Ferry from Salerno to Sicily
Tickets, Prices & SchedulesFerries from Salerno to Sicily operate year-round, providing direct connections to Palermo and Messina. Caronte & Tourist offers 1 crossing a day from Salerno to Messina, while Grimaldi Lines ferries depart 2-3 times a week for Palermo.
Conventional ferries take 9-10 hours to reach Sicily from Salerno, with tickets starting at around €30.Find out about the routes, compare companies, prices and timetables, and book ferry tickets with no hidden fees.
Discounts
Children up to 3 years old travel for free on ferries from Salerno to Sicily, and those aged up to 11 or 12 receive a 50% discount.
A special discounted fare is also available year-round for all Sicilian residents.
Keep in mind that discounts may vary depending on the ferry company.
On-board services and amenities
Ferries from Salerno to Sicily offer a variety of services to ensure a comfortable journey, including:
- Restaurants: Onboard, you can find à la carte restaurants and self-service cafeterias.
- Bars: Ferries usually have on-board bars where you can purchase coffee, snacks and drinks.
- Wi-Fi: You can purchase Wi-Fi access during the journey.
- Lounge areas: There are communal areas with comfortable armchairs and spacious outdoor decks where you can enjoy splendid sea views.
- Shops: You will also find shops selling gifts, souvenirs and much more.
- Children's play areas: Even the little ones can have fun safely on the ferry, with areas specifically designed for families with young children.
Cabins and accommodation
The Salerno - Sicily vessels offer a variety of cabin types, including: internal, external with a sea view, suites, as well as accessible cabins. You can usually choose cabins with 1-4 beds.
Prices for cabins vary depending on the type of cabin:
- 1-bed cabin: from around €60
- 2-bed cabin: from around €70
- 4-bed cabin: from around €160
Alternatively, you can book a numbered seat.
Luggage
Each ferry company has its own baggage allowance policy. More specifically:
- On Caronte & Tourist ferries, each passenger can travel with 20 kg of hand luggage free of charge. Young passengers paying half fare are granted half this allowance (10 kg).
- Grimaldi Lines allows each passenger to bring along 1 piece of luggage weighing up to 30 kg.
Traveling with pets
You can take your pet with you on ferries traveling from Salerno to Sicily. Simply add them to your booking online and pay a small additional fee.
Dogs must be kept on a lead and wearing a muzzle, while other small animals must be kept in a pet carrier.
You can often book a pet-friendly cabin or use the onboard kennels.
Make sure to carry along all necessary health certificates and any pet supplies you might need.
We recommend contacting the ferry company for more information on the documents and conditions required to travel by ferry with your pet.
Useful tips for your ferry trip to Sicily from Salerno
Here are some travel tips for your trip from Salerno to Sicily:
- If you're traveling on weekends and/or during high season, try to arrive at the port of Salerno at least 1 hour early.
- Palermo is located on the northwest coast of Sicily, while Messina is on the northeast coast. Choose the best port of arrival based on your travel plans.
- Since the crossings are quite long, we recommend booking a cabin on ferries to Sicily for maximum comfort.
- Check out our Sicily travel guide for help planning your trip.
- Discover Sicily's best hidden beaches for a summer off the beaten path!
- Take advantage of summer ferries to the Aeolian Islands from Palermo and Messina. Check out the Messina - Lipari, Messina - Salina, Palermo - Lipari, and Palermo - Panarea routes for some inspiration!
- Book your return trips from Sicily to Italy in advance for a hassle-free vacation.
- On Ferryhopper, you can find all ferry schedules to Sicily, as well as updated timetables, prices, and ongoing offers.
Ferry routes from Salerno to Sicily
You can travel by sea from Salerno to Sicily year-round by taking a direct ferry to Palermo or Messina.
Caronte & Tourist operates the Salerno - Messina route daily, with 1 departure per day. The journey takes approximately 9 hours.
Grimaldi Lines ferries from Salerno to Palermo depart 2-3 times a week and the journey takes up to 10 hr 15 min.
Where to take the ferry from Salerno to Sicily
Ferries to Sicily usually leave from Molo Ponente and Molo Manfredi in the port of Salerno.
The port area offers various services and secure parking, and there are also hotels and restaurants nearby.
Where do ferries arrive in Sicily?
Ferries from Salerno arrive at 2 ports in Sicily: Palermo and Messina.
Here's more information about each port:
Port of Palermo
Palermo is the largest port in Sicily and one of the most important in the Mediterranean, thanks to its strategic location. In the area, you can find various services, such as parking, shuttle buses, restaurants, shops, and luggage storage.
Since it is close to the city center, you can also visit some of Palermo's main attractions. Whether by bus or on foot, you can easily reach the Duomo, the Norman Palace, and the distinctive Vucciria and Ballarò markets.
Port of Messina
Messina is one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean. With over 10 million passengers passing through each year, it is the "gateway" to Sicily. The port is located near the city center, about 600 meters from the train station.
The port area offers various services, including bars, restaurants, private parking, car rentals, and a gas station.
From the port, you can easily reach Messina's most famous attractions, such as the Duomo and the city's beautiful fountains.
How long is the ferry ride from Salerno to Sicily?
Ferry travel time between Salerno and Sicily varies depending on your destination port:
- The journey from Salerno to Palermo takes between 9 and 10 hr 15 min, depending on the itinerary.
- Ferries from Salerno to Messina take about 9 hours.
Salerno - Sicily ferry companies
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FAQs
Yes, ferries from Salerno to Palermo and Messina can carry motor vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, campers, and minibuses. Prices vary depending on the vehicle's model and size.
If you're traveling with a vehicle, we recommend booking your tickets well in advance, as garage spaces on the ferry tend to fill up quickly.
No, all of the vessels that operate from Salerno to Messina and Palermo are conventional ferries that take between 9 and 10 hours to reach their destinations.
The distance between Salerno and Messina is 156 nautical miles (around 289 km), and the distance between Salerno and Palermo is 167 nautical miles (around 309 km).
The Salerno to Messina ferry typically departs at 13:30, with an expected arrival time in Sicilian of around 22:30. On some weekdays, however, the ferry leaves Salerno at 14:30 and arrives in Messina around 23:30.
The ferry to Palermo departs from the port of Salerno at 13:15 and arrives at its destination around 23:30. Other itineraries include night crossings that depart at 20:00 and arrive at 01:00.
Keep in mind that departure times may vary depending on the time of year you travel. You can find real-time departure times through our search engine.
With Grimaldi Lines and Carote & Tourist, you can book your tickets online on Ferryhopper and pick them up in paper form from the company’s collection points at the port before the trip.
Find detailed answers to all your questions about ferry ticket changes, cancellations and refunds.
Remember that you can also use Ferryhopper's online booking modification service, available with certain ferry companies.