Travel year-round between mainland Italy and Sardinia on Tirrenia's Civitavecchia–Olbia and Genoa–Porto Torres routes, with additional Tunisia services bookable through Tirrenia as CTN's Italian agent.
Choose your mainland and island ports, travel date, passengers and vehicle to compare current Tirrenia sailings and accommodation.
Tirrenia and Moby share parts of the wider Sardinia booking environment. Check the operating carrier, ship, ports and conditions shown for the exact departure.
Tirrenia remains one of the most recognisable names in Italian island ferry travel. Its current 2026 passenger offer is especially clear on two year-round Sardinia routes: Civitavecchia–Olbia and Genoa–Porto Torres.
The Civitavecchia–Olbia corridor combines daytime and overnight departures, while Genoa–Porto Torres is an overnight route linking northern Italy with north-west Sardinia throughout the year. Both carry passengers and vehicles and offer cabins, armchairs and onboard services suited to a long Mediterranean crossing.
Tirrenia's website also sells Tunisia travel. That needs a distinction: Tirrenia acts as the Italian general agent for CTN – Compagnie Tunisienne de Navigation on Tunisia services. For a Genoa–Tunis booking, therefore, verify the actual operating carrier and ship rather than treating it as an ordinary Tirrenia-operated Sardinia service.
FerryEU planning note: for Sardinia, compare the island arrival point as carefully as the mainland departure. Olbia and Porto Torres serve very different parts of the island.
The first two cards are Tirrenia's principal current passenger routes. The third is deliberately labelled as a CTN-operated Tunisia service sold through Tirrenia's Italian agency role.
Civitavecchia–Olbia operates throughout the year. Tirrenia currently publishes around 7 to 7 hours 30 minutes by day and about 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours overnight.
Genoa–Porto Torres is Tirrenia's year-round northern gateway to Sardinia, with overnight sailings currently published at about 10 to 13 hours.
Tirrenia sells Genoa–Tunis through its role as the Italian general agent for CTN. This international route should therefore be booked and travelled using the operating-carrier details shown on the live confirmation.
The original FerryEU Tirrenia route map is retained as an illustrative planning aid. The key current Tirrenia-operated Sardinia corridors are Civitavecchia–Olbia and Genoa–Porto Torres.
Any Tunisia connection shown in the wider Tirrenia booking environment should be read with the CTN agency distinction in mind.
After choosing the most practical route, compare the live Tirrenia sailing for departure time, calling pattern, passenger requirements and the facilities or accommodation shown for that service. The complete itinerary and arrival location can matter more than a small difference in the headline fare.
Always confirm the operating carrier shown on the ticket. Moby and Tirrenia also share parts of the Sardinia sales environment, so the ship assigned to a familiar route can vary.
These three ports explain the geography of Tirrenia's current Sardinia passenger operation and all use established FerryEU destination images.
Civitavecchia is Rome's principal ferry port and gives central-Italy travellers a direct year-round route to Olbia in north-east Sardinia.
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Olbia is well positioned for Costa Smeralda, San Teodoro and eastern Sardinia, making it a useful arrival port for self-drive holidays.
Explore Sardinia travel ideas
Genoa serves the overnight Porto Torres route and is especially convenient for travellers approaching from northern Italy, Switzerland and south-eastern France.
Explore Ligurian ferry gatewaysChoose Olbia for north-east Sardinia and Porto Torres for the north-west. The correct island arrival port can save more driving than a small difference in ferry price.
Tirrenia offers several levels of accommodation on the long Sardinia routes, allowing passengers to choose between simple passage, reserved seats and private cabins.
The basic passage fare allows passengers to use public areas without reserving a specific seat or cabin.
Best considered forBudget travel and suitable daytime sailingsArmchair seating provides a defined place to rest at a lower price than a private cabin.
Best considered forSolo passengers and moderate-length journeysInside cabins are available in several berth configurations and provide privacy, beds and en-suite facilities.
Best considered forOvernight travel at a lower cabin priceOutside cabins add a porthole or window while retaining the same key private-cabin benefits.
Best considered forCouples and families wanting natural lightSpecial Tirrenia cabins with easy-clean flooring allow up to three pets to stay with their owners, subject to availability.
Best considered forPassengers who want private accommodation with petsAccessible passenger facilities and assistance are available on suitable ships; request the required arrangement when booking.
Best considered forPassengers needing adapted travel supportOn Genoa–Porto Torres, the cabin can effectively replace a hotel night. Compare the total cost against travelling in an armchair and arriving less rested.
Tirrenia's Sardinia ferries provide the usual long-distance Mediterranean mix of dining, bars, passenger lounges, shopping and family-oriented spaces.
Long-distance Tirrenia ships offer dining choices ranging from casual self-service to fuller restaurant meals.
Bars and cafés provide drinks, snacks and lighter food options throughout the journey.
Public lounges give passengers additional places to relax outside cabins and reserved seating.
Selected Tirrenia ships include shops for travel items, gifts and convenience purchases.
Children's areas and entertainment are available on suitable ferries and can make the crossing easier for families.
Outdoor decks give passengers sea air and Mediterranean views when weather and operating conditions permit.
Images in this section are from FerryEU's general ferry-travel library and illustrate facility types. The operator-specific hero and overview images use Tirrenia imagery.
Tirrenia's Sardinia routes are well suited to self-drive travel, particularly for longer island stays where having your own vehicle can simplify beach, village and inland exploration.
Cars and motorcycles are accepted on the Sardinia routes subject to the booked category and available vehicle-deck capacity.
Tirrenia promotes dedicated fares for campers, caravans, trailers, vans and minibuses, making the routes suitable for longer touring holidays.
Pets need their own ticket and current health documentation. Special cabins with animal access allow up to three pets.
Tirrenia provides support for passengers with reduced mobility and their companions, with ship and terminal assistance arranged according to the selected service.
Tirrenia performs check-in in the area directly in front of the ferry. Arrival requirements vary by port, season and whether you are travelling with a vehicle.
From 1 June to 30 September, these are Tirrenia's current minimum presentation times at Genoa.
From 1 October to 31 May, foot passengers have a shorter minimum but vehicles still require two hours.
These current minimums apply from 1 June to 30 September.
From 1 October to 31 May, vehicle passengers retain the 90-minute requirement.
The captain and boarding staff determine the order in which vehicles are loaded regardless of arrival sequence.
Civitavecchia–Olbia is particularly useful from Rome and central Italy and puts travellers close to north-east Sardinia's major holiday areas. Day sailings can suit travellers who prefer not to sleep onboard, while the night crossing can combine transport with accommodation.
Genoa–Porto Torres makes more sense from northern Italy, Switzerland and south-eastern France. The longer overnight crossing avoids a substantial drive south through Italy and arrives close to Sassari, Alghero and Sardinia's north-west coast.
If a Tunisia itinerary appears in the Tirrenia booking environment, treat it separately from the Sardinia routes: Tirrenia is the Italian general agent for CTN, so the final operating-carrier information is essential.
Tirrenia's current 2026 passenger network prominently includes the year-round Civitavecchia–Olbia and Genoa–Porto Torres routes to Sardinia. Tirrenia also sells Genoa–Tunis as the Italian general agent for CTN, Compagnie Tunisienne de Navigation.
Tirrenia currently publishes about 7 to 7 hours 30 minutes for daytime Civitavecchia–Olbia crossings and about 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours for night sailings.
The Genoa–Porto Torres route operates overnight throughout the year, with Tirrenia currently publishing a journey time of about 10 to 13 hours.
Tirrenia sells the Genoa–Tunis route as the Italian general agent for CTN, Compagnie Tunisienne de Navigation. Check the live booking and operating carrier details for the exact sailing.
For Genoa between June and September, foot passengers should arrive at least one hour before departure and vehicle passengers two hours before. From October to May the foot-passenger minimum is 30 minutes, while vehicle passengers should still arrive two hours before. At Olbia and Civitavecchia, current guidance is at least one hour in summer or 30 minutes in winter without a vehicle, and 90 minutes with a vehicle.
Yes. Tirrenia accepts cars, motorcycles, motorhomes, caravans, trailers and other suitable vehicles on its Sardinia services, subject to the correct category, dimensions and available deck space.
Yes. Pets need their own ticket and the required health documents. Tirrenia offers special cabins with animal access, and up to three pets can stay in one of those designated cabins.
Yes. Tirrenia offers inside and outside cabins in several berth configurations, as well as armchair seating and deck passage depending on the ship and sailing.
Every passenger, including minors, must present a valid identity document together with the ticket at boarding. International Tunisia travel requires the documents appropriate to the traveller's nationality and destination.
Yes. Tirrenia provides assistance and facilities for passengers with reduced mobility. Travellers who need specific help should state their requirements when booking and allow additional time at the port.
Check current Civitavecchia–Olbia and Genoa–Porto Torres departures, cabin availability and vehicle space for your travel dates.
Year-round Sardinia routes
Cars & touring vehicles
Day & overnight accommodation
