Messina - Salerno
Ferry to Italy
Messina - Salerno
Ferry to Italy
Fares for the Messina to Salerno crossing usually range somewhere between $70* and $714*. Most travellers pay around $457* for a Messina Salerno ferry ticket, and the cheapest fares on this route begin at $70*. Foot passengers can expect to pay roughly $192* on average. Bringing a car along typically brings the average fare up to $551*.
Fares vary according to passenger count, vehicle type, the route itself and what time you sail. Figures come from fares searched in the previous 30 days, don't include service fees, and were last checked September 26.
There's a quick way to stack up ferry fares and operators from around the world side by side, so you can pick the crossing that best suits you. Getting in early tends to open up the widest choice of prices and sailing times.
Direct Ferries has discounts running throughout the year. Where a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied the moment you pick the matching age bracket in the passenger section of your search.
If you're a student or recent graduate, a 5% discount is up for grabs. Head to our partner Student Beans to confirm your status and you'll receive a code to enter at checkout.
A handful of Spanish and Italian ferry routes also offer a resident discount — choose the "Residents" option if it appears during your search and the lower fare is applied straight away. You'll usually need to show proof of address, like a residency card or certificate, when you check in.
Sailings on the Messina Salerno route generally kick off from Messina at around 02:00, and the last departure of the day is usually around 02:30.
With a longer crossing time, a trip between Messina and Salerno is better suited to a weekend away or an extended stay, so you get proper value out of the journey.
Yes, Caronte & Tourist carries vehicles on the Messina to Salerno route. Check our Deal Finder for up-to-date car ferry pricing on this crossing.
Whether a caravan or campervan is welcome on board the Messina to Salerno ferry comes down to the ship and operator running the sailing. Pop your travel details into our Deal Finder, and we'll check the operators on this route for you.
Yes, Caronte & Tourist takes bicycles on the Messina to Salerno crossing. Most operators are happy to carry bikes, but it's always worth confirming their exact policy before you turn up at the terminal.
Yes, Caronte & Tourist carries foot passengers between Messina and Salerno.
Pet owners are in luck — Caronte & Tourist allows pets on board between Messina and Salerno. Travelling with a pet on this crossing costs an average of $508.
Fares reflect searches from the last 30 days, exclude service fees, and were last checked September 26.
Before you bring a pet on board, it helps to have the following sorted:
It depends on which operator you're sailing with — some ferries keep pets in your vehicle for the whole trip, while others have dedicated pet areas, kennels, or even pet-friendly cabins. Our Deal Finder lays out the options so you can pick the crossing that works for your pet.
There's a bit to know before travelling with a guide or assistance dog. Let our customer service team know in advance, or mention it to the ferry operator when you book, so everything's arranged ahead of time.
Carry any certification or documentation your dog needs, since you could be asked to show it at boarding or partway through the crossing.
Rules for guide dogs and assistance dogs can differ from general pet policy, even on sailings where pets aren't otherwise allowed. Reach out to our customer service team to check what applies to your sailing, or visit our Special Assistance Help page for more detail.
Whether the Messina to Salerno route has an overnight sailing depends on a mix of factors. Search with your travel dates, and we'll show you whether an overnight option exists, plus current timetables, crossing times and daytime alternatives.
Note that overnight sailings can occasionally take a bit longer than daytime crossings.
What you'll need to travel varies by route, so it pays to check ahead of your sailing. A valid passport is typically required for the Messina to Salerno crossing, along with any visa or national ID required for your nationality. As rules depend on both where you're from and where you're headed, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is worth a read to avoid any hold-ups at check-in.
Booking couldn't be simpler — select your departure port, arrival port and travel date to see everything on offer. From there, you can weigh up alternative routes and departure times to land on the best fit.
Look for early-booking deals and flexible fare types, like upgrades or flexi-tickets, which give you room to change plans later. Double-check details such as passenger numbers and vehicle specs as you go, to keep the booking process painless.
You'll get a confirmation email the moment your booking goes through. From there, how your boarding pass turns up depends on the operator.
Some operators send the boarding pass straight away, while others want you to check in at the port. Where it's on offer, online check-in through the Direct Ferries app can save you time at the terminal.
Ticket desks tend to sit right by the ferry terminal. Building in some extra time before you sail means you won't be rushed collecting tickets and getting checked in.
Have your confirmation email and valid photo ID — a passport or identity card — ready at check-in. If a pet's travelling with you, bring their vaccination and insurance papers, and hold onto proof of address if you booked with a resident discount.
A gap in sailings from Messina to Salerno on your chosen date usually comes down to something like a timetable adjustment, limited space, or a seasonal dip in service. Try a different date, or browse other options with our Route & Port finder.
Generally speaking, booking your Messina to Salerno ferry sooner rather than later pays off — earlier bookings usually mean lower fares and more choice of departure times and cabins.
A few weeks' lead time is usually enough to catch a good deal, though fares can still move around depending on the season and what's left available.
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| Messina - Salerno Ferry Route Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Foot Passenger | $192 | |
| Average Price with Car | $551 | |
| Average Price with Motorbike | $342 | |
| Average Campervan Price | $692 | |
| Average Cabin Price | $380 | |
| Messina - Salerno Ferry Route Summary | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sicily |
| Destination | Italy |
| No. of Operators | 1 |
| Operators | Caronte & Tourist |
| Average Price | $457 |
| Average Pet Price | $508 |
| Average Daily Sailings | 1 |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 6 |
| Average Sailing Duration | 9 h |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 9 h |
| First Ferry | 02:00 |
| Last Ferry | 02:30 |
| Distance | 152 Nautical Miles |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 September 2026.
The Italian city of Messina is the capital of, and located in, the Province of Messina and is the third largest city on the island of Sicily. It lies on the Strait of Messina, opposite Villa San Giovanni on the Italian mainland, in the north east of Sicily. The port in Messina is an important economic driver for the city's economy as it is a key component in the city and region's tourist infrastructure. It also supports both commercial and military shipyards. Agriculture is also important in the area and visitors exploring the countryside will often find oranges, lemons, mandarin oranges and olives growing. Since 1548, the city has had a Roman Catholic Archdiocese and Archimandrite seat and is home to the University of Messina which was also founded in 1548.
The city's port offers passengers ferry services across the Strait of Messina to the ports of Villa San Giovanni and Reggio Calabria in Calabria. There is also a longer crossing to Salerno, which is to the south of the city of Naples. Most ferries that arrive in Messina dock at either the Messina Marittima/Bluvia dock or at the Molo Norimberga docks on Via San Ranieri. Occasionally some ferries will dock at the Rada San Francesco di Paola I docks on the northern edge of the town.
The Italian city of Salerno lies on the Gulf of Salerno, in the Salerno region of Italy. The city lies on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea and is close to the Amalfi Coast and is perhaps best known for being the home of the world's first medical school, the Schola Medica Salernitana. Being the cultural hub of the region, Salerno has many things for visitors to see and do. The city has some lovely pedestrian streets and large piazzas and for visitors who have a car they can easily drive around the city as traffic is not a problem and parking is available in most areas.
Salerno is located at the geographical centre of a triangle nicknamed Tourist Triangle of the 3 P (namely a triangle with the corners in Pompeii, Paestum and Positano). This provides Salerno with a unique opportunity to attract tourists who visit the city to take in sights that include the Lungomare Trieste, the Castello di Arechi, the Duomo and the Museo Didattico della Scuola Medica Salernitana.
