Ferries on Sicily can be called the most convenient way to get to the island. This transport connects practically all the regions of the island with the other Italian cities on the continent including such foreign territories as Sardinia, Malta and some small islands such as the Lipari Islands, the Egadi Islands, the Pantelleria Islands and others.
There are several companies which organize ferry with the continental part of Italy. They are Caronte & Tourist, TTT Lines, Ustica Lines, Siremar and others. The voyages from the capital of Palermo to Naples, Genoa and the port of Rome-Civitaveccia are organized by GNV, Tirrenia and Svan companies.
The voyages to Malta are organized from the Sicilian ports of Pozallo, Licata and Catania. They are organized by the Vitru Ferries Company.
NGI, Siremar and Ustica are the main operators of the voyages to the small isles of Sicily. The tickets for their ferries can be bought in the ports of Trapani, Palermo and Milazzo. Sicily is connected with Sardinia by Palermo-Cagliari ferry which belongs to the Tirrenia Company.
The most popular voyages by ferry on Sicily are between Messina and Calabria. Messina is situated near the Strait of Messina. This strait divides Sicily from the continental part of Italy. The width of the strait is only 5 kilometers. The most convenient way to get there is by ferry. There are some companies (some state companies are also among them) that organize voyages by ferries between Reggio Calabria and Messina. For example, you can get there by ferries of the Caronte & Tourist. If you want to get to Sicily from Reggio Calabria by a car-ferry it will cost you a little bit more than 20 Euros. On the whole in this particular direction ferries depart every 15 minutes. It will take you about half an hour to get from Messina to Reggio Calabria by ferry. But sometimes it can take you more time. It happens mostly in summer time when the traffic of ships in the Strait of Messina is much crowded.
