When I planned my own trip to Sicily, I found it surprisingly hard to get a simple explanation of how to travel between mainland Italy and Sicily.
Most sites gave bits of information, but nothing clear in one place. So I’ve put everything together here - short, simple, and easy to follow.
Travelling from Italy to Sicily is actually very easy. Whether you’re going by ferry, by car, or on the famous Intercity train that drives onto the ferry, this guide explains exactly how each route works.
If you’re wondering things like:
Is there a bridge between Sicily and Italy?
Can you drive from Italy to Sicily?
How far is Sicily from mainland Italy?
What’s the quickest ferry from Italy to Sicily?
…this guide covers every option.
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Foot ferry
Car ferry
Intercity trains that board the ferry
Longer overnight ferries from central Italy
No. There is no bridge between Sicily and the Italian mainland. There are ongoing discussions about building the Sicily bridge project, but nothing is built yet. Right now, the only way to cross is by ferry - on foot, by car, or by train.
Yes - but not via a road bridge. You drive your car onto the ferry at Villa San Giovanni and cross the Strait of Messina to Messina in Sicily. Crossing for cars starts at around €52.
No, there is no passport control between the two, as they are both part of Italy.
Yes, Sicily is a region of Italy, so you do not go through passport control.
Sicily is just 3.2 km from the mainland at the closest point. This is why the ferry from Villa San Giovanni to Messina only takes around 20 minutes.
It depends on your departure port. The quickest crossing is from Villa San Giovanni to Messina (20 minutes). Longer routes from Salerno, Naples, and Civitavecchia take between 9–14 hours.
Reggio Calabria, Villa San Giovanni, Salerno, Civitavecchia along with the intercity trains from Rome and Naples. We will cover every option below.
Foot passenger fares from Italy to Sicily start at just €2.50
This is the shortest distance between Sicily and Italy and the most popular crossing. This ferry travels 8.6km, taking just 20 minutes.
Why Villa San Giovanni is the best option
The ferry operator for Villa San Giovanni to Messina is Caronte & Tourist
So let's explore the various options from Villa San Giovanni
Located just up the coast from Reggio Calabria on Italy's mainland, you can travel to Villa S. Giovanni station by train, from other towns and cities in Italy.
This is where many people get confused - so here’s the clear version.
You can book your train as normal on Trenitalia by selecting any mainland Italian station and then choosing a Sicilian station (Palermo, Catania, Taormina, etc.).
Regional Train: You get off the train at Villa San Giovanni station. Walk to the ferry port (right next to the station). Buy a ferry ticket (€2.50). Cross to Messina. Continue your journey from Messina Marittima station (next to the Port) or Messina Centrale station (4 min walk from Messina Port).
Intercity Train (The Famous One): This is the only one in Europe where the train is shunted onto the ferry. Stay on the train or walk around the ferry during the crossing. The ferry crossing is included in your train ticket. Once in Messina, the train splits into two sections: One part goes west (towards Palermo). One part goes east (towards Catania)
If you want the easiest option and don’t want to change trains - choose an Intercity.
To search trains click here
For Ferry Tickets click here
Cross the Messina Strait from Villa San Giovanni to Messina as a foot passenger:
To book click here
To book click here
From Reggio Calabria port you can take the foot ferry over to Messina, Sicily.
Another good choice for foot passengers.
There are 14 ferries per day- roughly 1 per hour between the hours of 6:30am and 11:30pm.
Tickets are available online or at the port via Liberty Ferries
Liberty Ferries also offer sailings from Reggio Calabria to Rinella and Santa Marina Salina (Aeolian Islands), though these are less frequent.
To book click here
From Salerno, you can sail to Palermo in Sicily with Grimaldi Ferries.
They offer:
Ideal if you prefer a night crossing rather than long-distance driving.
To book click here
There is a direct Intercity train from Salerno to Sicily.
This train:
Journey times:
From Naples, you can sail to Palermo in Sicily with Grimaldi Ferries.
To book click here
Another direct Intercity route:
Journey times:
There are two daytime trains and one night train (with couchettes).
There is typically two direct trains in the day with normal train seating, then there is a night train, departing late evening.
The night train includes compartment couchettes with space to sleep and includes breakfast.
To search trains click here
You can travel from Rome Tiburtina with just one change - usually in Salerno or Naples.
The journey from Rome to Sicily takes between 10-14 hours depending on the service.
This is a long journey, but the most budget-friendly way to reach Sicily from central Italy.
To search trains click here
You can travel from Civitavecchia, a coastal town northwest of Rome, to Palermo via a ferry.
Good for travellers who want to combine Rome with Sicily without internal trains.
To search this route and book click here
The quickest crossing is from Villa San Giovanni to Messina
The cheapest crossing is as a foot passenger for €2.50
You can drive to Sicily using the car ferry
Sicily is 3.2 km from mainland Italy at the closest point
There is no bridge between Sicily and mainland Italy
Intercity trains offer the easiest “door-to-door” option
Overnight ferries from Naples, Salerno, or Civitavecchia are popular for long-distance travel
You do not need your passport as Sicily is part of Italy
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