All the ways to travel between Croatia and Greece by ferry

Initially, traveling between Croatia and Greece by ferry might sound tricky, as there are no direct connections. By adding an Italian port to the mix, however, ferry excursions from Croatia to Greece and vice versa are a dream come true.

Discover all the indirect Croatia - Greece ferry routes on Ferryhopper, along with our top travel tips and route information. Find the itinerary that suits you best, book your ferry tickets online and off you go!

Idyllic marina in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Why travel between Croatia and Greece by ferry instead of plane?

Country hopping by ferry is a fantastic opportunity to transfer your vehicle and explore Croatia or Greece more independently. Each destination has countless hidden gems to unearth, which may not be as easy to do for car-free passengers.

But still, even if you don’t wish to bring along your motor vehicle, an indirect Croatia - Greece ferry trip has its perks. As you’ll have to stop in Italy to continue your journey, you can actually combine 3 countries in 1 adventure. This is why plenty of thrill-seeking travelers choose to spend some nights in Italy and not depart as soon as possible.

Plan the perfect Croatia - Greece itinerary and immerse yourself in landscapes of Mediterranean and Adriatic beauty. Keep reading to discover the connected ports in each country, as well as the suggested routes to/from the eastern coast of Italy.

The lighthouse of Patras in Greece

Croatia - Greece ferries: connected ports

When organizing your ferry trip between Croatia and Greece, you have a plethora of ports to choose from. In Croatia, you can catch a ferry to/from Dubrovnik, Split, Pula, Zadar, Poreč, Umag, and Rovinj, all of which are mainland destinations. As for the connected ports in Greece, you have the following options: Igoumenitsa, Patras and the island of Corfu.

Traveling between the two countries is impossible without an intermediate stop in Italy, however. The ports that serve connections to both Croatia and Greece are Bari, Ancona and Venice, which are all located in eastern Italy.

Good to know: there is also the port city of Brindisi, though it’s only connected to Greece, meaning that you’ll have to get to a different Italian port to resume your ferry journey. In a similar fashion, the port of Cesenatico is connected to Croatia, but not to Greece.

Ferry crossings to/from Italy are either year-round or seasonal and usually allow you to transfer your vehicle and arrive well-rested by booking a cabin (depending on the ferry services of each route). Once you get to Italy, you can switch ferries and directly travel to the Greek or Croatian destination of your choice!

Below, you can find the available Croatia - Italy and Greece - Italy ferry routes, as well as important route info to help you better plan your country-hopping adventure!

The majestic island of Corfu

Croatia - Italy ferry connections

The two countries are connected by the ferry connections of Jadrolinija, SNAV and Kompas. Specifically:

• Zadar - Ancona ferry: this route is operated seasonally and on a weekly basis. Zadar - Ancona ferries arrive after 7 to 9 hours on average.
• Split - Ancona ferry: all year long, ferries between Ancona and Split depart up to 2 times per day, depending on the season. The travel time is around 9-11.5 hours.
• Dubrovnik - Bari ferry: this route is seasonal, lasting 6.5-7.5 hours. Dubrovnik - Bari ferries depart around 5 times a week.
• Pula - Venice ferry: this seasonal route is available around 6 times per week on average, with the ferries making the crossing in about 3.5 hours.
• Rovinj - Venice ferry: ferries to Venice from Rovinj depart in the high-season months and on a weekly basis. The estimated travel time is around 2 hours 45 minutes.
• Poreč - Venice ferry: there are plenty of weekly departures for this seasonal route, with Poreč - Venice ferries making the crossing in less than 3 hours.
• Umag - Venice ferry: there is 1 weekly departure for this route (on Wednesdays), and estimated travel time is 3 hours.

Based on the above, ferry travel time between Croatia and Italy ranges from 3.5 to 11 hours.

Tip: to find out all about the ferry routes between Italy and Croatia, add our ultimate guide to your reading list!

The modern port of Ancona

Greece - Italy ferry connections

Ferry crossings connecting Greece and Italy are primarily operated by the following companies Minoan Lines, Grimaldi Lines, Anek Superfast, Hellenic Seaways, and Ventouris Ferries: 

The key ferry routes between Greece and Italy are:

• Igoumenitsa - Ancona ferry: there are normally up to 3 daily Igoumenitsa - Ancona ferries that make the crossing in about 16-21 hours.
• Igoumenitsa - Venice ferry: with 2 weekly crossings, you can reach Venice from Igoumenitsa in around 25 hours throughout the year.
• Igoumenitsa - Bari ferry: this route is usually active every day, with Igoumenitsa - Bari ferries making the crossing in about 9.5-12 hours.
• Patras - Ancona ferry: you can reach Ancona from Patras by ferry all year round in 21-25 hours. Normally, there are 6 weekly ferry departures.
• Patras - Venice ferry: you can reach Venice from Patras in about 32-33 hours. This ferry route is active 2 times per week.
• Patras - Bari ferry: in 15-17 hours, you can easily travel to Bari from Patras by ferry. The route is normally active once a day.
• Corfu - Ancona ferry: in the summer months, there are usually up to 4 weekly departures for Ancona, with the travel time being around 18.5-19.5 hours.
• Corfu - Bari ferry: there are up to 6 weekly Corfu - Bari ferries in the high season that make the crossing in about 8-10 hours.

In general, traveling between Greece and Italy by ferry takes about 8 to 33 hours. You can discover more Italy - Greece ferry routes and their estimated travel times right here.

The port of Bari from above

What’s the fastest Croatia - Greece ferry itinerary

Depending on the ports you’ve chosen for your Croatia - Greece ferry adventure, as well as the layover in Italy, the trip duration can greatly vary.

Among the numerous indirect routes, the shortest one in duration is the one between Corfu and Dubrovnik, with an intermediate stop in Bari. The combined ferry time is around 15 to 20 hours, excluding the time spent in Bari. These connections, however, are available on a seasonal basis. The fastest year-round trip is between Igoumenitsa and Split with a layover in Ancona. In this case, the combined duration of the two ferry rides is about 25-32 hours.

Tips for your Croatia - Greece ferry trip

Take a look at some of our top travel tips for ferry connections between Greece and Croatia, including any intermediate stops in Italy:

• Ancona and Bari are some of the best Italian ports in terms of Greece - Croatia indirect routes. Venice, on the other hand, is a better option for getting to/from the more low-key destinations in Istria, where Pula and Rovinj are located.
• Since these ferry routes are quite popular, make sure to arrive at the port well in advance, especially if you wish to bring along your motor vehicle.
• While the connections between Croatia and Venice are the shortest in duration, you should keep in mind that the transport of vehicles is not available to/from Venice. Bicycles, however, are allowed.
• For each ferry connection, there are plenty of offers and discounts to take advantage of, especially when it comes to Greece - Italy crossings, which include many early booking deals.
• As we are talking about international routes, non-EU passengers should carry a valid passport with them. EU citizens, on the other hand, are simply required to have any kind of identification document with them.

View of the port and seafront of Split

Book your Croatia - Greece ferry tickets 

Combining the medieval wonders of Croatia with Greece’s untouched beauty is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you’re still contemplating the most practical itinerary between the two countries, visualize your trip on our Map of ferries, combine multiple destinations in one booking and plan your trip hassle-free.

Pro tip: make sure to download the Ferryhopper App to book your ferry tickets even faster and keep all of your bookings in one place!