Wondering how to get from Italy to Greece in your motorhome? That’s exactly the question we asked ourselves on our motorhome tour of Southern Europe.
Whether by plane, road or boat, the options are numerous. In this article, we present the different ways of connecting these 2 countries, our own experience, and all our practical advice to make this stage as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Where were we on our journey?
By this time, we were well advanced on our tour of Southern Europe. We’d set off from France, heading for the Atlantic coast, and had driven along the entire Portuguese and Spanish coastlines, following the seashores as closely as possible. From Spain, we took the first boat to Italy, which meant we didn’t have to cross the Alps in our camper van.
Once we’d arrived in Italy, we’d taken the time to explore the Naples region, then head south to Puglia, which we’d just completed. Suffice to say, we had no desire to head north again for an overland passage. It was time to find the best option to continue our journey to Greece.
Linking Italy to Greece: the different vehicle options
When you’re traveling with your own vehicle through Southern Europe, getting from Italy to Greece can quickly become a real logistical headache. Between the kilometers to be swallowed, the borders to be crossed and the organizational constraints, it’s important to think carefully about the option best suited to your pace of travel and your budget.
So we took the time to analyze the 2 possible solutions: the land route and the sea route.
By road: feasible, but time-consuming and uneconomical
First option: do the whole trip by road, crossing the Balkans. This usually involves a route through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and finally Greece. This is clearly a great option for those who want to explore the Balkans in depth.
As for us, we’d already visited Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro on previous trips, and as we were in Puglia at the time, we had no desire to drive all the way up Italy just to reach a land crossing.
But let’s be honest: if you’re looking to get to Greece quickly, it’s not the easiest way. You need to allow for several days’ driving, sometimes slow border crossings (especially in high season), mountain roads that are not always in the best condition, and a high cost in fuel, tolls and nights on the road. In a van or camper van, it can quickly become tiring, especially with small children. In short, feasible, but not for everyone.
➡️ Budget-wise, it’s not a very economical option either, costing between €300 and €500, depending on the type of vehicle, number of stages, fuel and tolls.
By sea: the smoothest solution with a vehicle
The second option, the one we chose, is the sea crossing. From several Italian ports, you can take your car, van or camper van and reach the west coast of Greece in one night or one day. This is the easiest way to travel from southern Italy.
Most departures are from Ancona, Brindisi, Venice or Bari in the Puglia region (as in our case). These ferries are designed for motorized travelers: you take your vehicle on board, sleep in a cabin or on a seat, and arrive in Greece the next day refreshed and ready to go, often in Igoumenitsa or Patras.
It’s practical, quite economical (especially when compared to the cost of a long overland trip), and it’s also a great experience: watching the sun set from the deck, having dinner on board, letting yourself be carried by the waves… it allowed us to change our mode of travel for 24 hours!
➡️ On the budget side, allow around €90 to €150 for a car with two passengers in low season, and between €400 and €700 in high season if you’re traveling with a motorhome and want a cabin.
Why not take a mini-cruise?
During the boat trip from Italy to Greece, an idea began to form in our heads. The atmosphere on board, the fact of being carried along without having to manage the route, the comfort of a cabin, meals facing the sea… it all had a little cruise feel to it. We weren’t just moving from point A to point B, we were really living a moment apart. And that, in the middle of a road trip, is just the thing!
That’s when we thought: what if we tried a real mini-cruise one day? Something more organized, with several ports of call, but still over just a few days. A short format, easy to fit into a trip, that lets you discover several places without having to pack and unpack. Exactly the kind of break you’d expect to find between two major stops in a van or camper van.
A little digging revealed that Mediterranean mini-cruises are becoming increasingly popular. There are cruises departing from Marseille, Genoa, Barcelona and Civitavecchia, with itineraries ranging from 2 to 5 days. Some pass through Italian islands, while others follow the Spanish coast or stop off in Corsica, Sardinia or even Tunisia. They’re varied, often affordable and, frankly, tempting if you like a regular change of scenery.
➡️ For those who are curious, it is possible to discover the mini cruises available in the Mediterranean, with plenty of itinerary ideas to try out over a long weekend or a short week.
It’s also a great alternative for travelers who don’t have a vehicle to take on board, or those who want to take a “comfortable” break during their trip and leave their vehicle at the port.
Our experience: ferrying from Italy to Greece from Bari
It was from Bari, in southern Italy, that we decided to cross over to Greece. A city we recommend you visit, with its castle listed as a
Bari is a well-connected port, with regular departures to Greece, in particular to Igoumenitsa or Patras, two ideal entry points for continuing a road trip in Greece.
To organize the crossing, we booked our tickets online, a few days in advance, directly on a shipping company’s website. It’s possible to do it earlier, especially in high season, but we liked to keep our itinerary flexible. All you have to do is select the type of vehicle, the number of passengers, and whether or not you want a cabin. We opted for an interior cabin, so that we could rest peacefully at night with our daughter.
Embarkation is fairly straightforward. We follow the directions to the port, board the motorhome and are directed to our cabin. Our daughter loved the play area on board, which kept her busy throughout the crossing – a real plus when traveling with a young child.
The journey takes around 8 to 10 hours to Igoumenitsa, depending on the company and sea conditions. For us, it was a night crossing, so we didn’t lose a day’s sightseeing. As for the atmosphere, it was calm, with lots of road-trip travelers, families or backpackers, and a few truckers too.
In terms of rates, we managed around €400, with the camper van, two adults, a toddler and a cabin. It’s not cheap, but it’s still cheaper than a long road trip with hotel nights, or the flight + car rental combo on the spot. And frankly, it meant we arrived rested and ready to tackle the rest of the trip.
Arriving at the port ofIgoumenitsa in the early morning, we headed for the island of Lefkada and its turquoise waters. We recommend the Park 4 Night spot #4573, on the south side of the island, with its feet in the water (as shown in the photo below).
Driving from Italy to Greece is a real moment of transition in a trip. And by choosing to do it by sea, we’ve turned a simple stopover into a pleasant, relaxing interlude. This crossing between two Mediterranean countries was a real coup for us: practical, smooth and full of charm.
