Ustica - Palermo
Ferry to Sicily
Ustica - Palermo
Ferry to Sicily
Fares for the Ustica to Palermo crossing usually range somewhere between $48* and $294*. Most travellers pay around $147* for a Ustica Palermo ferry ticket, and the cheapest fares on this route begin at $48*. Foot passengers can expect to pay roughly $147* on average. Bringing a car along typically brings the average fare up to $647*.
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 Ustica Palermo route generally kick off from Ustica at around 06:30, and the last departure of the day is usually around 17:30.
You certainly can — with a short crossing and sailings running daily, Ustica to Palermo is an easy day trip. Taking a vehicle, where possible, gives you the freedom to explore a bit further once you land.
Yes, Siremar carries vehicles on the Ustica to Palermo 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 Ustica to Palermo 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, Siremar takes bicycles on the Ustica to Palermo 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, Liberty Lines Fast Ferries & Siremar carries foot passengers between Ustica and Palermo.
Pet owners are in luck — Liberty Lines Fast Ferries allows pets on board between Ustica and Palermo. Travelling with a pet on this crossing costs an average of $314.
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 Ustica to Palermo 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 Ustica to Palermo 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 Ustica to Palermo 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 Ustica to Palermo 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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| Ustica - Palermo Ferry Route Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Foot Passenger | $147 | |
| Average Price with Car | $647 | |
| Average Price with Motorbike | $182 | |
| Average Cabin Price | $132 | |
| Ustica - Palermo Ferry Route Summary | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Ustica Island |
| Destination | Sicily |
| No. of Operators | 2 |
| Operators | Liberty Lines Fast Ferries & Siremar |
| Average Price | $147 |
| Average Pet Price | $314 |
| Average Daily Sailings | 3 |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 20 |
| Average Sailing Duration | 1 h 30 m |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 1 h 30 m |
| First Ferry | 06:30 |
| Last Ferry | 17:30 |
| Distance | 35 Nautical Miles |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 September 2026.
The small Italian island of Ustica lies in the Tyrrhenian Sea, around 50 km to the north of Capo Gallo. It forms part of the Aeolic island chain and its land is actually the tip of a submerged volcano. The island's landscape is characterised by black volcanic rock with dashes of pink and red hibiscus flowers and green cacti. Located around the island's shores are many little grottoes and the island's waters are protected within the Area Marina Protetta Isola di Ustica (the Island of Ustica Protected Marine Area). The waters are kept naturally clear by the Atlantic currents and are, as a consequence, full of coral and fish. This makes the island popular with scuba divers and one of the best dive spots on the island is the Grotta del Gamberi, on the island's southern tip where there are many shipwrecks to see there. Also popular with scuba divers is Secca di Colobara on the northern coast where lots of sponges can be seen in crystal clear waters.
Both hydrofoils and conventional ferries use the port with services departing to Palermo's Stazione Marittima. The crossing takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes by ferry and around 1 hour by hydrofoil.
The city of Palermo is located on the Italian island of Sicily and lies on the island's north west coast and has a large and strategically important natural port, next to the Monte Pellegrino. The city is typically Mediterranean and can trace its history back to the 8th century and is today known for its Norman buildings, fabulous palaces and the hustle and bustle of its markets. Palermo's historic centre is the Quattro Canti district, which means 'Four Corners' and is where a number of the city's most spectacular attractions can be found. These include the Royal Palace and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. The cathedral's sheer size and lovely architecture really needs to be seen to be fully appreciated. Also popular in the city is the medieval Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi and the 12th century Castello della Zisa. For visitors who enjoy the performing arts there is also the Teatro Massimo which is a recently refurbished theatre that puts on regular performances.
Ferries from the city's port depart to Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples and Tunisia.
