Calabria Ferry Routes
Latest update: 20 October 2023
The Calabria ferry routes detail the schedules from three ports in the region. Calabria is situated in the south of Italy between Basilicata to the north and Sicily to the south. It faces the Ionian Coast to the east and the Tyrrhenian Coast to the west.
Calabria's most commonly used ferry route is the short hop across the Messina Strait that separates the Italian mainland from Sicily to the south. This route is popular with motorists who are able to continue their journeys once they leave the motorway at Villa San Giovanni and take the 20 minute crossing to Messina before continuing their journey in Sicily. |
The port of Reggio Calabria itself is used for excursions to the Aeolian Islands and those same destinations are also possible from the small port of Vibo Marina which lies further to the north, but still on the Tyrrhenian Sea.
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Reggio Calabria Ferry Schedules
From the port of Reggio Calabria it's possible to sail to five of the seven Aeolian Islands of Sicily. The route is operated by Liberty Lines with hydrofoils for foot passengers only and only during the summer, with one crossing available each day.
Departing from Reggio Calabria at 13:25, the hydrofoil first heads for the port of Santa Marina on the island of Salina, arriving an hour and 40 minutes later at 15:05. From Salina it moves on to Lipari with a journey time of half an hour, followed by Vulcano where it arrives 20 minutes later at 15:55. It then changes direction to head for Panarea where it arrives at 16:40 and finally on to Stromboli at 17:20, from where it makes its way back to Reggio Calabria. |
Vibo Marina Ferry Schedules
Little Vibo Marina is essentially the port and beach resort of the town of Vibo Valentia which is located ten kilometres inland and up a steeply winding hill. Within that short distance the difference in landscape is quite astonishing: Vibo Valentia is one of the least attractive of the provincial capitals of Italy, while Vibo Marina offers shallow turquoise waters and sandy beaches.
During the peak of summer it's possible to use the Liberty Lines hydrofoil service to sail from Vibo Marina to five of the Aeolian Islands as well as to the port of Milazzo on the northern coast of Sicily. The service is only available on Thursdays and Sundays between 29 July and 12 September for foot passengers only. |
Individual Ferry Routes from Vibo Marina
Villa San Giovanni Ferry Schedules
There's really only one reason to visit Villa San Giovanni (unless you live there of course), and that's to take the ferry. Although there's not much to see in the town itself, it's a busy place with a constant stream of cars exiting from the motorway to use its port, or heading out of town after arriving by ferry from Sicily.
From Villa San Giovanni you cross the Strait of Messina to the eponymous city with a journey time of 20 minutes. There are two or three sailings every hour so it's just a case of arriving, buying a ticket and waiting to board the next ferry. For people that make the journey every day it's probably a fairly meaningless exercise but there's really something quite special about the ferry to Sicily. |
Individual Ferry Routes from Villa San Giovanni
Villa San Giovanni to Messina
Villa San Giovanni to Messina