Villa San Giovanni - Messina
Ferry to Sicily
Villa San Giovanni - Messina
Ferry to Sicily
Fares for the Villa San Giovanni to Messina crossing usually range somewhere between $5* and $193*. Most travellers pay around $102* for a Villa San Giovanni Messina ferry ticket, and the cheapest fares on this route begin at $5*. Foot passengers can expect to pay roughly $11* on average. Bringing a car along typically brings the average fare up to $115*.
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 Villa San Giovanni Messina route generally kick off from Villa San Giovanni at around 00:00, and the last departure of the day is usually around 22:40.
You certainly can — with a short crossing and sailings running daily, Villa San Giovanni to Messina is an easy day trip. Taking a vehicle, where possible, gives you the freedom to explore a bit further once you land.
No, vehicles aren't currently accepted on sailings between Villa San Giovanni and Messina.
Bicycles aren't currently accepted on sailings between Villa San Giovanni and Messina.
No, foot passengers can't currently travel on sailings between Villa San Giovanni and Messina.
Pets aren't currently permitted on ferries between Villa San Giovanni and Messina. Our Deal Finder can help you find a nearby route that does allow them.
Guide dogs and assistance dogs are often treated differently to general pets, even on routes where pets aren't allowed. Contact our customer service team to find out what's possible on your sailing, or check our Special Assistance Help page for more information.
Whether the Villa San Giovanni to Messina 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 Villa San Giovanni to Messina 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 Villa San Giovanni to Messina 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 Villa San Giovanni to Messina 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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| Villa San Giovanni - Messina Ferry Route Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Foot Passenger | $11 | |
| Average Price with Car | $115 | |
| Average Price with Motorbike | $60 | |
| Average Campervan Price | $178 | |
| Villa San Giovanni - Messina Ferry Route Summary | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Italy |
| Destination | Sicily |
| Average Price | $102 |
| Average Pet Price | $163 |
| Average Daily Sailings | 54 |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 376 |
| Average Sailing Duration | 20 m |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 20 m |
| First Ferry | 00:00 |
| Last Ferry | 22:40 |
| Distance | 5 Nautical Miles |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 September 2026.
Messina is an Italian city and is sometimes referred to as 'the door of Sicily' and lies on the Strait of Messina in the north east of Sicily. The city's port has played an important role in the city's growth and fortunes and supports tourism for the city and surrounding area and is also home to commercial and military shipyards. Since 1548, Messina has been a Roman Catholic Archdiocese and Archimandrite and is also home to the University of Messina which was founded in 1548 by Ignatius of Loyola. A popular tourist attraction in the city is the 12th century cathedral which guards the remains of King Conrad who was ruler of Germany and Sicily during the 13th century. Following a huge earthquake in 1908 the cathedral had to be almost completely rebuilt between 1919-1920 and then again in 1943 following a fire that was caused by Allied bombing during the Second World War.
Ferry services from Messina operate to one of two ports in Calabria (Villa San Giovanni and Reggio Calabria) or on a longer ferry ride to Salerno, just south of Naples.
