There is no direct ferry from Dubrovnik to Greece. For most travellers, the simplest option is a direct seasonal flight from Dubrovnik to Athens. If you want to travel by sea, the most practical ferry itinerary is usually Dubrovnik → Bari → Greece, with onward ferries from Bari to Igoumenitsa, Patras and, seasonally, Corfu.
If you are travelling with a car or turning the journey into a Balkan road trip, driving south through Montenegro and Albania is another option. This guide compares the main routes so you can choose based on time, vehicle, destination in Greece and how much of the journey you want to make by ferry.
Dubrovnik to Greece: quick answer
| Option | Best for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Direct flight to Athens | Most travellers | About 1h 25m flying time; seasonal nonstop service |
| Dubrovnik → Bari → Greece by ferry | Ferry travel, cars, slower itineraries | Two separate international ferry journeys with a self-transfer in Bari |
| Drive via Montenegro and Albania | Road trips and travellers with their own car | Long drive with international borders; useful if Montenegro or Albania are part of the itinerary |
| Bus to Athens | Travellers avoiding flights | Through itineraries exist, but journey time is roughly 42 hours or more |
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Option 1: fly from Dubrovnik to Athens
For most travellers, flying is by far the easiest way to get from Dubrovnik to Greece. Direct seasonal Dubrovnik-Athens flights are available, with a flight time of about 1 hour 25 minutes.
- Departure: Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
- Arrival: Athens International Airport (ATH)
- Direct flight time: about 1h 25m
- Time difference: Greece is one hour ahead of Croatia
- Frequency: seasonal and date-dependent
Airline fares change constantly, so fixed historical ticket prices are not useful for planning. Check live prices for your exact date rather than relying on an old “from €…” fare.
See our flight booking guide for current options.
What about Thessaloniki?
Flights from Dubrovnik to Thessaloniki can appear on selected dates, but do not assume a daily nonstop service. Search your exact travel date; depending on the season, the best itinerary may involve a connection through Athens or another European hub.
Option 2: Dubrovnik to Greece by ferry via Bari
There is no direct Dubrovnik-Greece ferry. The most practical ferry-based itinerary is:
Dubrovnik → Bari → Igoumenitsa / Corfu / Patras
The first leg is the seasonal Dubrovnik-Bari ferry. From Bari, international ferries operated within the Superfast / ANEK network connect Italy with western Greece.
Which Greek port should you choose?
| Greek port | Best for | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Patras | Athens, Peloponnese | Usually the most logical ferry gateway if Athens is your final destination |
| Igoumenitsa | Epirus, Meteora road trips, northwestern Greece | Useful for drivers continuing through western or northern Greece |
| Corfu | Corfu itself | Bari-Corfu service is seasonal, so check your exact travel date |
Dubrovnik → Bari
The Dubrovnik-Bari ferry is an international seasonal route. See the current timetable, fares and boarding details here:
Bari → Greece
From Bari, choose your Greek arrival port according to your itinerary. The routes below are useful starting points for checking live availability and prices.
Bari to Corfu
Book your ferry tickets: See availability and prices
Bari to Igoumenitsa
Book your ferry tickets: See availability and prices
Bari to Patras
Book your ferry tickets: See availability and prices
If you are going to Athens
If Athens is your final destination, Patras is usually the most useful ferry arrival port. From Patras, continue east toward Athens by current intercity bus, rail/bus combination or car.
Do not plan this as one continuous guaranteed connection. Ferry arrival times, onward transport and seasonal schedules can all change, so build in a realistic transfer buffer.
International ferry check-in
Both Dubrovnik-Bari and Bari-Greece are international ferry journeys. Their check-in procedures are different from domestic Croatian island ferries.
- Planning baseline: allow roughly 2 hours before departure unless your operator or ticket specifies otherwise.
- Documents: carry the valid passport/ID and any vehicle documents required for the countries and ferry operators involved.
- Web check-in: where offered, complete it within the operator’s specified window.
- Vehicle passengers: allow enough time for the vehicle check-in and loading process.
Option 3: bus from Dubrovnik to Athens
It is now possible to find bookable through-bus itineraries between Dubrovnik and Athens. However, this remains a very long journey: expect roughly 42 hours or more, depending on the itinerary and connections.
This makes the bus most useful for travellers who specifically want to avoid flying rather than anyone simply trying to reach Greece efficiently.
Why we no longer recommend stitching together many Balkan buses
Older Dubrovnik-Greece advice often described routes such as Dubrovnik-Budva-Ulcinj-Shkodër-Tirana-Greece or Dubrovnik-Skopje-Thessaloniki using several separate tickets. Those journeys are still possible as part of a Balkan itinerary, but individual schedules and border connections change too often for them to be a dependable default route.
If you want to travel by bus, search for a current through itinerary first. If you specifically want to stop in Montenegro, Albania or North Macedonia, plan each leg separately around the places you actually want to visit.
Option 4: drive from Dubrovnik to Greece
With your own car, the most geographically direct overland route is generally south from Dubrovnik through Montenegro and Albania into Greece. This can make an excellent road trip if those countries are part of your itinerary.
Typical route
Dubrovnik → Montenegro → Albania → Greece
The exact route depends on whether you are heading to Corfu/Igoumenitsa, northern Greece, Meteora, Thessaloniki or Athens.
Drive through the Balkans or take two ferries via Bari?
| Route | Advantages | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Drive via Montenegro + Albania | Geographically direct; lets you visit more Balkan destinations | Long drive, border crossings and cross-border vehicle requirements |
| Dubrovnik → Bari → Greece ferries | Less road mileage; overnight ferry can replace driving time | Two international ferry bookings, possible Bari overnight and higher vehicle/ferry costs |
If you are driving in Croatia first, see our guide to Croatian motorways.
Which route is best for your destination in Greece?
Athens
- Fastest: direct seasonal flight Dubrovnik-Athens.
- By ferry: Dubrovnik-Bari, then Bari-Patras, then continue overland.
- By bus: possible, but roughly 42 hours or more.
Corfu
- Check seasonal Bari-Corfu ferry service.
- Another option is to drive south through Montenegro and Albania toward the Greek northwest.
Igoumenitsa and Epirus
- Bari-Igoumenitsa is the most useful Italy-Greece ferry for this region.
- Driving south through Montenegro and Albania is also geographically logical.
Patras and the Peloponnese
- Use Bari-Patras if travelling by ferry.
- Patras is also the more useful ferry gateway for onward travel toward Athens.
Thessaloniki
- Search current flight availability for your travel date.
- Overland travel is possible, but much slower than flying.
What about travelling via Albania by ferry?
Bari-Durrës ferries are useful if Albania is part of your itinerary, but travelling Dubrovnik → Bari → Durrës → Greece is normally a major detour and is not the route we recommend simply for getting from Dubrovnik to Greece.
If you want to explore Albania, it is generally more logical to travel south overland from Dubrovnik through Montenegro and then continue into Greece.
Booking tips
- Do not search for a direct Dubrovnik-Greece ferry: there is no current direct service.
- For the fastest trip: search Dubrovnik-Athens flights first.
- For a ferry journey: book Dubrovnik-Bari and Bari-Greece as separate legs.
- Leave a Bari buffer: do not assume the two ferry schedules form a protected connection.
- For vehicles: confirm vehicle category, dimensions, insurance and cross-border permissions before booking.
- Avoid fixed fare assumptions: airline, bus and ferry prices vary by date, vehicle and accommodation type.
FAQ - Dubrovnik to Greece
Is there a direct ferry from Dubrovnik to Greece?
No. There is currently no direct Dubrovnik-Greece ferry. The usual ferry itinerary is Dubrovnik to Bari in Italy, followed by a separate Bari-Greece ferry.
What is the fastest way to get from Dubrovnik to Greece?
For most travellers, a direct seasonal flight from Dubrovnik to Athens is the fastest option. The flight takes about 1 hour 25 minutes.
How do I travel from Dubrovnik to Athens by ferry?
Take the seasonal Dubrovnik-Bari ferry, then a separate ferry from Bari to Patras. From Patras, continue overland to Athens.
Should I use Igoumenitsa or Patras for Athens?
Patras is generally the more useful ferry arrival port for Athens because it puts you much farther south and closer to the Athens/Peloponnese transport network.
Can I travel from Bari directly to Corfu?
Seasonal Bari-Corfu ferry services operate on selected dates. Check the current schedule for your travel period.
Do the Dubrovnik-Bari and Bari-Greece ferries connect?
They are separate bookings and should be treated as a self-transfer. Leave a substantial connection buffer and consider staying overnight in Bari if the schedules do not align comfortably.
How early should I arrive for the international ferries?
Use roughly 2 hours before departure as a practical planning baseline unless your ticket or operator gives a different check-in requirement.
Can I take a bus from Dubrovnik to Athens?
Yes. Through itineraries can be booked, but the journey is extremely long at roughly 42 hours or more, so flying is usually much more practical.
Can I drive from Dubrovnik to Greece?
Yes. A common road-trip route travels south through Montenegro and Albania into Greece. Check border requirements, insurance and road conditions before departure.
Can I take a Croatian rental car to Greece?
Possibly, but only if your rental agreement allows the relevant border crossings and ferry transport. Confirm this directly with the rental company before booking.
Should I travel from Dubrovnik to Split to catch a ferry to Greece?
No direct Split-Greece passenger ferry currently makes that a useful default route. If travelling by ferry from Dubrovnik, going via Bari is the more logical option.
For broader route planning from elsewhere in Croatia, see Croatia to Greece.