Genoa to Palermo Ferry

The Genoa to Palermo ferry is the long-haul Tyrrhenian run, linking Liguria in Italy's north-west directly with the Sicilian capital in a single overnight sailing. It is operated by Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), the Genoa-based line whose home port this is, and it is one of the longest domestic ferry crossings in Italy.

A long overnight passage

Sailing the full length of the western Italian coast, the crossing takes around 20 hours - typically between 19 and 21 and a half hours depending on the vessel and season. Departures leave Genoa in the evening, generally somewhere between 21:00 and 23:30, meaning passengers spend a night and much of the following day at sea before reaching Palermo. Given the length, a cabin is strongly recommended rather than a deck seat.

Frequency

GNV runs the route all year round, with roughly six departures a week rising to seven in the summer high season. That regularity makes Genoa the main northern gateway for drivers heading to Sicily without crossing the whole peninsula by road.

Onboard and vehicles

Because the journey is so long, the ships carry a wide choice of accommodation: standard inside cabins, family suites, pet-friendly cabins and accessible cabins for travellers with reduced mobility, alongside restaurants, bars and sun decks. As a full vehicle ferry it carries cars, campervans, vans and motorcycles, so you can load your own transport in the north and drive off in Sicily.

For travellers who value covering the distance in comfort - and avoiding a two-day drive down the mainland - the Genoa-Palermo sailing turns the trip south into a rest rather than a marathon.