Ancona - Stari Grad
Ferries to Hvar Island
Ancona - Stari Grad
Ferries to Hvar Island
Compare live pricing across ferry operators worldwide and find the sailing that fits your trip. Booking sooner rather than later is the simplest way to secure the best fares and the widest choice.
Direct Ferries runs discounts across the calendar year. If your route qualifies for a senior discount, it's applied for you automatically as soon as you choose the correct age bracket in the passenger options when you search.
Students and recent graduates qualify for a 5% saving on their ticket. Register with our partner Student Beans to confirm your eligibility, then apply the discount code you receive at checkout.
A resident discount is also on offer for a number of Spanish and Italian crossings — select the "Residents" option where available and the price will adjust automatically. Make sure you can show proof of address, such as a residency certificate or ID card, when you check in.
Document requirements differ by route, so check what you'll need well before departure. Travelling from Ancona to Stari Grad generally calls for a valid passport, plus any visa or national ID your nationality requires. Since rules depend on both your citizenship and your destination's regulations, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is a good place to check the details and avoid delays at check-in.
Getting your tickets is simple — enter your departure port, arrival port, and preferred travel date to see every fare and sailing available. From there, you can compare alternative routes and departure times to land on the best option for your trip.
Watch for early-bird pricing and flexible ticket formats, such as upgrades or flexi-fares that allow later changes or cancellations. Enter your details accurately, including passenger count and vehicle information, to keep your booking process smooth.
A confirmation email lands in your inbox the moment your booking is finalised. How your boarding pass gets issued from there depends on the specific ferry operator.
Certain operators release your boarding pass right after booking; others want you to check in once you reach the port. Where available, the Direct Ferries app lets you check in online ahead of time.
Ticket desks sit near the ferry terminal in most cases. Give yourself extra time before departure to collect your tickets and complete check-in without stress.
You'll need to present your confirmation email plus valid photo ID — a passport or identity card — at check-in. Pet owners should bring vaccination and insurance paperwork, and anyone using a resident discount should have proof of address on hand.
A handful of reasons can explain the lack of departures from Ancona to Stari Grad on your selected date — timetable adjustments, sold-out sailings, or a seasonal gap are the usual culprits. Try a different date or browse other routes through our Route & Port finder.
Booking your Ancona to Stari Grad ferry early usually pays off, both in terms of price and choice — earlier bookings tend to unlock better fares and more departure and cabin options.
A few weeks' notice is generally enough to catch the best deals, though fares can still move depending on the season and remaining availability.
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Located in the Marche region of Italy, the city of Ancona is located around 280 km to the north east of Rome and is situated on the Adriatic Sea coast between the slopes of two extremities of the promontory of Monte Conero, Monte Astagno and Monte Guasco. The city's port is popular with passenger traffic and is one of the main ports on the Adriatic Sea. There are many things to see and do in the city. The city's cathedral, Ancona Cathedral, is dedicated to Judas Cyriacus and was consecrated dating the 11th century and completed in 1189. The cathedral is characterised by its dodecagonal dome over the centre, which was altered by Margaritone d'Arezzo in 1270. The cathedral's exterior has a Gothic portal which is ascribed to Giorgio da Como (1228).
The city's port is popular for passengers travelling to countries surrounding the Adriatic Basin including Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Albania and Montenegro. Destinations available include Split, Rijeka, Zadar, Hvar, Dubrovnik, Bari, Patras and Igoumenitsa. Facilities in the port include a cafe, toilets and a small shop. There is also short term and long term parking available. There are also designated parking bays for disabled drivers.
Stari Grad is a popular location that is a gateway to the Paklenica National Park and lies around 45 km to the north east of Zadar. The city is situated on the northern side of the island of Hvar in the Dalmatia region of Croatia and lies at the east of a long protected bay and is thought to be one of the oldest towns in Europe. Buses make the town easy to reach, stopping in the centre, as well as outside of the Hotel Alan on the Dr. Franje Tudmana. Many people come to Stari Grad to take advantage of the plentiful camp sites there, especially since the adjacent National Park does not permit camping.
By wandering around Stari Grad's centre, along its narrow streets and through small squares, it is not hard to appreciate its historic past and perhaps its most popular attraction is Tvrdalj, which is a large a well preserved castle that once belonged to the Croatian poet Petar Hektorovic. Notice the Latin and Croatian inscriptions in the walls and the statue of Petar Hektorovic in front of the castle.
From the town's port, ferry services operate to Pescara, Ancona, Rijeka, Korcula, Dubrovnik and Mljet.
