Ferry from Palermo to Ustica

Palermo Guide

The Italian city of Palermo is located in the north west of Sicily, by the Gulf of Palermo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The city has a reputation across the world for its history, gastronomy, culture and architecture with a its origins dating back over 2,700 years. Many visitors flock to the city and it has become Sicily's main hub for culture, commerce and tourism. The city's centre has many examples of fine palaces and churches which give way to areas whose way of life doesn't seem to have changed for centuries. This is perhaps most evident in the markets in Palermo, whose Arabic origins can still be seen today thanks to the noise, aromas, colours, narrow streets and with the excellent array of produce on offer and the general 'souk's atmosphere.

From the city's port, ferry services operate to destinations include Genoa, with a crossing time of 21 hours, Civitavecchia, 14 hour crossing time, Naples, 10 hours and 30 minutes, and Tunisia, 10 hours. It is recommended that foot passengers check in 1 hour prior to departure and vehicles 2 hours prior to departure. For all departures to Tunisia check in should be 4 hours prior to departure.

Ustica Guide

The small Italian island of Ustica is located off the north coast of Sicily and boasts spectacular scenery both on land and underwater. The island, which is of volcanic origin, is a national marine park that features petrified black lava and crystal clear waters. Because of this Ustica is a popular destination with scuba divers who flock their to see first hand the submerged ancient city of Osteodos. The island is also a popular destination for overnight visitors as it is easy to get to. Popular attractions on the island include the prehistoric village of the 'Faraglioni' which is a large village with reinforced fortress walls that are about 1 meter high and six meters thick. The village along with 'Omo Morto' shows that during the Bronze Age, around 1450-1250 BC, Ustica benefited from its location along the Obsidian and other trade routes. The walls, built following the construction techniques of Mycenae and dating back to the Middle Bronze Age, are proof of the state of insecurity in which Sicily found itself following the arrival of the Mycenaeans.

You can take a ferry or hydrofoil from Palermo’s Stazione Marittima to Ustica. The crossing takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes by ferry and just over 1 hour by hydrofoil.