Tremiti Islandsthe pearls of the Adriatic
San Domino, San Nicola, Capraia, marine reserve, abbey of Santa Maria a Mare
Three islands and a sea like nowhere else
The Tremiti Islands are the only archipelago in the middle Adriatic: a small cluster of islands off the Gargano, inside a protected marine area that has preserved the seabeds and the cliffs. Three islands matter to anyone arriving: San Domino, the largest and greenest, covered in Aleppo pines; San Nicola, the historic and spiritual centre; and Capraia, uninhabited and wild.
Here the water is the reason for the journey: coves, sea caves and a transparent sea that changes colour by the hour. No cars circulate on the islands, and that changes everything: the pace slows, the noise disappears and you move on foot or by boat.
The abbey, the caves and the seabeds of the reserve
On San Nicola lies the historic heart of the archipelago: the abbey of Santa Maria a Mare, built on the island’s highest point, with its cloister, mosaics and fortifications telling centuries of monks, pirates and garrisons. It is an island you walk end to end, among stone alleys and terraces over the sea.
San Domino is instead the island of nature: the pine wood, the paths dropping down to the coves and beaches such as Cala delle Arene, the only sandy one. All around, a boat trip is essential: the sea caves and the seabeds of the protected area are among the finest in Italy for diving and snorkelling.
Reachable only by sea
You cannot reach the Tremiti by car or by train: the ferry is the only way. The two verified departure ports are Termoli, in Molise, and Vieste, on the Gargano: from both you leave in the morning and can return the same day.
Why choose the Tremiti
The name of the archipelago already lists the reasons to stop: what you take home from a day here.
Three inhabited islands: San Domino, San Nicola and Capraia.
Reserve of marine life with crystal seabeds.
Eremitage and the abbey of Santa Maria a Mare.
Miles of turquoise sea and caves to explore.
Incredible diving and snorkelling.
Tranquillity: no cars circulate on the islands.
Irresistible pine woods running down to the sea.
When to visit the Tremiti
The Tremiti live by the season: sailings are more frequent from May to September, and the archipelago is at its best in the warm months. June and September remain the finest times, with warm water and islands still quiet.
Sea at its best
Warm, transparent water, perfect for snorkelling and diving.
Quiet islands
Outside July and August the coves and paths are almost deserted.
Frequent sailings
In high season crossings increase: the day trip is easier.
Boat trips
With a calm sea you reach the caves and the most hidden coves.
How to reach the Tremiti Islands
The Tremiti are reachable only by sea: no bridge, no road, and that is half their charm. The whole choice lies in the departure port. The handiest is Termoli, in Molise: it has a station on the Adriatic line minutes from the quay and its own A14 exit, and sailings run every day.
The alternative is Vieste, on the Gargano: the crossing leaves early in the morning, six days a week, and suits anyone already on holiday along the Puglia coast. Either way the logic is the same: leave in the morning, spend the day on the islands, return in the afternoon or evening.
All connections are operated by NLG. Once ashore you need nothing motorised: San Nicola and San Domino are walked end to end, and local boats take you to the coves and the caves.
From Termoli
- Departure every day at 08:40, from €27.90.
- Extra sailings on Friday at 15:00, Saturday at 11:10 and Sunday at 17:10.
The handiest port: station and A14 minutes from the quay.
From Vieste
- Departure at 08:30, from €29.75.
- Six days a week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
No sailing on Wednesday: check your day.
A proper Rider picks the fastest option — and the most beautiful one too.
In the Tremiti the crossing is not a way of getting there: it is the first piece of the holiday.
The Tremiti by ferry
The archipelago is reachable only by sea, with NLG sailings from Termoli and from Vieste: you step ashore on the islands, where no cars circulate.
- Two departure ports: from Termoli from €27.90, every day at 08:40, and from Vieste from €29.75, at 08:30.
- For the return: to Termoli from €23.60 every day at 17:40, to Vieste from €27.25 at 16:35.
- From Termoli the catalogue also verifies direct calls at San Domino and San Nicola, from €20.50.
Good to know before you sail:
- All connections are operated by NLG, the company serving the archipelago.
- There is no sailing from Vieste on Wednesday: check the day before planning.
- The service depends on the season and on sea conditions: check your date.
Is one day enough to visit the Tremiti?
To see them, yes: San Nicola with the abbey in the morning, San Domino and a cove in the afternoon.
But the day trip is a rush: you arrive around ten and leave again in the afternoon.
Two days bring in the boat trip around the caves, the paths through the pines and a swim without a watch.
Three days and the archipelago is truly lived: diving, Capraia from the sea and evenings with no engine noise.
The company serving the Tremiti
Every sea connection to the Tremiti Islands, from Termoli and from Vieste, is operated by NLG.
Need a hand?
Message us on WhatsApp and talk to a real person.
Pick the day that suits you
The same archipelago changes with the way you travel: with children, as a couple, or with a mask in your bag.
Cala delle Arene and the island tour
The sand of Cala delle Arene on San Domino, lunch on the island and the boat tour of the three Tremiti.
See the itinerary →
The abbey of San Nicola and the coves
The cloister of Santa Maria a Mare, the stone alleys of the island and sunset from a cove on San Domino.
See the itinerary →
Sea caves and the seabeds of the reserve
The boat tour of the caves, snorkelling in the protected area and diving around Capraia.
See the itinerary →Practical tips & FAQ for visiting the Tremiti Islands
The questions we get most often. If yours isn’t here, ask 
.
How do you reach the Tremiti Islands?
How much is the ferry to the Tremiti?
checks it in real time.What time do the ferries leave?
Can you visit the Tremiti in a day?
Which are the Tremiti Islands?
Can you bring a car to the islands?
What is there to see in the Tremiti?
Are there sandy beaches?
How long do you need in the Tremiti?
When is the best time to visit the Tremiti?
Any practical tips before you go?
- check your day: there is no sailing from Vieste on Wednesday
- plan a boat trip: the best coves are only visible from the sea
- bring a mask and fins: the seabeds of the reserve are worth the journey
- on the islands you walk: comfortable shoes, no rigid suitcases
- if you can, stay a night: the day trip is short
Plan your day in the Tremiti and make the most of your time among the islands
Tell , the Coastrider virtual travel assistant, how you travel: she builds the day and books what you need.