Travelling by ferry from Barcelona offers plenty of possibilities. As one of Europe’s major passenger ferry ports, Barcelona connects mainland Spain with the Balearic Islands, Italy, Morocco and Algeria. Major operators such as Baleària, Grimaldi Lines, GNV and Trasmed all operate regular services from the city.
In the interactive map below, we have included the main ferry routes from Barcelona across the Mediterranean. It is an easy way to see where you can travel by sea, whether you are planning an island trip, an Italian road trip or a crossing to North Africa.
Ferries from Barcelona to the Balearic Islands
From Barcelona, you will find many frequent ferry services to the Spanish Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Especially during the summer holiday season, many travellers combine a city trip to Barcelona with an island holiday.
A ferry to the Balearics can be a smart option if you find affordable flights to Barcelona, as it lets you continue your trip by ferry rather than relying on domestic flights. Overnight ferries are particularly popular for routes to Mallorca and Menorca, while daytime sailings are often available as well.
Ferries from Barcelona to Italy
Some of the most interesting ferry routes from Barcelona lead to Italy. One of our personal favourites is the crossing from Barcelona to Civitavecchia, the main ferry port for Rome. It is a great way to travel between two great European cities without flying.
Another good option is sailing from Barcelona to Sardinia, with routes to Porto Torres. From Sardinia, you can easily continue to places such as Sicily, Corsica or mainland Italy.
Ferries from Barcelona to North Africa
Barcelona is also one of the main departure ports for ferry services to North Africa.
Popular connections include sailings to Tangier Med, Nador, Algiers and Oran, depending on the season and operator. These routes are often used by both tourists and travellers visiting family, especially during the summer when demand increases significantly.
The Port of Barcelona
- The Port of Barcelona is primarily geared toward large ferries and cruises. In 2025, the port recorded approximately 1.8 million ferry passengers on regular ferry connections alone. (source: www.portdebarcelona.cat)
- As you can often see around the port area, traffic can become extremely busy when several ferries and cruise ships arrive or depart around the same time. Access roads around the harbour can become heavily congested, so it is wise to arrive early, especially if you are travelling with a car.
