21 scenic ferry rides to take around the world

The Victoria Clipper travels between the Emerald City and Vancouver Island on a twice-daily basis most of the year. The 2-hour and 45-minute journey takes passengers through beautiful Puget Sound, offering views of the leafy green area, Olympic Mountains, and coastal towns.

No, you don’t have to fly between Ireland and France. If you’re in the vicinity of Cork, hop on the 14-15 hour ferry and enjoy smooth sailing across to Brittany, into the port of Roscoff. The town is conveniently located in the region's center, making it the ideal starting place for a road trip through Bretagne.

Kangaroo Island is a must-visit for marsupial lovers and adventure travelers. The island is still quite rugged in spots, which is why it is still well-populated with everyone’s favorite Aussie animal. The crossing takes about 45 minutes from Cape Jervis (just south of Adelaide).

The San Juans are well-loved by Pacific Northwest locals but otherwise fly under the radar for many visitors. But if you’re a fan of quiet coastal getaways and small port towns, you’ll love the area. Three islands are accessible by ferry: San Juan, Lopez, and Orcas, about 90 minutes to 2 hours from Anacortes.

This one is actually a ferry system rather than a route, but that’s just how beautiful Sydney Harbor is! From Circular Quay (the main port area downtown), you can take local ferries to numerous parts of the city: Manly (a popular beach suburb), Taronga Zoo, Mosman (a starting point for great harbor walks), and Rose Bay in the Eastern Suburbs.

This 19-hour journey feels more like a cruise than a ferry ride, as you’ll have a room to relax in. However, don’t miss the beautiful views from the deck in between cafe trips and naps in your comfy room.

The best view of Quebec City is from the water! However, you don’t need to rent your own boat or kayak to enjoy this spectacular site. Just take a quick 12-minute ferry ride across the St. Lawrence and look behind you at Quebec’s colorful buildings towering above the water.

Morocco is a popular addition to Spain trips because the country is quite accessible via numerous sailing from different cities. One fun route is the crossing between Barcelona and Tangier, which takes between 28 and 32 hours, so make sure to book a room!

Italy is less famous for ferry rides than neighboring Greece and Croatia, but its large port, Bari, has fantastic connections. This includes a 10-hour ride to Durres in Albania, the ideal place to kick off an adventure through the Balkans after a fun journey with Mediterranean views!

A quick 30-minute to just-over-and hour (depending on the boat you choose) crossing from southern Albania’s party-central to quieter Corfu. However, you can still enjoy electric blue water and mountain scenes from the windows. 

Greece is one of the most famous ferry destinations in the world. So, deciding on islands and a route can be overwhelming when planning a trip. The easiest way to do so is to select islands on the same chain, as they’ll be served on the same routes; otherwise, you will probably have to go back to Athens and change boats. I recommend the Cyclades as the chain includes popular islands like Santorini and Mykonos and quieter islands like Sifnos and Milos.

Croatian boats receive less attention on social media than Greek ones, but the views are no less spectacular. And from the lovely town of Zadar on the Dalmatian coast (a bit north of the more famous Split and Dubrovnik), you can sail to idyllic Silba Island.

A bucket-list trip for many, the Nile cruises offered by multiple companies are the stuff of dreams. The multi-day journeys to Luxor and Aswan are some of the most luxurious on this list but well worth the money for boat enthusiasts. 

Hong Kong is a series of islands connected by high-quality ferries. On your journeys, you can explore different areas and enjoy the lush green vistas of the surrounding countryside.

Istanbul famously straddles the European and Asian continents, something you can feel while exploring the different sides of the city. However, if your feet are tired, try crossing continents on a boat. The Golden Horn takes travelers on a beautiful tour of the Bosphorus, which lasts about an hour.

The Victoria Clipper isn’t the only way to access Vancouver Island without taking a flight. If you already happen to be in the province of British Columbia, head out to sunny Tsawwassen and take a two-hour ride to Nanaimo. Then, enjoy the small port town or take the bus to Victoria!

A cruise isn’t the sole option for those traveling from the continental US to Alaska. The Alaskan Marine Highway System, aka The Alaska State Ferry, operates numerous runs a day from Bellingham, about an hour and a half north of Seattle. 

From Bergen, an outdoor lovers' haven in Norway, you can take numerous fjord cruises. Travel to Stavanger, Kirkenes, and Vik.

If you find yourself in Buenos Aires with extra time and want to scratch off a new country, take a boat to Uruguay! Colonia is a fantastic day-trip destination with a cute, colorful, and walkable core. It's just a little over an hour's ferry ride from the Argentinian capital.

These two destinations pair well as a winter getaway, especially during the Christmas market season. The travel time varies on the boat but is typically between two and two-and-a-half hours.

The Chao Phraya River runs through the Thai capital, and many companies offer scenic floats along it, usually lasting a couple of hours. Make sure to consider a night ride, where you can enjoy all the city lights!