Italy–Tunisia ferries

Civitavecchia, Salerno or Palermo: besides Genoa, three Italian ports link Italy to Tunis. Very cheap off-season, they can save the diaspora in Italy, Germany and Switzerland a lot of money, as long as you avoid July.

Updated October 2026 · sources at the bottom of the page

Key facts at a glance

The shortest: 9–12 hPalermo–Tunis, overnight
Off-season: from ≈ €70Car + driver, one way from Palermo
In July: 5 to 9 times moreItalian routes soar in summer
Operators: 2Grimaldi Lines and GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci)
Who for?: Italy, Germany, SwitzerlandAnd Austria, via the Brenner
Arrival: La GouletteThe port of Tunis

The three routes at a glance

Route	Civitavecchia	Salerno	Palermo
Near	Rome	Naples	Sicily
Operators	Grimaldi, GNV	Grimaldi	GNV, Grimaldi
Crossing time	18 h 30 (Grimaldi) to 28 h (GNV, via Palermo)	≈ 25 h	9–12 h
Sailings	2–3 a week, in the evening	2 a week	≈ 3 a week
Car + driver, one way	€97–175	€78–122	€67–117

Off-peak prices, based on recent bookings (AFerry). GNV crossing times: the operator's official website.

Prices month by month

Average one-way price for a car and its driver in 2026. Palermo is unbeatable off-season, but its price rises eightfold in July.

Ferry to TunisCar + driver · one way · prices in € · green: cheapest

Month	Marseille	Genoa	Palermo
January	426 euros	335 euros	69 euros
February	428 euros	332 euros	73 euros
March	430 euros	326 euros	76 euros
April	441 euros	353 euros	74 euros
May	463 euros	398 euros	72 euros
June	611 euros	455 euros	252 euros
July	754 euros	601 euros	581 euros
August	493 euros	429 euros	188 euros
September	457 euros	367 euros	78 euros
October	494 euros	376 euros	78 euros
November	416 euros, cheapest	313 euros, cheapest	68 euros, cheapest
December	442 euros	351 euros	94 euros

From Civitavecchia, expect about €101 in November and €469 in July. From Salerno, about €87 in November and up to €787 in July. In high summer, Genoa is often the most sensible route again.

Which port?

From Rome, Tuscany or southern Germany: Civitavecchia, an hour from Rome. From Munich, it's about 960 km via the Brenner.
From Naples and southern Italy: Salerno. The A2 Salerno–Reggio Calabria motorway is toll-free.
From Sicily: Palermo, the shortest crossing to Tunisia. From the mainland you cross the Strait of Messina (about 20 minutes, from about €22 one way for two adults and a car).
From Milan, Switzerland, western Germany or the Netherlands: Genoa is usually the best balance of drive and price.

From your city, which port and which way of travelling costs least?

Run the numbers

Our tips

Avoid July on the Italian routes: leaving at the end of June or in September can cut the price by two-thirds or more.
With GNV, check-in in Tunis opens 8 h before departure and closes 3 h before. A passport is required: an ID card alone has not been enough since 2025.
Factor in Italian tolls, the Swiss or Austrian vignette and fuel before comparing.
With only two or three sailings a week, book early for summer.

See Italy–Tunisia ferry prices