How to travel from Messina to Taranto, Italy

The distance between Messina and Taranto is around 382km (237 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take a ferry and then drive which takes around 4h 35m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Messina to Taranto by bus, ferry and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out TarantoMessina if you're planning a return trip.

1
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Taranto via Porto Mercantile.

  • Duration5h 25m
  • Departs4 times a day
  • Typical cost
    €30($30)
Operated by

SAIS trasporti S.p.A. - Autolinee Giamporcaro

+ 2 others
💰 Cheapest
2
ferry
+

Ferry

Take a ferry to Taranto.

  • Duration6h 40m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    €29($29)
Operated by

Autoservizi Salemi Srl

🚀 Fastest
3
ferry
+
car
+

Ferry and Car

Take a ferry to Villa San Giovanni then drive to Taranto.

  • Duration4h 35m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    €71($71)
Operated by

Multiple operators

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Messina and Taranto

There are several options for getting from Messina to Taranto by bus, ferry and car. The cheapest option is to take a ferry which costs around €29 ($29) and will take around 6h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take a ferry and then drive and arrive in approximately 4h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €71 ($71).

The distance between Messina and Taranto is around 382km (237 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 292km (182 miles)

It takes around 5h 25m to get from Messina and Taranto by bus.

The quickest way to get from Messina to Taranto is to take a ferry and then drive which takes around 4h 35m and will set you back approx €71 ($71).

The cheapest way to travel between Messina and Taranto is to take a ferry which will typically cost around €29 ($29) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Messina and Taranto. We recommend that you take a ferry to Villa San Giovanni then drive to Taranto. instead which will take 4h 35m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Messina and Taranto. It typically takes around 5h 25m and departs twice daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Messina and Taranto with no changeovers required. The bus runs twice daily and takes 5h 25m.

SAIS trasporti S.p.A. - Autolinee Giamporcaro run regular bus services between Messina and Taranto. Buses run twice daily and take around 5h 25m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Ferry/Boat travel

Yes there is a ferry service that runs between Messina and Taranto. The ferry typically takes around 6h 40m and departs once daily.

Autoservizi Salemi Srl run the ferry services between Messina and Taranto. Ferries run once daily and take around 6h 40m on average but will vary depending on conditions and travel date.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Messina to Taranto. We recommend that you take the bus to Taranto via Porto Mercantile. instead which will take 5h 25m.

The closest major airport to Taranto is Brindisi Airport (BDS) (BDS) which is approximately 62km (39 miles) from Taranto. Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) (BRI) and Lamezia Terme International Airport (SUF) (SUF) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from Messina to Taranto. We recommend that you take the bus to Taranto via Porto Mercantile. instead which will take 5h 25m.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Messina to Taranto is to take the bus which takes, on average, 5h 25m and will usually cost around €30 ($30).

How do I get from Messina to Taranto

Compare travel optionsbetween Messina and Taranto

Transport options from Messina to Taranto
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus
5h 25m
€30($30)
4 times a day441km (274 miles)
Ferry
6h 40m
€29($29)
once daily382km (237 miles)
Ferry and Car
4h 35m
€71($71)
hourly383km (238 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Messina and Taranto

Bus companies

Ferry operators

Airports near Taranto

The following major airports near Taranto offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Italy and internationally.

BDS
Brindisi Airport (BDS)
Domestic Airport
Distance
62km (39 miles) from Taranto
BRI
Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI)
International Airport
Distance
84km (52 miles) from Taranto
SUF
Lamezia Terme International Airport (SUF)
International Airport
Distance
194km (120 miles) from Taranto