What are the most important ports in Italy and Europe for ferry shipping? We did research by consulting data provided by the Port Authorities and discovered some peculiarities.
Northern Europe is the area with the most ferry traffic, both in terms of tourism and transportation of residents, while Athens Port of Piraeus is the most important port of call in terms of the number of passenger movements.
In Italy, the main port of call as far as ferries are concerned is Messina.
As for routes, the busiest in Europe is, Dover – Calais. Italy confirms itself among the “busiest” nations in Europe as far as ferries are concerned, boasting some of the most important ports and several of the busiest routes.
In this article we will illustrate the first part of Ferryfinder’s report on ferry traffic, drawing up the ranking of the most important Ports in Europe and Italy.
Ferries: busiest ports in Europe and Italy
1. Port of Piraeus (Athens, Greece)
- More than 15 million passengers in the year 2023/2024
- It is Europe’s busiest passenger port and a major hub for ferries connecting Athens to the many Greek islands such as the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, Crete, and the islands of the northern Aegean.
2. Port of Helsinki (Finland)
- About 12 million passengers per year
- It is one of the busiest ports in the Baltic Sea, with numerous ferries heading mainly to Tallinn, Stockholm and other Baltic destinations.
3. Port of Dover (United Kingdom)
- Approximately 11 million passengers per year
- Dover is one of the main ports connecting the UK and continental Europe, mainly via the Dover-Calais route .
It is a key hub for travelers between the UK and France.
4. Port of Calais (France)
- Over 10 million passengers annually
- Calais, along with Dover, is a crucial link between the UK and France, handling a high volume of passengers and vehicles.
5. Port of Tallinn (Estonia)
- About 10 million of passengers in the year 2023/2024
- This port in the Baltic Sea is an important hub for connections between Estonia, Finland, Sweden and Russia, with heavy ferry traffic.
6. Port of Messina (Italy)
- About 9 million of passengers in the year 2023/2024
- This port is the main link between Sicily and the Italian mainland, serving millions of passengers crossing the Strait of Messina.
7. Port of Naples (Italy)
- More than 8 million passengers in the year 2023/2024
- Naples is a key port for connections to the Gulf islands(Capri, Ischia, Procida) and other Mediterranean destinations.
8. Port of Ibiza (Spain)
- Over 6 million passengers per year
- Ibiza is a popular destination, especially in summer, with frequent ferries from Barcelona, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca.
9. Port of Palma de Mallorca (Spain)
- About 6 million passengers per year
- It is one of the most important ports in the Balearic Islands, with ferries connecting it to Spain and other islands in the archipelago.
10. Port of Barcelona (Spain)
- Over 4 million passengers per year
- Among the largest ports in the Mediterranean, it connects Spain with the Balearic Islands, Italy and North Africa.
Of course, the Ferryfinder report based on data from the Port Authorities take a look at the number of passengers handled in 2023, of course we need to consider that these ports are also crucial points for transporting vehicles and goods, contributing significantly to regional economies.
Busiest ferry routes in Europe and Italy
As far as the busiest routes are concerned, one only has to look at the port attendance figures to see that in the top ranks are those connecting Helisnki and Tallinn and Dover and Calais, i.e., four of the top five ports in Europe in terms of the number of passengers sailing on ferries.
Next, of course, are the ferry routes between Messina and Villa san Giovanni (10 million passengers a year) and from Naplesto Capri and Naples to Ischia.
