Venice to Pula Ferry

The Venice to Pula catamaran is the longest of the Venice–Istria fast-ferry crossings, reaching the largest city on the Istrian peninsula at its southern tip. It is a passenger-only, international service, so it carries no cars or motorcycles; travellers board on foot, with bicycles accepted for a small surcharge.

Operator and vessels

The route is operated by Venezia Lines, which deploys its modern catamarans San Frangisk and its sister ship San Pawl, each carrying up to 310 passengers. These air-cushion-assisted craft can reach high cruising speeds, keeping the long southern run comfortable and reasonably quick.

Crossing time and season

Because Pula sits farthest south of the Istrian ports served from Venice, the sailing takes about 3 hours 30 minutes, and some routings run around 30 minutes longer. The season typically opens in early June and closes in late September, with extra Saturday sailings through the high-summer window and near-daily frequency in July and August.

Ports

Boats leave Venice's San Basilio terminal and dock in Pula, a city dominated by its remarkably intact first-century Roman amphitheatre, one of the best-preserved arenas anywhere. The port lies close to the historic core, so the Roman monuments, waterfront and old town are all within easy reach on arrival.

Documents

As an international EU-to-EU sea crossing, a valid passport or national ID card is required for every passenger. Croatia's membership of the Schengen area does not remove the need to carry identity documents for ferry boarding.