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Igoumenitsa and its sheltered gulf seen from the wooded slope above

Igoumenitsa: a port that is a port, and little else

A working port on the Epirus coast that exists to move vehicles: ferries to Corfu in about ninety minutes and to Italy overnight, with the motorway ending at the quay.

An at a glance card for Igoumenitsa. What it is: The western ferry port. To Corfu: About ninety minutes. To Italy: Overnight sailings. The town: Built to move vehicles. Go instead to: Sivota or Parga. One row is marked out as the thing that decides the visit. The conclusion reads: A port that is a port. Sleep elsewhere. No prices appear.
A port that is a port. Sleep elsewhere.

Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.

Almost nobody comes here to stay. Knowing that in advance is the useful part.

The crossings

  • Corfu is the short one: roughly an hour and a half by conventional ferry, less on the fast craft, running frequently through the day. This is the standard way to take a car to Corfu.
  • Italy: overnight sailings to Ancona, Bari, Brindisi and Venice, often calling at Corfu on the way. With Patras, this is one of the two Greek gates to the west.
  • Paxos has seasonal connections.

The terminal is organised and signposted, with separate gates for domestic and international departures, and international sailings need passport control time.

The town

Functional. A waterfront with cafes, a few hotels used mostly by people catching early boats, and a modern grid behind. There is a decent town beach at Drepano, on a sand spit north of the port, and a lagoon behind it.

If you have a spare day rather than a spare hour, spend it elsewhere: the coast either side is much better than the town.

Where to go instead

  • Sivota, half an hour south, with the islets and turquoise bays.
  • Parga, about an hour south.
  • Ioannina and the Zagori, an hour and a half inland on the motorway.

Any of those makes a far better night than the port.

Getting there and how long

At the western end of the Egnatia motorway: about three hours from Thessaloniki, an hour and a half from Ioannina. The nearest airports are Corfu, by ferry, and Preveza.

A few hours, timed to a boat.

Last checked August 2026. Ferry routes and schedules change - see our editorial policy.

Common questions

How long is the ferry from Igoumenitsa to Corfu?

Roughly an hour and a half on the conventional ferry, less on fast craft, with frequent departures through the day.

Can you sail to Italy from Igoumenitsa?

Yes, overnight to Ancona, Bari, Brindisi and Venice, often calling at Corfu on the way.

Is Igoumenitsa worth staying in?

Not really. It is a working ferry port. Sivota, Parga or Ioannina are all better places to spend a night.

Is there a beach at Igoumenitsa?

Drepano, on a sand spit north of the port, with a lagoon behind it.

How do you reach Igoumenitsa?

By the Egnatia motorway, about three hours from Thessaloniki or an hour and a half from Ioannina.

Next

Read Corfu, Sivota, or Parga.