Port of Messina
Ferry port for Messina, Italy
Messina is Sicily’s gateway on the Strait of Messina, with frequent car ferries to Villa San Giovanni on the Calabrian mainland and Cartour’s daily ro-pax ferry to Salerno. Caronte & Tourist is based in the city.
Ferries from Port of Messina
6 ferry routes on FerryConnect. Tap a route for timetables, operators and booking.
| To / from | Crossing time | Operators | Carries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lipari | 2h 30m – 2h 45m | Liberty Lines | Foot only |
| Messina | 20m | Caronte & Tourist | Cars & foot |
| Reggio Calabria | 30m – 35m | Liberty Lines | Foot only |
| Salerno | 9h | Caronte & Tourist (Cartour) | Cars & foot |
| Salina | 3h 25m – 3h 35m | Liberty Lines | Foot only |
| Vulcano | 2h 10m – 2h 30m | Liberty Lines | Foot only |
Sailing patterns from Port of Messina
- Villa San Giovanni → Messina
Caronte & Tourist guarantees departures every 40 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, between Villa San Giovanni and Messina (Rada San Francesco). The crossing takes about 20 minutes.
Caronte & Tourist’s current Strait of Messina passenger timetable took effect at 00:00 on 21 September 2026.
Source: Caronte & Tourist Strait of Messina pages, checked 2026-09-28
- Salerno → Messina
Daily from Salerno at 14:30 (13:30 on Mondays and Sundays); arrival is scheduled 9 hours after departure
Some Monday sailings run only on specific dates and in August.
Source: Caronte & Tourist Messina–Salerno timetable page, checked 2026-09-29
- Messina → Reggio Calabria
19 departures from Messina Monday–Friday, 9 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays (from 1 October 2026)
Source: Liberty Lines timetable from 1 October 2026, checked 2026-10-09
- Messina → Lipari
Times from Ferryscanner and 12Go, check before you travel: Ferryscanner lists Liberty Lines 6 times a week (about 2h 33m); listed departure 12:45
Source: Ferryscanner route page and 12Go schedule (booking sites; Liberty Lines' own timetable can't be read automatically), checked 2026-10-27
- Messina → Vulcano
Times from Ferryscanner and 12Go, check before you travel: Ferryscanner lists Liberty Lines 6 times a week (about 2h 15m); listed departure 12:45
Source: Ferryscanner route page and 12Go schedule (booking sites; Liberty Lines' own timetable can't be read automatically), checked 2026-10-27
- Messina → Salina
Times from Ferryscanner and 12Go, check before you travel: Ferryscanner lists Liberty Lines 6 times a week (about 3h 27m); listed departure 12:45
Source: Ferryscanner route page and 12Go schedule (booking sites; Liberty Lines' own timetable can't be read automatically), checked 2026-10-27
Ferry Operators at Port of Messina
Ground Transport & Railway Links
Strait of Messina ferries to Villa San Giovanni leave from Rada San Francesco, which has separate ticket offices for vehicles and foot passengers; drivers take the Messina Boccetta motorway exit and follow the seafront
Cartour ferries to Salerno leave from Molo Norimberga (Zona Falcata); the ticket office there opens daily from 20:00 to 01:00. Drivers take the Messina Centro exit and follow signs for “Imbarchi per Salerno”
Sources: carontetourist.it · carontetourist.it · carontetourist.it · Verified 2026-09-29 · How we verify
Ferry Routes from Port of Messina
Villa San Giovanni → Messina
Crossing: 20m · Caronte & Tourist
Salerno → Messina
Crossing: 9h · Caronte & Tourist (Cartour)
Messina → Reggio Calabria
Crossing: 30m – 35m · Liberty Lines
Messina → Lipari
Crossing: 2h 30m – 2h 45m · Liberty Lines
Messina → Vulcano
Crossing: 2h 10m – 2h 30m · Liberty Lines
Messina → Salina
Crossing: 3h 25m – 3h 35m · Liberty Lines
Port Logistics & Accommodation
Essential bookings for your crossing through Port of Messina.