Ferry from Italy to Albania — Routes, Times & Prices 2026

Four ferry routes connect Italy to Albania: Bari → Durrës (daily, ~9 hours overnight), Ancona → Durrës (15-19 hours), Trieste → Durrës (weekly, ~24 hours) and the seasonal Bari → Vlorë (summer only, ~8 hours). Deck fares start around €50, cabins from €80, and vehicles add €80-140. All lines accept cars, motorbikes and campervans. Book 6-8 weeks ahead for August; shoulder-season crossings are easy to grab a week out. Flying? See our Tirana Airport (TIA) guide for the fast alternative.

Bari → Durrës is the most reliable Italy–Albania crossing: daily year-round, roughly 9 hours overnight, and served by four operators — GNV, Adria Ferries, Ventouris and, seasonally, Grimaldi Lines. Ships typically leave Bari around 20:00-23:00 and dock at Durrës between 07:30 and 10:00, so you disembark rested with a full day ahead.

Fares (2026, per person one way): deck seat €50-90, reclining airline-style seat €65-110, inside cabin €80-160, sea-view outer cabin €120-220, and suite €250+. Vehicles add €80-140 for a standard car, €50-90 for a motorbike, and €150-260 for a small campervan; length and height matter, so measure before you book. Children under 4 travel free; ages 4-12 pay ~50%.

Check-in is at the Nuova Stazione Marittima in Bari — arrive 2 hours before departure with passport, ticket and vehicle documents (registration + Green Card insurance extension for Albania). Foot passengers can walk directly to the terminal from Bari Centrale in 20 minutes or take bus 20/21. On arrival, Durrës port is a 5-minute walk from the old town and 40 minutes by taxi to Tirana — see the Tirana arrivals guide for onward connections.

Ancona → Durrës is the go-to crossing for travellers from northern Italy — Milan, Bologna, Verona, Venice — who would rather board a ship than drive down to Bari. Sailings run roughly 3-5 times weekly on Adria Ferries and Grimaldi Lines, with the crossing taking 15-19 hours depending on the vessel and season. Most departures leave Ancona in the afternoon or early evening and arrive in Durrës the following morning.

Fares (2026, per person one way): deck seat €65-100, reclining seat €80-130, inside cabin €100-190, sea-view cabin €150-250. Vehicles add €90-150 for a car. Because it is a longer sailing than Bari, a cabin is worth the upgrade — you sleep through the crossing instead of camping out on a lounge chair.

The Ancona ferry terminal sits inside the historic port, a 10-minute walk from Ancona Centrale train station. Check-in opens 3 hours before departure. Bring passport, vehicle registration and Green Card insurance. If you are combining Albania with a wider Italian road trip, the Ancona port sits directly on the A14 autostrada — quick access from anywhere north of Rome.

Trieste → Durrës is Adria Ferries' long-haul route, running once a week (typically Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on season) with a ~24-hour crossing. It is the natural pick for travellers from extreme northern Italy, Slovenia, Austria and southern Germany who want to skip the long drive down the Italian peninsula.

Fares (2026, per person one way): deck seat €80-120, inside cabin €130-220, outer cabin €180-280. Vehicles add €120-180 for a car, more for campervans. Because it is a full day at sea, all fares include full cabin access — even deck-ticket holders get shower and lounge facilities on Adria's newer vessels.

The Trieste terminal is in the Molo VII zone, a 15-minute walk from the central station. Check-in opens 3 hours before departure. Passport, vehicle papers and Green Card are mandatory. Bring a book — 24 hours is long, but the Adriatic coast views on a clear day (especially the approach to Albania's Karaburun peninsula) are worth staying on deck for.

Bari → Vlorë is the summer-only shortcut to the Albanian Riviera. Operated by Ventouris from roughly early June to mid-September, the crossing takes just 8 hours and lands you 90 minutes north of Dhërmi instead of the 3-hour drive down from Durrës.

Sailings run 2-4 times per week in July and August, dropping to 1-2 per week at the shoulders. Departures leave Bari in the evening (usually 21:00-22:00) and dock in Vlorë around 06:00-07:00 the next morning. Deck fares from €65, inside cabin €95-170, outer cabin €140-230. Cars add €90-140.

If your trip is focused on Vlorë, Dhërmi, Borsh or Sarandë, this route pays for itself in saved driving time. Vlorë port is 5 minutes from the seafront promenade, and rental car pickups are available on request (arrange in advance — the Vlorë desk is not as staffed as Durrës or TIA).

GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci)

Italian brand with the newest fleet on the Bari–Durrës route. Larger ships, better cabins, on-board restaurants and a modern booking site. Prices are slightly above the market average, but for a family or first-time crossing the extra €20-30 buys real comfort.

Adria Ferries

The Albania specialist. Operates Ancona–Durrës, Trieste–Durrës and part of Bari–Durrës. Older ships on some routes, but the on-board staff know Albanian, Italian and English, and pet-friendly cabins are widely available. The best pricing for cars and campervans.

Ventouris Ferries

Greek family-owned line with the biggest Bari–Durrës frequency and the exclusive summer Bari → Vlorë route. No-frills ships, competitive fares — the go-to for backpackers and budget-conscious road-trippers.

Grimaldi Lines

Runs seasonal Ancona–Durrës and occasional Bari–Durrës departures. Strong loyalty programme (Grimaldi Club) with cashback and priority boarding — worth signing up for even one trip.

Booking tip: compare on directferries.com or ferryhopper.com to see all four operators side by side, then book directly on the operator site for full flexibility and lower change fees.

Cabins and seating

Ships range from workhorse ro-pax vessels (Adria, Ventouris) to newer cruise-style ferries (GNV, Grimaldi). Cabins have twin or double berths, a private bathroom with shower, and a small wardrobe. Deck-only tickets give access to reclining seats and public lounges — bring a light blanket, the AC runs cold overnight.

Food and drink

All Italy–Albania ferries have a self-service restaurant, a bar and vending machines. A hot meal runs €10-15; a coffee and pastry €4-6. You may bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic drinks; no glass bottles allowed on deck.

Pets

Dogs and cats are welcome on every operator. Pet-friendly cabins (extra €30-50) let animals sleep with you; otherwise there are on-board kennels. All pets need an EU pet passport, up-to-date rabies vaccine and a microchip.

Vehicles

Load the vehicle at check-in and lock it — you cannot return to the car deck during the crossing. Bring an overnight bag for the cabin. Alarm systems must be disabled.

Wi-Fi and passport control

Wi-Fi is available on newer GNV and Grimaldi ships (paid, €5-10) but patchy or absent on older vessels. Passport control happens on arrival in Durrës or Vlorë — have your document ready as you disembark.

Durrës port is a 5-minute walk from the old town, so if you are staying a night in Albania's oldest city you can roll your suitcase to your hotel. For anywhere else, here are your options.

Tirana is the most common onward stop — 40 minutes by taxi (€25-35 fixed price, agree it before you leave the port) or 1 hour by intercity bus for €3 from the Durrës bus terminal, 10 minutes from the port. See our Tirana onward-connections guide for options into the city.

South to the Riviera — Vlorë is 2 hours by car, Sarandë 4.5 hours. If you did not pick the Bari → Vlorë ferry, this is the drive that comes next. Read the driving in Albania guide before you set off, and check the car rental guide if you need a vehicle waiting at the port.

Private transfers are the least-stress option after a night at sea — a driver holds a sign at the terminal, loads your bags and drives you door to door. See our private transfers for airport, port and hotel pickups anywhere in the country.