TermoliAdriatic Coast · Italy

All About Termoli

This fine Italian town with a population of approximately 32,000 people has a beautiful seafront backed by countryside dotted with olive groves and vineyards. However, its traditions lie in fishing. The oldest parts of Termoli consist of narrow streets lined with a combination of whitewashed and pastel-colored cottages. These lead to pier-like trabucchi, which sit out over the waters of the Adriatic coast of Italy as an alternative to fishing by boat.

In the lesser-known province of Campobasso and region of Molise, Termoli is no less stunning of a destination than any other on the Italian peninsula. Roughly halfway between Bari to the south and Ancona to the north, Termoli has recently developed into an Italian resort town. It is rapidly gaining recognition for its beaches, as well as its remaining fortifications. With this in mind, there are few better ways to reach Termoli than by ferry. Use Ferryscanner, and you can quickly and easily identify the best ferry tickets to Termoli, and book them in a couple of simple steps.
 

Routes and Ferries to Termoli

In order to enjoy all the Adriatic Sea can offer without the need for a private boat tour, visitors are able to purchase ferry tickets to Termoli from the island of San Domino in the Tremeti Archipelago, and vice versa.

As part of Gargano National Park, San Domino makes for a wonderful day or multi-day trip, with extraordinary natural beauty, monasteries dating to the ninth century Saint Benedict, and also history as a prison for many of Mussolini’s fascist regime after the Second World War.

There are 16 sailings per week between Termoli and San Domino, so that it’s rare to have to wait more than a day to be able to make use of any ferry tickets to Termoli you may already have. There are also two competing ferry companies sailing regularly on the route, which helps to keep the prices for adult foot passengers down to €19-26 one way. Tirrenia has 9 sailings each week, taking 1 hour 15 minutes, while NLG (Navigazione Libera del Golfo) has a further seven sailings using vessels that can complete the route in 50 minutes one way.

Although some of these vessels have a capacity of more than 500 passengers and almost 60 vehicles, they can still become fully booked during the summer months, and booking early is therefore recommended to avoid disappointment. On board, passengers will find comfortable seating, as well as a bar selling drinks and snacks.

By road, Termoli has excellent connections with the rest of Italy. The E55 European highway runs past the outskirts of the town on the route from Venice to Brindisi further south. Termoli railway station is located on the landward side of the town and receives both slower regional services and faster ‘frecce’ intercity services from Milan, Turin, Venice, Rimini, and Lecce.

The nearest airport is Foggia’s Gino Lisa Airport, approximately an hour away by road. However, flights from this airport are limited. For those coming from abroad, Bari’s Karol Wojtyla Airport (named after Pope John Paul II and also known as Palese Airport) is much more useful. It welcomes flights from most European nations, as well as Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
 

Ports of Termoli

The ports of Termoli are set at the base of a rocky upthrust of coast pointing out into the Adriatic. It consists of two semi-separate harbors or basins, with ferries docking at the furthest tip of the outer basin. A short road then connects it with the town center. The inner basin is set out for the mooring of small private yachts. Busy throughout the year, the ports of Termoli take on most color on August 3, with the departure of Saint Basso, the town’s patron saint, on a sea procession followed by huge numbers of people.
 

Best Beaches

As an attractive coastal town, Termoli has some charming beaches which are worth exploring, whether you prefer large expanses of sand with a long list of facilities or more secluded areas of coast on which to relax.

Spiaggia di Sant’Antonio

Just a few hundred meters north of the port facilities, Saint Antony’s Beach is itself several hundred meters in length. Child-friendly and with no shortage of sun loungers or parasols, its waters are protected to one side by a sea wall, and are so clean they have a Blue Flag to their name.

Rio Vivo

On the opposite side of the port lies Rio Vivo Beach. It doesn’t have the same number of sun loungers as Spiaggia di Sant’Antonio, but it is an excellent choice for anyone looking to enjoy water sports.

Spiaggia Risacca

On the far side of the E55 highway from the Bosco Fosso della Torre Nature Reserve, Spiaggia Risacca is one of Termoli’s more natural beaches. Here dunes stumble away from the beach in gentle waves, providing seclusion from the road, as well as a fine outlook.

Spiaggia di Campomarino

Encroaching onto the nearby tourist port of Santa Cristina, Spiaggia di Campomarino can be considered a blend of all the other beaches around Termoli. Composed of fine light sand, it boasts a Blue Flag for cleanliness but has been largely left as a free beach backed by areas of forest.
 

Places to Visit

Its beaches are not the only places to visit in Termoli. In fact, the town has a number of attractions it would be a real shame to miss out on if you’re heading to Termoli for even the shortest time.

Termoli Castle

Standing proud after 900 years, Termoli Castle has survived an active attack by a Venetian fleet long before Italy became one united country. It is probably the pinnacle of Termoli attractions in more ways than one, and regularly hosts exhibitions and other cultural events.

Cathedral of Termoli

Like all Italian towns, the cathedral continues to play an important function in everyday life. This grand church was built over the remains of a temple to Castor and Pollux, with the current structure dating back to the 1300s. Its most impressive feature is its rose window, repaired after a Turkish attack in the 1500s.

Trabucchi

Even a short walk along the coast will reveal the intriguing wooden structures known as ‘trabucchi’ that push out into the Adriatic on stilts. They form the basis of an ancient fishing technique that sees a large net plunged into the water to capture passing fish. It needs at least four fishermen to operate it at once.
 

Transportation Around Termoli

The majority of the main sights and beaches in Termoli are no more than a ten-minute walk away from the port, limiting the need for much transportation. Due to the narrowness of some of the streets, buses tend to stick to the main roads, with a large bus station outside of the railway station. Due to this, private taxis might be of more use for getting to or from accommodation with luggage. They can be pre-arranged by phone, and most hotel receptions happy to do this for you if you struggle with Italian.