The Tremiti Islands are a five-island archipelago in the northern Adriatic, 22 kilometres off the Gargano coast and 12 nautical miles from Termoli. Officially a comune in the province of Foggia, in Puglia, they have just under five hundred residents and have been protected as a Marine Nature Reserve since 1989. Most first-time visitors arrive on the ferry from the Molise port, discover San Domino with its Aleppo pine forest and San Nicola with its medieval abbey, and within half a day understand why Lucio Dalla, who kept a house here, called them “the pearls of the Adriatic”.
This guide is built for travellers planning a 2026 trip to the Tremiti Islands on their own: up-to-date ferry timetables, real one-way fares, addresses and phone numbers for hotels on San Domino, a map of the coves and dive sites, advice on the best time to visit. Practical British English, no brochure padding.
The five islands at a glance
The archipelago is made up of San Domino (the largest island at 2.08 km², where almost all the accommodation sits), San Nicola (seat of the comune and of the Benedictine Abbazia di Santa Maria a Mare), Capraia (uninhabited, an integral reserve where swimming is banned in zone A), Pianosa (the strictest zone A, only accessible with a special permit) and the Cretaccio, a clay islet between San Domino and San Nicola. The fifth officially recognised island is La Vecchia, a satellite stack off Capraia.
San Domino and San Nicola are linked by a maritime shuttle that crosses in 5 minutes and runs every 20-30 minutes in high season. No private cars or motorcycles circulate on the islands: you move around on foot, on the little panoramic tourist train, or by boat.
Getting to the islands
The main gateway is Termoli, in Molise, the only port operating year-round, served by Tirrenia ferries and Navi Liberty hydrofoils. The hydrofoil takes 50 minutes, the car ferry 1h45. In summer there are also seasonal lines from Vieste, Peschici, Rodi Garganico and Manfredonia along the Puglian Gargano coast. A high-season Alidaunia helicopter service runs from Foggia airport (10-minute flight, booking required).
Full operational details are on the dedicated page: getting to the Tremiti Islands.
What to see
The must-sees are the Grotta del Bue Marino (70 metres long, accessible only from the sea, with luminous blue water), the Abbazia di Santa Maria a Mare on San Nicola with its 11th-century mosaic floor, the San Domino coastal loop between Punta del Diamante and Punta Secca, and Cala delle Arene, the only sandy beach in the archipelago. Divers should not miss the Secca di Punta Secca, with the underwater bronze statue of Padre Pio at 14 metres’ depth.
The full list of ten unmissable sights is at things to do on the Tremiti; the largest island gets its own deep-dive at San Domino.
Sleeping and eating
Accommodation is concentrated on San Domino: about fifteen properties spanning family-run hotels, B&Bs, residences and a forest campsite at Cala degli Inglesi. Average rates run from €70 a night in a low-season B&B to €180-220 on full board in August. Options on San Nicola are vanishingly few (Il Torrione Da Nonna Sisina is the best known). The full list, with working phone numbers, is at where to stay on the Tremiti.
Island cooking is humble, seafood-led: oily fish, sea urchins, baby squid, fritto misto. Seven veteran restaurants are gathered on the Italian-language page dove mangiare (the menus and prices are universal enough to follow).
When to go
The sweet spot is June and September: air temperatures of 24-28 °C, sea already (or still) warm, and far thinner crowds than the August peak. July is already busy, August needs three to four months of lead time. In low season (November to March), ferries drop to a single daily crossing and most properties close.
Marine Reserve and rules
The Tremiti Marine Protected Area is split into three zones: A (integral reserve), B (general reserve) and C (partial reserve). In zone A, around Capraia and La Vecchia, swimming, fishing, anchoring and free diving are all forbidden. In zones B and C swimming is allowed, dives require authorisation, and anchoring is regulated. Since 2025 an environmental fee of around €2.50 is included in the ferry ticket.
You cannot bring a car or motorbike: private vehicles are not loaded onto the ferries and do not circulate. Travel with a single light bag, reef shoes, a windbreaker for the cool evening breeze, and some cash, because ATMs are scarce.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the ten most common questions — crossing times, ticket prices, the Reserve fee, baggage, day trips, sleeping on San Nicola — are gathered on the FAQ page. The Italian-language section also covers the history of the archipelago, from the myth of Diomedes to the political exiles of the 20th century, if you want to go deeper.