Port of Patras

Ferries and Ferry Companies Operating
(Patras, Achaea, Greece)

Seven ferry companies operate services from Patras to destinations elsewhere in Greece, and to Italian destinations. Many companies run the same routes as others with daily services in the summer months and less crossings in the winter.

Companies include Superfast Ferries; Anek Ferries; Minoan Lines; Venice Line Ferries; Blue Star Ferries; Maritime Way; and Hellenic Mediterranean Lines.

Superfast Ferries

Superfast Ferries operates services to Ancona in eastern Italy from Patras on a daily basis taking 20 hours, while also providing daily departures to Bari farther south, which have a crossing time of 15 hours, 30 minutes. Conventional next generation single-hull ferries are used, allowing for a high passenger and car capacity, as well as being fast.

Anek Ferries

Anek Lines also runs the route to Ancona from Patras, but with a stop off at the popular port of Igoumenitsa. Crossing times are 22 hours and the service is daily in the summer.

Two ships share this route - the Olympic Champion and the Hellenic Spirit. The ships are similar in design and construction and have a capacity to carry around 1,800 passengers and over 1,000 vehicles. The top speed is over 30 knots and extensive passenger facilities, including en-suite cabins, lounges, shops, restaurants, and bars, make this a comfortable crossing.

Minoan Lines

A third established ferry company, Minoan Lines, also operates the Patras to Ancona route taking 20 hours, as well as serving Venice via Corfu and Igoumenitsa. The total journey time to Venice from Patras is 27 hours.

The Olympia Palace, Europa Palace, and Ariadne Palace are operated by Minoan Lines and feature state-of-the-art facilities and the capacity to hold over 2,000 people and 600 cars. The top speed is 30 knots.

Venice Line Ferries

The aptly named Venice Line Ferries also runs the Patras to Venice route, yet in a quicker time than Minoan Lines as the service is a direct one. The daily crossing time is 23 hours.

The Japanese-built Lefka Ori and the Kriti II can carry over 1,500 passengers and 1,100 cars. They are well decked out with some outstanding facilities, including: a self-service restaurant and a café/bar; cabins; duty-free; air-conditioning; video and slot machines; a casino; disco and a swimming pool.

Blue Star Ferries

Blue Star Ferries has daily direct sailings to Ancona. It is a slower service going via Igoumenitsa. There is also another service going to Venice via Corfu and Igoumenitsa which takes 27 to 35 hours.

Maritime Way

Maritime Way makes a daily crossing from Patras to Brindisi via Igoumenitsa in 14 hours, 30 minutes. There are fewer crossings to Brindisi in the winter.

The Erotokritos and the Elli T run these routes, with passenger and car capacities of just under 1,000 and 400 respectively. There are restaurants, lounge bars, a casino, slot machines, swimming pools and excellent shopping onboard.

Hellenic Mediterranean Lines

Brindisi is also served by Hellenic Mediterranean Lines from Patras, with daily sailings in the summer and a few times a week in winter months. The crossing time is 15 hours. The Egnatia, a conventional single-hull ship which is slightly slower than the others but does boast excellent facilities, serves this route.