world’s best ferry trips

Igoumenitsa >

venice

This ferry trip connects Greece and Italy, but it is not your average ferry across a thoroughfare. This ferry takes you the length of the world renown Adriatic Sea - from the heel of Italy’s boot all the way to northern Italy, ending in the incomparable city of Venice. The trip covers a distance of 573 miles as the crow flies, lasting between 25 and 27 hours. I recommend taking the trip from Igoumenitsa, a coastal town on Greece’s picturesque northwestern coast. The ferry departs once a week at 6:30 in the morning. You enjoy an all day cruise with views of Italy’s coast most of the way. When you wake up the next morning your boat will be approaching Venice. For me, that’s the way to go on one of the world’s most incredible regularly scheduled ferries.

Incheon >

dalian

This ferry trip connects South Korea and China, traveling across the northern section of the Yellow sea, covering a distance of 296 miles as the crow flies between the two cities. An interesting aspect of this journey is that on your starboard side the craggy coastline of North Korea will be visible as various points after departing from Incheon. I recommend going from Korea to China, because the port city of Incheon is much closer and more accessible to the capital city of Seoul than Dalian is to its nearest major city, Beijing, which is a lengthy trip from Dalian. Unless you are planning on jumping off onto a major journey through China, the best way to do this trip is to fly into Seoul, make your way to Incheon, which is worth a few days in and of itself, and then purchase round-trip ferry tickets to Dalian. You can stay in the Dalian area for incomparable natural excursions as well as many cultural heritage masterpieces, and then take the ferry back to South Korea for easy access to Seoul’s international airport. If, on the other hand, you are keen on incorporating this ferry trip into a larger trans-China journey, Dalian is an excellent jumping off point for any traveler looking to explore China and northern Asia. With a one-way ticket from Incheon, you could arrive in Dalian and jump off to any number of places, including a further ferry, bus or train connection to Beijing and Tianjin, or you can explore China’s northernmost reaches in the fascinating Inner Mongolia region. No matter your plans, this ferry trip taking you from South Korea across the Yellow Sea to Dalian, China is an excellent and unique ferry trip with few comparisons.

montevideo >

buenos aires

This ferry trip takes you between Uruguay and Argentina. It is one of the more populous ferries on this list with only few comparisons. Ferrying between two of South America’s major city centers, this trip will be taken alongside not only tourists, but locals as well. The two nations have a very close relationship and due to Argentina’s size difference (Argentina is a huge country, while Uruguay is relatively small) Uruguay is a popular destination for Argentinian travelers and commuters to southern Brazil, found further north up the Atlantic coast. I recommend taking this journey from Montevideo because it can be incorporated into a trip taking you from Brazil to Argentina, using the beautiful city of Montevideo and its ferry to Buenos Aires as a scenic and relaxing centerpiece to the journey, substituting it for another small flight or bus trip. This is definitely the way to go.

Bar Harbor >

yarmouth

This ferry connects the United States of America with Canada. A more stunning and picturesque visage of our plants northern latitudes could not be presented with more stunning clarity than it does on this singular ferry trip connecting the Maine gem of Bar Harbor with Nova Scotia’s charming a historic port city of Yarmouth. In these places you will here stories as much about the British and French as you will about Portuguese fishermen. You will get a sense that history is a bit different up here, and the waters that connect these two nations entwine seamlessly together. Perhaps you may even forget you’re traveling between two nations. Another unique aspect of this journey is that it connects two places generally out of the way of their respective nation’s most congested centers. I recommend leaving from Bar Harbor because the trip “down-east” to this section of Maine is spectacular no matter how you take it, from Portland, from Boston, by car or by island hopping. The journey to Bar Harbor is something in an of itself. Once there, going to Yarmouth puts the icing on the cake. You have now traveled to another country, and to a far-flung region at that. Many Canadians go their entire lives without getting to this section of their country. Yarmouth boasts a handsome set of unique architecture, maritime history as well as some of the finest seafood and culinary experiences you are likely to find anywhere. I recommend taking this journey in the summer, particularly in late August.

castries > martinique

This ferry trips will take you between two island nations, each worth their own volumes due to the richness of everything you will find in both places. It would take a lifetime to explore every corner of either island, and the ferry trip between them is only an hour an a half. With airport options on both islands you can fly into one, ferry to the other and fly out there. Or, you can choose on island to fly in and out of to begin and end your trip, and while you are there you can take a round trip ferry to spend a night or two on the second island. Any way you did it is worth it. The 90 minute cruise between islands is a bit off the beaten path, but a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing. If you are with a group of special people and want to make a lifetime memory, this will do it for sure. If your soul-seeking alone, or on a romantic getaway, this could add a solid dose of excitement and maritime adventure to your Caribbean journey.