From Gaeta the islands are half a morning away, but the departure port is not Gaeta itself: it is Formia, the closest port, linked to town by the Cotral bus. Here are the summer 2026 timetables, current fares and what you need to know before you go.
Where do ferries to Ponza and Ventotene leave from if I am staying in Gaeta?
From the port of Formia, a few kilometres from Gaeta. The company connecting Formia with the islands is Laziomar, running both ships (which also carry vehicles) and fast hydrofoils, quicker and for passengers only.
One clarification, because it causes confusion: the other company serving Ponza, Vetor, sails only from Anzio in 2026. It has no service from Formia.
How do I get to the port of Formia from Gaeta?
By Cotral bus: the ticket costs 1.10 EUR one way and the journey takes 25-30 minutes. The first bus from Gaeta leaves at 04:30 on weekdays, useful if you are catching an early sailing. All the times are in our Cotral bus timetable for Formia and Gaeta.
Ponza timetables, summer 2026
Valid from 29 May to 27 September 2026.
Formia to Ponza
| Departure | Vessel | Days |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | Ship Quirino | daily |
| 11:00 | Hydrofoil | Friday to Sunday only |
| 14:30 | Ship Quirino | daily |
| 17:45 | Hydrofoil | daily |
| 19:00 | Ship Don Francesco | daily |
Ponza to Formia
| Departure | Vessel | Days |
|---|---|---|
| 06:00 | Ship Don Francesco | daily |
| 08:00 | Hydrofoil | daily |
| 11:15 | Ship Quirino | daily |
| 16:00 | Hydrofoil | Friday to Sunday only |
| 17:45 | Ship Quirino | daily |
Ventotene timetables, summer 2026
Same period, 29 May to 27 September 2026.
Formia to Ventotene
| Departure | Vessel | Days |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 | Ship Tetide | daily |
| 11:15 | Hydrofoil | Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday |
| 14:15 | Ship Tetide | Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday |
| 14:45 | Ship Tetide | Friday only |
| 18:00 | Hydrofoil | daily |
Ventotene to Formia
| Departure | Vessel | Days |
|---|---|---|
| 06:45 | Hydrofoil | Monday to Saturday |
| 07:45 | Hydrofoil | Sunday |
| 12:00 | Ship Tetide | Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday |
| 15:45 | Hydrofoil | Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday |
| 17:30 | Ship Tetide | daily |
How much does a ticket cost?
Laziomar fares per person, one way.
| Route and vessel | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Formia-Ponza, ship (1 April – 31 October) | 18.40 EUR | 9.30 EUR |
| Formia-Ponza, hydrofoil | 27.35 EUR | 13.70 EUR |
| Formia-Ventotene, ship (April-October) | 15.10 EUR | 7.65 EUR |
| Formia-Ventotene, hydrofoil | 22.10 EUR | 11.00 EUR |
Infants travel free. On the Ventotene route luggage is charged separately at 1.90 EUR.
Is there a landing tax?
Yes, and it is not included in the ticket: you pay it on arrival.
- Ponza: 2.50 EUR in low season, 5.00 EUR in high season.
- Ventotene: 2.50 EUR in January, February, November and December; 4.00 EUR from March to October.
How much does it cost to take a car or motorbike?
Vehicles travel on the ships. Rates per crossing:
- Car up to 4 metres: 40.70 EUR
- Car over 4 metres: 59.80 EUR
- Motorbike up to 250 cc: 20.70 EUR
Before booking a car crossing, check the summer traffic restrictions in force on the islands: for a day trip, in most cases the car is a cost you can avoid.
Can I do Ponza as a day trip from Gaeta?
Yes. Looking at the summer timetable: leave Formia at 08:00 by ship and return from Ponza at 17:45, or take the hydrofoil out and come back on the 16:00 sailing at weekends. Allowing for the bus from Gaeta, plan to leave town by 07:00.
Ventotene gives you an even easier window: out at 08:30, back at 17:30, every day.
Where do I buy tickets?
At the ticket offices in the port of Formia and on the company website. In high season, especially at weekends and around 15 August, book ahead: hydrofoils fill up and car passage has to be booked separately.
A word on the timetables
Laziomar states explicitly that timetables are subject to change without notice, and sailings can be cancelled in rough seas. The information on this page was taken from the company’s official website on 27 July 2026: always confirm your sailing at laziomar.it or at the ticket office before travelling.
And if you decide to stay ashore, the best sea is already in front of you: see our guide to the beaches of Gaeta.
