Sardinia Ferry Timetable
Sardinia is reachable from numerous ports: Corsica Ferries, Moby Lines, Tirrenia and Grimaldi sail from Livorno, Genoa, Civitavecchia and Piombino to Olbia, Porto Torres and Cagliari (5-12h).
From Liguria and Tuscany
The northern ports are the furthest from Sardinia, but the quickest to reach from central and northern Europe. Genoa sails to Olbia in the north-east and to Porto Torres in the north-west of the island. Livorno and Piombino, further south, cut the time at sea noticeably.
From Lazio and Campania
Civitavecchia near Rome is the most versatile port in the network: ships leave from here for Olbia, Porto Torres, Arbatax on the east coast and Cagliari in the south. Naples serves Cagliari and is the southernmost departure port on the Italian mainland.
What to watch out for in the timetable
The port of arrival decides the whole holiday, not just the crossing: from Olbia in the north-east to Cagliari in the south is half the island. Choose the port to suit your destination on Sardinia and only then compare the sailings.
Sardinia is a seasonal island. In summer extra ships run and some routes exist only then; in winter a core network from Genoa, Livorno and Civitavecchia remains. An empty day in the timetable is therefore a statement about the date, not about the route.
The longer routes are overnight crossings, and there the cabin is part of the journey. During the summer holidays cabins and vehicle spaces go before the crossing itself sells out.
FAQ Sardinia Timetable
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about the Sardinia ferry timetable.
How up to date is this timetable? +
The departures above come directly from the operators' data and are updated daily. Short-notice changes due to weather or technical issues still reach the operator first, so check your booking confirmation again on the day of travel.
Why do crossing times differ on the same route? +
Because different ships are used. On several Sardinia routes, two or three operators share the route, and their ships take different amounts of time. Overnight sailings are also often deliberately stretched out so arrival falls in the morning rather than in the middle of the night.
Do the ferries run in winter too? +
The main routes from Genoa, Livorno and Civitavecchia run year-round, though less frequently in winter. The routes from Nice, Barcelona and Piombino, by contrast, are highly seasonal, so it's worth checking the timetable above before planning your journey there.
When should I book? +
As soon as your travel date is set, especially with a vehicle. On all Sardinia routes, vehicle spaces sell out noticeably earlier than passenger spaces during the summer holidays, so anyone planning to bring a motorhome should book months ahead.