How to go to Sardinia from Marseille by ferry?

What if this summer we went to Sardinia? Discover our mini-guide to go to Sardinia from Marseille by ferry!

Second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and Italy, Sardinia — 1.65 million inhabitants (2017) spread over 24,090 km2 — is separated from the Corse by the mouths of Bonifacio and Italy by the Tyrrhenian Sea, and is located north of Tunisia.

Marked by a multi-millenary history that has forged a very strong island identity and a very rich cultural heritage, Sardinia attracts more and more travellers even though the island is often blocked for the benefit of Corsica or Sicily.

Because of aubaine, it is a little tourist Sardinia that you will find from Olbia to Cagliari from Alghero to Carbonia. The island, despite growing tourist development on the coast, retains a protected landscape and preserved heritage within the land.

Going to Sardinia from Marseille by ferry is a travel solution that allows you to put your own vehicle on hold, in order to swipe the roads of the island after 17 hours of crossing and visit the most beautiful must-see sites : Alghero, Cagliari, Cala Gonone the islands of Maddalena, the Costa Verde, Ogliastra, the Asinara National Park, etc.

Are you motivated? Here's how to reach Sardinia from Marseille by ferry!

The ferry companies linking Sardinia to Marseille

Until a very recent period, you had to make a stopover in Corsica with landing in Bastia or Ajaccio and boarding in Bonifacio or Porto-Vecchio to go by ferry to Sardinia. Now there is a direct maritime route from the port of Marseille to Porto Torres.

This is the French company Corsica Linea which travels directly, in partnership with The Meridionale , due to a crossing per week, all year round. The only difference between the two: the line of Corsica Linea is direct, while the line of La Méridionale makes a stopover in Propriano in Corsica.

In all, they are 3 crossings per month that are possible in low season, and up to 7 per month in high season.

The ships leave at the beginning of the evening at the port of Marseille to 6.30 p.m. , and arrive at the port of Porto Torres the next day 11:30 . You will also find crossings with departure in the morning and disembarkation in the evening (the journey lasts about 10 a.m. day against 5 p.m. at night). The stopover in Propriano, if you choose the company La Méridionale, lasts only 1 hour .

Plan a ferry ride in Sardinia with Direct Ferries

Rather than go to the two companies' website to find the crossing that is best suited, why not consult a ferry rider to book your ticket more easily?

We knew Rentalcars for car rental, Skyscanner to compare flights, here is Direct Ferries , a search engine allowing to see in a few clicks the available routes. The platform allows you to find the best rates — at the time you have imposed — at the earliest of your initial dates.

Can't you go to Sardinia by ferry from Marseille? The Italian company Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) has a road Genoa to Olbia. If there are more available routes, however, it will be necessary to ride to Genoa. In France, you can also go by ferry to Sardinia from Corsica , Nice and from Toulon .

How to book your ferry trip to Sardinia from Marseille?

If your holiday dates are already laid, why not book your ticket in advance? The prices — as for airline tickets — can quickly fluctuate and it is rare that they will not adjust to the drop, especially when the summer season comes to great steps or when you are already in the middle of the high season.

It is of course simple to book your ticket online. On the website of Direct Ferries, you start with information your desired travel dates, the number of passengers, the number of possible animals, the desired schedules, then the vehicle (type, mark, model of the vehicle): car, bike, motorhome, van, or pedestrian traveler, without a vehicle.

Then you go. compare the different prices obtained by the search engine. At the time of writing of this article, there is only one crossing available by search (logical, with one trip per week...), which limits the choice.

Tickets to go to Sardinia by ferry from Marseille are unfortunately much more expensive than to go to Olbia from Genoa. It may be interesting to assess whether the kilometric costs (gasoline and toll) to go to Genoa remain below the price to leave from Marseille. You then have the possibility of book a cabin (optional, but it will be necessary to sleep on the deck of the boat without the cabin) and a seat.

Both companies, Corsica Linea and La Méridionale, apply discounts and offers every Sunday of the summer season. For example:

• Promotion Prima Sardegna: up to 50% discount on the price of the basic ticket
• Family rate25% reduction on the transport of parents travelling with at least one child
• Senior rate25% discount for persons over 60 years of age
• Free for under 4 years

Before making the payment, there is still one option to choose: Cancellation insurance without charge . It is up to you to see, but it allows you to cancel up to 48 hours before departure with full refund. Given the ticket price, it may be good to subscribe to it in case a fortuitous event occurred.