From Ancona to Durres (and vice versa) by ship
To reach one of the most important port cities of Albania by ferry from Italy, traveling on the fast line Ancona – Durres represents a convenient opportunity. The port of the city of Durres is the main Albanian port and one of the most important in the Adriatic Sea. The port of Ancona, the capital city of the Marche region, is the first in Italy for international traffic, number of passengers and cars embarked.
There are three weekly departures that connect these two important harbors; during the summer, however, the races are daily.
From Ancona, in low and mid season, we leave on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 19:00 and on Saturdays at 17:00 to arrive the next morning after 16 hours of navigation; in the months of July and August you can leave every day at 17:00 with a travel time that increases up to 18 or 20 hours in total.
In the opposite direction, on the Durres – Ancona, in low and mid season we leave on Wednesdays and Sundays at 7.00 pm and on Fridays at 5.00 pm, arriving the next morning. In July and August, departures at 5.00 pm are daily. Journey times are the same as for the outward journey.
The days and times indicated can change at any time. Updated data, as well as information on prices, are available by consulting the pages to which the previous links refer. The ticket price varies depending on the season (low or high), the chosen accommodation, and the vehicle, if any.
Book a ferry
The ferry
The shipping company is Adria Ferries, which travels the route with the AF Claudia ferry, which can carry up to 950 passengers. There are 75 quadruple cabins, a VIP cabin with double bed and two lounges with armchairs. On-board amenities include a self-service restaurant, bar, duty free shop, satellite TV and Wi-Fi.
The accommodation on board can be the deck passage, the armchair, the cabin for exclusive use (internal or sea view, with four beds, even for single use) and the “Pet friendly” cabin, for those traveling with pets, who will also be able to access the spaces reserved for them on deck 7.
Check-in
To check-in, it is necessary to go to the boarding agency at least three hours before departure with the ticket purchased online and a passport or other valid document for expatriation. The agency, in the Ancona maritime station (Frittelli Maritime Group SpA), is located in Via Einaudi. In the port of Durres the reference agency is the Adria Ferries Agency Shpk.
Albania is not part of the European Union, neither of the Schengen area nor of the Monetary Union. All passengers, including minors and infants, must therefore have a passport. A valid identity card for expatriation can also be fine, but the expiration date must be at least three months from the date of return. But those identity cards valid for expatriation that have been extended are not accepted. If you are traveling with a vehicle or with animals, you must also present the relevant documents.
Having thus obtained the boarding passes, you can go to the ship’s access ramps, where the operations relating to security checks will be carried out and the crew will instruct you on how to reach the reception or the booked accommodation.
Boarding
The embarkation and disembarkation piers in the port of Ancona are not predefined but are established shortly before departures and arrivals. The options are Calata Guasco (Quay 7), Molo Karol Wojtyla (Quays 8 and 9), Molo Santa Maria (Quay 11 -12 -13), Calata della Repubblica (Scalo Vittorio, Quay 14) and Molo XXIX Settembre (Quay 16).
The address for embarkation and disembarkation in the port of Durres is Rruga Doganes; in the passenger terminal there are information offices, customs and waiting rooms.
