Croatia to Italy by Ferry

Q: We will be touring Croatia by car in May. Our next destination is Italy. As taking a car across an international border is usually expensive and I am not keen on flying this route, can you recommend a train or coach service from Dubrovnik to Venice (or somewhere else in northern Italy). - Joan Norris

A: The best way to get from Croatia to Italy is by ferry or catamaran. The ferry would take you to Ancona in Italy and then you could catch a train from Ancona to Venice via Bologna. There are some seasonal ferries from Dubrovnik to Ancona, but more than likely you have have to leave from Split. Drive yourself or catch a bus from Dubrovnik to Split (around 4.5 hours) and then board the regular ferry service to Ancona. The ferry service from Split to Ancona takes 10 hours. Then you can catch the train for a scenic journey to Venice. For ferry details contact Jadrolinija Ferries (Tel: +39-010-5731805), Snav Croatia Jet (Tel +39-010-5731805) or Blue Line Ferries (Tel +385-21-338292).