In 2026 there is no scheduled Bar-Bari ferry, and no Bar-Ancona line either. Jadrolinija, which ran the Bar-Bari line in previous summers with its ship Dalmacija, has assigned that ship to routes from Croatia this year, and Adria Ferries lists only Durrës-Bari and Durrës-Ancona among its 2026 lines. On top of that, since August 2025 the Port of Bar has had a damaged operating quay at Pier V, where the ferries used to berth. If you want to reach Italy by sea, you can take the Dubrovnik-Bari line, which runs until 21 October in 2026, or the Durrës-Bari ferry, which sails every day all year round.
This guide explains why the line from Bar is not running, what the timetables look like on the Dubrovnik-Bari and Durrës-Bari routes, how long the crossing takes, and what to check before travelling by car or with a pet.
Why is the Bar-Bari ferry not running in 2026?
- On 2 August 2025 Barska plovidba announced that, because the operating quay at Pier V had collapsed, it was cancelling Jadrolinija's Bar-Bari sailings on 5 and 12 August from Bari and on 6 and 13 August from Bar, as well as the Adria Ferries Bar-Ancona sailings on 2 and 3 August.
- In 2025 Barska plovidba acted as agent for Jadrolinija's ship Dalmacija on the Bar-Bari line and for the Adria Ferries ship Mia on the Durrës-Bar-Ancona line.
- In April 2026 the executive director of Barska plovidba told BARinfo that the contract with Jadrolinija would not be signed because Dalmacija was taking over other routes to Italy, and that the Ancona-Bar-Durrës line had not been confirmed because Pier V had not been repaired.
- The Barska plovidba website still shows the 2024 timetable, so do not treat it as current.
Dubrovnik-Bari timetable 2026
Route 54 is operated by Jadrolinija. A daytime crossing takes about eight hours (departure 11:00, arrival 19:00) and an overnight crossing about ten hours (departure 22:00, arrival 8:00).
| Period | From Dubrovnik | From Bari |
| 31 March - 29 April and 20 - 21 October | one departure a week | one departure a week |
| 1 May - 21 June and 4 September - 18 October | Friday at 22:00, Sunday at 11:00 | Friday and Saturday at 11:00 |
| 26 June - 16 August | Monday at 11:00, Friday and Saturday at 22:00 | Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 |
| 17 August - 31 August | Monday, Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 | Friday at 21:00, Saturday and Sunday at 22:00 |
- Tickets and prices for a specific date are shown in Jadrolinija's ticketing system; the price depends on the date, the accommodation and the vehicle.
- In Dubrovnik the ferry leaves from Gruž port, and from Montenegro you reach Dubrovnik via the Debeli Brijeg border crossing.
The Durrës-Bari ferry
- Adria Ferries runs the Bari-Durrës line every day, all year round, for passengers and all types of vehicles.
- From 15 September to 14 December the ferry leaves in both directions at 22:00 and arrives the next day at 8:00.
- From 15 July to 14 September there are night departures at 23:00 plus daytime departures at 12:00 or 13:00, arriving the same day at 21:00 or 22:00.
- From Montenegro you reach Durrës via the border crossings with Albania, most often Sukobin near Ulcinj or Božaj near Podgorica.
- Adria Ferries also runs a Durrës-Ancona line, so Durrës is currently the nearest port with a year-round scheduled ferry to Italy.
What to check before you travel
- For a car, check whether your green card covers Croatia or Albania and Italy, and take the vehicle registration document.
- When entering Croatia and Italy, EU entry rules apply, including the Entry/Exit System for third-country nationals.
- A dog or cat from Montenegro enters the European Union with a microchip, a rabies vaccination and a certificate from a veterinary inspector; since 19 June 2026 an antibody titre test is no longer required.
- Check timetables and cancellations directly with the operator, because sailings can change.
Border rules are covered in our guide to border crossings, and vehicle insurance in our guide to the green card. Travelling with a pet is explained in our guide to travelling with a dog or cat, and the trip to Dubrovnik in our guide to getting from Kotor to Dubrovnik.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bar-Bari ferry running in 2026? No, in 2026 there is no scheduled Bar-Bari or Bar-Ancona line, because Jadrolinija did not assign a ship to Bar and Pier V in the Port of Bar has not been repaired.
How can I get to Bari by sea from Montenegro? The nearest options are Jadrolinija's Dubrovnik-Bari line, which runs until 21 October in 2026, and the Adria Ferries Durrës-Bari line, which sails every day.
How long does the Dubrovnik-Bari ferry take? A daytime crossing takes about eight hours, from 11:00 to 19:00, and an overnight crossing about ten hours, from 22:00 to 8:00.
Does the Durrës-Bari ferry run in winter? Yes, Adria Ferries runs the line every day all year round, and from 15 September to 14 December the departure is at 22:00.
Where can I buy a ticket for the Dubrovnik-Bari ferry? You buy tickets in Jadrolinija's ticketing system or at its agency in Gruž port, and the price depends on the date, the accommodation and the vehicle.
Will the Bar-Bari line run in 2027? No plan for 2027 has been published yet, so follow the announcements of Barska plovidba and Jadrolinija.
Sources
The cancellations caused by the damage to Pier V were announced by Barska plovidba, and the statement on the 2026 season was reported by BARinfo. The 2026 timetable for route 54 is published by Jadrolinija, and the Bari-Durrës timetable by Adria Ferries. The information was checked on 27 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; check the timetable with the operator before you travel.