Strait of Messina
Can tickets for the Strait of Messina be booked in advance?
The Messina - Villa San Giovanni route operates with continuous service, offering departures 24 hours a day. Tickets cannot be booked in advance but must be purchased on the day of departure at the port ticket offices.
Passengers who prefer to purchase tickets before the day of departure may do so directly on the official website via the online booking system for the Strait of Messina, through the C&T App, or at any authorized PUNTOLIS tobacconist.
What are the departure times?
The Strait of Messina crossings operate continuously, 24 hours a day.
On the Villa San Giovanni - Messina “Rada San Francesco” route, there is at least one departure every 40 minutes from 06:00 to 21:00 and at least one departure every 80 minutes during the remaining hours.
On the Villa San Giovanni - Messina “Tremestieri” route, there is at least one departure every 50 minutes.
Where can I purchase the ticket?
Tickets can be purchased on the official company website, at the C&T Ticketing Terminal at the Villa San Giovanni motorway exit, at the ticket offices with an operator, via Telepass or UnipolMove devices, or through the "Caronte & Tourist" App.
Below is a list of authorized ticket sales points:
- "Rada San Francesco" Ticket Office - Messina (boarding area)
- C&T Ticketing Terminal - Villa San Giovanni (next to the Villa San Giovanni motorway exit), where both operator-assisted ticket offices and automatic ticket machines (Totem Ticketing) are available.
- Online booking on the website carontetourist.it
- C&T App
- Dedicated lanes for toll payment services – available at the Messina ports and at the Villa San Giovanni Ticketing Terminal, equipped for Telepass and UnipolMove devices.
- Authorized PUNTOLIS tobacconists.
Are there benefits when purchasing a round-trip ticket?
Currently, on the Strait of Messina route, passengers traveling with a car can purchase one-way tickets, round-trip tickets valid for 90 days, round-trip tickets within 3 days, and same-day round-trip tickets.
Round-trip tickets for 3 days and same-day round-trip tickets offer significant savings compared to the one-way ticket and the 90-day round-trip ticket.
For more information, please consult the "Timetable and Rates" section.
Can I purchase a ticket before the departure date?
Advance purchase is only available through the online booking system on carontetourist.it and at PUNTOLIS tobacconists.
At port ticket offices, including dedicated toll payment lanes, tickets can only be purchased for the same day as the purchase.
Are there any advantages to purchasing tickets online?
Buying a ticket online allows you to proceed directly to boarding without having to stop at the ticket office. Simply present the QR code on the ticket to the boarding staff.
Additionally, by registering for the "Navigo Per Te" program (carontetourist.it/en/navigo-per-te), you can access several benefits, including a 5% discount on tickets for passengers with light vehicles.
Can I purchase an online ticket for a commercial vehicle?
Tickets for commercial vehicles can be purchased online, but only round-trip tickets are available for such vehicles.
Can I request a refund for an unused ticket?
To request a refund for a Strait of Messina ticket, you must open a refund request through one of the following methods:
- Contacting our Help Desk at +39.090.57.37
- Sending an e-mail to servizioclienti@carontetourist.it
- Filling out the paper form at the Info Point in Villa San Giovanni/Messina.
Tickets can only be refunded if not used.
The refund amount (if partial) will be calculated by subtracting the cost of the one-way ticket from the total ticket price.
What are the departure docks?
In Messina: Rada San Francesco (Exit from the “Messina Boccetta” motorway, follow signs for "Caronte & Tourist, Messina - Villa San Giovanni embarkations").
In Villa San Giovanni: Villa San Giovanni Port (Exit from the "Villa San Giovanni" motorway, follow signs for "Caronte & Tourist, embarkations to Sicily").
How are animals transported?
Pets can board the ferry as long as they are kept on a leash and have the required vaccinations. For larger animals, muzzles are mandatory.
For further details, consult the transport conditions (carontetourist.it/en/caronte/travel-informations/conditions-transport-strait-messina).
How long is the journey?
The journey across the Strait of Messina takes about 20 minutes on the Rada San Francesco - Villa San Giovanni route and 45 minutes between the ports of Tremestieri.
What is the distance between Rada San Francesco (Messina) and Villa San Giovanni?
The crossing distance for the Strait of Messina is 3.3 nautical miles (nm) on the Villa San Giovanni - Messina "Rada San Francesco" route, compared to approximately 7 nm on the Villa San Giovanni - Messina "Tremestieri" route.
Can a vehicle powered by LPG be boarded?
Vehicles powered by LPG are allowed onboard, but the LPG device must be switched off and the fuel supply switched to petrol during the entire crossing, with prior notification to the onboard staff.
Are there any active agreements on the Strait of Messina route?
Currently, there are no agreements available on the Strait of Messina route.
How and when can I request an invoice for a ticket?
As of May 1, 2013, in accordance with Article 22 of the DPR 633/72 and subsequent amendments, invoices for tickets on the Messina - Villa San Giovanni route can only be requested at the time of purchase, before the ticket is issued.
Corporate cards are also available to ensure facilitated billing services.
Toll Payment Services
Who is the service for?
The toll payment service is available to:
- Telepass Family and Business customers
- Customers with a MooneyGo device
- Customers with an Unipol Move device
The service is not available to:
- Rechargeable Telepass customers
- Europass customers
How is the service activated?
No activation is required for this service, as the subscription happens automatically with the first use of the device in the dedicated toll lanes.
However, customers can request deactivation of the service at any time via the private area of the website of their device provider.
How is the fare for my vehicle determined?
We use cutting-edge technology that correctly classifies the vehicle as it enters the dedicated lane, applying the appropriate fare.
Tickets issued via the toll lanes do not need to be validated at the ticket office, so customers can proceed directly to boarding.
Where are the toll lanes for the toll payment services?
The toll lanes are located at the C&T Ticketing Terminal in Villa San Giovanni, at the end of the Villa San Giovanni motorway exit.
In Messina, the lane is located within the Rada San Francesco port area.
Can I purchase any type of ticket?
For passengers with cars, buses, and commercial vans up to 4.50 meters, the following ticket types are available:
- One-way
- Same-day round-trip
- Round-trip within 3 days
The system will issue a ticket for each trip.
When traveling outbound, the ticket will be for a one-way journey.
When returning, the ticket for the return trip will be calculated based on the time difference from the outbound journey.
For example, if a customer with a car purchases a one-way ticket and returns after two hours, the return ticket will be priced according to the difference between the one-way and same-day round-trip fares.
What should I do if the amount on the toll machine or the ticket is incorrect?
If the amount on the toll machine or the printed ticket is incorrect, the customer should go to the Info Point or pedestrian ticket office in Messina to request the issuance of a new ticket with the correct amount. The incorrect ticket will then be refunded.
How can I check the amounts paid with my device?
The transit amount can be viewed on the display of the toll machine and on the ticket issued by the same machine.
You can also check the detailed information on your boardings in the private area of your device provider’s website.
Can I get an invoice for boardings made with a toll device?
The invoice is issued by the device provider; for more information, please contact them directly.
I have a Caronte & Tourist Fidelity Card. How can I associate it with the toll payment device to continue receiving discounts?
For any inquiries, please write to servizioclienti@carontetourist.it or call +39.090.57.37.