How to get to the Tremiti Islands: all the information to reach the Pearls of the Adriatic

The Tremiti islands are in the Adriatic Sea, in the northernmost point of Apulia and are part of the Gargano National Park, in the province of Foggia, they are the only Italian islands in the lower Adriatic and constitute a Marine Nature Reserve. They have earned the title of Blue Flag Beaches 2024, as well as the nickname of Pearls of the Adriatic. If you are in the Gargano, even just passing through, a visit to the Tremiti Islands, even just for a day, is highly recommended.

There are different ways to reach them, in the summer there are ferries and hydrofoils that leave from various and beautiful locations on the Apulian, Molise and Abruzzo coasts. Landing in the Tremiti is only possible on the two islands of San Domino and San Nicola, from there you can move with smaller boats. Throughout the article we will explain how to get to the Tremiti islands from Vieste, Peschici, Rodi Garganico and Termoli, so you can choose which town you want to leave from, it is important to know that generally cars cannot be taken on board but only passengers. But before moving on to the ferries you must know that there is also a Heli transport service, a helicopter departing from the Gino Lisa airport in Foggia. The helicopter operates daily flights, the cost of tickets varies according to the season and the age of the passengers.

The beautiful town of Vieste stands on the easternmost promontory of the Gargano, white houses perched overlooking the blue sea, the symbol of Vieste is the Pizzomunno, an imposing limestone monolith 25 meters high, located at the beginning of the beach. Leaving from Vieste for the Tremiti islands will allow you to discover this magical place.

Ferries leave from the small port of Vieste and are active in the summer season, from June to September, there are connections starting from the morning until early afternoon, the timetables vary depending on the company you choose, and we suggest you check them with the right in advance. The journey lasts approximately 2 hours, remember to bring everything you need for your excursion. Alternatively, to get to the Tremiti islands from Vieste, you can choose the ferry connection combined with a guided boat tour to the other islands.

Peschici is a charming seaside village, perched on a promontory overlooking the sea, full of beaches and crystal-clear waters, often included among the Blue Flag beaches of Italy, it is also located on the Gargano, 20 km from Vieste. Ferries and hydrofoils depart from the characteristic small port in the direction of the Tremiti Islands.

The connection to the Tremiti islands is active all year round, but during the winter the routes are limited to one day a week. During the summer season (June - September) trips are daily, with at least 2 trips per day and are served by various companies, some of which also offer tours to the other islands. The duration of the journey can vary from 1h30/1h50 depending on which vehicle you choose, and they can land either at the port of San Nicola or that of San Domino. If you only want to stay for a day, you can book a return trip on the same day.

Rodi Garganico, like Vieste and Peschici, is one of the towns that are part of the splendid Gargano National Park, the greenery shines around this town, Rodi Garganico is famous for its citrus fruit production, practiced since medieval times. Connections to the islands leave from the tourist port.

The journey from Rodi Garganico to the Tremiti islands takes place only in the summer (April – October) and lasts 1h15. We suggest you always check the times which may vary depending on the companies and the season. Arrival is expected in the ports of San Nicola and San Domino and the return can be booked on the same day. Even starting from Rodi Garganico we suggest you consider the ferry tour with the combination of the guided tour of the islands, which is carried out with boats once you have landed.

The last location from which you can leave is Termoli, we are in Molise, province of Campobasso. Termoli is a city which, despite its recent industrial development, has managed to preserve its ancient charm and where there is an important commercial port. Here too we are in a picturesque spur of natural rock, where the sunlight illuminates colorful little houses.

Since the port of Termoli is larger than the other cities we told you about before, there are more daily departures here. The journey takes approximately an hour. Furthermore, if you are in Termoli we suggest you take advantage of a visit to the city's underground, after descending 5 meters underground, you will be able to see an ancient cistern, the remains of a necropolis and medieval ruins, accompanied by the stories of a guide.

Some final tips for having a small travel handbook. Remember that to get to the Tremiti islands only trips are planned for passengers and not cars or motorbikes. The best time to get to the Tremiti islands is during the hot season because more connections are active, while in the cold season no ferries depart from some locations. Always check the timetables, leave equipped especially if you intend to take a day trip, but even if you intend to stay, remember that there may not be everything you need on the islands.

Finally, we remind you that the landing in the Tremiti is expected on the islands of San Nicola and San Domino, from there you can walk around or take advantage of local boats to visit the other islands. Once again, we suggest you consider a trip with a guided tour to the islands to have a more complete experience. 

The scheduled departures are from:

- Vieste by ferry, journey duration 2h00

- Peschici by ferry, journey duration 1h30

- Rodi Garganico by ferry, journey duration 1h15

- Termoli by ferry, journey duration 1h00

- Foggia, by helicopter

Have a good trip!