Getting to Ustica
Connections with hydrofoils, monohulls, and ferries.
Book now your holiday
Far away yet close...
Ustica lies 36 miles off the coast of Palermo—a distance that places it almost in the center of the Tyrrhenian Sea, far enough to evoke the feeling of being lost at sea and miles away from everything, yet close enough to be reached via short connections.
Hydrofoils and ships
Connections to the ports of Palermo and Naples
Ustica can be reached exclusively by sea, but getting there is very easy thanks to the services provided by two reliable ferry companies Libertylines e Caronte & Tourist.
The route from Palermo is covered in 3 hours by ferry (which also accommodates vehicles), in 1 hour and 20 minutes by hydrofoil, and in 1 hour and 30 minutes by monohull vessel.
The companies Snav, Grandi Navi Veloci e Tirrenia operate ferry services to Palermo from Civitavecchia, Naples, Genoa, Livorno, and Cagliari.
BY PLANE
The port of Palermo is located in the city center, approximately 40 km from Palermo’s Falcone-Borsellino International Airport; a Prestia & Comandè bus departs from the airport every half hour, reaching the port in about 30 to 45 minutes. Here schedules and rates.
Public taxis and private hire vehicles (NCC) offer a faster, albeit more expensive, service; call us for information.
Other Links
BY TRAIN
Palermo Central train station is about 3 km from the entrance, very close to the port (just a 500m walk) and very well connected to stations throughout Italy. For timetables and fares, you can visit the website Trenitalia.
BY BUS
Numerous locations are connected to Palermo—and specifically to the port—by scheduled bus services. One of the main stops is at Piazza Politeama, approximately 1 km from the port entrance.
To check schedules and fares, you can visit the respective bus companies’ websites:
Autoservizi Salemi SAIS Autolinee Russo Auto Servizi Prestia e Comandè
Monohull
Monohull ferries are designed to transport passengers and luggage and cover the route in approximately 1.5 hours, departing from the port of Palermo near Molo Trapeizoidale. They operate between April and October with multiple trips depending on the month. For more information on timetables and prices, please visit the website Libertylines.
Hydrofoil
The hydrofoils carry passengers and luggage, covering the route in approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes; departures are from the port of Palermo (Molo Trapezoidale area). During the winter season (November to March), there is only one trip departing from Ustica and one from Palermo. There are multiple trips available between April and October. For information Libertylines.
Ferry
The ferry transports passengers, cars, and motorcycles, covering the distance in approximately 3 hours; departures are from Palermo at 8:30 AM and from Ustica at 2:30 PM or 4:00 PM, depending on the season. Two days a week—depending on the time of year—it makes two round trips; please check the company’s website for details Caronte & Tourist.