What is the shortest ferry ride from Italy to Greece?
Ferry route: Brindisi – Igoumenitsa and Patras
The ferry crossing from Brindisi to Greece is the shortest between Italy and Greece. The duration of the ferry trip to Igoumenitsa is almost 9 hrs and to Patras, around 17 hrs.
Brindisi to Greece ferry information:
The shortest crossing between Brindisi and Greece is to Igoumenitsa with Grimaldi Lines and takes around 7 hours 30 minutes, while the longest crossing is to Igoumenitsa with European Seaways and takes approximately 10 hours.
The smallest ferries are the flying dolphins that primarily do the route between Piraeus and the Saronic Gulf Islands of Hydra, Aegina, Spetses, Angistri, and Poros.
The ferry crossing from Brindisi to Igoumenitsa is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get from Italy to Greece. The Brindisi-Igoumenitsa ferry trip lasts approximately 9.5-10 hours and there is at least 1 ferry crossing per day.
The Ancona Patras ferry route connects Italy with Greece and is currently operated by 2 ferry companies. The Minoan Lines service runs up to 2 times per week with a sailing duration of around 22 hours 30 minutes while the Anek Superfast service runs up to 9 times per week with a duration from 21 hours 30 minutes.
The Ionian islands are the western islands closest to Italy, boasting Italian influences. Two of the largest, Zakynthos and Kefalonia are stunners. Ithaca is so charming. These islands are reachable via bus/car (4 hours) then ferry (1-2 hours) from the western port of Kyllini.
The Bari Patras ferry route connects Italy with Greece. Currently there is just the 1 ferry company operating this ferry service, Anek Superfast. The crossing operates up to 6 times each week with sailing durations from around 16 hours 30 minutes.
The world's shortest ferry line is the Ferry Lina in Töreboda, Sweden. It takes around 20–25 seconds and is hand powered.
Ferry Lina (Färjan Lina) is the world's shortest regular ferry. It crosses the Göta Canal, in Sweden, taking about 25–30 seconds to do so. The ferry is powered by pulling a rope that must be lowered when a boat is passing. It appears in the Swedish comedy movie Göta kanal 3.
Ionian Islands
These islands are easy to visit when visiting Greece from Italy, one of the many popular Greek island hopping routes. Corfu, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, and Ithaka are some of the best-known Ionian Islands.
What is the fastest ferry in Greece?
Seajet's impressive WorldChampion Jet is one of the fastest high-speed ferries in the world and guarantees a fast, smooth and comfortable trip. See where in Greece you can sail with Seajets' WorldChampion Jet, and book ferry tickets on Ferryhopper at no extra cost!
Virtu Ferries Rolls Out Largest Hi-Speed Catamaran In The Mediterranean For Malta-Sicily Route. The Saint John Paul II is a technological marvel – and the second largest catamaran to travel at over 70km/hrs in the world.

The old town
In Brindisi, you can see ancient palaces, a beautiful cathedral, narrow alleys, and old houses full of charm. The best way to explore Brindisi old town is by getting lost in the maze of charming alleys. After all, the center is quite small, so you're likely at some point to come back to the starting point.
There are usually 6 ferry connections between Bari and Patras every week, all year round. The duration of the ferry trip from Bari to Patras is about 16.5 hours. The cost of a ferry ticket is 60 euros.
Blue Star Ferries – Athens to the Cyclades and the Dodecanese. Blue Star Ferries are one of the most popular and well-known companies in Greece. They operate several large passenger / car ferries in the Aegean. They are part of the Attica Group of ferries, alongside Hellenic Seaways and Superfast Ferries.
Fast Ferries sails from the port of Rafina on the Greek mainland to the Cyclades, calling at Andros, Tinos, Mykonos and Naxos daily during high season. The company has a small fleet of two car-passenger ferries.
To save time, consider flying. Compared with boats, flights are less likely to be delayed or cancelled, tend to offer more frequent connections, and are much faster — but often more expensive. Two major Greek carriers offer daily flights from Athens to many Greek islands are Olympic Airlines and Aegean Airlines.
The ferry duration ranges from approximately 35 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the type of vessel. Santorini - Amorgos ferry: there are 1-2 daily ferry crossings from Santorini to Amorgos in the summer months.
Brindisi. Brindisi is probably the Italian port most commonly associated with taking a ferry to Greece and has the most options. Frequent ferries leave Brindisi for Corfu, Kefalonia, Igoumenitsa, and Patras. It's possible to get between Brindisi and Corfu (the closest Greek port) in as little as six and a half hours.
For many people visiting Italy and Greece is a dream come true but it can be a long way to go and often a once in a lifetime trip. If you have never been to either country but have limited vacation time to use then how can you maximise your Italy and Greece itinerary to make the most of your trip?
What is the most unspoilt Greek island?
Kasos is an unspoilt Greek island, the southernmost in the Aegean Sea, located in the Dodecanese region, in the district of Karpathos. Its remote location makes it a relatively unknown destination, but its rugged, raw landscape is a true paradise!
The fastest ferry from Greece to Italy is the ferry from Igoumenitsa to Brindisi. The distance from Igoumenitsa to Brindisi is 153 nautical miles (283km) with a crossing time of approximately 9 hours. Grimaldi Lines offer this route with 21 sailings weekly combined.
The ferry trip from Brindisi lasts for 8.5-17 hours.
You need at least 4 or 5 days to travel around Puglia, since towns and beaches are spread out. Don't even try to see Puglia in 3 days, because you'll be rushed and barely able to see anything. A week is ideal, and more time will allow you time to relax and soak up the sun.
The Caltrans ferries crossing the sloughs of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta on submerged cables take about three minutes.
With a top speed of 58.1 knots (67 mph; 107 km/h), it is the fastest ferry in the world. The HSC Francisco, named after Pope Francis, the first Argentinian Pope, was built by Australian shipyard Incat in Hobart, Tasmania. It measures 99 m (325 ft) long by 26.48 m (86.9 ft) wide and has a gross tonnage of 7,109.
The fastest ferry across the Channel is the ferry from Calais to Dover. This route takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and is available to book all year round with Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways. Alternatively, you can travel from France to England via the Eurotunnel between Calais and Folkestone.
Over the last decade Dover-Calais has consistently been the busiest route with between 46 and 51% of the annual international short sea passenger traffic. However, passenger numbers on this route in 2017 were 22% lower than a decade previous and 2017 saw a 1% decrease to 9.0 million passengers.
Ferries to France - FAQs
Dover to Calais is the quickest ferry crossing to France. This route takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. 2 operators sail on this route with 25 daily sailings. The next quickest route is Dover to Dunkirk, which takes approximately 2 hours, with 12 daily sailings.
Santorini, commonly known as Thira, is an island in the Cyclades archipelago. Santorini, Greece, is one of the world's most beautiful islands. This is without a doubt one of the most appealing Greek tourist attractions that every visitor would like to visit. Santorini is a Greek island in the southeast.
What is the easiest way to get to Greece?
How do I get to Greece? By far, the fastest and easiest way to get to Greece is to fly. There are direct flights to many Greek destinations from all major airports. If you have more time, then driving or traveling by train can be enjoyable, although probably more expensive than flying.
Crete and Santorini are the best islands as they still have plenty to do even in winter and there are lots of (open) places to stay and eat. Naxos is loaded with great beaches and the best greek island for families.
The fastest ferry crossing to Santorini is via the Thirasia to Thira (Santorini) route, with a crossing time of approximately 15m.
Piraeus port. Piraeus (port code: GRPIR) is the largest passenger port in Greece, with a passenger traffic of almost 18 million people annually. Ferries from Piraeus offer connections to all islands of the Aegean, including the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the Saronic, the North Aegean islands and Crete.
The disaster involving the sinking of the ferry boat Express Samina on September 26, 2000 off the coast of Paros which claimed the lives of eighty-one people still haunts Greece.
SeaJets provide the fastest sailing time from Athens to Mykonos in 2 hours and 30 minutes. There is a high speed ferry from Athens to Mykonos via the Champion Jet 1 and the Superjet available with SeaJets. This fast ferry ensures that passengers reach their destination in the quickest time possible.
There are a combined number of 56 ferry crossings each week across a selection of 3 ferry routes which are operated by 5 ferry companies including Grandi Navi Veloci, Adria Ferries, Ventouris Ferries, European Ferries & A-Ships Management S.A with the shortest crossing taking around 7 hours 1 minute (Vlora).
A high-speed craft (HSC) is a high-speed water vessel for civilian use, also called a fastcraft or fast ferry.
Puglia is famous for its olive oil production.
The region provides around 40% of the country's olive oil, which amounts to around 300,000 tonnes every single year!
Bari is the larger and busier airport. Pick-up and drop-off points are closer to arrivals/departures at Brindisi, a more modern and compact (and less busy) airport.
What is the beautiful town in Puglia?
- TRANI. Trani is a stunning seaside town in Puglia that is a must see. ...
- LECCE. Leece is known as the 'Florence of the South'. ...
- OSTUNI. ...
- OTRANTO. ...
- GALLIPOLI. ...
- VIESTE. ...
- TARANTO. ...
- SPECCIA.
Transportation is fairly inexpensive in Greece, so you won't need to worry about it upping your travel budget by too much. The best, easiest, and cheapest way to travel around the country is by bus or by ferry.
Regular ferry single fares start at 2.50 € (Como–Cernobbio) to 12.60 € (Como–Lecco or Como–Gravedona). Multiply by two to get the price of the return fare. Hydrofoil fast services (fast ferry, passengers only): Travel times are 25 minutes to 1 hour depending on the destination.
Greek ferry companies increased the price of their tickets for most routes for the second time this year, citing the high cost of fuel. The new prices took effect on June 15. The new prices range from 5% to 10% on average, while the previous increase in April 2022 reached an average of 10 to 12%.
The fastest ferry from Italy to Greece is from Brindisi to Corfu with a duration of 8 hours. As for ferries from Italy to mainland Greece, the fastest ferry route is from Brindisi to Igoumenitsa and takes 8-9 hours.
Not all Greek ferries sell out. However, we suggest you book your ferry trip in advance, especially if you're planning to take your vehicle aboard. Also, you should keep in mind that some Greek ferries are seasonal and have limited onboard seating.
Tips For Cheaper Ferry Tickets
Book in advance - Generally, the lowest fares are available when you book in advance. So book as early as possible before your travel date.
Ionian Islands
These islands are easy to visit when visiting Greece from Italy, one of the many popular Greek island hopping routes. Corfu, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, and Ithaka are some of the best-known Ionian Islands.
The quickest and most efficient method of transportation for traveling from Rome to Athens is by plane. You will find that the best routes for this journey are operated by Blue Air, Alitalia, Aegean and Ryan Air, all providing direct flights that last between 1 hour and 55 minutes and 2 hours.
The Franciso ferry remains the fastest ferry, built by Incat: HSC Francisco is a High-Speed Catamaran built by Incat in Hobart, Tasmania. Powered by liquefied natural gas, she is currently the fastest passenger ship in service, reaching a speed of 58 knots (107 km/h; 67 mph).
What is the easiest Greek island to get to from Italy?
The fastest ferry from Italy to Greece is from Brindisi to Corfu with a duration of 8 hours. As for ferries from Italy to mainland Greece, the fastest ferry route is from Brindisi to Igoumenitsa and takes 8-9 hours.
The most affordable Greek Islands to visit include Crete, Andros, Tinos, Corfu and Naxos. These cheap Greek Islands don't get nearly as many visitors as others, making everything from transportation to food and accommodations more affordable. And often, they're not even very far from the more popular islands.
The most common way to travel between Italy and Greece is by ferry. There are several Italian ports from which you can choose to take a ferry to Greece, Croatia, and other Mediterranean destinations.