for camping on board. Anek Superfast discontinued overnight camper-deck stays in 2004 and books those passengers into cabins instead. Minoan Lines still markets a Camping All Inclusive fare on this specific route; confirm the details when you book.